Next chapter. It's a little late, but it's a little long, too, so it's justified. :P Turned out pretty good, continues to wrap things up. One more chapter to go! :D

Chapter 64

A long moment of silence fell in the hallway. It was so quiet that the breathing of all the creatures present seemed painfully loud. Mathoni could've sworn his heart was pumping so loudly in surprise that he was surprised no one else seemed to hear it. He and Moroni, as well as the other guards that were present, stared at Kani in surprise for a moment. Kani, if anything, however, ignored these expressions, and focused on Adah's startled expression, the vixen looking like she hadn't been given quite enough time to realize what just had happened, and seemed more in shock than anything.

And it was to her throat that Kani pressed his bloodstained sword, Methusael's blood staining the fur about Adah's neck. Breathing heavily, Kani stared into the eyes of the vixen, painfully, but also daring her to challenge his declaration. Because he knew it to be true now.

That she was guilty of murder.

Mathoni was the first to speak again, quickly moving to Kani's side, trying to pull the fox away. "Kani, wot are ye doin'?" he asked in bewilderment.

"She did it." Kani whispered, staring into Adah's eyes still, searching for the final confirmation that it was true. "She killed them. On Methusael's order. She killed Hax and my mother."

Moroni didn't see the connection, however. "How do you figure that?" he asked, doubting, as he stepped forward as well.

"Because the messenger was female." Kani replied coldly. "We know Adah was in league with Methusael for a time, a time that fits with the time Methusael would've required a messenger. It makes sense. Then that messenger seemingly vanished, around the same time Adah broke away from Methusael. Furthermore, Methusael confessed to me that he had not killed anyone. He plotted the deaths, but he didn't carry them out. Another creature did. He refused to tell me though." He shifted his stance and continued staring at Adah. "It was you, wasn't it? Because Methusael did reveal that he and the killer had a disagreement, and they broke away. Like you had."

There was a moment of silence as Kani stared at Adah, while Adah stared back. You could see the gears turning in both of their minds. The others all exchanged glances.

"Kani, just because it fits the facts doesn't mean..." Moroni began to speak, about to reason that they didn't have much proof of this seemingly wild claim.

But he was cut short when Adah suddenly burst into tears, and began wailing in dismay.

"It's true!" she wailed. "It's true, all of it is true! I was the messenger! And I killed them, I killed them both, I am the one with their blood on my paws! I killed them both, both Master Hax and Lady Grinta! I killed them!"

She began repeating the claim over and over for a few moments before it degraded into a sad and wailing noise as she cried. Shocked, the others looked at each other again, once more unsure what to make of this. Kani, however, never broke his gaze with Adah, who was trying hard to avoid it. The male fox looked more hurt than ever now.

"Why?" he finally asked, nothing more than a whisper, but it was clear it was still a blow for Adah for him to ask.

"It was Methusael, it was always Methusael!" the vixen replied through her tears, "I...I stumbled onto what he was doing as far back as last winter! I tried to tell someone what he was doing, but Methusael caught up with me! Said he planned to insure his little secret didn't get out, even if it meant killing me! But I didn't care, I was willing to die for this, knowing that Methusael could never adequately explain away how I had died! But he knew that, too, and was really hoping to find someway to get me to stay silent and side with him, to help him! I should've seen what he was doing to me then and there, but I didn't! So when he threatened to kill you Kani, then and there, I...I..."

Now Kani was bewildered. "Wait, you mean to say that you killed them to try and protect me?" he asked, shocked that it was something so simple and somewhat logical, from a sadistic point of view.

Adah nodded, and continued. She was babbling now; it seems she had been carrying this secret, anxious to get it off her chest, for too long now, and couldn't stop now that she had begun. "It almost tore me apart to do it!" she declared, sobbing still, "It nearly drove me mad to kill them, to go against everything I believed in, just to do it! In fact, at times I wondered if I really did go mad! Particularly after I stabbed Hax. Kani, that was the hardest thing I have ever done! I didn't want to do you, you should know that much! I only wish I could've done it as fast as painlessly for him as possible, but Methusael wouldn't stand for it! He wanted the death slow and purposeful! He...he was taking great pleasure in my discomfort, I know it! And he got it, plagues and pestilence, he got it! It tore me apart, to see Hax lying there, bleeding to death, growing weak, the most painful look of betrayal on his face..."

Kani suddenly silenced her by gently placing a claw over her lips. He didn't want to hear the details of Hax's murder, nor his mother's. He knew enough as it was.

The motion had an oddly calming effect on Adah as well, who obediently fell silent, and suddenly in control of her emotions again, as she immediately stopped crying, and looked Kani in the eye for a moment. There was a brief moment of understanding between the two, but it was gone just as quickly again.

"I didn't want to do it, Kani." Adah assured him, looking away in shame again. "But I was left with little other choice. It was either them...or you...and of the three, it was you I could stand to see you die the least."

