Sigh Disclaimer I don't own it or Sable Quean would be out now.
Chapter Three: Parley
"Where did the footprints lead?" she asked with a frown. Hopefully, this rat was smarter than those other idiots she's met earlier.
"It led to that Loonvalley place."
"How many full-grown woodlanders were there?"
"Hmm, uh, no more than uh, two hundred? . . ."
Luckily, she didn't notice the question in his voice.
"Good. I want every member in my army fully armed and ready to march in one hour. I'm promoting you to second in command."
She reached into her cloak and produced a brooch in the likeness of a cobra ready to strike- identical to one she wore on her shoulder. "This is a sign of your rank." She roughly pinned it on his left shoulder. "I had a black cloak here somewhere- if you find it, you can have it. Now, don't fail me- one hour."
"Yes my lady." He ducked out the door with a slight frown. He had seen young ones at Noonvale. He didn't feel very comfortable attacking little 'uns. The others could call him soft if'n they wanted, but he wasn't going to hurt innocent babes.
***
Their conflict forgotten for the moment, Keyla and Urran Voh hovered by Brome's still form. "What happened, Keyla?"
"He screamed and fell. That's all."
"He's coming to!"
Brome groaned and sat up, holding his head. "What- what happened?"
"You fell off the scaffolding," Keyla said, "You were lucky you didn't land on yer 'ead."
"Brome, are you alright?" Urran Voh asked anxiously.
"I'm fine." Brome's eyes fell on the Laterose bush. His eyes widened. "Father, Rose sent me a message."
Urran Voh stared at his son. "She what?"
"Yes, Rose. And Felldoh." Barkjon stifled a gasp. "And some guy named Matthias who looked an awful lot like Martin . . ."
"What did they say?" Keyla asked.
"In Mossflower Wood, which grows thick and deep
Where is the Warrior who will answer thy call?
To lose to the Warbeast shall demand a cost steep;
You shall find the Warrior at the Abbey of Redwall"
"To seek the Warrior, who shall proceed?
Which five travel forth through danger at need?
First of the five, the first to be shown-
Healer of Wounds, thy skills will be known.
Next, Otter the swimmer, slinger of stone.
Your constant companion, whether you laugh or moan.
Player must go, though she be filled with fright,
Singer of song, and dancer of light.
Then the thrower of javelins- my words thou shalt heed,
Freed slave from Marshank, your presence we need
Lastly, the strong, loyal digger of rows,
A great friend to Rose- in his heart still she grows."
Tarry not, continue on your way
When two have fallen in the land without rain,
Beware the little folk, flee away,
Do not trust their sweet refrain.
One more shall be lost at the River Moss,
An expense to Stormfin but to thee a gain.
"What does it mean?" a frustrated Brome finished.
"It means," Keyla began with a triumphant look at Urran Voh, "That we have to go find Martin."
Urran Voh's face darkened. "Keyla, we've been through this already-"
"It makes sense," mused Aryah,
"In Mossflower Wood, which grows thick and deep
Where is the Warrior who will answer thy call?
To lose to the Warbeast shall demand a cost steep;
You shall find the Warrior at the Abbey of Redwall
"She even went so far to even tell us where to find Martin."
"I can't believe you're considering this, Aryah," Urran Voh whispered brokenly.
"It's our only hope," she whispered softly, stroking his cheek.
Keyla placed a paw on the Chieftain's shoulder. Urran Voh was quiet, then he exhaled and slowly nodded. "You're right."
"To seek the Warrior, who shall proceed?
Which five travel forth through danger at need?
First of the five, the first to be shown-
Healer of Wounds, thy skills will be known,"
Tullgrew quoted after a minute. Her brow furrowed "Basically, it's asking five of us to go find Martin. How do we know who the first of the five is?"
"It's me," Brome said softly, avoiding his father's gaze. "She showed me what would happen if we failed, and I was the first of the five questers to know of this."
"Here I draw the line!" Urran Voh burst out angrily. "Brome, you are not going!"
"I must. Father, Rose told me to go. Healer of wounds, thy skills will be known. What if I don't go and somebeast dies?"
He had nothing to say to that. "Continue," he muttered. Brome recited the next two lines.
"Next, Otter the swimmer, slinger of stone.
Your constant companion, whether you laugh or moan.
"Keyla, guess you're on this boat as well."
The otter nodded. "Aye. I'm one o' two otters here at Noonvale, an' I'm with ye constantly. Got to be me."
"Why not Tullgrew?" asked Celandine.
"'Cause she uses javelins. Me, I still think nothin' beats a good sling."
Well, Urran Voh thought with relief, Keyla's no pushover. Least he won't let anything happen to Brome.
"Player must go, though she be filled with fright,
Singer of song, and dancer of light.
"'Player'? What's a player?"
"A Player, old lad, is a thespian! A flippin' actor! One of us Rambling Rosehip Players is in on the fun! Righto, time to pack my bags, toodle pip!"
"Sorry, Ballaw, it's not you."
The hare attempted to take a bite of pastie and speak at the same time but failed miserably. "Groomffansmoch!"
"Just live with it, Ballaw," chuckled Rowanoak, "If Keyla's going on the quest, somebeast needs to supervise the slingers."
