CHAPTER NINETY-SEVEN

A short time later, Tolar and most of his foxes, along with Mona, Trelayne and Kyslith, sat in Great Hall, sharing the main central table with many of the Abbey leaders. Winokur, delighted to see his old friend Roxroy again so unexpectedly, made sure to sit next to the junior swordfox while Metellus had come down from the Infirmary to see his occasional mentor Mona. At Vanessa's indulgence, Harth was granted a place at the table too, just to satisfy his reservations about having any more of Urthblood's fighting beasts in the Abbey; the Sword could insist until his nose turned dry that his presence had nothing to do with the rats, but Harth wanted to be on paw to hear what was said, regardless.

As they waited for Balla to bring out some refreshments and for Hugh to see what between-meal snacks he could throw together on such short notice, the Redwallers continued to question their latest guests.

"I still find it hard to believe you did not know anything of what went on in the Plains in recent days," Vanessa said to Tolar. "Has Custis truly taken over your lookout duties so completely?"

"It would seem so. We very often assigned our weasels to stand high watch, but Custis has dismissed even them, and I did not see fit to challenge him on the matter. Never did it occur to me he might have had ulterior motives in such a move, seeking to keep me from observing something he did not wish me to see. But we ourselves have never often looked toward Redwall without special reason to do so, taking it as a given that this Abbey is more than capable of looking after itself and managing the affairs of the woods and meadows immediately around it."

"Except that now, your bushtailed, tree-leapin' accomplices are managin' 'em for us," Clewiston interjected.

"Well, yes, but there's that too: Once it appeared that direct strife with the Gawtrybe had been avoided and Sergeant Chetwynd knew to patrol these woods without doing anything to unduly provoke Redwall, we at Foxguard simply took it for granted that the routine around here would settle into a stable, nonviolent pattern that you'd be able to work out between yourselves. Thus, my reluctance to make an issue out of Custis's insistence to take over the high watches."

"Without provoking Redwall, you say?" Vanessa asked Tolar. "Alexander found it quite provocative when the Gawtrybe, under Sergeant Chetwynd's direct command, slaughtered four rats he'd placed under his protection and was escorting back to the Abbey. You had not heard of that either?"

Tolar's lip curled downward. "No, I had not, although knowing the Gawtrybe, I am hardly surprised. It sounds a highly unfortunate affair, and I hope it has not repeated, or led to heightened animosity. I don't see Alexander here - or Lady Mina either, which surprises me. Are they out on patrol?"

"That's all part of the story, isn't it?" the Abbess practically teased. "Alex, it appears, is on his way to Salamandastron to scream and shout at Urthblood, for all the good that's likely to do, and Mina is resting upstairs in her private chambers, having only recently been discharged from the Infirmary, where she was recovering from her arrow wound."

Tolar and several of the others sat up straighter at this, showing clear alarm. "Lady Mina was shot?! Was the injury a serious one?"

"Fortunately, no. It has sidelined her for a number of days, however. I assume word of this has not reached Foxguard either?"

"No, Abbess, it has not. And I am certain Captain Custis will want to know, most urgently. Who shot her?"

"She shot herself, while attempting to murder one of the rats under our protection. Her bow broke, sending her nocked arrow right into her own abdomen."

Tolar and his companions stared long and hard at Vanessa. At last the fox commander said, "I see there is much to tell indeed. And Alexander's trip to Salamandastron - part of the same story, I presume?"

"Very much so." Vanessa turned to see Balla and Droge bearing some casks to fill the glasses and cups around the table. "Let us pause a moment until we have the means to moisten our lips and throats, and then the tale can be told in full ... "

Once all the drinks had been poured, the Abbess continued. "I suppose I must start with the arrival of Captain Matowick's squad at Redwall, since all else springs from that."

Tolar, striving to maintain politeness and let Vanessa relate her story in her own way, nevertheless could not contain his outburst at this. "Captain Matowick? Of Salamandastron? He was here, at Redwall?"

"Indeed he was - and if you'd be so kind as to refrain from further interruptions, I will explain what brought him here, the circumstances surrounding his stay and departure, and how it led to warfare out on the Western Plains."

