And moving on again, picking up from where the last chapter left off, again. Unlike last chapter, which didn't quite where I had hoped, this chapter turned out much better, and ended up exactly where and how I wanted it. :D So, enjoy it. Just so y'all are still in the loop, we're probably going to have a few more Redwall chapters, then we'll have a series of Alexander-centric chapters, followed by a series of Angola chapters. :)

Chapter 48

Kani stared at his younger brother, a brother he knew to be dead, having been brutally murdered...but was standing here before him now, looking totally alive. Hax looked back, in no hurry to continue the conversation Martin and Kani had been engaged in. Hax knew that the next move should be left up to his elder brother.

Kani, however, didn't have the foggiest idea what to do now, how he should react to Hax's presence. His first instinct was to try and touch Hax, prove that he was really there, and then give his younger brother a well-deserved hug. But he knew he couldn't, remembering earlier when he had hurled the candle holder at Martin. It hadn't hit him; he was completely intangible to physical touch. And Hax, like Martin, was only here in spirit as well.

The thought that he could see his brother, speak with his brother, but otherwise be completely incapable of interacting with him merely worked to serve as a cruel reminder that his brother was very much dead.

Save for his spirit. That much had clearly survived, though how it was done and why, Kani felt he would never understand in his lifetime.

The two continued to stare at each other. This simple act almost seemed to be enough, almost seemed to convey enough, that Kani suddenly felt much more at peace about the whole matter that had led to this. So engrossed in this action as he was, Kani had managed to miss, while he wasn't looking, Martin's departure. Kani simply realized that at one moment, Martin was there, and then the next, he wasn't. Kani couldn't remember when and how exactly Martin had left, but to him, it didn't matter.

He shook his head, staring still. "Hax." he repeated again, stunned.

Hax managed a grin. "Hello again, brother." he greeted kindly.

Kani made a noise that was somewhere between a chuckle and a sob. He was silent for a moment as he worked to hold back the tears that had sudden welled up in his eyes. Sniffling, he looked back at his brother, and sought something to say. In doing so, he suddenly made a connection.

"It was you." he murmured aloud. "It was you that was in those dreams that I was having, back in Angola, at the time of Methusael's coup, telling me to leave."

Hax nodded, and did not try to deny it. He had no reason to. "Yes." he replied simply.

Kani mused about all of this for a moment, then allowed his brow to furrow in confusion. Sniffling again, he shook his head as he sat down upon the bed. "Why, Hax?" he finally asked.

"Because, Kani, you were the one who was chosen." Hax replied simply. "There is no creature more suited for the responsibility than you."

"But that's just it!" Kani retorted, but he did it more gently than he would've to anyone else. "Why am I the one that's so suited for this? I'm not a warrior, I never have been."

"That depends upon on how you define the word 'warrior.'" Hax said. "Kani, you keep looking at it in terms of warfare, with the killing and bloodshed, a matter I don't at all blame you for not wanting to dirty your paws with. I, however, am looking at it in terms of courage. Loyalty. And an understanding of what is right, and what is wrong." he paused, letting this sink in for a moment. "You have these traits, Kani. Can't you see that?"

Kani thought about the matter for a very long moment, giving it more thought than he had for Martin, or the abbot. "I suppose." he admitted. "It took a bit of courage to get to Redwall, especially after it became clear that we were being followed. And I knew when that the rebellion began, that not responding to it with warfare was the right choice, and...in a way...it was, because it helped the rebels to see that I was innocent of all the wrongdoing that was going on, and because of the fact that they trusted me, they helped me to escape." he shook his head. "But that was all mostly sheer dumb luck!"

"Was it, Kani?" Hax asked bluntly, grinning slightly.

Kani knew the grin, and had to share it. "I'm starting to suspect that there's more to all of this than luck." he remarked. "I assume it was no accident that Mathoni arrived in Angola when he did."

"No, it was seen to that Skipper Rowe would remember the medallion that would led to all of that at exactly the right the time."

"Nor was it an accident that the rebellion began, was it?"

