A/N; Well here we go again. After some dumb computer and timing issues I give you the next chapter. Several of the scenes in this chapter are based on drawings done by one cybercatmia. Many thanks for letting me add in some back story to her fine work. Check her out on DeviantArt dot com to see some truly exceptional Redwall drawing and the inspiration for quite a bit of this chapter. We go from a somewhat young Rose here to Rose at the time of "Martin the Warrior." Just letting you know that there are a few time jumps this time is all. As always I hope you enjoy and I eagerly await any comments.
3.
Coming of Age
"Is he going to be alright Mama?" Rose looked up from the shivering form of her brother to where Aryah was walking into the bedroom with a bowl of warm water and a cloth.
"He'll be fine Rose. All young mice like him get tail rickets like this. You did when you were his age you know."
Rose still had a worried look on her face. "Can I wipe his head?"
Aryah smiled at her daughter. She loved it that Rose was so protective of Brome. It was one of the first real signs that Rose was starting to take some responsibility in her life rather than running around and playing with Grumm, Trumm, and Teaslepaw all the time. "Of course dear."
Rose took the bowl and cloth and began to wipe the fever sweat from Brome's head. She began humming under her breath as she tended to her brother. Aryah took a moment to watch them before she quietly slipped out of the room.
Urran Voh was sitting in his armchair, smoking his pipe and staring into the fireplace in the main room of the cottage as Aryah came out of Brome's room. "How's he doing?" he asked.
"He still has a fever, but it's come down quite a bit since yesterday," Aryah answered him. "Rose is in looking after him. You know she's rarely left his side since he fell ill."
"I know," Urran said.
Aryah picked up her needlepoint and sat down in her rocking chair. "You know Rose is starting to grow into a fine young maid."
"Mmmm," was Urran's reply as he took a pull form his pipe.
"Well isn't that what you were hoping for?" Aryah asked. "Not four seasons ago you were the one pushing Rose to be more responsible and ladylike and now here she is doing just that."
"That's a bit what worries me too. There have been a few fathers around Noonvale with sons Rose's age that have been asking me about her."
"Urran Voh! Rose is still too young to be thinking of suitors. She's still a child!" Aryah looked somewhat aghast.
Urran waved a calming paw at his wife. "I know, and that's exactly what I told them. Still it's quickly becoming clear that our Rose is blooming into a well loved maid here in Noonvale. I wouldn't be at all surprised if a few mothers come up to you soon asking some of the same questions."
"Don't you think that most of them are more interested in the prestige of joining the Chieftain's family rather than a suitable match for our daughter?"
"Why do you think I'm so worried?" said Urran as he looked at Aryah.
"What are we going to do?"
Urran Voh took a moment to consider the question before he answered. "I think we need to let Rose and Brome both grow up as normally as possible. When the time is right I'm sure the young lads of Noonvale will prove themselves to Rose somehow."
"And Brome when he reaches that age?"
"Of course Brome as well."
"And you'll let them both choose their own mates themselves?" Aryah persisted.
Urran nodded. "I learned my lesson. Rose doesn't need me forcing friends on her again. But that doesn't mean I can't encourage her to choose more friends now does it?"
Aryah sighed. "Just be careful in your meddling. It took Rose a long time to start talking to you again after that play date you forced her into. I'd rather not have our children quarreling with us like that again."
"No Brome you can't have it! Mama and Papa said so!"
"But it's mine! I need it! You're not being fair!"
Rose was adamant as she managed to pull Brome's stuffed mouse away from him. "I'm sorry, but that's what they said. Now go back to your room till they get back!"
"You're not my mother Laterose! You can't make me do anything!"
"Mama and Papa left me in charge while they are at the council meeting," Rose told him sternly ignoring his jibe with her full name. "They said you couldn't have your toys because you were mouthed back. Now go to your room."
Instead Brome just sat down cross legged on the floor and took a deep breath in and held it. He glared up at his sister with a look that clearly told her that he was still very much going to rebel against her authority. Rose however was used to this behavior by now. Instead of trying to get her brother to exhale she just walked around behind him and picked up by the waist. Brome immediately began hollering again.
"Put me down! You can't treat me like this! I'm telling Mama! Put me down now! You can't make me go to my room! You haven't given me my supper yet! Lemme go! Lemme go! Lemme go! Let me out!"