"Yes. Yes, of course, Abbess. Do go on, and I will do my best to use both ears and not my tongue until you are finished."

"Very well. Now, I've already alluded to the miniature massacre of the four rats Alexander had under his care out in Mossflower, and while that sorry episode did take place the very same day Matowick's party arrived at Redwall, along with a great many other visitors, it is not mundane to the larger events at paw. So we'll skip that incident for now and get right to the meat of the matter, as it were ... "

As everybeast present sipped their drinks and then enjoyed some nutcrust cheese and warm oat farls, Vanessa related the entire saga of Matowick's false diplomacy and true dark motives for coming to Redwall, and Lady Mina's ill-fated attempt to assassinate Latura, and the Gawtrybes' successful abduction of the prophetic ratmaid (glossing over her own part in luring Latura outside the walls or masterminding the multiple diversions in the first place), and then the pursuit of the kidnappers by the Long Patrol, Guosim and Lord Sodexo, some of whom took over the narrative to provide their own firstpaw accounts of the battle, and Clewiston capping it off with his discovery that Urthblood had used the poison vapors to eradicate the Flitch-aye-aye, apparently exterminating that cannibal tribe down to the last weasel among them.

"Good thing none o' your weasel chappies came inside to hear this, wot?" the Colonel concluded. "With so much attention on wot His Bloodiness is doin' to rats nowadays, bet they'd be mighty disconcerted t' hear weasels might still be on th' bally hit list too."

Tolar, left ashen and shaken by all he'd heard, composed himself to respond as a professional military commander. "Entirely different cases, Colonel. The Flitch-aye-aye were a proven danger to innocent travellers, whereas Lord Urthblood's beasts are sworn to cause no unnecessary harm to woodlanders or decent folk."

Vanessa, who'd been reading the Sword's face carefully during the recitation, said, "Nevertheless, you were never informed of Urthblood's large-scale use of the poison vapor weapons a second time after the battle with Snoga, were you?"

"No. No, I was not. But even had I been, that operation took place out on the Plains, far from Foxguard. It had no direct impact on my stronghold - nor could I have exerted any influence over those events. They were what they were, with or without me."

"That's a rather ... magnanimous view to take of such a major operation so close to Mossflower being kept from you, Sword. But, as I'm sure you'll agree, that is perhaps the least part of what you have just heard. I assume you also knew nothing of Matowick's mission to snatch Latura, and the lengths to which Urthblood was willing to go to secure her, even if it meant slaying our allies and leaving relations with Redwall in tatters?"

"Of course I didn't. How could I have even shown my face here in light of these latest events? I knew of the current tensions, of course, but I arrived at your gate expecting naught worse than a bit of awkwardness, perhaps, especially since I personally never condoned any action against this Abbey, nor did I or any of my foxes play any role in such actions. I have always regarded Redwall as a stalwart friend and ally, and have repeatedly implored Custis not to do anything to imperil that relationship ... for all that he listens to me."

"It would appear Urthblood does not share your views on diplomacy. The mere fact that he promoted Custis to captain after that squirrel threatened to place us under siege speaks volume - and now we have this business with Latura, which has claimed lives on both sides. Such a thing will not be easy to overlook."

"No, Abbess, I very much fear it won't. I don't mean to make light of your own losses in any way, but ... one of Lord Urthblood's captains was slain. He cannot simply disregard such a thing; I don't see how he can possibly do so. I worry he might feel some manner of retaliation or tribute is required. Such a response may be inevitable."

"We have heard much the same from Mina, but in this case I suspect both you and she may be mistaken. It was Urthblood who initiated this transgression against us, and he had to know we'd likely react as we did. I believe he factored such potential losses into his overall strategy. His primary goal was to secure Latura for himself, regardless of the cost. He has now paid that cost, as have we. If we do not push the matter further, I doubt he will either."

"And if he would take us to task over his captain's death, please remind him that it was I who slew that feathered barbarian." Sodexo held up his paws. "With these as my only weapon. If this Urthblood has an issue with my actions, I would enjoin him to come to Redwall himself to face the creatures he has wronged, and I will gladly explain matters to him - a good deal more forcefully, I suspect, than even Alexander will when he arrives at Salamandastron."