"No. Mormon had been blessed with being told what was going to happen just prior to his death, so he took what action he could to get things moving. A rebellion would help move things in the right direction, put creatures exactly where they needed to be, worked to solidify one's trust with the right creatures, and best of all, the rebellion interfered with Methusael's plans, and will continue to do so. There were no accidents throughout this entire incident, no moments of 'sheer dumb luck.'"

Kani sighed, lying back on the bed with a flop. "Nor was this issue with the sword, was it?"

Hax adverted his gaze for a moment. "No, it wasn't."

"Hax, you know how I feel about being manipulated."

"I know you do." Hax moved closer to the bed so that Kani could still see him from where he now lay. "Yet another reason why you were selected for this." he grinned again. "You have never been one to accept no for an answer. You took matters into your own paws."

Kani snorted, and made a grimace. "Ironic, then, that it is I who is saying no then, isn't it?" he commented.

"Therefore, I must be the one who wouldn't want to take that for an answer." Hax was silent for a moment, fiddling with his claws for a moment. "Kani, you remember several seasons ago, when we were both young cubs, we became rough while playing, and accidently broke mother's favorite crystal vase?"

Kani did remember. He was just barely in his teens, while Hax was a few seasons younger. They had been chasing each other through the corridors playfully like youth their age did, when in their hurry, bumped a small side table that had a clear crystal vase Lady Grinta had always been partial too, and it fell and shattered brilliantly on the stone floor. Worse still, the vase had been a gift from some traveling traders that were favorites among the Angolians, and the vase had stood as a symbol of that. But what Kani remembered the most about the incident was how furious Lady Grinta was when she found out about the incident.

Hax clearly did as well. "Good seasons, were we ever in trouble that day." he remarked, reflecting on the incident. "I remember we had tried to act innocent, like we hadn't done it, and put ourselves as far from that broken vase as we could before someone found out we had broken it, hoping against hope that mother wouldn't put two with two."

"But of course, she did." Kani remarked. "She sought us down, and demanded we confess."

"But we didn't, not initially." Hax added. "So mother sent us to our bedchambers to 'think about it' as punishment."

Kani nodded, and managed a sad grin. "Those were the days, the days when life was happy, carefree, and getting in trouble for broken vases was all we had to worry about." he stated.

"Yes." Hax agreed with a nod. He was silent for a moment. "You remember what father told us during that incident?"

Kani did, because their father was more calm and understanding about the matter than their mother had been. Lord Jarren Fennix was like that. Kani hardly recalled many incidents in which his father was angry. Usually, no matter what the situation, he would always have a unique perspective on the situation and have just the right solution to the matter, that was the part of him that made him the great leader he was...and a wonderful, caring, father whenever he wasn't busy with other things, which he himself made sure wasn't too frequently. He loved his family.

In this instance regarding the broken vase, however, he wisely chose to not take sides. Instead, he visited his two sons and calmly spoke to them about the matter. When they wouldn't confess to him that they broke the vase (which he probably knew that they had anyway), he told them something that both youths realized was good advice.

"He told us that if it was our choice to not say anything about what we knew about the vase, that was our choice, and we were more than free to make it." Hax said, remembering the wise words they were told. "But he reminded us to keep in mind that, no matter what we chose, there would be consequences, both good and bad, that would come with those choices. He then left us to think about that for awhile."

And he did. And after about an hour of dwelling upon the subject, and feeling their guilty consciences tugging at them, they finally agreed to go and tell their mother the truth, and they did. Upon them doing so, Lady Grinta's anger subsided, and she apologized for being so cross with them, pointing out that it was merely a vase, and thanked them for telling the truth finally, being sure to tell them to not to play so roughly for this very reason but otherwise let them go free and unpunished on the matter after that.

Kani was silent for a moment. "Where are you going with this, Hax?" he asked.

"My point is that the same principle applies to this, Kani." Hax said. "No matter what anybeast says, you are still free to choose."

Kani sat up and gazed at his brother for a long moment. "It had been apparent to me that I had to do this, no matter what I thought about the matter." he said.

"No one ever told you as such." Hax pointed out. "Not ever Martin. We have all urged you immensely to accept the sword of Martin and the honor it brings with it, and I have certainly made it clear what I wish from you, but no one has ever told you that you had no choice in the matter. Because you do, Kani. We aren't going to force anything upon you if you don't wish it."

