Sathe lightly danced on the tips of her footpaws down the smooth stone hallway. The kitchen had been almost sickly muggy, but it wasn't the shocking cold like the rest of the cursed abbey. Wrapping her cloak snugly around her, she pressed the baby squirrel tighter to her breast. Sathe didn't dare cover her head in case Sister Beryl saw and decided to grind the ferret into mulch. She held her tongue as the badger took a sharp turn brushing her meaty arm into Sathe's side. She shot her a hateful glance, but Sister Beryl didn't notice and continued her slow lumber forward. The filthy beast should watch where she's going!
Mildred drove the strange procession forward. She hummed a sweet tune that wriggled and writhed its way into Sathe's obstinate ear. Her light smile was lost on the worn and sullen faces that followed her. Even Mildred's joyous personality couldn't pierce the shadows that lay just beyond the comfort of torchlight. Her footpaw got caught on a slab of stone that jutted slightly out of the floor and she stumbled. Sathe stifled a cruel laugh as she lurched forward, before catching herself with her staff.
"I suppose that I am a bit-tired dearie." Mildred laughed as the young hare Egbert stepped over to help.
Sister Beryl shot Sathe a withering glare. The ferret could care less. With the baby squirrel in Sathe's clutches, the brute had both her paws bound behind her back. More importantly, the abbot: whom all the beasts in the abbey appeared to have an obsessive devotion to, must have known that Sathe was too important to be harmed. Mildred seemed to understand, which was why she had wisely helped Sathe when she needed it. If only the other Redwallers were smart enough to do the same. Sathe was still impressed by her ability to come up with such a brilliant lie about the baby squirrel on the spot.
That old fool! She thought as she released a silent sigh of relief. If that bug-brained mouse could fall for her ruse, then she could convince the rest of these weaklings as well. Perhaps she could enact some vengeance on the beast that had cuffed her earlier.
"How's the little'un dearie." Mildred bounded back to her from the front of the procession. Sathe quickly leapt from her thoughts of vengeance.
"Fine," she growled.
She hoped that her tone would scare off further conversation. It didn't.
"Wonderful! We've got but a few steps before we're in the infirmary then we can get to sleep!"
Sathe groaned.
The procession winded through the seemingly never-ending halls like the morning mist. Sathe thought she would die of boredom before the Redwallers killed her. One could only saunter through so many dimly lit corridors without wanting to claw their eyes out. Cavernous ceilings with pointed arches and ornate rose windows hanging like stalactites made the inside appear far grander than Sathe thought it should be. Aside from the rhythmic pattering of footpaws and the off-key clacking of locks as the vermin passed, there was a tranquil stillness to the place. Curious eyes blended into the walls and long shadows watched them wherever they went. Sathe wondered how many beasts lived in the abbey.
Crooksnout and the hares paid no attention, but Sathe shot any beasts she could find a wicked glare. Sneering and flashing her teeth to terrify whatever miserable creature fell into her claws. It was amusing to find pestering eyes and scare them into submission. Years of training on the brutes and whelps within the horde had transformed her into an expert. The Redwallers who had only heard the stories of murderous vermin warlords didn't stand a chance.
Sathe cackled as a mouse squeaked in terror as a door several paces in front of her slammed shut. The other beasts lazily turned their gaze toward the source of the noise, oblivious to the glorious battle Sathe had won. The ferret found it hard to hide the ghoulish smile from her face. Perhaps her stay in the abbey could be more enjoyable than she first thought. The badger and hares hadn't said anything, yet.
Besides, Sathe thought to herself. What's so threatening about a scared ferret taking care of a leetle squirrel?
Eager to return to her cruel game Sathe scanned the shadows that lay just before her searching for another unlucky fool. This time the victim found her. The procession was walking down a long corridor that diverged in opposite directions. The hallway to the left was dimly lit by the light of a far-off torch. To the right shadows and oppressive night engulfed all that entered. Sathe didn't think anything too unnatural until she noticed the furrowed brow and resolute eyes watching from the darkness.