Tolar shook his head. "You do not want that badger showing up at this Abbey's gates under circumstances like that, because he would not come to talk - and he would not come alone."

"We are obviously in no position to take war to him at Salamandastron," said Vanessa, "but if he does bring war to us here, we will not shy away, and he might just find he's bitten off more than he can chew. We could win, you know ... " She narrowed her gaze at Tolar. "Depending on just how many creatures join the fight against us."

"No. No, we must not be talking of this. We must be talking of resolution and reconciliation and repaired relations between us, not of war. Neither side would win such a war; more likely you'd end up destroying each other, leaving the lands in utter ruin. This situation could very easily spiral out of control if we give into high-running emotions and provincial fervor over these tragic missteps. We must be working now to settle things down, not stir them up further."

"Oh, sure," Harth cut in, tone dripping acid, "now that he's got what he wants, let's talk peace. That'll do Lattie a whole lotta good."

"What's been done cannot be undone," Tolar lamented. "If I could, I would, but it is past now, and we must look to the future."

"But, maybe you can undo it," Winokur said, entering the conversation. "You have the signalling mirror. There's a chance Latura hasn't reached Salamandastron yet - or, if she has, that she's still alive. If you value relations with this Abbey as much as you claim, Sword, return to your fortress and send word to Urthblood that this has strained our friendship beyond easy repair, and Latura must be returned, unharmed. In fact, you can send word with one of our Sparra, or even one of your own birds if you prefer, and have the message flashed right away. If you speak truly, this would be a perfect way for you to demonstrate your good faith."

Before he'd even finished speaking, Winokur found himself the target of more than one unfavorable gaze; Roxroy's was more cautionary than anything, the young fox taken aback and apprehensive about anybeast daring his Sword with such flagrant challenge, but Mona's went somewhat beyond that, containing perhaps an edge of ire and defensive challenge of her own. Vanessa too regarded the otter Recorder with a cautionary stare, and was the first to voice her response.

"You know that would never work, Wink. Urthblood just fought a small-scale war to get Latura; he'll not relinquish her after that. On this score, at least, I must agree with Tolar; these events lie beyond us now, and we must move forward and see where we go from here, recognizing the situation for what it is rather than what we might wish it to be. But it seems to me our swordfox friends now have a decision to make. If Urthblood should decide on further action against this Abbey, where will Foxguard stand?"

A dire silence settled over the table, and at all the tables around it with their own curious onlookers, in the wake of this all-important question being voiced. But it took Tolar only a few brief moments to compose his response.

"Abbess, I would never join in any attack, assault or action against Redwall without egregious provocation on your part. You would have to directly attack Foxguard yourselves before I would even contemplate such a thing. And even then I might seek a negotiated, diplomatic resolution to spare further bloodshed and loss of life. And to be frank, Abbess, I cannot envision such a scenario arising. You would never move against Foxguard, would you?"

"You seemed convinced, four seasons ago, that we had done just that, when Snoga attacked and you at first mistook them for Log-a-Log's Guosim, thinking Redwall and our allies might be moving against you to prevent the completion of Foxguard."

Tolar reared back in his seat as if slapped, bristling at being so brusquely confronted by this old incident. "A hasty rush to judgment in the heat of conflict on my part, I concede, and one made before I was even Sword. I'd like to think I've matured in my present role since then, and gained some greater appreciation of the responsibilities of leadership. Surely you can't still hold that against me?"

"Hold it against you? Perhaps not ... although it did distress me at the time that you could so easily think the worst of us. But even with your newfound maturity, things could still escalate. At this point, it's impossible to predict what Urthblood might do next. What we need to know, Sword, is whether, if that badger directly orders you to take part in any military action against Redwall - will you follow those orders? Or will you honor your professed friendship with us over and above your loyalty to Urthblood?"

"I ... cannot imagine the state of affairs you describe coming to pass, not even in light of all that has happened. You yourself just said you believe Lord Urthblood will not press the matter of Captain Scarbatta, now that he has the ratmaid he sought."

"I have been known to be mistaken, on occasion. But it's beginning to look as if Urthblood is very adept indeed at creating crises, and then directing and exploiting them for his own ends. If he decides further action against us suits his purposes, he could orchestrate events so that you're at war with us before you even realize that's what's happening."