Kani digested this thought for a moment. "So what if I say no?"

"Then you will be accountable for that choice. The same is true if you say yes."

"Now wait," Kani said, and he jumped to his feet again, "You know what's to come, correct? The future? What will happen and what will not?"

"Yes."

"And you knew that I would one day have to face this choice one day, correct?"

"Yes, many of us, in fact, do. The warriors of Redwall have all been foreordained for quite some time."

"Then...shouldn't you already know what I'll choose?"

Hax hesitated, avoiding his elder brother's glance. "Yes." he finally admitted.

"Then why give me the choice if you already know what I'll choose?" Kani asked. "Why not just tell me?"

Hax made a slight, sly, grin. "To do so would defeat the entire purpose, Kani."

"But you already know, and seeing what direction you've been pushing me in, it'll be a yes."

"Not necessarily. A great many creatures who have had special fates such as this turned it down, missed out on their chance, and lived their lives without ever fulfilling their destiny. For all you know, Kani, all I could know is that you will say no, regardless." Kani made no response to this right away, so Hax continued. "Kani, you are my elder brother, and my better. I may be in an entirely different position than you, know things that you do not, and want to see you fulfill a certain destiny, but I am not you, nor will I ever be. Nor do I want to make you feel like you have been forced to do anything. I am leaving the choice completely and entirely up to you, brother."

Kani still wasn't quite sure he understood. "But...why?" he asked.

"Because..." now Hax's eyes grew teary, "...because you are my brother, Kani. And I love you."

Kani couldn't help but grin at this, despite the tears that were starting to form in his own eyes. "I love you too, Hax." he said. "I...I just fear I haven't done enough to show it."

"Kani, it wasn't in anyway your fault I died." Hax assured him, already knowing what Kani was thinking. "Despite what you think, there was absolutely nothing you could've done to stop it. The same is true for mother. And for father, even though he was the one who died the natural death. And Kani, you have done more than enough to show your love to me, as well as the rest of the family. May your mind rest in peace about that as well."

Kani was still grinning, no longer working to hold back the tears. "I miss you, Hax."

"I miss you as well. But never fear. We will not be apart forever. But for now, you have your own path to follow...and I have mine."

Kani was silent for a long moment, and shook his head. "Hax, I can't do it." he persisted. "I-I just can't, I can't be a warrior for the Redwallers, not like what they are hoping. Maybe if it were Angola, I could, but for Redwall...Hax, they don't want me here, and I don't belong here. I belong in Angola, setting things right there, and being their leader, seeing that there's no one else to do it."

"But is there?" Hax asked, and he took a few steps away from his brother. "Give it some thought, Kani. I ask for that much."

And with that, he was gone again, leaving Kani completely alone in the silent dormitory.


It was extremely late at night now, and Kani figured he should really try and get some sleep. But he couldn't. Sleep was alluding him, the events of the night still too fresh in his mind. Every time he tried to drift off into a blissful state of slumber, the more it alluded him. Finally, restless, and not wanting to stay cooped up in the suddenly cold and empty dormitory, Kani exited the room, and started wandering around aimlessly in the dark and quiet abbey of Redwall. He had no set course in mind. He just needed to wander, and in doing so, think about things.

He was able to do so for quite awhile in complete peace, as it seemed that everybody who wasn't on guard out on the abbey's walltops was fast asleep. Even Abbot Isaiah, whose own dormitory Kani passed in his wandering, the door open a crack, had retired to bed. Kani was just starting to get the impression he had the whole abbey to himself when, when walking down a spartan corridor in the upper levels of the he spied an lit lantern sitting in a window, with a young mouse sitting on the sill beside it, looking out at the night.

Kani stopped, and watched the youth for a moment in silence. He seemed troubled as well, and looked as if he wasn't sure what he should do, given his present situation. The mouse was armed, bearing a crossbow of a curious configuration, but he was handling it in such a way that it was clear that he wasn't planning on putting it to use. He simply...had it. Like he didn't wish to part with it just yet.

And Kani, oddly enough, found himself relating with that situation, except he already had to part with what he had wanted to hang onto.

Both were silent for awhile longer, the mouse seemingly to be unaware that Kani was there, before Kani finally broke the silence.