Rose finally did let Brome go at the far side of his room. They both dashed to the door but Rose got there first and quickly shut it. Brome reached for the handle and began trying to open it as Rose held it tight. With one paw he began banging on the solid oak door still screaming at the top of his lungs.
"You can't keep me in here! Let me out! I didn't do anything! Let me out of here right now! You can't keep me in here like a prisoner! Big bossy bratty sister! Bush-furred bucktoothed crinkle clawed old windbag! LET ME GO!!"
Patiently Rose kept her mouth shut and didn't return her brother's insults. It was just another tantrum after all. Soon Brome would grow weary and fall asleep. Secretly though Rose almost enjoyed the fight. Ever since Brome had been born she had detected a subtle change in the way creatures around Noonvale were treating her. Her parents told her it was just because she was growing older. However when she looked at other maids her own age none of them got the same almost over courteous smiles. Her best maid friend Teaslepaw didn't have male hedgehogs always grinning at her the way male mice were almost constantly smiling at Rose. All too often the creatures she had known all her life had begun to treat her more delicately. Only Grumm, Trumm, and Teaslepaw still treated her the way they always had. Running through the woods, climbing trees, exploring the rocks near the waterfall, or spending time under their secret hiding place under the willow trees like they always had.
Brome however seemed to just want to debate anything. Unless it was his way it was the wrong way. The trouble was Brome could scream exceptionally loud so when he disapproved of something it seemed the entire valley heard about it in remarkable short time. Still Rose loved her little brother and was always trying to help him out, even if he didn't want the assistance.
Just as she expected Brome's screams faded and he stopped pushing on his door to be let out. Knowing one of his favorite tricks was to stop screaming for a bit to try and sneak out of his room; Rose sat down on the floor preventing Brome from pushing the door open and getting out. She was also glad the window in his room didn't open so there was no chance of him escaping that way. After a considerable time had passes in which Rose grew very bored she stood up and looked into the room. Brome was lying sprawled out across his bed fast asleep. Closing the door softly behind her Rose made her way to the main room of the cottage.
Taking a piece of parchment and a charcoal stick she sat down in her mother's rocking chair and began to draw. She wasn't really concentrating on anything as the charcoal stick slid across the parchment. Humming to herself as she drew she passed the time until her parents came home. When they at last did Rose got up from her chair to greet them as they entered.
"Rose, Brome, we're back," called out Urran Voh.
"Papa please be quiet. Brome just fell asleep and I don't think anyone wants to wake him up."
"What did he do this time?" Urran said sternly.
"Now dear, we don't know Brome did anything," Aryah told her husband. Then she turned to Rose. "Did he do anything?"
Reluctantly Rose told her parents about Brome's tantrum with the toy mouse and how he had fought going to his room. "I was just doing what you told me to do," said a downtrodden Rose.
"You did the right thing Rose," her father told her. "I'm glad you're setting such a good example for your brother by following our instructions."
This cheered Rose up a little. "How was the Council meeting?" she asked.
"Very dull and boring," Aryah replied back. "The moles still haven't found any way to uproot that dead sycamore tree by the waterfall. Looks like our benches will have to wait for a little longer."
"Getting interested in some more responsibility Rose?" Urran asked her.
"Just curious is all Papa," she told him back.
"What's this Rose?" Aryah was holding up the sketch Rose had been working on.
The mousemaid blushed a little as Aryah held up the drawing. "Oh it's nothing."
"It's very good," Aryah told her. Then the mousewife smiled as Rose yawned broadly. "Go and get ready for bed please."
"Yes Mama," and Rose left for her own room.
Urran came over to inspect his daughter's handiwork. "Looks like our Rose might be taking an interest in some lucky male mouse after all."
The drawing was of two mice. One was clearly a maid the other a male mouse. The two figures were standing next to each other gazing out across an invisible vista.
"So it seems," Aryah said. "But there's something unusual here. Rose obviously drew herself here. You can tell by the design of the dress. It's the same as the outfit we gave her for last midsummer's feast. But I've never seen a mouse like that in Noonvale."
Urran inspected the drawing more carefully. Aryah was right. The maid in the picture did bear a striking similarity to Rose. The male however looked nothing like any of the young mice of Rose's age within the valley. For one thing Rose had drawn an intensity into the young mouse's eyes so that they seemed to flash off the page. Second the hilt of a sword peaked through the sash at the mouse's waist. While there were many knives in Noonvale that could serve as daggers should the need arise, no creature in the valley carried that sort of weapon.