"Then I shall simply have to remain especially vigilant, and always look to diplomatic viewpoints in all situations. But I will not participate in any war against Redwall unless Redwall strikes first. Would you ever strike first, Abbess?"

Nobeast else noticed how Winokur stiffened at this question, and looked searchingly to the Abbess as if this wording might hold special significance for her.

"I suppose that would very largely be a matter of definitions, Sword. And if we have Urthblood creating emergencies left and right and forcing conflict whenever he possesses ulterior motives for doing so, and then defining actions as he sees fit, he might very well maintain we have struck first, even if we have done no such thing."

"Then I would be forced to rely on my own, less fluid definitions. But I would not engage Redwall without compelling grounds that leave me no choice."

"Even if ordered?"

"If those orders ever come, Abbess, I shall have to consider them very, very carefully. And that is all I can say on the matter at this point."

Vanessa pursed her lips. "Fair enough. We have, admittedly, hit you with so much here today all at once, you can hardly be expected to absorb it all and issue any definitive or binding proclamations as to your future actions. I trust we have made a good start in that direction, however, and laid a solid foundation for further discussions and understandings."

"Abbess ... if I may ... "

Vanessa's gaze went to the vixen among them. "Yes, Mona?"

"I have been sitting here listening to your account of these events, and paying special heed to your voice and manner, and I am struck by one thing above all else. In the midst of these tumultuous events, leading up to armed conflict, you just ... miraculously came back to yourself, suddenly and completely? Fully recovered from your malady?"

The mouse gave a knowing, serene smile. "Yes, I suppose you could say there was something of a miracle to it. It was Latura, of course. Her gifts were quite genuine - as they must have been, if Urthblood considered her special enough to mount an expedition and engage in deception against his professed allies just to bring her to him. And her powers went beyond the merely prophetic; one touch from her was all it took to bring me back to myself, and allow me to resume my role as Abbess. For that alone, we owe Latura a great debt - and this casts Urthblood's actions into an even more negative light from our viewpoint, as you can surely understand."

"Yes, but ... " Mona's features screwed up as if the reality of Vanessa's return caused her discomfort. "In my youth, I was often told that my own healing talents were not entirely of this world ... that I was able to tap into some sphere beyond the physical, and know aspects of my patients' conditions which could not be known through mortal means. Given that, I would think I might at least have sensed the possibility of healing that this mere ratmaid has achieved ... "

"Perhaps I was hiding from you."

Mona was too shocked by this inappropriate frivolity to respond.

"You know how mischievous I was in my former state. If you failed to divine what Latura did, you are hardly to be blamed. And, as I trust we've already well established, this is no 'mere rat' we speak of here. Just as Urthblood sought her because he feared her power might rival his own, so did she open a door for me nobeast else could have, allowing me to step through and leave behind an existence as an addle-brained, impaired former Abbess. She is the reason I am here now."

"So," Mona probed further, "you attribute your recovery to the spiritual rather than the medicinal?"

"I suppose you could put it that way. This is Redwall, after all, and matters of the spirit have always loomed very large here."

"Still, the physical side of this rejuvenation must be studied as well. Abbess, when we finish here, I must perform a full examination on you up in the Infirmary, to make sure you are truly as hale as you appear, and that no hidden complications threaten your well being."

Again Winokur looked to Vanessa with a special significance not shared by any other, curious to see how the mouse responded to this imperative from the lands' most accomplished healerbeast.

Vanessa's snout merely wrinkled. "As I have said, this is Redwall, and I am Abbess here. I get to say who examines me and who doesn't - and I would also remind you, Mona, that I know a thing or two about the healing arts myself, being one of the more successful Infirmary keepers of recent generations before becoming Abbess."

Mona displayed an expression that was half-scowl and half-pout at this rebuff. Collecting herself to show proper deference, in tone if not in word, she responded, "The healer who treats herself has a fool for a patient. An old Northlands saying, Abbess. And I might caution that in spite of your own not inconsiderable expertise and knowledge in this area, perhaps you are too close to yourself to be fully objective? I would likely catch things you might miss."

"And just what kinds of ... things would those be?"