"Couldn't sleep either, hmm?" he asked.

The mouse calmly glanced in his direction, neither smiling nor frowning. "No." he simply replied back. A pause, then he added, "Every time I do...I'm reminded why I have gotten like this."

Kani had no response to that, as he wasn't entirely sure what he should make of it. Fortunately, the mouse found something to say, after having looked Kani up and down for a moment.

"You're him." he finally stated. "The fox everyone is all worked up about."

Kani nodded. "I am Kani Fennix, young sir." he greeted.

The mouse snorted at this. "'Sir', that's a laugh." he grumbled. He paused again. "I'm Charles."

The name allowed Kani to make some connections. "The mouse who knew war too well." he remarked softly, remembering Isaiah's words on the matter.

Charles gazed back out the window. "That's putting it lightly." he muttered darkly. "More like war came to know me. Not that I like it."

Kani was silent for a moment. "What happened?" he asked finally.

Charles sighed. "I killed them." he replied bluntly. "Seven creatures, from that army." he gestured out the window at the opposing army that threatened the abbey.

"Why?" Kani asked, prompting.

"They attacked." Charles replied. "I...I had volunteer to help guard on the ramparts, but if I had known what would happen, what I was getting myself into..." he shook his head, his eyes glazing over as he remembered. "I killed them."

"In self defense."

"So I'm told."

"You don't think so?"

Charles was silent for a moment. "No."

"Why?"

"I-I lost my self control. I went into a rage in which I...I...just attacked whatever I perceived as a threat. I was ruthless, I...I...murdered them in cold blood...slaughtering them...cutting them down..." he paused, lowering his head in shame, then admitted something he had said little of. "Even when they were in retreat." he sighed. "I could've hurt someone I shouldn't have in that state. Harmed my friends. I know I could've. I didn't, but that doesn't make it right. I can remember every detail of that event, every gory detail, I fully knew what I was doing, I was screaming at myself to stop but...I couldn't. And every time I go to sleep, I dream about that event...and am reminded why I am like I am."

Kani was silent for a long moment. "You really do have a grave understanding of war." he remarked, with sympathy.

Charles nodded. "I'm not the same creature I was before because of it." he stated. "War is cruel, Kani. Cruel, futile, and unnatural to nature. It simply wasn't meant for one intelligent creature to take the life of another in such a way. It is nothing but a waste. Such a waste of life." he was silent for a moment. "If there was someway to change things..." he continued, "...some way to take it all back...I would do it. But I can't. And I never will."

Kani approached the window. "Death is a terrible thing." he agreed. "Especially murder, necessary or otherwise."

Charles shook his head. "You just don't understand how terrible, though." he pressed.

"No, in your case, I probably don't." Kani agreed, joining the mouse on the windowsill. "But I can still relate to the matter. Not in the terms of warfare...but in the terms of betrayal." Now he hung his head. "My whole family is dead...because of a traitor. Someone I should've seen working to betray me far sooner than I did. I could have saved lives that way, prevented so many troubles...but I didn't."

"And you wish you had." Charles finished, seeing the fox did understand somewhat.

Kani nodded. He glanced at Charles. "Everyone has told me that it's not my fault."

"That there was nothing you could've done." Charles continued.

"But that's not what we want to hear." Kani said. "Even if it is true."

"And it true." Charles said. "I know it is. I know that how I acted wasn't my fault, not entirely. I shouldn't blame myself for what happened. But I do anyway."

"Yes." Kani said. He and Charles locked eyes. "We will never forgive ourselves for what happened."

"But the time to succumb to that has passed." Charles continued.

"It's time to move on."

"Time to make the best of the situation, regardless of what we have changed about the world, and what it has changed about us."

"It is the least that they would have wanted of us."

"The least that we can do."

"We can never fully repair the damage that was done."

"So we shouldn't waste our lives trying."

"It is time to make a difference."

The two creatures stared at each other for a long moment, understanding each other so well, they were both inwardly surprised. Then, as if ashamed, they both looked away, and they were silent for several moments. They both stared out the window, deep in thought.

"Thank you." Charles said finally. "That helped. Really."