"I think it's cute," said Aryah.
"Yes it's very nice, except for the sword. Where would she get an idea like that?" Urran asked.
"Oh it's nothing," Aryah assured him. "Most of the stories the young ones are told have some great hero saving the day and winning the heart of the fair maiden. Looks like Rose has been thinking of those stories a bit longer than most."
"Catch me if you can Rosie!" Brome quickly dodged away from his sister as they ran near the waterfall rocks.
"Get back here you little scamp!" Rose laughed as she chased her brother.
They had been playing together with Grumm, Trumm, and Teaslepaw. The five young creatures had finished their chores for the day and had been free to run through the valley. They began a simple chasing game. Rose and Brome were by far the quickest as the two mole brothers weren't very fast runners and Teaslepaw insisted on staying with them so they wouldn't feel left out. Rose was then left to chase after Brome as he ran towards the waterfall that helped proved water for Noonvale. While Rose had been taught to swim by the few otters that lived in Noonvale, Brome hadn't had his lessons yet.
"Be careful, you might fall," Rose called out.
Brome only laughed as he climbed higher on the rocks. "I'm fine," he shouted back down to her. It was then that his footpaw slipped on a patch of damp moss. With a scream he fell off the rock he was standing on and straight into the pool at the base of the waterfall.
"Brome!" Rose screamed. Without thinking about it she began climbing to the side of the small cliff Brome had fallen off of. She was shouting to her friends as she did so. "Grumm! Trumm! Go for help! Teaslepaw stay with me. I might need your help!"
Without a backwards glance Rose leapt off the rocks she was standing on and dove in after her brother. The water was cold and the turbulence from the waterfall was jostling her every which way. However she could see Brome beneath her struggling feebly for the surface. With a strong stroke Rose swam down to him and grasped his paw. Kicking right side up she began swimming for the surface. She accidently kicked Brome a few times during the accent but she got them to the surface.
Brome immediately started coughing up the water he had swallowed. Rose was tired but she knew she couldn't stop. She began kicking hard for the side of the pool. To her everlasting relief two otters jumped in and swam out to her and Brome.
"Here now miss Rose," one of them said. "You give that rascal of a brother of yours to me and hang on to me mate there."
Quick as a flash the two otters had hauled Rose and Brome up on shore just as a crowd was beginning to form on the bank. The two young mice began shivering and shaking as water dripped off their clothes. Urran Voh started pushing his way through to reach his children having been alerted by Grumm and Trumm.
"Let me through at once! Rose! Brome!" he rushed to embrace both of them. "You're safe, thank goodness you're safe."
"You'd be right proud of miss Rose there sir," one of the otters said. "Didn't hesitate at all. Jus' jumped right in after Brome and pulled him up."
Urran released Rose and Brome to address the crowd. "Thank you all for your concern. Please go about your business. I think I need to get these two home and into some dry clothes."
"G-g-good idea p-p-papa," said Brome through chattering teeth.
Grumm gave Brome a friendly pat on the shoulder as he passed. "You'm be roight as rain Maister Brome. Oi'll make 'ee oop some o moin zoop. You'm too Miz Roser."
Urran thanked the young mole. "Yes thank you Grumm. Please bring it by our cottage as soon as possible." With that he walked his two offspring back to their cottage where Aryah was sitting with her needlepoint.
"Good gracious!" she exclaimed at seeing the soaked forms of Rose and Brome. "What happened?"
"It seems Brome took a little tumble into the waterfall pool and Rose here pulled him out," Urran said.
Aryah began shooing the young mice to their rooms admonishing them as she did so. "You can explain later. Just get out of those wet things, the both of you. You'll catch your death of cold. Urran stoke that fire up would you please. And get out the extra blankets. We don't need these two getting any colder than they already are."
Soon a warm fire was crackling in the fireplace and Rose and Brome were snug under some thick blankets. Grumm proved to be as good as his word. He, Trumm, and Teaslepaw had all stopped by to check on Rose and Brome. Grumm was carrying a small pot of the vegetable soup that was his specialty.
"Yurr we are. Noice an' warm, hurr hurr. Et it all oop before it be getting' cold loik." He ladled out two bowls for his friends.
"I still can't believe you just jumped like that Rose," said Teaslepaw. "I don't know if I could have done that."
"I can't either," admitted the mousemaid. "I just didn't think about it and just reacted."