"Have Arlyn or Metellus checked your eyes, to make sure your pupils are dilating properly, and that there's no bloodiness or spotting? Have your ears been checked for ringing, loss of hearing, or discharge? Have you been made to stand on one leg or walk heel to toe along a straight chalk line to test your balance? Have your reflexes been tested at all? The brain and nervous system is a complex and tricky thing, Abbess, and symptoms in any of these areas could indicate more serious underlying problems."

"It seems to me I displayed a far more serious symptom than any of those for the past three seasons, and you had no clue what to do about it, so even if you did find some issue of concern, what would you do to treat it? I mean no disrespect or disparagement, Mona; I am merely reminding you of the uniqueness of my situation. But it's all moot anyway, for I can assure you that my vision and hearing are better than you can possibly imagine. And as for the rest ... " Vanessa's gaze went to Harth. "I'm sure you'll be hearing in good time about some of my more active exploits in the Infirmary this season which will leave no doubt as to the robust state of my balance and reflexes ... as much as I might wish to put that particular incident behind me."

Mona was clearly disheartened and disappointed by this firm dismissal of her medical concerns, but seemed content to let the matter rest, at least for the moment. Vanessa turned to Tolar. "So, Sword, now that we have fully appraised you of the happenings here at Redwall since your last visit, it's your turn to share with us the reason which brings you to us at this time."

The swordfox chieftain looked askance at the backpack leaning against his chair leg on the floor. "In all honesty, Abbess, after what's been covered here so far, my own announcement would prove somewhat anticlimactic, I fear, and come across as almost trivial. Perhaps we can delay that until the evening meal?"

"Oh, nonsense! After baiting our curiosity like that, you simply can't keep us waiting. Whatever your news happens to be, you can certainly share it with us now. I would insist on it."

Tolar's knit brow telegraphed his divided feelings over the choice facing him now, but at last he reached for the pack, untying the drawstring keeping it closed. "Very well. I'd hoped to unveil this latest labor of ours under happier circumstances, or at least ones less dark than I've found here, but I suppose it can't be helped. At least I see Captain Grayfoot is present at one of the side tables, which is convenient, since this will directly impact him as well." The fox dipped into the open sack and, amid a rummaging of clinks, withdrew a dull, round ingot, of a size to fit nicely in a beast's palm, and held it up for all to see. "Abbess, friends, goodbeasts all, may I present to you ... the Realm!"

Whatever reception Tolar had hoped would greet his grand declaration must surely have surpassed the sea of silent, expectant and mystified faces regarding him and his exhibit now. Colonel Clewiston broke the silence, giving voice to the thought undoubtedly on the minds of many there, if expressed in his own unique idiom.

"The realm of blinkin' wot?"

Deflated, Tolar lowered his paw. "This, my friends, is the new unit of currency devised by Lord Urthblood to expedite and make uniform all trade in Mossflower and the Northlands."

"Currency?" Winokur repeated, the word strange on his tongue.

"You mean ... money?" Geoff followed up, the last word falling from his lips like an imprecation of something unwholesome. "That is ... most curious, and unexpected ... "

"And a very odd thing to bring to Redwall," Vanessa added, "since we've no use whatsoever for such a thing here. In fact, it runs counter to pretty much all we stand for. Whatever made you - or Urthblood - suspect we would welcome anything like this?"

"In all honesty, Abbess, we had actually hoped that Redwall might agree to serve as a distribution point for this new currency. We were rather counting on it, actually."

"Distribution point?" echoed Geoff, seeming to catch Winokur's tendency of repeating what the Sword said.

"Yes. The way beasts come and go at this Abbey, it would ideally suit our purposes for this disbursement. As would Grayfoot's Tavern. We'd anticipated employing both - along with Foxguard itself - to help get the Realms out into the paws and pockets of Mossflower's general populace."

"Rats excepted, natch'rally," Harth bitterly commented.

Tolar ignored the rodent refugee at the table. "I understand that the timing of this overture may be rather inopportune if not downright awkward, but it seems fate has picked this moment and these circumstances for us, so I can only forge ahead in accordance with my own preparations, which were not tied in to the other events we've discussed here. I hope that you can keep an open mind about this, Abbess, and not be swayed or prejudiced against this effort due to the actions of some of my allies."