Sathe opened her mouth in shock before quickly closing it and shooting the beast a scathing glare. Unperturbed, the eyes shone in bold acceptance of her challenge. Sathe slowed her pace as her face broke into a look of confusion. Every beast before had crumbled without much effort but this beast was different. She thought she recognized the eyes staring back at her.
The eyes noted a drop in her guard and struck with vengeance. Enraged, they bore into the trembling ferret, emitting an intense and searing glare that seemed to pierce through her very soul. The brows furrowed, and the narrowed eyes gleamed with fury, sending shivers down the spine of the terrified girl. Sathe could see nothing but anger and hatred for her and her alone. The beast wished to tear her apart or watch her writhe in agony for whatever reasons she couldn't understand. Worse, the eyes arrogantly mocked that they could get away with it and the vermin couldn't do anything to stop it. The surrounding darkness joined the game and seemed to surge back and forth like the tides before growing into a massive wave that threatened to crash atop her. Dark fear pierced her heart as she remembered the ambush and the vermin that had been banished from the deserters earlier that day.
Sathe felt a heavy body bump into her from behind and she shrieked in terror.
"Bloody Hell! What's the matter, wot!"
Sathe snapped around, her whiskers brushing the tunic of one of the hares. He looked down at her with a weathered frown. There were dark rings around his eyes and smelt of old straw. But he looked alert and ready to fight. His long ears twitched in a startled irritation. Sathe whipped her head around. The procession had halted, and every beast looked at her with troubled confusion.
"Is there a problem, ye dirty snake-tongued devil?" The hare asked once more. Sathe couldn't find her voice to answer.
"Something wrong dearie?" Mildred asked as she hobbled toward the startled ferret.
Sathe took a moment to rub her eyes and fix her grip on the squirrel who had begun to squirm. She looked back to where the beast was hiding but she couldn't see anything. The eyes were gone.
"Naw... me eyes wir playing tricks." She managed to stammer out.
Mildred gently took Sathe's paw, "Don't worry dearie the infirmary is just around the corner. Then ye can get the rest ye need."
Sathe didn't try to fight back as the squirrel led her to Sister Beryl at the front of the group. She didn't have the energy to play her game anymore. For some reason, she was more comfortable wedged between the old squirrel and the badger.
Sathe recognized the scent of the infirmary long before she saw it. Jars of dried herbs and moss sat atop stomach-high drawers which Sathe assumed to be filled with wrappings. Tall cabinets lined the walls, with small sandy-colored cards with soot-black writing detailing the contents within, some of the cards even had a flower or bud crudely glued to them. Sathe hadn't yet been taught to read, but she could smell the copious amount of mallow, mellowsweet, feverfew, and several other healing herbs stuffed in the cabinets. Tapestries yellowed with age hung over the top of a wide-legged oak table that was covered in a ring of flowers, roots, and fungi. In the heart of the kitchen, a spotless granite mortar and pestle stood tall, like an ancient boulder that time forgot. Sathe initially thought the tapestries were used rags. But upon closer inspection, she realized they were covered with detailed instructions for various ailments. Elaborate depictions of plants and herbs were woven into the threads with great care. Some of the tapestries looked like they had been in use for scores of generations. Others had depictions of plants Sathe had never seen before. Across the room, a quaint bed sat in the corner with a tightly folded red and black quilt tucked into the sides and a pillow akin to a cloud resting at its head. A nightstand with a red clay pitcher resting atop it sat next to the bed. Sathe thought the infirmary was too orderly to be real and she hated it. The seer couldn't fathom how these Redwallers could have a nicer infirmary than her! Her resentment surged once more.
"Sister Beryl, I hope there's a good reason for all this commotion!" A portly hedgehog chimed as Sathe ground her teeth trying to memorize one of the tapestries.
"First those three ruffians snuck from the nursery and woke the whole of Mossflower as a dirty joke! Then there's talk of a vermin horde and a battle at our gates when we don't have the vittles to survive the winter! Then I walked into the nursery and the same troublemakers woke the rest of the dibbuns with news of the vermin! The dibbuns were either crying or gathering weapons to fight, an I had to get them back to their beds! Then the Long Patrol started carrying vermin into my infirmary and the dibbuns became as rambunctious as an oiled-up eel! I haven't got a paw to help, and I haven't got a clue who to believe!"