"And what made my life more important than theirs?" Kani asked her slowly and deliberately. "What made it any more right to kill them?"

Adah began tearing up again. "I love you, Kani." she confessed. "I...I couldn't bare to see anything happen to you as a result. I...I thought this would genuinely be the only way to insure that."

"But it didn't work." Kani pressed harshly, the beginnings of a scowl starting to appear on his face. "Methusael tried to have me killed anyway, and he nearly succeeded!"

"I know, and that was my wake up call!" Adah replied, almost as if to defend herself. "It was around then that I realized just how much Methusael was manipulating me, and didn't intend to carry out any promises! That's when I switched sides! I...I...I had hoped that after helping Captain Moroni and you take back the castle that Methusael would automatically be presumed guilty for the deaths of Master Hax and Lady Grinta, and that would be the end of the matter, and life would continue as normal, but..." she trailed off, ears folded back in grief, dismay, and guilt, "...it was too much to hope for. I...I...should've know it was too much to hope for..." she trailed off, nearly bursting out into wailing tears again, but managed to stay silent after that.

"If you had truly loved me," Kani said, again slowly and deliberately, "you wouldn't have done this."

Adah nodded in complete agreement, seeing this now. She finally made eye contact with Kani. "You probably think I'm a monster for this, don't you?"

Kani did not reply, and now it was he who couldn't make eye contact. He purposely looked away from Adah's face, to try and hide his thoughts. But Adah knew him too well for that.

"I knew it." she murmured, looking away herself, looking dejected, but somehow at peace with the idea. "I knew you would think that. There were so many times during which I was so tempted to tell you the truth then and there...but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I knew what you would think of me. And I didn't want that."

"Because you always had a way of cheering me up." Kani remarked, almost ironically, remembering better times between the two of them.

Adah nodded, and fell silent. Everyone fell silent, in fact, all of them brewing in their own mixed emotions about this matter. Mathoni, probably feeling the most saddened by all of this, closed his eyes and bowed his head in silent dismay. Moroni sighed to himself, and also bowed his head, knowing that according to the laws Angola followed, justice would need to be served, but he was completely unsure if any of them would have the gall to do it.

Perhaps Adah was thinking the same thing, and was what led her to say what she had said next.

"Just make it quick, Kani." she said softly, then closed her eyes and lifted her head to better expose her throat to the blade that was still held to it. "That is all I ask."

Kani looked at her, somewhat surprised. "Adah..."

"I can't live like this, Kani." she pressed. "Not while I know what I have done. What pain and suffering I, alone, am responsible for." she sighed. "Furthermore, it is the law. And I deserve nothing less, either way."

Kani stared at her for a long moment, clearly torn. For a moment, it actually looked like he might do it, that he might actually slay Adah then and there. But he hesitated, and looked long and hard at Adah's resigned and awaiting face, expression, and posture.

And he suddenly knew why Hax had been so adamant that there was nothing Kani could've done to prevent his and their mother's death.

Because, if Kani had known then what he knew now, there wasn't.

"I always did dislike that law." Kani murmured finally, saying it such a way that, were the circumstances different, it might have been funny.

And with one quick motion, he removed the blade from Adah's neck without harming a single strand of her fur, and let it drop to his side. He looked Adah's surprised form over for one last, then turned his back to her.

Vowing to never look upon her face again.

Head lowered, and eyes squeezed shut to try and control the rage of emotions that were bottled up within him, he was silent for a long moment. Adah, perhaps surprised that she was still alive, stared at Kani's back for a moment, and slowly dropped to her knees, clearly bewildered, and not understanding.

Finally, Kani found his voice.

"Get out of here, Adah." he murmured. "Leave Angola. Now. And never show your face here again."

Adah stared at Kani in surprise, as she slowly rose to her feet again, looking for some explanation, or perhaps one last, proper, glimpse of Kani's features. But Kani wasn't going to let her have it, and kept his back firmly turned to her. For a long moment, nothing happened, leading Kani to begin to wonder if Adah really was about to resist his order. But then, without warning, he heard Adah turn and run, footpaws padding loudly against the stone floor as she fled, without warning, and would not stop again until she was well out of Angola.

Kani listened to the pawsteps, and waited until the echo they created had rebounded down the corridor, until they faded away into nothing, until silence and fallen again, until it was clear that Adah was gone and would not come back, before he did anything in response. With one angry swing of his arm, he threw the sword of Martin to the floor loudly, then fell to his knees himself, trying desperately to prevent the tears burning behind his eyelids see the light of day.

He ultimately failed.

And after that day, Adah Eventide was never again seen in Angola.


