Chapter 25
Minds of Ink
There is no friend as loyal as a book. -Ernest Hemingway
When Egil awoke from his sleep he was almost disappointed that he did not dream of the eagle again.
After his arrival into Floret (and that initial bell-ringing experience) the ferret had settled into a strange place, both physically and mentally. It only took a bit of digging around to know that ferrets had not been welcome in Southsward until just a few seasons ago. Rikart Spikespine, the current leader of all Southswarder military forces, was very insistent that vermin should be allowed to serve in his armies, and his superiors did not have the heart or mind to oppose him. King Willem was convinced, as usual, and Kiormund's uncle gave his approval as well. However, there were simply no vermin to recruit... and so patrols into Mossflower became more common. In the end, though the streets of Floret were filled with Egil's kind, all the others were clad in blue uniforms, and he was still looked upon with suspicion by most of the city's inhabitants. It's the same as in Gystra...
The ferret's eyes slid over towards Kiormund, and he shook his head as his friend snored, muttering phrases of nonsense along the way. The last time they slept in the same room had been three seasons ago, and the otter's slumber had been less disturbed and less disturbing. A bit of Egil's heart tugged at him to ask if his friend was doing well at all, but his mind won out and he left his bed without disturbing him.
The change of attire that followed was a brief process. Within minutes Egil found himself in plainer clothing than what he had worn for the last few months - there would be fewer stares this way - but the ferret reasoned that he needed more layers in any case.
Shutting the door gently and stepping out of the room, Egil wondered if he could go for some food from the pantries, but before he could wonder which pastry he would seize first he heard his name being called out from up front.
"You're awake!" said Arni, catching up to his brother. "You've been sleeping later and later, hm?"
"This is my first time travelling so far from home!" exclaimed Egil. "Well, the first time that I wasn't being carried around by Mother. Hard to keep up with the train of beasts."
"I can't believe even Kiordan wakes earlier than you. You'd not expect one as old and lofty as him to last on so little sleep, huh?"
"Some beasts sleep too lightly for their own good," mused the younger ferret. "Especially when travelling. One must rest well!"
"I'll make sure to heed your advice once I get moving again," replied Arni as he nodded. "I think I'll remain here for another day or two, but I've got somebeast to escort, and I'm afraid none of us can really wait that long."
"I think Kiormund would feel good about returning up there, but in winter?" Egil shuddered. "He'll freeze on the way."
"I wasn't talking about your friend," huffed Arni. "It concerns a squirrel princess who might disturb all proceedings when all the important beasts try to talk things through. I can't think of anything worse that could happen than a beast full of themselves butting in the midst of the proceedings. I'm no noble or diplomat, but even I can see how that would ruin everything."
"Well, somebeast could die in the midst of the proceedings. That would be worse, right?"
"You're right," Arni shrugged. "That would indeed be worse. The point is, once I'm gone it's just you and Father… and if you go with your friend to Helskerland he won't be able to accompany you."
"Why not?"
"When I asked him he refused to give me a straight answer. I think it might have something to do with Mother, but she has only been there once… ah well, this is not for me to know."
Egil winked. "I'll ask him when I go back."
"Great. Hopefully there will be a feast tonight - one last celebration before both of us leave Floret." The older of the two ferrets chuckled. "That's pretty fortunate timing - I don't think this place likes us that much!"
It took Kiormund another hour to wake up, get up and groom himself, and by the time he was done Egil was waiting outside the door.
"Sorry, I was just having more dreams," said the otter, yawning.
"Bad ones?"
Kiormund shook his head. "Good ones, actually."
"Tell me about them," replied Egil.
"Well, I was back at Redwall," muttered the otter. "And then there was…"
"What?"
"Doesn't matter. Anyway, my grandfather and I had quite the time as we practiced."
"Practiced?" asked the ferret. A nod followed from Kiormund as he started walking along the corridor, grinning while Egil tried to keep up with the taller beast's strides. "There is a limited number of interpretations of what that means, and I think the Emperor would be interested in fewer of them."
Kiormund rolled his eyes. "No, I don't mean anything like that! It's just… never mind. Would you like to go have an adventure in the library with me? If Daghild allows it…"
Egil grinned. "Of course! Where is it?"