Brome was still a bit shaken from the whole ordeal though. His voice was still trembling as he sipped on his soup. "I-I-I'm g-g-glad you jumped Rose. Th-th-th-thank you."
Rose leaned over and gave her brother a loving hug. "You're welcome. Just remember I'll always be there for you."
"That brother of mine is an absolute little pest!" Rose screamed as she stormed out of Council Lodge.
Grumm took the grass out of his ears that he had used to plug them. "What was you'm a sayin' Miz Roser?"
"Brome! That irresponsible whining, complaining, stubborn, annoying nuisance just had to scream and holler again!" Rose sat down next to her mole friend in a huge huff. "Just because he wanted to sit next to Papa he had to start screaming. Papa started yelling back saying the chairs were fine where they were. So of course Mama switched chairs. She just did it to get them to stop shouting that's all. And then even after all of that Brome still goes wandering off again when Papa wasn't looking! Papa's not going to like that when he finds out I assure you. It's just not fair, I'm the older one. I'm always the more responsible one. I'm the one that should sit next to Papa!"
"Why does that matter Rose?" asked Teaslepaw as she walked up.
"It's a matter of tradition," Rose told her. "The eldest offspring of the chief is always the next in line to take over leadership. That's me. But don't try saying that to Brome. No, he's the oldest male so somehow he thinks that gives him special treatment. He's barely out of the nursery and he thinks he can rule Noonvale!"
"Well we've always had a male leader for Noonvale," Teaslepaw said.
The statement did not help Rose's mood. "So a female can't rule Noonvale as well as a male?" she asked hotly.
"Teezlepaw didn't a-say that Miz Roser. She'm just sayin' what's a happened." Trumm had also walked up and joined in the conversation.
The simple mole logic did help to sooth Rose's temper. "It's still not fair," she said.
A new voice cut in and with it Rose's temper almost flared up again. "Good luck trying to rule Noonvale with that kind of temper. I think I'd just up and leave wouldn't you?" Camilla, Joyce, and Teerla had all walked up behind the other young creatures. The three mousemaids were among Rose's least favorite creatures in Noonvale.
"I wouldn't want to rule this place. It's too big for a female," Joyce said. "That's the Patriarch's job. If I were his wife I'd just sit back and let every beast take care of me."
"Plenty of help to clean up after me and the male to do all the real work," Teerla agreed with her friend. "All I'd have to do would be make a few meals and hem a few clothes. That doesn't sound too bad."
Rose seethed at the notion. She knew that her mother put as much work into running Noonvale as her father did even if it wasn't always noticed. Fortunately Grumm and Trumm sent the other maids packing. "Hurr you'm three be nothin' but trubble makers, so you'm are," said Grumm.
"Get 'ee gone quick loik or you'm soon be a standin' in a gurt durt shower." Trumm scooped up a clawful of soil to make his point.
The other three maidens got the point quickly. They hated getting dirty. The very prospect of soiling their frilly clothes was enough to send them off. The two mole brothers nodded satisfactorily at each other as the other three maids beat a hasty retreat.
Teaslepaw tried to calm Rose down again. "Don't listen to them Rose. They just like causing trouble or batting their eyelashes at everybeast. I think you'd to a fine job if you were to be Matriarch. One of these days someone will show them what's what, you'll see."
Rose took a deep breath before she answered. "Thank you, that's very kind of you to say. Still you three are the only ones in this whole valley who think so."
The hogmaid was a bit confused. "What do you mean by that?"
Rose stared off into the distance as she answered. "It's just that Papa has invited guests over every night for the past fortnight. They're all families with sons my own age or daughters Brome's age."
"What's wrong with that? I think it would be nice."
"I'm ignored in it all," Rose told her. "The parents, the sons, they're always nice to be sure, but they're not interested in me or Brome. They think they can somehow join our family and so have more prestige here in Noonvale."
"Yurr parent be a-sayin' so Miz Roser?"
Rose shook her head at Grumm's question. "Not directly no. But it's obvious isn't it? Ever since I saved Brome's life last spring Papa has been trying to get me to find a suitor or some such nonsense. They don't see me like you three do. They see me as Laterose daughter of the Chieftain and their path to power here in Noonvale. They don't see me as Rose who just wants to be treated the same as everyone else."
"Cheer up Rose and forget about all that," Teaslepaw nudged her friend's arm. "The spring feast is tonight. It's supposed to be a happy time. Dancing, singing, food, just the thing to help us get ready for summer."