Several, several, hours later found Kani sitting in the desk chair in his study, staring blankly out the window at the world beyond. At least, through what remained of the window. The room still heavily bore the signs of the battle that had taken place here. The window was, of course, still broken, and shards of glass lay scattered all over. Scuff marks were on both walls and floors due to sword tips nicking them. The items and parchments that had last been set on the desk were now mostly scattered on the floor around it, the desk itself sitting at a crooked angle now. The chair Kani sat in was the only thing that had been righted, as it had been originally lying on it's side when the fox came to it and righted it so he could sit in it.

Blood was also still pooled on the floor, cold now, and beginning to dry. Lying still in the middle of this puddle still was Methusael's body, it's middle still baring the ugly and piercing gorge the sword of Martin had left. Kani was trying his best to ignore it. Every time he saw the body and remember the being it had represented, he was filled with anger, and repeatedly just wanted to take something sharp and repeatedly stab the offending body again and again. But Kani knew it would do no good. The creature who had used that body was now long gone and dead, leaving behind the physical body like a squirrel would leave a nutshell behind.

Save for Kani, who had quietly wandered in here after Adah's departure at his own insistence, few had entered the room. Kani had not allowed it. He just wanted to be left alone. He knew it was bothersome and frustrating for other creatures; Moroni had wanted to come into the room to properly dispose of Methusael's body and he wanted to discuss with Kani about where to go from here. Other creatures just really wanted to talk to Kani, such as Mathoni, to ensure he was all right. They all knew he had a rough day today, and they wanted to do something to help, or at least just see for themselves that he was going to pull through.

Exactly why Kani had disallowed anyone to enter the room without his permission. He was not some object on display to be gawked at, like some decoration. Nor was he some puzzle that was to be constantly prodded at until it was solved. If they really wanted to help him, they could help by leaving him alone.

The only creature who had been allowed to break this standing was Bluejay. The healer vixen had come in at her own insistence, and looked Kani over, making sure that he was not too physically harmed from his battle with Methusael. She stayed long enough to properly dress the relatively few and minor injured Kani had sustained, and then was promptly sent back out again. Kani had not been bothered since.

All Kani wanted was time to think, and time to rest from the wearies of the takeover of Midnight Castle. Time he had gotten, and a great deal of it, indeed. For it had still been early morning when he had secluded himself to the study. Now, it was coming close to evening, and Kani had scarcely moved during all of this time. He had eaten nothing and had drank nothing. He spoke the barest minimum of words as he thought it necessary. At one point, he had blissfully dozed off to take a nap, regaining his strength after the wearying sword fight at dawn. But when he had awoken again, he still did not move.

Physically, he was fine. But, not for the first time, both Bluejay and Sister Daisy agreed there was enough cause to worry about the fox's mental state, and they both feared it had finally snapped due to the stress of all of this. However, for now, they did nothing about it. They would wait until explicitly asked before they forcibly took charge of Kani's well-being, whether or not the fox liked it or not.

Until then, the land and it's inhabiting creatures went on without Kani. Having finished relinquishing what remained of Methusael's power over Midnight Castle, a small celebration for the victory followed. However, unlike the celebrations that arose when Kani returned to Angola with the Redwallers, which were large, bright, and cheery, these celebrations were a bit more withdrawn, mostly because word of Adah's confession had spread like wildfire, and it made the victory seem very hollow.

After the celebrations were over, life began again as usual, like it had before Methusael's conspiracy. Many Angolians completely expected things to go back to normal. However, others were smart enough to know that things were not back to normal yet, and unless something was done about Kani, it wouldn't ever likely be normal ever again.

Therefore, it was then that someone finally broke Kani's peace.

And he wasn't even Angolian.

Without announcing his arrival or even asking if he could come in, Mathoni pushed open the door to the study with one paw, letting it bang against the adjacent wall as it swung, and stepped inside, looking the room over. Seeing that nothing had changed in the room since he had last been in here, the young otter sighed, and then stepped up to the desk that divided him from the supposed lord of the land.

"Kani," he spoke calmly, but with determination, as he approached, "I need t' speak t' ye, mate."

Kani, his back turned to Mathoni, made no verbal response. But he didn't order Mathoni out of the room, either, which was a good thing. Furthermore, one of Kani's pointed ears twisted around in Mathoni's direction when he spoke and stayed there. It wasn't much, but it was enough to suggest that Kani was willing to listen.

Mathoni first looked around for a chair to sit in before he started. Spying one, he dragged it nosily across the room with one paw, and then sat in it, facing Kani.

"Yore subjects are wonderin' where their leader is." he announced plainly, getting to the point.

Kani shook his head slowly in disagreement. "They know where I am."