The otter spent the next few moments in silence before his mouth opened once more. "Apparently Daghild has her own tower - we could go ask her for access up there, right?"
"That should be how it works. But first, food!"
Breakfast was simple - most of the other notables of Castle Floret had already eaten. Anezka Highwind was the only beast in the small hall, and Kiormund made sure to give her a wide berth. They sat down at the opposite corner, carrying plates stacked with bread and pastries, and they departed almost immediately before anybeast could ask them awkward questions.
The climb up Daghild's tower was arduous, but after their journey up the Belltower, Egil felt like he could effortlessly manage the smaller spire. He was wrong about the 'effortless' part, but when he reached the top he did not feel tired at all. Kiormund, having been on a ship and stuck in the castle for so long, was of course another story.
"Here-" the otter panted, "here we are. The- the tower."
"Hello there, you two," said a mole, clad top to bottom in red-tinted white. She wrote in a large book in front of some cloth curtains, sunlight streaming from their gaps. "You brought a friend, Kiormund. What knowledge brings you two here today?"
"We're just here for fun…" answered Kiormund, wincing as he realised the lack of quality of his answer. "Erm… that's it."
Egil decided to help. "We're going to read up on the histories of faraway places." He shot Kiormund a glance. "Do you have books about Helskerland?"
Daghild blinked. "Fiction or non-fiction? We have more of the latter, but previous kings, stewards and archivists housed some stories in this collection as well."
"What stories are there about the islands?" asked Kiormund, rubbing his cheek.
"Travrikans are good story-tellers," mused Daghild as she stood up from her seat. "Your father must have told you about it, being so proud of his heritage. There's Hadagrim and Eucherius - both the Travrikan and Otharnic versions, but there's also the Story of the Shields, and the Tale of Erlend Streambattle." Seeing Kiormund's eyes widen she chuckled. "No, this one's the great-grandfather of the one you know. And also dead."
"I know that," said the otter.
"I'd be surprised if you didn't - your great-uncle commissioned it."
"I've read that and the shield one, and I remember bits and pieces of Hadagrim and Eucherius." Kiormund turned to his friend. "Egil, have you read any of those?"
"All three!" replied the ferret. "But I could reread that one. Any works of history and geography you could recommend for us?"
"I could go scour the archives, but I think you might have to wait. The shelves can get a bit too tall for us moles," said Daghild as she disappeared across a doorway. "The book you want is to the right, by the way."
The pair were swift to locate the tome - one of the lighter ones on the bookcase, in fact - and they laid it out on one of the large desks to the side as they sat on a couch that was large enough for an otter to sleep on. "This is the Travrikan version." Egil shifted his legs as he turned to Kiormund. "You've only read the Otharnic one, right?"
"I've read both, actually!" replied the otter, frowning. "But mostly the Otharnic one. Could we start this one? We could read until Daghild comes back out again with her pillar of books."
Egil flashed a smile. "Can you imagine her stumbling around, with six or seven books stacked on her paws? It's a wonder she can see where she's going with all the books in front of her!"
Kiormund looked at his friend for a few long moments before a short, shrill laugh burst forth from his lips.
The two scanned through the first pages of the book quickly. "On Hadagrim son of Ingulf, Sigurd son of Tiodrik chosen King of Travrik, The Two Armies Line Up on the Glorr…" Kiormund frowned. "Where's that?"
"A river in Travrik," answered Egil. "Your father studded it full of forts so that any Southswarder advance could be repelled with ease."
Kiormund nodded. "That would explain where the money goes. Where does Eucherius show up in the story? It's looking like this version is thicker than the one I read."
"It's Travrikan, and so was Hadagrim. It makes sense that they would expand upon his backstory… though not so much as to develop him fully."
The otter dipped his head. "Oh yes… Travrikans. Oh look, Eucherius!"
Egil giggled. "Finally, everybeast's favourite fox! And it only took a fifth of the book to get to the titular character."
Kiormund lifted his head up. "Hey, at least it wasn't a third. Happened to me once in Redwall."