Rose gave a half-hearted smile. "You're right. I'll try. Guess I need to go back and change into something more presentable as my mother would say."
"Oi always did loik that blue dress o yours Miz Roser. Mayhaps you'm be a-wearin' that tonoit?"
"Since you like it so much Grumm of course I will," Rose smiled at her friend. Soon she was heading back to her family's cottage to get ready for the feast that night.
The feast that night was full of song, dancing, good food, and good friends just as Teaslepaw had predicted. Aryah and her helpers in the kitchen had provided generous portions for everybeast. Mushroom and chestnut stew, wild onion and leek soup, spring vegetable pasties, nutbread, oatfarl, and wheatcob were all laid out piping hot from the ovens. Blackberry and apple tarts, plum maple pudding, elderberry pie with yellow summercream, gooseberry preserve scones hot with buttercup spread were laid out for dessert. Urran Voh had helped the moles and hedgehogs brew dandelion ale, strawberry cordial, chestnut brown beer, and other delectable drinks.
Only two things were spoiling Rose's mood. Brome hadn't returned from wherever it was he had wandered off to, and it seemed every male mouse in Noonvale was lining up to ask her for a dance but to her mind none of them wanted to dance with her. They just wanted to dance with the daughter of the Chieftain with the hope that they would be brought to the Patriarch to discuss some project dealing with the rule of the tribe.
The only breaks Rose had from the dancing was when she was called on to sing. Her voice was still as sweet and clear as it always had been. She gladly took the opportunities to sing since she didn't have to dance with mice that she felt weren't treating her as she should be. She had just finished singing one of her favorite songs when the musicians struck up another lively dancing reel.
"Miss Laterose, may I have the honor of this dance?"
It was very hard for Rose to not roll her eyes. The formal way they always addressed her, the unnecessary standing on ceremony, and the bland conversation she was always suckered into were starting to take their toll. Still she knew her duty and graciously accepted.
"You know your father has been after the moles for seasons now to get rid of that old sycamore tree by the waterfall. I've got a few idea of my own if only I had a chance to talk to Urran Voh," Rose's dance partner said.
"Quite interesting," she said in return. "I think we've been going about that old tree all wrong. We need a different strategy not doing the same old thi-"
"You shouldn't worry about things like that, Laterose," said the young mouse. "You'd just get your paws dirty working on something like that."
Inwardly Rose was fuming and hoping the dance would get over quickly. Outwardly she just smiled at her partner. "How kind of you to say so."
Looking across Council Lodge she saw her errant brother finally make an appearance at the head table. He tried to remain inconspicuous but soon Urran Voh saw his son had returned. Rose saw the look her father gave his son and knew there was trouble brewing. As she was engaged in her dance she couldn't tell Brome to steer clear of Urran until both had calmed down a bit since their argument that afternoon. Looking over the shoulder of her dance partner she saw the heated if quiet words exchanged between the two before Brome stormed off in the direction of their cottage, Urran Voh fast on his heels, Aryah right behind them both.
Finally the reel ended and Rose also left Council Lodge for their cottage. Even before she entered she could heard the raised voices coming from inside.
"You just go wandering off and don't tell anybeast where you're going! How are you supposed to learn your responsibilities if you're not even here to learn them!
"It's not as if I went very far! I came back for the feast didn't I?"
Rose entered the cottage to find both her father and brother glaring at the other. "You should have been there for the start of the feast! After that fuss you made about the seating arrangement and then you have the absolute gall to just leave like that!"
"I needed to get out of this valley for the afternoon! Is that such a crime?" Brome was beyond indignant. "I still want to run around and play. Not learn stuffy rules or how to move stupid sycamore trees. You're the Patriarch of Noonvale not me! Do your own tasks and don't worry about me!"
Urran Voh was by now quivering with rage. "That's it! Into your room young mouse and stay there! Don't come out until you learn proper respect for your father and your station in this valley!"
"FINE!" Brome screamed back. "I didn't want to be part of your stuffy old feast anyway!" With that Brome turned on his heel and stalked off to his room slamming the door as he did so.
Urran Voh looked at his wife and daughter. Still shaking with fury he also turned and stormed outside into the quickly falling night.
Rose looked at her mother. "Can't you do anything Mama?"
Aryah sadly shook her head. "I don't think so Rose. Those two are just bound to butt heads like this. Noonvale is everything to your father and always has been. Brome has grown up not really knowing if he'll take over from his father when the time is right?"