"That's not my point." Mathoni waited for a response, but got none, and blew a frustrated sigh. "C'mon, matey, talk t' me. Just sittin' up 'ere all day an' doin' nothin' isn't goin' t' fix anythin'." Another pause for a response. Again, there was none. "Look, I know ye ain't in the best of moods at the moment. Can't say I blame ye. After wot happened this mornin'..." realizing what he was saying, Mathoni wisely cut himself short, "Look, me point is that ye ain't gonna gain anythin' by lockin' yoreself in a room with a dead body an' mope." he jabbed a claw at Methusael's body for emphasis.

He still got no response from Kani, and instead, seemed to have ruined any chances of getting one, too, for Kani's ear turned away from Mathoni, and now the fox seemed firmly set upon ignoring the otter's words. This only annoyed Mathoni, and he sought a means of getting some kind of response.

"Wot are ye goin' t' do in a couple of days 'bout that beast's body, anyway?" he asked, trying to establish the fact that Kani couldn't stay in here forever. "It's goin' t' start rottin' 'ere soon, and it's an ugly enough sight as it is."

Still no response.

"Of course, at th' rate ye're goin' ye gonna starve an' die afore that point. Either that, or thirst. I think Sister Mint told me once that havin' yore fill of water is more important than havin' yore fill of vittles, an' ye couldn't survive as long without water. Dunno if it's true, but I suppose it makes sense. Sort of. Either way, if ye plan t' survive the rest of th' week, ye'll need a mixture of both t' survive."

Kani continued to remain silent.

"All right, Kani, I get it, ye don't want t' 'ear me out right now, but do it anyway. 'Cause the point of th' matter is that ye've got a lot of creatures out there now that 'ave just now managed t' get rid of a dictator that was interested in only th' power. And they don't look like it, but they need a leader right now, and assurances that their leader will actually step up t' th' job. And I suppose I'm just th' first creature with th' guts t' ask."

"I don't wish to address this issue right now, Mathoni." Kani remarked suddenly.

"And why not?" Mathoni demanded. "Tell me wot it is, an' mebbe I can help ye get it worked out, so ye can get on with life. Y'know just as well as I that there's more t' it than this study."

Kani made no response. Dejectedly and a little put out, Mathoni frowned at the back of Kani's chair, and shook his head.

"Fine, I get it, I'll get me tail out of 'ere." he muttered to himself, standing. "Seems I'm just talkin' t' a brick wall anyway. Some friend ye've been, too. Y'know, I like t' think I've done a lot for ye. I helped ye realize the dangers in yore liddle kingdom 'ere, and I helped ye escape it. Saved yore life at least once, though I haven't really been keepin' track. I led ye t' Redwall an' back, and I supported ye when no one else did, and defended ye when others wanted ye t' be gone! I also helped rally t'gether beasts t' help ye take back this land!" he gave Kani a long glare. "An' this is th' thanks I get. Hmph." he looked away grumpily, then sighed once again in defeat. "I suppose it doesn't matter either way, though. Doesn't seem we were destined t' be friends for long."

Although Mathoni couldn't see it, Kani suddenly perked up a little at this comment, realizing something.

"By the way," Mathoni continued, turning for the door, "In case it might interest ye, us an' the Quorum of Warriors are goin' t' be headin' back for Redwall in the morning at sunrise. On the slight chance it might interest ye, best say yore goodbyes afore then."

He started for the door, stopped for a moment, then doubled back to the desk.

"Oh, an' just because I'm such a good friend," he went on with a sarcastic tone, "I got this cleaned an' polished for ye."

He set something on the desktop, then turned and walked off again. Curious, Kani twisted his around to look at the object.

It was Martin's sword, indeed cleaned of Methusael's blood, as well polished, although it wasn't done very skillfully. Still, Kani couldn't help but be impressed. He looked up with the thought of possibly telling Mathoni this, but the otter was already heading out the door, closing it behind him. Kani looked back at the sword, then back out the window.

It was then that he realized he hadn't done something that he should've done the moment he returned to Angola.


There had been several things that had caused Kani to seclude himself like he did. Most of them are fairly obvious. However, one reason was that Kani was so torn over himself and what he wanted that he wasn't sure where he wanted to go now or do next. During all that time sitting in the study, one of things he hoped to sort out during that time was what to do next. Well, he got several ideas, but they all seemed that they would be half-hearted and forced to carry out, and decided against it.

He realized now that Mathoni was right. He did need to talk with someone, and get help to sort out this mess. And he couldn't do that sitting by himself in his study. It was just that Mathoni, as admirable as his intentions were, wasn't the right creature to talk to. Nor was Moroni, or the plethora of other creatures in Angola that no doubt wanted to help Kani get through this.

Right now, Kani only wanted to talk to one of two creatures.

Outside the castle now, he walked across the courtyard bathed in the orange light of the setting sun, and stopped before a certain location, and knelt down. He looked around for a moment, then looked what was before him sullenly, unsure where to begin.

"Hi," he greeted, for lack of a better way to start.