For the next few moments the two continued to read from the tome, laughing at how Eucherius had to hide Hadagrim in Castrum Insularum to avoid the Travrikan king's beasts, when Daghild returned with a single book clutched in her paws.
"You would be mad if you thought I was going to hand every single old book to you on a platter," said the mole. "Here you go, The Old Traveller's Pawbook."
"You think this will help me learn how to rule?" asked Kiormund. "Knowing history is important, right?"
"It is, but you'll be advised well - your aides can teach you all about the past. The present proves far more important, does it not? What is a ruler's first and foremost duty, if not to know what problems your subjects face and try to solve them?"
The otter nodded, first once and then twice, before going back to the book with nary a word. Shrugging, Egil followed his friend.
Every moment spent inside a book felt like an hour to Egil, and he would not have it any other way. However, the pair did not even manage to finish a third of the book before another beast rapped on the door.
"Enter," said Daghild, not looking up from her own book.
The door opened, and a slim otter stepped through the doorway, dull green eyes trained at Kiormund. "I'm here for my pup." He winced. "And for you. Council meeting."
"Is that so?" asked the mole. "Very well." The archivist took off her spectacles and stood up. "I seem to have forgotten the time. Leave the book on the desk - I'll put it back where it belongs after all is said and not done."
"Not done?" asked Egil.
"You've never been to a council meeting in Southsward before, ferret?" asked the older otter, shaking his head.
"He hasn't, Father," answered Kiormund, looking up from his seat. "This is his first time here, remember?"
"Ah yes, of course," replied Erlend. "Let's go, shall we?"
Kiormund nodded as he got up from his seat and Egil followed, but his father reached out a paw. "Today's business does not concern you, ferret. Do continue with your book."
The younger otter paused as he looked at Erlend, but decided not to act as both of them walked through the doorway, followed by the Archivist. "The same rules apply," she said to Egil. "No eating or drinking or colouring- the print isn't expensive, but I have standards to maintain. And no notes on the margins either. That is distinctly my prerogative. Thank you."
Egil nodded as the mole shut the door behind him and returned to the tome. His eyes scanned through lines of Old Travrikan, pausing at times to wonder what a verb meant before continuing on through the story. His claw trailed through the words, pointing at the notes previous Archivists had made (the penmanship was too unrecognisable to be Daghild's) and he wondered if he could devote himself to books for the rest of his life. But long before he could get to the fateful clash between the two protagonists there was a firm rap on the door.
The ferret spun around and opened the way, and in came a dishevelled Kiordan, buttons on his shirt loosened and fur uncombed. "It's just you?" asked the otter, looking around the bookcases.
A nod came from Egil. "It's just me."
"Ah. Have you seen Daghild? I wanted to talk to her about… things."
"Council meeting," replied the ferret. "Kiormund went with her."
"Leaving you alone…" mused the emperor, grabbing a seat and setting it next to Egil. "With nothing but an old book."
"Hadagrim and Eucherius."
"A tale loved by many," said the otter as he nodded. "Though not by me."
Egil turned to the otter. "Are you sure you've read it?"
"Erlend gave my daughter a copy. Wedding present. I don't know if she read it, but my curiosity got the better of me… but the prose did not flow the right way at all. I would have much preferred a good sirventes."
The ferret nodded. Kiordan had grown up in Garlesca, the land where lemons grow, and where wandering singers sought patronage at the halls of lords, castellans and serving warriors.
"But still, it makes sense why one would be fascinated by this tale. It's a window to the past, when the old empire was being supplanted by the new."
Egil nodded. "I cannot pass up the opportunity to explore a different time and place."
"Then you're doing rather well for yourself, I'd say." Kiordan chuckled. "One of my best friends went south to Kalopolis to study… do you wish to follow in his pawsteps?"
Egil smiled and nodded. "If you allow it, I suppose."
"It's less a matter of 'me' and more of a matter of Gregorios. He's been sulking ever since I managed to keep Trazond in my grasp. He has not banned Imperial students from seeking knowledge in the Stoudion, but it would not surprise me if the military aristocracy forces his paw. Anyway, who knows what goes on in a head under a crown?"