"You mean you still might have me rule Noonvale someday?" Rose asked. She had thought her parents had been training Brome for that task while ignoring her as of late.
"Of course dear," said Aryah. "You are the eldest and more responsible so you're the natural choice."
"Even though Noonvale has never had a Matriarch?"
Aryah shrugged off her daughter's concern. "Both your father and I want what's best for Noonvale and the best leader be they male or maid." As Rose took in this new information Aryah spoke up again. "So before this whole fiasco I noticed you were dancing with quite few young mice."
Rose's spirits darkened again. "And it was horrible Mama. They don't want Rose, they want Laterose daughter of the Chief."
"Well that's who you are Rose. You are the daughter of the chief and I'm sure every mother says this but you are quite lovely. It doesn't surprise me at all so many would come seeking your hand."
"That's just it Mama. I don't want them seeking my hand unless they really want me, not just the honor of joining our family."
Aryah walked over to her daughter and put her paws on her shoulders. "Rose I'm sure there is somebeast who has the fire and determination to match yours. He'll be a lucky beast to find you and you'll be lucky to have him too." Rose smiled at her mother's kind tone, however the mousewife wasn't done. "Whoever you find it will be your choice, not mine or your fathers. Remember that Rose. So long as he is from Noonvale I'm sure that you'll find someone who will make you happy and who you'll want to make happy for the rest of your lives."
Rose felt grateful tear building in her eyes as she leaned forwards and hugged her mother. "Thank you Mama."
Aryah stroked Rose's back as she soothed her daughter. "Shhhhhh it's alright. You look tired. Why don't you go to bed too? A good night's sleep will do you a world of good I think."
Wiping the tears from her eyes, Rose nodded at her mother. "Good night Mama."
"Good night Rose."
Brome was unexpectedly quiet that night. The next morning his family didn't hear a sound of his room. Both Rose and Aryah tapped on his door asking if he wanted anything to eat. Silence greeted the two mice so they decided to leave him alone with his thoughts. It was only after the noontide meal in Council Lodge did Aryah notice some food had gone missing from the larders. A pole used to close windows had also come up missing along with one of the good linen tablecloths. When Aryah brought the missing items to Urran Voh's attention he looked at her with shock and fear on his face.
"How much food was taken exactly?"
"Enough to last a beast quite a while if they're careful. You don't think Brome sneaked out and ran off do you?" Aryah was also worried.
"There's only one way to find out."
Urran Voh and Aryah quickly made their way back to their cottage to find Rose reading a book by the hearth. "Has Brome come out of his room?" Urran Voh asked.
Rose shook her head. "No Papa. He hasn't made a noise all day."
Urran Voh dashed to Brome's room a flung open the door. The young mouse wasn't inside. The dresser had been moved to underneath the window and several panes of glass had been removed. Brome was gone. The three mice scoured Noonvale looking for Brome. Rose checked his usual hideouts while Urran Voh and Aryah asked anybeast they met if they had seen their son. Finally they returned to their cottage for a closer inspection outside the window Brome had escaped from. Realizing they should have done this first they found his tracks clearly visible in the dush.
They found them leading to the back door to the kitchens of Council Lodge. From there the tracks disappeared into the woods to the east of Noonvale. Both Urran Voh and Aryah stood by the edge of the woods ashen faced. It was Rose who broke the silence.
"I'll need as much food and supplies as he took if I'm going to find him anytime soon."
The simple statement snapped Urran Voh out of his shock. "What? No! Rose I won't allow it. What if something happened to you?"
"We can't let Brome just wander off by himself," Rose countered. "He's the one I'm worried about not me."
Aryah came to her daughter's defense. "We have to send someone after him. And Rose stands the best chance of being able to talk him back."
Slowly Urran Voh nodded. "Fine, but you can't leave now. It's to close to dark. I want you to spend the day tomorrow getting everything you need ready and leave first light the next day. I also want someone to go with you. My choice would be Grumm. After all if he can win the digging championships blindfolded he should be able to keep you safe enough."
Rose nodded her acceptance. They then stood a long while facing the woods. Rose's thoughts were flying. Finally she would be able to escape the pressures she had been feeling. She could escape the condescending glances of Camilla and her friends, escape the mice who didn't appreciate her, and she could finally talk some sense into her brother outside her father's influence. Little did Rose know the path fate now set before her would change her and every creature around her in ways she couldn't possibly begin to realize.