He looked at the two graves, eying the their tombstones sadly. On one side lay, buried under the soil of the earth, lay the body of Hax Fennix, while on the other lay the body of Lady Grinta Fennix. Being here didn't help Kani feel better, but he knew that if he was ever going to get good advice, it would be here.

Kani was silent for a moment, as he sought a way to begin. "I'm sorry," he finally said, "I didn't fulfill my promise. I...I didn't slay the creature responsible for your deaths. I...couldn't. Not Adah. Regardless of what she's done. It's a choice that will haunt me for the rest of my life, I know it, but...I let her go." he glanced up from his paws that he had been staring at and at the tombstones, oddly and suddenly feeling a bit better.

"You already know." he remarked with a faint grin as he realized this. Well, of course you would know already, but..." he shook his head, then glanced at his brother's grave. "Hax, you knew it was Adah all along, ever since you died. You knew when you spoke to me at Redwall. But you didn't tell me. Why?"

But even as the words were out of his mouth, he already had the answer. "Because it wouldn't have mattered, would it? My end choice would've been the same." he was silent for a long moment. "I just hope you're both satisfied with the choice I made."

Somehow, he thought they were.

"There's more to this than just Adah, however." Kani continued matter-of-factly. "There's also the matter of what to do now." he bowed his head. "Seeing everything that has happened, I feel...less able...than ever before to become lord of this land. And no matter I look at it, I feel very uneasy about doing anything more with my life without either of you. Furthermore, I feel like I've let some creatures down, and given others false hope of expectations I cannot possibly fulfill. And whenever I try to find a solution, I only end up drawing a blank." he sighed, and his voiced cracked. "I need help. I need guidance. I need support. Your support. You both would know what to do."

He was silent for a long moment.

"But then, maybe that's my problem." Kani remarked suddenly. "Methusael himself said that the only reason I got where I am now was because I was drawing off the support of another." he straightened a little bit. "Maybe what I need to do is put an end to that. Stop looking for support and just face the facts that I am going to just have to face some things on my own." he paused, losing some of his courage about this matter. "Regardless of how difficult it might seem." he managed a grin. "I suppose that's part of life though. So I should stop trying to avoid it, and just...live life to the fullest."

Then another thought came to him that made him brighten significantly. "And make my own choices about my life." he muttered aloud, as if uttering a momentous revelation. He glanced back down at the two graves. "That's what my problem was. From the very beginning. By trying to do what at the time seemed like the only thing I could do, I was robbing myself of the chance to choose for myself. And you two knew it, too." he grinned at the two graves. "You just wanted me to figure it out for myself."

He looked up and out at the horizon, and knew suddenly what it was that he needed to do.

No, correction: what he wanted to do.

No more messing around with fate.

No more tampering with destiny.

No longer being restricted by tradition or the laws of the land.

It was time that he decided what he wanted to do with life.

There was still a great deal of guilt, sadness, and frustration hiding deep within Kani, but for the first time in what felt like a long time, Kani felt free, and with a set course in mind about where he wanted to end up, and where he was going to end up.

Standing, he bowed his head respectfully towards the two graves before addressing them one last time. "Thank you for listening, both of you." he said. "And I miss you both. But for the first time, it looks like I really can continue with life, even if you are not there." he grinned. "Physically, at least."

And with that, he turned to left, heading back into the mostly empty castle and back on up to the study. He was, however, only there for few moments. Just long enough to retrieve Martin's sword from where Mathoni had left it on the desk.


Night had long fallen, and yet, while most creatures were going to bed with the thought of a better day beginning tomorrow, Moroni was still up and about, sitting at the kitchen table in his home, looking out the window. It was oddly quiet, as well as dark; only a lantern sitting on the table provided any light. And Ruth had willingly gone to bed sometime ago, and was looking the most happy Moroni had seen her in weeks.

She had good reason to. It was all over. The rebellion, the conspiracy, the coup d'etat, everything, and the mastermind behind their troubles was dead. Peace had finally returned to Angola. Times were going back to normal. There was reason to be happy again. And for Moroni, he was doubly happy, as he had received news that the child Ruth was currently bearing would likely be born towards the end of the season, still several weeks away still, but an exciting prospect for the future father. It made him all the happier to know that he could raise his child in a homeland that would be free of serious troubles and danger, and ruled with peace.

Little did he know, however, what would happen next.

At that moment, there came a knock at the front door of the house. Moroni frowned, and twisted around in his chair to look out the kitchen door at the door in question and wondered who could be knocking at this hour. Picking up the lantern and bringing it with him, he wandered over to the front door and opened it. He was completely unprepared to see Kani standing there, cleaned, wearing traveler's clothes, bright and cheerful, and wearing the Redwaller's sword, sheathed at his waist.