The hedgehog's caramel eyes leaped in shock at the sight of the slender cloaked ferret.
"Martin save us! Redwall's under attack!" She shrieked.
"The abbey's not under attack, Sister Lilac." Sister Beryl responded with a voice like cool water.
"These are our guests. Abbot Micah would like them to be given the utmost care. I've brought-"Mildred added before being interrupted.
"Why would the abbot make such a stupid decision! Doesn't he know that we haven't gotten enough food? An since when have we helped vermin? We don't even know if they've-"
"The head mouse said so! An you can't do anything about it!" Sathe snapped at the hedgehog. She had already lost her limited patience with this beast.
Sister Lilac looked like she might collapse in fright. The hedgehog was shorter than every beast in the room, but she was as wide as she was tall. She wore a striped rose-colored gown with an apron the color of sea foam tied around her large waist. Her spikes jutted out behind her like the heavily ladened willow. Sathe initially had to cover her nose as the room was filled with an overpowering scent of lilac and rosemary which she had managed to trace back to the healer. The hedgehog looked spotless, Sathe's critical eye couldn't find a single spot or crease on her rags. She thought the fat hedgehog was as annoying as Herrik but with a slim bit more brains than him. Unfortunately, every time Lilac seemed to open her mouth a waterfall of nonsense cascaded from it.
Sister Lilac looked about searching for some beast to defend her. The rest of the party of hares and vermin had made its way into the room.
"Bite yer tongue ye numpty jelly-legged leech!" The hare that had crashed into Sathe earlier snapped.
"Shuddup ye long-eared oaf!" She snapped back.
"Enough or you'll both be sleeping outside!" Sister Beryl bellowed at the two of them.
"They're sick and need rest. Abbot Micah said they'll be staying in the infirmary until they get better." Mildred stated to Sister Lilac, attempting to move past the insults.
"There are also several littluns that could use a place to sleep." She continued smiling sweetly at Crooksnouts kits who stared back with worried expressions.
Sister Lilac looked at the kits and pursed her lips in thought. "I don't want to be responsible for these dibbuns in my nursery. I've already had enough fuss tonight without 'em. They'll only lead to more trouble."
Crooksnouts disappointment was evident but when he opened his mouth he was sharply cut off.
"I was hoping they'd be able to stay with their parents. I asked only to get your expert opinion." Mildred said with a curtsey before beckoning Sathe over to her.
"There's also the trouble with this squirrel they rescued." the old squirrel said as Sathe approached. She instantly regretted it.
"What! Where is it? Give it to me!" Sister Lilac snapped. Sathe's delicate nose wrinkled in scorn, her lips curling as if a foul odor had invaded her senses.
"No, the abbot says the baby's fine and yew hav' tah listen tah him!"
"Now you listen here vermin!" Sister Lilac said as she waddled over to Sathe. "The abbot might be the head of this abbey, but I am the head of this infirmary and nursery! Any beast that wants help will be seen to by me, especially dibbuns!"
Sathe was tired of these woodlanders making a show of what little they were. If they knew who she was they would grovel at her footpaws for mercy. She opened her mouth to curse them all when Sister Beryl's strong paw gently touched her shoulder.
"Just show her the squirrel." Sister Beryl's hot breath whispered in her ear. Her tone sent a shiver down Sathe's spine.
Refusing to look at the hedgehog, Sathe slowly pulled the baby squirrel free from beneath her cloak.
"Don't wake it up hedgepig!" She mumbled under her breath.
Sister Lilac quickly plucked the baby squirrel from her arms and turned away from Sathe.
"My goodness! I thought the ferret was lying just to get a rise from the Abbot! Poor thing looks famished, nasty brute must not have been feedin' ye."
"I fed it all I had!"
"Which was?"
"Err... just a few berries."
The hedgehog shook her head without looking at Sathe. Anxiously the ferret followed her to a small table where she laid the squirrel on its back. Gently unwrapping the babe from its snug swaddling, she cradled it in her arms as its cries filled the air. Sister Lilac quickly checked the squirrel's eyes, nose, mouth, and ears before pulling on the squirrel's arms and legs. The squirrel wailed as it was further poked and prodded by the hedgehog, before being rewrapped and handed back to Sathe.