Egil gave the old otter a pat on the shoulder. "You know that better than anybeast."
"Precisely." Kiordan dusted off his cloak. "And don't touch me again."
Egil nodded, his face flushing. "Understood."
The pair sat in silence for a few short moments before Kiordan opened his mouth again. "Did little Kio pick the book?"
"How did you guess?"
"I think you've read this at least a dozen times already."
"He wanted something to do with Helskerland."
"Ah yes," said Kiordan. "The duty of Eucherius, now split between the city that bears his name and the now-vacant lordship. Tell me, out of the two title characters, who had the right? Who had the right to see the other dead before their footpaws? Who had the right to gaze gratefully on a new dawn? Who had the right to hold the islands, the jewels of the strait?"
Egil put a finger to his head before slumping down on his chair. "I don't know, they both died at the end… the story was supposed to be a metaphor on how glories don't necessarily outlive the beasts who created them. A subversion of the most common Travrikan cliches."
"Yes, but we are quite sure that Eucherius did exist - multiple sources have his name in them, and one of them mentioned Hadagrim as well. Granted, two decades passed before any of their names appeared in any source, but these old documents are not useless to us."
The ferret wondered for a few more seconds before he decided to respond with a question of his own. "Does it matter who has the right?"
"Not for us, not yet. But our little lord Blerun has received dispatches from Gystra - both territories have sent delegations to the city, and the Watch is having remarkable success preventing them from spilling each other's guts into the Udso estuary."
Egil winced. "That is an accomplishment, I suppose?"
Kiordan nodded. "Before we departed I instructed your father to keep an eye on both envoys once he arrives in Gystra, but I don't think he heard of anything. I trust him to keep a low profile, being the only beast who is distrusted by both Eucherians and Helskers in equal measure, but I often have to hope that he has not dug himself into a hole I cannot rope him out of this time."
"He's a resourceful beast-"
"But sometimes skills are not enough. The tallest lynx cannot pluck the stars from the sky, the strongest badger cannot fight a landslide. I cannot protect everybeast, and especially from themselves. Keep an eye on Kio, will you?"
"I'll do that. Well, I'll try my best - you can be sure of that!"
"Try?"
Egil nodded. "My father taught me it's all a free beast can do."
Kiordan rubbed the side of his muzzle as he dipped his head. "So it is… but he's just a bit richer than a free beast, eh? He's not exactly been trying hard enough."
"Just because he had to flee from two separate places in five seasons doesn't mean-"
"I know, I know. I should know better than to bring up other beasts' pasts, especially the painful bits." The otter pointed at the book Egil was holding. "I'd much appreciate my stories being told only after I'm too dead to complain about it."
Egil decided to ask a question. "Do you think your daughter would let such a book be published, Your Majesty?"
"Never thought about it, and it probably doesn't matter." Kiordan took a deep breath. "Your father should know that daughters are a real pain in the tail, even more than sons."
The ferret's expression soured. "Lora's not always on speaking terms with Father."
"Oh. I shouldn't have brought that up." A grin reappeared on the otter's muzzle. "So… would you like to finish the book together? Southswarder council meetings have a reputation of going on for a few eternities, and your friend wouldn't return for a while."
Egil smiled. "I don't see any reason not to!"
"Wonderful. Might have to be a bit quick - I have to go to bed early, and dream up more ferrety friends of Kio's."
"You need not bother, Your Majesty." The young ferret pointed at himself. "Surely we have all the ferrets we need?"
"If there's one thing about your kind I know more than anything," said Kiordan, chuckling under his breath, "it's that nobeast can turn down more of you!"
"You wouldn't mind me grabbing my brother for this then?"
"Not at all."
"Wonderful!" With a grin on his face Egil marched down the steps, eager to spend one last day with Arni before they were to part once more.
C/N: It feels good to receive a point of view chapter once in a while. Don't worry, Kio, it'll be your turn soon - living with me has its benefits!
The author would greatly appreciate reviews and inquiries, and... huh, that's it? I expected to have more to say... but I'm not terribly annoyed with what I have here. Goodbye, goodnight and enjoy the next chapter, coming up sooner than you would expect!