"Good evening, captain, sorry for my late intrusion." the fox greeted politely, bowing slightly. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"No, of course not, c'mon in your lordship." Moroni said, opening the door wider and motioning Kani to enter. "Actually, I'm glad you came. We have a lot we need to discuss."

"Indeed we do." Kani agreed with a nod as he entered and followed Moroni into an adjoining sitting room. "A great many things they are, too." he sighed. "They're likely to change the course of Angolian history, too."

He sat in a chair Moroni offered him, then watched as the mouse set down the lantern on a little side table, then set to work lighting a fire in the fireplace. Once he had gotten a sizable blaze going, he rose and settled himself in a chair opposite from Kani.

"So," he began, "Forgive milord if this seems like I'm prying, but I, uh, trust that you're feeling better now?"

Kani promptly nodded. "Yes." he replied, though he did not go into detail. "I simply needed sometime to myself to...sort things out."

"Of course." Moroni replied with a nod. "And I daresay that after everything you've been through, your lordship, you certainly deserved it." he clapped his paws together. "But now, down to business."

"Right." Kani said. "And I first of all wish to address..."

"Actually, your lordship, there is one thing before we do anything else that we should do first." Moroni said, leaning over and grabbed something from a nearby shelf. "I, uh, hope you don't mind, but I mistakenly took the liberty of grabbing this when I was up at the castle."

He leaned forward and present a box to Kani, who sighed when he saw it. Accepting it from the mouse, he took it in one paw and lifted it's lid, peering inside. It was the royal crown, the same crown that had been placed upon Kani's own brow after his mother had been laid to rest. The fox glanced up at the captain of the Angolian militia, who shrugged.

"I found it while we were still working to have the royal guard stand down." Moroni explained simply. "It wasn't at all located where it normally would. I can only guess is that Methusael had it moved for some reason. As I was unsure still at that point in time if everything would end smoothly, I placed it in my bag for safekeeping until everything was sorted out. But then that incident with Adah came up and that admittedly distracted me to the point I forgot I had it and I mistakenly brought it home with me." he shrugged again. "In doing so, it gave me an idea, though. Technically, it isn't necessary, but i thought that it would only be fitting to re-preform the crowning ceremony, here in Angola with everyone watching, to just have reassurances that everything is, indeed, going back to normal."

Kani looked at the crown for a long moment, his expression not looking that enthused about the idea, before he closed the box again and let it balance in his paws.

"That is, of course, assuming that you're willing, your lordship." Moroni quickly added.

Kani grinned. "Captain, I am only going to tell you this once." he said. "Please do not call me your lordship."

Moroni blanked out. "But...why?" he asked. "Is there something I've overlooked?"

Kani set aside the box and leaned forward. "Captain, things have changed, and they are not going to be going back to the way they were before. Not entirely. It is pointless for us to presume it will, to expect something that will not happen."

"But...why? I don't understand..."

"Captain, how well did you know your father?"

Moroni was taken aback by the question. "Very well." he replied, regardless. "He was a kind mouse and a good father to me. He was an excellent creature to seek advice from. He was very wise."

"Yes, in my travels, I've heard a fair deal about Mormon, and have come to the same conclusion." Kani continued calmly. "I also came to the conclusion that he was a very perceptive mouse. One of the Redwallers, an otter named Rowe, had met him while passing through Angola once, many seasons ago, and told me a little about him. Apparently while he was here, he became good friends with Mormon. At one point Mormon told him that he expected that I and Hax, who were still in our youth at the time, would grow up to be destined for great things."

Moroni grinned at this. "It's true." he said. "You both had done some great things before Methusael came along."

Kani, however, shook his head. "Hax died much too young in his youth to have a chance." he pointed out. "And I was of no help to this land. I sat back and let a conspiracy throw me off the throne, a throne I wasn't even ready to sit in yet."

"But you helped free this land again." Moroni pointed out. "You brought back help to do it, too. Your lordship, you already have done great things for Angola."

"No, I didn't." Kani persisted. "I had my heart in the right place, certainly, but was it even needed?"

"I don't understand your lordship."

"Captain, I spent a better part of today reviewing everything that has happened since last winter. And I've realized that are some very interesting things that have occurred. First was the fact that your father on his deathbed instructed you to start a rebellion, so that you and the other mice would be in a proper position to fight a conspiracy no one really knew was even happening yet. Then, just as this conspiracy is about to strike, Mathoni, of all creatures, turns up with the innocent mission of returning something that belonged to your father. Because of this, he helped you save me from being killed, and helped get me out of Angola so to go seek help from the Redwallers. Only the Redwallers were in no position to be giving assistance by the time we arrived. But I got to Redwall regardless, and spent a fair amount of time with them, and learned a fair deal about them, and from them as well. Meanwhile, despite all of the odds being against you, captain, you are able to keep Methusael at bay, and even if I hadn't returned when I did with help, I am fairly confident that you would have eventually overthrown him on your own. You didn't need me by that point. In fact, I daresay I was of more use to the Redwallers than I was here."