"What didja ye do that for? It took me all day tah stop this thing from crying!" Sathe was irate as she tried rocking the baby to silence.
"I just made sure you didn't hurt it. The baby's malnourished but you seem to be in a similar shape. I do wonder who you had to slay to get it."
"We found it in the snow yew stupid hedgepig! Why would I starve myself over a filthy squirrel!"
"Since the littlun's healthy let's all get to bed before we kill each other!" Sister Beryl snapped, sensing the impending fight.
"There's no room in the nursery for anybeast, squirrel or not. I believe Mildred can lead you to your beds. Now I've got to tell the dibbons why we have vermin living in the Abbey! What a wonderful mess that will be for me!" Sister Lilac turned on her heel and stormed out in a huff.
Sathe watched her leave, adding her to a long list of beasts she would strangle when given the chance. The baby still wailed but the rocking seemed to be working and gradually the cries subsided to a peaceful sleep.
"I'm sorry about her sweeties. It's been a long night for all o' us." Mildred said as she closed the door after Sister Lilac. "How about we hop off to bed, wot!"
An audible groan of agreement echoed throughout the infirmary.
"Where's me mate?" Crooksnout asked.
"She should be just down the hall, third door on the left. There's a chair in the corner but it's not good for sleeping. Unfortunately, there's not enough space for another bed but I can have Egbert and Corporal Thistlewick move my rocking chair into the room. It's covered in pillows and should be big enough for all of you."
"An what if I wanna sleep in a bed?" Crooksnout asked, eyeing her oddly.
"Then you can sleep in the dungeon." Mildred smiled.
"I'll take yer chair." Crooksnout quickly responded.
"Wonderful!" Mildred clapped her paws together.
"Could you two please show these sweethearts to their room? You'll pass by mine while you're headed to it." Mildred continued, spinning about on her toes directing the two hares about.
Egbert and the hare Sathe had collided with earlier frowned. Sathe suspected they'd never intended on becoming this squirrel's servant, and the thought of helping Crooksnout make his bed made their stomachs spin. Sathe stuck her tongue out at them as they led Crooksnout and his kin out of the room. Mildred followed closely behind
"Where am I sleeping?" Sathe asked as she followed the squirrel.
"All of the private rooms are full. However, there are a few open beds just past them." Mildred said as she leaned against her staff. "I can take you there now if you'd like?"
Sathe's nod was heavy with exhaustion, her eyelids drooping as if the weight of the past fortnight had settled upon them. She longed for the comfort of sleep more than anything. A nagging worry crept through her thoughts, fearing the squirrel babe might awaken while Sathe would be asleep. She brushed the worry aside; Sathe didn't expect to wake up anytime soon.
Without a word, she simply closed her eyes and followed Mildred down a long corridor lined with torches and doors. Sathe brushed into Corporal Thistlewick, who was in the middle of hauling the rocking chair into Silvertongue's room. He muttered a few choice words to her; Sathe ignored him suddenly too tired to fight.
The end of the corridor opened to a large rectangular hall. The hall had a little under a score of beds lined on either side of it. The only light came from the torches outside the private rooms. Tall windows between the beds silently shuttered from the muted wind. Sathe couldn't tell if beasts were laying in any of them, but she couldn't find the energy to care.
"Here sweetheart there's a basket you can put the baby in for the night," Mildred said as she turned toward a bed around halfway down the hall. There was a small nightstand next to it with a baby-sized basket filled with soft grasses and a vase filled with mossflowers on top.
Sathe gingerly placed the squirrel down and sat on the bed. It was as soft as a bed of swallow feathers, and she could feel her eyes working harder and harder to stay open.
Mildred rummaged through a chest a few paces away from Sathe, before pulling out a long sky-blue nightgown and handing it to her.
"We don't have any ferret-sized, but this is good enough for an otter." Her voice was like soothing music.
"I'll let you change and get to sleep dearie, but I have a quick question." Mildred continued.
Sathe's eyes fluttered as she attempted to stay awake.