"How can we not be, Sword? This currency edict comes from your master - the very same master who personally ordered and sanctioned the treacherous abduction of a creature granted sanctuary here, and who was willing to use deadly force against us to get his way. However blameless you and your foxes may have been in all of that, you now speak on behalf of Urthblood, promoting another of his projects for purposes we can only guess at. These incidents leave us guessing whether we are now technically in a state of war with Urthblood, or whether to declare him an enemy of Redwall. Under such circumstances, it is absolutely out of the question that we partake in any scheme of his, even if in this case his aims may be benevolent. I'm sorry that you wasted the trip, but you'll just have to lug all these 'Realms' with you back to Foxguard."

"Unless you'd like us to lighten th' jolly load for you." Clewiston turned to Vanessa. "Should we confiscate the whole lot, marm? Call it reparations for our war dead?"

Tolar regarded the hare with a cold, narrowed gaze. "That, I would not allow."

But Harth was quick to pick up on the Colonel's suggestion. "We could hold 'em 'gainst Lattie's return. That badger might not care for creature's lives, but maybe he'll feel differently 'bout his riches." He stared hard at Tolar. "Most vermin would feel that way, at least. Might be a good way t' gauge his true measure, eh?"

"I don't recommend you try it." Tolar looked back to Vanessa. "Abbess, you wouldn't seriously consider this, would you? Because if you're not actually at war with Lord Urthblood at this moment, that's one act which would without doubt nudge things closer in that direction."

"Relax, Sword. We've no interest in your piles of ugly metal discs. Not as bargaining chips, and certainly not as tokens of exchange. If others elsewhere in Mossflower show the bad sense to buy into these 'Realms' and start ordering their lives around them, that's their own foolishness. But we'll be no part of using or spreading them - no part whatsoever."

"I see." Tolar heaved what was likely the most resigned sigh heard at Redwall so far that season. "I had hoped for more, but then, I could never have anticipated finding what I did here. In light of everything, I suppose we should count ourselves lucky to have been admitted at all. Although I must correct you on one small point, Abbess: These Realms will not be going back to Foxguard with us. Or at least not all of them. If Redwall will not aid in their distribution, then that leaves more we will be depositing with Grayfoot at his tavern - and it will leave him as the primary distributor on this side of the Moss."

Winokur asked, "May I see that, please?" Tolar, after the slightest of hesitations, complied, passing the coin to the otter Recorder. Wink studied it, turning it over in his webbed paw. "It's rather ... dull. Not exactly something that screams of having value, is it?"

"Lord Urthblood forsook the use of silver or gold, or any other precious materials, for the production of the Realms. They are to be common currency, after all, used and exchanged by the common folk of the lands, not just the privileged. As such, they were never meant to look other than ... utilitarian. If they looked too much like treasures, their owners might be reluctant to part with them for goods - which would, again, rather defeat their purpose."

"Hmm. And I see a certain badger's profile prominently featured on one side, with a certain seaside mountain fortress depicted on the other. The detail is rather fine, but the choice of subjects makes me wonder why they weren't minted at Salamandastron rather than Foxguard. Are they all like this?"

"Yes, the design is uniform. They were stamped to make them all as close to identical as possible, on presses Captain Custis brought with him from the coast. You must have seen them when you inspected their carts. He wasn't too happy about that, as he related that incident to me."

"At least now we know what all that metal they bore with them was for," said Geoff. "And that Custis spoke truthfully about it not being for weapons purposes. As for the presses, we did see a number of tools and devices strange to us, but we must have assumed they were either part of the Gawtrybe's forestry equipment, or else among the apparatus Trelayne would be using in his own work."

"Pass that trinket here a tic, wouldja, Wink chappie?" Winokur obliged by giving the coin to Clewiston, who screwed up his eyes as he examined it. "Hrmph - no hare of th' Patrols would grouse about seein' their traditional mountain home memorialized in such a fashion. An' as for the other face, I s'pose if you scrunch up your eyes just right, it could pass for Lord Urthfist, don'tcha know. But, we all know better, don't we?" Hauling back his arm without warning, he hurled the Realm clear across Great Hall, where it lightly clattered on the steps leading down to Cavern Hole.