Moroni gazed at him for a long moment, possibly seeing where Kani was going with this. "What are you saying?"

"That this extremely elaborate series events, almost like some very large plan that seems so interconnected with each other, started because of your father." Kani fell silent for a moment. "It's already been clear that Mormon was a very wise creature who worked in mysterious ways, but I think I have finally figured out why he chose to tell you to rebel against the throne, rather than simply explain about Methusael's plans that we can fairly safely assume that he somehow knew about." he gave Moroni a comforting grin. "Because he knew that the inhabitants for Angola no longer needed a lord or lady to lead it."

Moroni eye's grew wide. "Are you saying..."

"Captain Moroni, my last order as lord of this land is to proclaim the land of Angola and all of it's inhabitants free from any tyrannical rule, regardless of it's good intentions, and to be henceforth ruled from this day out as a united people, who work together to solve their problems..." his grin grew, "...rather than drawing support and leadership from someone else."

The surprise on Moroni's face was obvious as he leaned back in his chair, in obvious shock. For several long moments, he was too stunned to speak, too preoccupied trying to sort out this momentous occasion through his mind.

"You...you realize what this means, right?" Moroni asked.

"That your father got what he requested of you." Kani replied simply.

Moroni shook his head, and simply sat there, agape. "How is this even going to work out?" he asked, bewildered.

"Well, that will be for you to decide, captain."

"Me?"

"Why not? You alone kept Angola united while I was away. In fact, I daresay you have made it more united than it was before. You are a natural leader, captain, just a different sort from the kind a lord is. You work with other creatures, and only act upon the plan you all agree upon. You do not simply take charge and direct creatures as you see fit, not unless the situation demands it. And simply look where it has gotten Angola. Happier and more united than ever before. This is what Angola needs, captain. A leader selected by choice. Not a creature proclaimed lord of the land simply by tradition."

"By choice?"

"Yes. Everyone has a choice, captain. Even me. And I choose to not be the leader."

Moroni grinned at this blunt statement. "If I am a natural leader, then you certainly can be."

Kani did not deny this. "I am." he agreed. "But of yet another sort. A sort I feel Angola has little use for."

Moroni nodded, then was quickly lost in thought again. "This is a huge leap." he remarked. "For all of us. How can we be even sure this will work?"

"I have already seen this system in operation." Kani assured him. "It works. But of course, there will be creatures who will have their doubts. Methusael was among them. During our sword fight, he declared that only one of us two, me or him, could be the ruler. However, I disagreed. There was a third option. He just refused to see it. He refused to face change. And he was dealt with as needed as a result. However, I think it will not come to that in this instance. They already look up to you a great deal already, captain. They will follow your lead."

Moroni shook his head. "I don't know if I can do that." he confessed.

"Your father did." Kani remarked simply. "And seeing how much his one choice has done, and what good it as brought for more than one party, I think that will be proof enough that you can."

Moroni grinned again, but it quickly faded away again as he thought of something. "But...what about you?" he asked. "What are you going to do now? Stay here?"

Kani sighed. "As much as I'd like to, and my homeland that it is, I cannot stay here." he confessed. "There is simply too many bad memories here." he shook his head decisively. "No, I'm going to go somewhere else. To start life anew." he managed a grin. "Besides, I think I will be more needed there, than here."

Moroni returned the grin. They were both silent for a moment. Then Moroni pointed to the box sitting beside Kani. "I suppose we aren't going to need that anymore, then." he said.

Kani picked up the box again and examined it for a moment. "No, I suppose we won't."

And without a second thought, he chucked it, crown and all, into the fireplace, to burn. That done, and both feeling there was nothing more to discuss, the two creatures arose and shook paws as a last sign of respect to each other.

"So long," Moroni said to the fox, "Kani."

Kani grinned. "So long, Moroni."


It was dawn now, but it was hard to tell from here. The sun had risen, but it was still behind the range of mountains that made Angola's eastern border, and thereby still cast the land and it's village in a shadow. However, when viewed from here, the sunlight cast a kind of faint halo around the edges of the mountains, making them to seem to glow.

"Pretty sight." Illia commented, looking at the mountains. "Glad I got th' chance t' see it."

"Y'know, me too." her twin agreed promptly. "Almost worth it t' just come up 'ere long enough t' see it."

Skipper Rowe grinned at their comments. "Angola is just full of beautiful sights." he agreed, turning to have a look himself. "It was great t' come back again for a visit." he sighed. "And just like last time I left, I'm gonna miss it."

"Charming little place." Charles agreed, giving the valley one last look. "But if you will forgive me for saying so, Skip, it's no Redwall Abbey."

