Thirteen views. And I'm not sure whether I can call Hamlet's review a review, though it was greatly appreciated. I'll see what I can do, Hamlet, but I can't promise anything.

Anyway, this is the next chapter, and while it's shorter than most it is necessary. Enjoy!

5

Exiting the cabin, Leek made his way through the throng of evacuating vermin, heading toward the gangplank. Reaching it, he quickly trotted down to the main deck of the Traitor, heading in the direction of his own cabin.

Inside he had placed a large, extravagant bed, complete with curtains, a bulky chest in one corner, a rack for the hanging of his attire before bed, and a round table with chairs situated in the middle of the room. He walked over to the chest and unlocked it with a key hung round his neck. Opening it a crack, he tossed in the pouch that he had relieved from the hare captain, and shut and locked it again.

Turning, he stepped over to the chairs and sat down. Upon the table there was a beaker of seaweed grog, a few drinking bowls, and some cold roasted meat. The makeshift table cloth was a collection of maps, which allowed the general to chart the corsair fleet's course over lunch.

Leek leaned back to wait for his captains to arrive, allowing his mind to wander to other things that had led to this event.

Three seasons earlier . . .

Leek watched from the shore boat of the Traitor as the galley burned itself to the surface. He waited until the last flame had been extinguished, and then turned to the stoat that held the oars.

The creature responded by rowing the boat out among the wreckage, a few other boats following suit. They were to look for anything useful, whether it were riches or slaves. Anything found was to be brought to one of the captains, and later to Leek, to be looked over. If it was deemed worth anything, then it was either stored in the chest or chained to the oars. If it was not . . .

"General! Tha's a beast clingin' to tha' bit o' wreckage. Should I fish 'im out, or run 'im through?"

Leek turned his head in the direction the stoat was pointing. A sea otter was indeed holding on for dear life to what was left of a table. From what could be seen of him from above water, he was rather finely dressed, and the badge on his sleeve denoted him as the second mate.

Correction, Leek thought to himself, ex-second mate. Out loud he said, "Yes, fish him out. He'll be a strong one, might even replace Number 7. Plus, he may be able to give us some information on the next trade ships that are coming."

"Righ', then, General." the stoat replied, and proceeded to gather the net from the bottom of the boat. Throwing it over the otter, he began to pull the creature in.

Instantly, the beast sprang to life, struggling against the unexpected snare. Leek quickly moved to help the stoat keep a hold of the strong creature. Pulling it aboard, they tied his paws together, and removed the net.

The otter immediately tried to roll out of the boat, but was halted by the thwack of an oar. He lay there, glaring up at his captures with hatred etched upon his face.

Leek chuckled. "Well, well," said he, "quite a fighter, aren't you, sir? Nice to see a bit of umph in a beast."

"Scoundrels!" the otter yelled. "Thieves, murderers! Vermin! Just wait, you'll be sorry you dared to attack an honest vessel! You'll wish you had left us alone, corsairs! You wait, you'll have all of Redwall's warriors on your tail!"

Leek just smirked at the angered creature. "I would think you would have a lot more to worry about then what will be happening to me. And I could care less about having another group of warriors after me; it's not like the others have caused us much trouble yet."

"Don't be so quick to judge, traitor." the otter seethed. "The creatures of Redwall may be peaceful, going so far as to allow any to enter their walls in peace, even vermin. But play them foul, and you'll soon be wishing you had never been born!"

Though Leek had been trying to ignore the otter, this latest piece of information almost alarmed him. Turning to the angered creature, he asked casually, "Really, you expect me to believe that? Where in the world could such a place as you describe be located?"

The otter smirked at him; there was a snap, and the captured beast sprang upon him, nearly casting him from the boat.

Leek quickly did a backwards somersault, rolling clear of his attacker. He drew one of his knives, intending to slash the creature's eyes out, so as to disable it without killing it.

The otter leaped up, and charged at the mouse. But before he reached him, a cutlass blade protruded from the center of his tunic, and he fell dead on the bottom of the boat.

For a moment, Leek stared down at his fallen adversary. Then he looked up at the stoat, who was still holding his blade. Anger surged through the general. "You fool!" he shouted. "What did you do that for?"

The stoat looked confused. He had expected a congratulations. "He was try'n ta kill ya, sire. So I stabbed 'im through the mi'le."

"That beast had valuable information!" the pirate mouse roared. "Don't you realize the implications of such a place as he described existing! We have enough trouble with the OPG and G.B. on our tails!"

The stoat began to rattle off excuses, but Leek cut him off. "Just get me back to the ship. I must discuss this with the captains."

The minute he was back on board, Leek ordered his captains sent to his cabin, and made hast to be there when they arrived.

When they had entered the room, he gestured them to sit down, doing so himself. As usual, his request was met with different results.

Izar the river otter immediately sat down. He was the most loyal of all Leek's crew, and was an expert with the spear. He was also the only other woodlander, which made him somehow inferior to the stupid vermin that populated the fleet. He wore much the same clothes as his superior, though it contrasted with his bright blue eyes.

Mordecai was a strongly built, dark brown rat. He never sat down. When once asked why, he had replied that to sit down was to be unprepared. No one ever saw him sleep, so it was believed he never lay down, either. Though younger than most of the crew, he was a tall as Izar, and his mind was sharp. He wore a long, black robe, which covered anything else he might have had on him.

Leek quickly reaccounted what he had learned. "If what he said about these creatures willingness to work with goodbeasts of any kind was true, then we must destroy this Redwall. We can't afford to risk anymore hindrances. From now on, I want every cabin that is looted searched for maps, every navigator that is imprisoned questioned, every captain we come across tortured. We must find this abbey's location before they decide to turn their forces against us."

Now, five seasons later, he sat in the same chair with the information he had so long been seeking. And now that he did, he didn't plan on wasting one second in carrying out his intentions.

The door opened, and his two captains entered. "You sent for us, sire?" inquired Izar.

Leek nodded. "Sit down. I have just returned from talking with the hare captain of the Grotil."

"Hm. Sounds like a rather one-sided conversation." Mordecai commented.

"Indeed." replied Leek. "But I didn't mind much. He happened to be from Redwall."

Izar leaned forward. "Does that mean what I think it does?" he asked eagerly.

Leek nodded. "He tells me our location is Mossflower Wood."

Izar started. "But that's wildcat territory! He must have been mistaken."

"You apparently aren't up on the latest news." Mordecai interjected. "A warrior mouse from the north took up with some of the woodlanders of the area and started a rebellion. After about two seasons, they demolished the castle of Kotir, and he killed the wildcat ruler." He paused, considering the matter at hand. "And if what this hare said was true, then it would seem that the victorious woodlanders built this Redwall."

"Then it is settled." Leek said. "We will head to Scale Isle to pick up supplies, and then toward Mossflower. We will soon crush this threat of the Redwall warriors once and for all!"

Hope you liked it, and if not, please let me know why, so that I may become a better author.

Good night! 10/2/2013