"I was saying that- oh, never mind. Pack, up Celandine, guess you're the lucky quester!"
"Ballaw, don't joke!" Tulgrew said reproachfully.
"I don't think that was a joke, Tull'," Keyla said. "'Singer of song and dancer of light.'"
Celandine went pale. "Leave Noonvale? And go to potentially hazardous country?! Ohh-" she fainted and Buckler caught her.
Brome began cracking the next line.
"'Then the thrower of javelins- my words thou shalt heed,
Freed slave from Marshank, your presence we need.'"
Before anybeast could say anything, a shout came up and a sentry ran over. "Vermin approaching!!"
***
The two rats waited outside of Noonvale. "How do you think it'll take them to notice us?" asked Fatgutt impatiently. A sentry ran from the outskirts of Noonvale and then back to the centre.
"Looks like they just did," Ripred replied.
***
"Father, don't go!" Brome cried, grabbing his father's arm, "They're armed!"
"I must, Brome. I must try to avert war."
"At least don't go alone," Keyla said, pulling Amballa's sword from its place on the wall and thrusting it into his belt.
Tullgrew joined the twain, holding a stave. "They're right."
***
"Put down your blade, waterdog," snarled Fatgutt.
Keyla bristled angrily. "Once you drop your halberd, rat!" Tullgrew placed a paw on his shoulder.
"Ignore him, Keyla. He's baiting you."
Urran Voh ignored the exchange. "What is it you wanted to say?" he inquired calmly.
"Will you surrender to Zounzdican the Evil, Warbeast of the North?"
"What are the consequences if we choose to fight?"
"Then Her Ladyship will wage all-out war on you. You will all be slain- down to the last babe!" Fatgutt said with a smirk.
How did I get in this mess again? wondered Ripred, You were stupid enough to run into Zounzdican. Then you have two choices. Join or die.
Urran Voh looked unnerved by Fatgutt's blood thirsty proclaimation. "And if we surrender?"
"Don't!" Keyla hissed.
"Then we will enslave you and yours. All property will belong to Zounzdican and her horde. What say you?" Fatgutt asked.
Time stood at a stand still. Thoughts and memories flashed through his mind.
Brome tearfully telling him of Rose's fate at Badrang's paw
The freed slaves come awake screaming from nightmares in which they were again enslaved, watching friends wither and die around them
Seeing emanciated Dibbuns from Marshank
The intense hatred bestowed upon Felldoh as a result of his slavery since Dibbunhood
The horrendous scars on Keyla's back, scars that will never go away
All results of slavery.
"What is your answer?"
A rush of determination came over him. The woodlanders under his care would not be subjected to that tyranny. Urran Voh raised his brown eyes to meet Fatgutt's black ones. "I will not surrender."
Keyla relaxed visibly and Tullgrew smiled with relief. "Come on, Fatty, let's go."
The older rat ignored his higher-ranking officer and glared at Urran Voh. Suddenly his halberd was in motion. It cleaved through the air, slicing-
Nothing. The sinewy male otter had exploded into action, shoving Urran and Tullgrew out the path of the javelin the instant his paw had moved. The next thing Fatgutt knew, he was fighting for his life. He glanced at the otter's face and screamed in terror.
Keyla's sea blue eyes were now steel grey, seeing nothing but the traitorous rat. When the halberd had goen into motion, he had found himself knowing automatically its path. His vision had fragmented and his surroundings- Tullgrew, Urran, the other rat- faded. Areas of the aggresive rat showed- the unguarded eyes, the belly for which he took his name, his open mouth. Targets.
Urran Voh and Tullgrew stared in astonishment at their friend. The normally mellow otter was fighting like one possessed. He gave a hard strike with his paw and the halberd's wooden shaft shattered like glass. The rat, moaning in terror, tripped over his own tail and fell, staring up. It was clear that Keyla was going to kill him.
Tullgrew started forward and caught her friend's shoulder. "Keyla, stop!"
He turned his head towards her and briefly she wondered if he would attack her too. "Tullgrew?" he asked, disoriented.
"Don't kill him, Keyla. I've had enough fighting for one day."
From his position on the ground, Fatgutt plainly saw the berserk otter's stony expression soften. The grey faded and his eyes retained their usual cerulean hue. The conniving rat filed the information in his head away for later use.
The younger rat helped the older one up, staring at Keyla, who shifted uncomfortably. Fatgutt glared at the trio. "This means war!" he threatened. He picked up the head to his shattered halberd and the pair slunk away.
Keyla stared after the twain, a puzzled expression on his face. "What happened? Why were they looking at me like that?"
Urran Voh looked at the otter, aghast. "You attacked him!"
There was genuine puzzlement in the otter's eyes. "I did?"
"I don't think he remembers, Urran."
"I attacked him? Why?" His expression became dismayed. "For no reason?"
"No, the scum made the first move," she assured him, "You saved our lives. Though I must admit, you scared me there for a second. Have you-"
"It doesn't matter now," Urran Voh interrupted, "We need to prepare Noonvale for war." In the light, he looked weary and careworn. "I never in my worst nightmare imagined that I would ever say those words."