Kani nodded. "You're welcome." A pause, then, "Thank you as well."

They fell silent again. Were anyone to pass by, they would've found the sight odd, to see these two, a adult fox, and a young mouse, both of different backgrounds, with different situations, different lives, sitting there on the windowsill like they were old friends, having come to an understanding of each other in mere moments.

"So, what now?" Charles finally asked.

Kani shrugged. "That's the mystery." he admitted. "There are really several paths I could choose."

"Same here."

"I am starting to favor one over the other...but I'm not sure where it will lead me, whether or not I'll like where I end up."

"Again, I am the same. But...we have to start somewhere, find someway to continue to survive, to take the best of what has happened. Sometimes, it will simply be the best choice we have, and regardless of what we think, it's the one we really should choose. For our own sake."

Kani nodded in agreement. "True."

Again, the two had reached a silent understanding, and both understood what lay ahead of them.

"What's it like to be a warrior?" Kani finally asked. "A heroic one?"

Charles glanced at him. "I guess we'll just have to find out."

And again, they were silent, secretly amazed at how quickly they came to an understanding, but at the same time, not entirely surprised. Together, they sat and watched the night wear on. Kani was just beginning to realize that Charles was actually searching for something, when the mouse suddenly pointed it out.

"There he is." he remarked, as the dark shape flapped towards the window.

Kani quickly moved out of the way, allowing the sparrow to perch in the windowsill. Ignoring the fox altogether, Blackwing quickly began to tell Charles what he had found out.

"Charlie mouseworm!" the bird began. "Did as you say, perch much close to badworm clothy-home. Badworms no see Sparra. Hearum speak! Much say! Sparra not know what all said, not know badworm speak. Do know badworm otter not happy. No likee fellow badworms no more. Much confised! Know not what do! Not know if otterworm stay! Other badworm not likee this. Much hard speak he say. No thinkee that way. Must be badworms. Otterworm, no listen, not happy with what happens."

Charles nodded in understanding, his brow furrowed.

"What's it saying?" Kani asked, seeing that Charles understood the bird.

"Blackwing has been spying on the enemy camp, listening to the conversations the army's two leaders are having in their tent." Charles explained. "Blackwing says that while he can't understand what all is being said, he did understand that the otter commander is...suddenly doubtful. She doesn't like what has happened, and is confused about it all. The teacher that's with her has been reprimanding her for her thoughts, telling her that she mustn't think like that, to focus on the task at hand, but she doesn't agree." he paused, looking hard at Kani. "I think she has suddenly obtained doubts about the Gemini religion."

Kani pushed himself off the wall he had been leaning upon, his eyes suddenly calculating, making connections. "That's it." he remarked suddenly. "Charles, that's it!"

Charles nodded in complete agreement. "Yes!" he agreed. "That's how we can stop this army, and save Redwall!"


Suddenly, Kani had purpose again, and quickly knew what he needed to do. Parting with Charles, who had things he wanted to do himself in light of this new information, Kani had hurried back to his dormitory to change back into the clothes he had worn when he had arrived (for he had changed into borrowed clothes upon his arrival at the abbey). He was in a hurry, and wasn't planning on stopping for anything, so it was surprising when he discovered the folded slip of parchment that lay on the floor of the dormitory, just inside the door.

Stooping down to pick it up, Kani studied it for a moment, spying the abbot's signature in one corner. The elderly mouse must have written it and slipped it under the door at some point earlier during the night, and Kani had not noticed. Unfolding it, he read the message that was inside.

"It is still in Great Hall, should you change your mind."

Kani lowered the note, understanding exactly what Isaiah meant, and knew what he had to do.


Sure enough, in the now dark Great Hall, the sword of Martin the Warrior hung in it's proper place just above the tapestry. It must have taken the abbot some effort to return it there, but he had clearly managed. Kani now reached up and removed the blade from it's perch, and examined it, knowing what this meant. He swung it experimentally a few times, then, lowering the blade, he glanced at the facsimile of Martin on the tapestry. Kani could almost feel the warrior mouse's approving gaze.

Kani gave the tapestry a half-grin, and jabbed a claw at the mouse it portrayed. "Tell Hax that he owes me one." he said, then he left.

Taking the sword with him.