"The weasel maid cut her paw when you were fleeing from the horde, her mate was injured in an attack shortly thereafter, and the fox was hurt tonight."
Sathe nodded. She was thinking about what wonderful sleep she was going to have once this old fool stopped jabbering.
"But what about the other weasel? The one with the head wound. Where did that come from?" Mildred's asked a whisker away from Sathe.
Absentmindedly she glanced at the baby when it stirred in its basket.
"Herrik? We atta-"
Sathe snapped her mouth shut. Suddenly awake a look of terror struck her face remembering Ferris's cottage. Mildred's warm and comforting smile had faded, and she looked at Sathe with terrifying intensity. Sathe racked her mind trying to come up with a lie. Any further delay would be damning.
"It was when we were attacked tonight! He was hit by a stray stone. We were surprised and almost forgot about him." Sathe managed to spout.
Mildred remained a wordless whisker from Sathe. She flashed a smile and stood up.
"Thank ye, dearie. I'll do my best for them tonight. I don't like to make promises, but rest assured you're safe here."
Sathe nodded in shock as the squirrel turned and walked down the hall, her staff echoing off the stone.
Sathe sat dazed for a moment wondering if she had made a mistake. But the bed was calling her, and she quickly changed into the thin nightgown, leaving her cloak and other clothes on the floor. She slid into the soft bed and breathed a sigh of relief she had been holding since she left the horde. One breath later she was fast asleep.
It was still dark when Sathe opened her eyes. She had thought she had felt something grab her. No, she knew something had grabbed her. Sathe opened one eye and scanned the infirmary. She couldn't see anything in the darkness. The only noise was the occasional gust of wind and the calm breathing of the baby next to her. It was probably nothing, just her blood telling her to flee from this cursed abbey that had slain so many of her kind. But she was tired and the abbeybeasts seemed to be easily manipulated by a genius like her, so she wasn't worried. She closed her eyes again to try and fall asleep.
She heard paw steps.
Opening her eyes, she yanked the blankets to cover her head. She strained to listen as the steps grew closer. From the hallway, to Mildred's room, to a few beds away. Then they stopped. Sathe waited a painstaking moment. She slowly pulled the covers down just enough to peer out. Spooked eyes darted around the infirmary. She saw nothing. The baby squirrel lay wordlessly in the basket. The light from the torches by Mildred's room felt like they were days away. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight before her.
Furious eyes towered over the foot of her bed. She opened her mouth to scream but the eyes were faster. A black-gloved paw closed over her mouth. Frantically she reached out to get away, but a knee pressed heavily into her stomach. Another knee pinned her arm to the bed. With her free arm, she wailed against her assailant in vain. Her attacker wore a heavy cloak that covered all his head but his eyes. The beast shushed her by pressing a knife against her neck. Sathe stopped struggling as hot tears slid down her face.
"Much betterrrr." The beast said. His voice a hiss.
"Recognize thisss vermin?" He waved the knife in front of Sathe's face.
Sathe could barely see through her teats, but she knew he had the knife she had thrown away at the abbey gates. Its thin black blade ground to a deadly silver point and danced a whiskers length from her eyes. Eight interconnected rings overlaid by an owl's skull embellished on the flat pommel. The emblem of Zidar's seers.
"Ol' gel yew ain't a blighted wanderer, wot!" The beast broke into quiet maddening laughter.
"Moi knows yer didn't save that squirrel, Oi!" He said pressing the flat of the blade against Sathe's throat cackling in wicked glee.
"When I find what yew vermin are planning, you'll beg for death!" The beast roared as a gust of wind rattled the windows in fury.
"An if yew tells anybeast!" The beast raised the knife above Sathe's eye. "I'll pluck yer blinkers out, one by one, afore yer thick skull's dashed against our unforgiving walls!"
The beast released his grip on Sathe and fled into the shadows laughing madly. Sathe gasped for air as she choked on sobs. Her body shook as she curled into a ball tucking her knees to her chest. Slowly her sobs turned into a cold and dreadful sleep.
Thanks for the read! Please let me know what you think and what I can improve on. Any and all feedback is appreciated!