Tolar favored Clewiston with a dour look of disapproval. "And just what did you hope to accomplish by that Colonel?"

"Just wanted to see how they fly. Right jolly well, as it turns out. Much better than your flippin' proposal surroundin' 'em did, wot? Mebbe we will ask you t' leave a pack or two of 'em with us after all - for 'distributing' as we see fit. We could use 'em to pelt any more treachery-minded squirrels who show their faces around here."

"That is not their intended purpose."

"P'raps not, foxchum, but anything you leave at Redwall will be used as Redwall bloody well sees fit. Sorry if that snarls your fur, but Abbey rights, don'tcha know."

"You've made your point, Colonel. Now please have one of your hares go retrieve Tolar's wayward Realm for him. I'm sure he'll be wanting it back for his trip to Foxguard, or Grayfoot's, or wherever his paws will carry him next." Vanessa turned to the fox. "I know this must hardly be the answer you were hoping for, Sword, but then, this was hardly the favor we'd expected to be asked. And if Lord Urthblood was truly counting on our cooperation in this, he certainly should have behaved differently toward us than he has so far this season, shouldn't he?"

"This much seems readily apparent, and entirely understandable. Will we at least be able to stay the night here, or would that be asking too much, in light of all that's happened?"

"You and your foxes are welcome to stay with us for as long as you like, since you have had no paw in these actions against us this season - and I suppose the same applies to your weasels as well, who have done nothing to violate our rules or hospitality. And of course Master Trelayne and his assistant, who have never been anything but polite and observant of our ways during their time with us. You must understand, Sword, our issues lie not with any of you, but with the campaigns plotted and orchestrated by your master - including this latest one with the Realms. As long as all of you continue to conduct yourselves as you have in the past, we will still regard Foxguard as a friendly neighbor, and you will remain welcome here."

"Well, that is a relief to hear, Abbess. We would have sorely missed the opportunity to rest up before we move out, and to enjoy a stay at Redwall, however strained relations may have grown in other areas. I'd not want to pass on a chance to visit with Lady Mina - assuming she feels up to socializing - and of course Roxroy will want to catch up with Winokur. Not to mention that Trelayne and Kyslith will need to make amends to Geoff and fashion a replacement figurine for him."

"On that score," Vanessa conceded. "they've no amends to make whatsoever, since blame for the ruination of their prior efforts falls squarely on me. But a replacement will be most welcome, with thanks from both me and Geoff."

"And I will be happy to spend another day or two tutoring Metellus in the healing arts," Mona volunteered. "We've not had any sessions since I was last here for Nameday, half a season and more ago, and I'll be very interested to see how he's progressing."

"He progresses better than ever," Vanessa assured the vixen, "now that I am once more in a position to help Arlyn with his training. I hazard he may no longer need to make any more trips to Foxguard for that purpose, now that he has two teachers here."

"Oh." It seemed to everybeast looking on that Mona was not as crestfallen or piqued by Vanessa's tone of implied rebuff as might be expected of her. "Perhaps it is for the best. It is hardly a convenient journey, all the way across the Moss, and with everything going on these days ... "

The young badger in question, seated alongside Mona, patted her arm in solidarity. "Don't worry, Madam Mona. I've learned so much from you already, and value our time together greatly. I will always make room in what I'm doing for more lessons with you, whether here or at Foxguard."

Mona patted his paw. "Thank you, Metellus. We'll see what comes of it, then, won't we?"

"Since you didn't bring your whole brigade," Vanessa said to Tolar, "I'm sure we can find room for you to dorm down in Cavern Hole. Our visiting mouse and vole and badger guests might not be accustomed to sharing accommodations with foxes and weasels, but then neither were we, until recent seasons. We'll start getting your bedding together, so that it will be ready for you by nightfall."

"That is greatly appreciated, Abbess. It is heartening to know that even in such troubled times, Redwall's ways of understanding and openmindedness endure."

"Let it always be so, may we hope."