Rowe gave the mouse a grin, and clapped him on the back. "True enough." he said, and turned to face the rest of the group. "Well then, mates, are we ready t' go then? All said our g'byes?"

"All except for him." Melody said, stepping up to Rowe, and pointed with one claw.

A bit further down the path, standing apart from the others, and looking intently and hopefully back into Angola, was Mathoni. They all looked at him for a moment in silence. Then Charles, being the closest, stepping towards the young otter.

"Mathoni?" he asked inquiringly.

"I was hopin' Kani would come." Mathoni replied, a little crestfallen. "T' say g'bye. Y'know?"

They were all silent for a moment.

"Mathoni," Illia said after a moment, "Kani's really been through a lot lately. He may not be up t' it."

"I know, but still..." Mathoni bowed his head. "I thought he was my friend. An' friends say goodbye when they leave."

Nobody commented for a few moments.

"Mathoni, as much as I'd like t', we really can't wait for him." Rowe remarked after a few moments. "We really need to be gettin' back t' Redwall. Besides, Tide's probably wonderin' wot happened t' us."

"Aye." Mathoni solemnly agreed. "Aye, ye're right. Let's go."

Nodding in agreement, the other Redwallers and the Quorum of Warriors all turned to leave. Mathoni held up for one moment, giving Angola one last look over for Kani, before Charles placed a paw on his shoulder as a remind that they needed to leave, before the young otter turned and joined the others, and walked off. They were quickly out of sight of Angola.

They spent the next hour hiking to the river the neighbored Angola, where they had left the rafts they had sailed upriver in to get here under the care of the sailor squirrel, Tide. It had been a fairly solemn and quiet one. Mathoni still looked fairly crestfallen that Kani had failed to show. The others felt pity for him, but their thoughts quickly moved on to happier subjects.

Various conversations sprang up about their adventures, and what they all planned to do next. For instance Illia and Tobias were reminiscing about Redwall feasts, particularly the one they anticipated would be awaiting them at the abbey when they returned, while Rowe and Melody discussed what the Quorum of Warriors were going to do now that they were finished helping both Redwall and Angola, and now that the Followers of Gemini had been disbanded. They were still deep into these conversations when they arrived at the river and came within sight of the rafts, but this ended when Tide, who had been on the lookout for their return, hailed them.

"There ye are, mates!" the squirrel called out loudly. "Have fun stormin' the castle?"

"'ello Tide, and aye, we were successful in our attempts t' 'elp Angola." Mathoni called back as the group made their way towards the rafts, spreading out to each board one of the three rafts. "I take it nothin' much happened 'ere while we were gone?"

"No, not really." Tide replied idly. "But it's 'bout time ye got back. Yore vermin friend's been waitin' for quite awhile now."

This comment got everyone's attention.

"Vermin friend?" Melody repeated.

It was then that a certain fox, hearing the conversation, quickly exited the cabin that sat on Tide's raft, the Water Skimmer.

"Kani!" Mathoni cried in surprise, and without even stopping to think about it, had rushed forward to grab the fox in a bear hug.

Kani laughed. "And hello to you to, Mathoni." he greeted.

"'ello?" Illia repeated, as she boarded the raft in puzzlement. "Ain't ye supposed t' be sayin' g'bye?"

Kani shook his head. "Not this time." he said. "Not to you lot."

"Does this mean wot I think it means?" Rowe asked, giving Kani a sly look.

"I'm coming with." Kani announced plainly.

"Really?" Mathoni said, even more surprised now. "Ye mean yore goin' t' come t' Redwall an'...an'..." he shook his head. "But wot about Angola? Ain't it yore home?"

Kani rubbed the otter between the ears in a heartfelt gesture. "It was." he said, not wanting to go into detail about his choice right now. "But Redwall is going to be my home now."

Mathoni's grin doubled in size, and he hugged Kani again.

Rowe, deciding better than to question the choice, clapped the fox on the back. "Suppose I should welcome ye t' Redwall then." he said brightly.

Kani nodded in agreement. "Thank you." he said. "Hopefully I will have a better welcome this time around."

"I think ye will." Illia remarked confidently.

"Though I think ol' Friar Machaerus is gonna be a liddle peeved about it." Tobias quipped, sparking a laugh from the others.

"But I still don't understand." Charles remarked, stepping forward. "Why have you chosen to do this, Kani?"

Kani thought about his answer for a moment before giving it. "Because it wouldn't be fair to rob Redwall of it's warrior." he said calmly, as he patted the sword at his waist.

Suddenly Charles understood. "No, I suppose it wouldn't."

"Ye sure ye want this, Kani?" Mathoni asked. "Wot about ye friends that ye 'ave at Angola?"

"They know." Kani assured him. "They respect that this is my choice."

"But...why make this choice?"

"Because no matter what anyone says, Mathoni, you are still free to chose. And this is what I choose."