The meeting broke up then, with each group of beasts going their own way to pursue their respective interests: Mona conferring with Metellus and Arlyn on healers' matters; Trelayne and Kyslith gravitating toward Geoff to discuss firing up the outdoor kiln to craft another sculpture of the former Abbot; and Tolar calling aside Grayfoot to work out the logistics of distributing the Realms through the ferret's tavern. Roxroy moved to seek the company of his favored otter friend, but Winokur indulged the momentary patience of the junior swordfox and instead hastened after Vanessa upon seeing that she meant to head off on her own, away from anybeast else. Catching up to her at the bottom of the spiral staircase leading to the first dormitory level, he called out, "Abbess ... Nessa ... "

"Yes, Wink?"

He glanced around to make sure nobeast could overhear, belatedly realizing how unfounded such a concern was owing to the other's spectral awareness of all things within the Abbey. "What are we to make of this? All Tolar's foxes coming here, and with all those weasels no less, at this of all times. What are they up to? How does this fit in with Urthblood's recent moves against us? It can't be coincidence."

"This time, that's exactly what it is. You see how much coinage they brought with them; that all took a long time, and a tremendous amount of effort, to produce. They just happened to finish the task and journey here while we were still reeling from the Latura affair. And he would hardly have brought along Trelayne and his assistant, or Mona, or Roxroy for that matter, if he'd harbored nefarious designs. This timing is as awkwardly innocent as Tolar claims."

"Can we be sure? Urthblood plans pretty far ahead. What if this business with the Realms is just another cover story, like Matowick's ruse of false negotiations so he could get at Lattie? These swordfoxes are some of Urthblood's most formidable fighters, and this story has gotten them inside our walls ... " Winokur looked severely discomfited by what he was suggesting. "I mean, Rox would never lift a blade against any of us, but I don't know if the same could be said for all of Tolar's foxes - not with certainty. Or those weasels either."

Vanessa gave another of the secret smiles she was so good at these days. "Ah, but we have a secret weapon now that we didn't have when Matowick pulled the wool over our eyes."

"Oh? What?"

"An Abbess who knows beasts' minds. I was probing Tolar constantly just now, and if he were playing us false, I'd have known it in an instant. He really is here because of the Realms - and I sense he is less than delighted about the whole thing himself."

"Well, that's a relief. But I still find it hard to believe they didn't know anything of what was going on in the Western Plains. I've been up there, and the views are pretty much all-encompassing, in every direction. Custis and his squirrels surely must have seen the battle unfolding, and much of our pursuit as well. Could he really have kept his fox hosts completely in the dark about all of that?"

"It appears so. Who can say what orders Foxguard's Gawtrybe had from Urthblood? If they even realized it was a battle - if they even fully understood what was going on - they may well have been under orders not to share any of their observations with Tolar. In fact, this could be the very reason Custis insisted on having only his Gawtrybe take the towertop watches. And, as we've seen, Tolar has been quite busy with other things, to the tune of packfuls of Realms - not to mention however the Purge may be unfolding on their side of the Moss." She paused. "But in a way, I think Tolar's arrival at this juncture may prove especially providential for us."

"Oh? In what way?"

"As I probed Tolar for truthfulness during our discussions, I touched upon a deep dissatisfaction. One which leads me to believe things between him and the Gawtrybe are not as cordial or cooperative as he would have us think. And now that he has learned of Urthblood's most recent actions, he is left wondering about his standing with that badger as well. It's too soon to tell whether this might be the germ of some genuine rift between them, but if my gambit with Latura fails and Urthblood surmises my paw in it, we could be left in a very bad spot indeed. This is one possibility we may be forced to exploit to the fullest."

"A ... rift? Between Foxguard and Urthblood? Tolar would never let that happen! And neither would Urthblood! He needs his fox fortress in Mossflower too badly, and Tolar needs that badger's approval to have legitimacy! That brigade and its training wouldn't exist without Urthblood, and neither would Foxguard!"

"Perhaps Tolar seeks a different kind of legitimacy - one that places greater value on a friend and ally just across the river than an aloof Badger Lord all the way out on the Western Shore. It seems Urthblood already pursues a path which alienates his present Sword, and if Tolar comes to feel sufficiently undermined and taken for granted, it may take no more than a nudge or two on our part to capitalize on his complex of estrangement." Vanessa turned and started up the stairs. "In case you've forgotten, I can be very ... persuasive."