Redwall: War of the Four Banners

by PepperDeadSworn

"Young as autumn, old as summer, from sea to forest the cries of war shall come Four armies, one outcome, in ruin you shall find the truth Look to the place of my rest, for friend shall be foe, and foe shall be friend." A epic tale of Redwall in which four great factions battle for the fate of Mossflower itself.

50. Wanderer

Chapter 49: Wanderer

The skies over Mossflower began to darken as a light drip of rain began to tap onto the bark of trees and the ground beneath it. Globs of waters splashed and splashed all around, coming off of leaves and pooling in the small holes and grassy fields. There was shine through the forests, but not one which was bright, but instead a darkness which crept across it. Four figures moved silently through it, being led by a larger one in a black cloak. No voice was strung, no song played to even pass the time, as the group went further on. They eventually reached the river, where Gaisan at long last spoke the first words since they left the sight of Gholand far behind.

"So, how do we cross a river?" He said in a less than informative voice. Jase looked about in one way, and Figgum in another. The black rat turned to them and pointed "Dyat fox's byoat is daty way. We'lly use it to cross." The group went forward along the river's edge, as Gaisan kept up. He coughed a bit, which only drew the rat's grim attention. "Kyeep a lookyout for Baysil. We'll nyeed more of iyt fery ya." Gaisan weakly nodded and twitched his one year, looking out an herb he had no clue where it would be. If it grew nearby, he certainly believed he missed it.

They continued till they came across the rowboat.

Or well, what was left of it.

'Bart' may not have shown it, but he was shocked as he took up a stronger pace as he examined what remained of the rowboat. Jase was disheartened, as the boat was chopped to splinters and the bottom carved out purposefully. 'Bart' looked around, wondering who could have done this, and if they were still around. His eyes followed a large number of tracks, shrews, which led further down the river. Figgum was confused and spoke up "Oh, that's bad news, how'd we going to cross the river now?"

Figgum's innocent question only got a grunt from 'Bart' who took out his pipe and smoke deeply of it. The three waited for him to speak, but he simply just went off and they followed. Gaisan grunted himself in annoyance at this, as the black rat led them farther off. 'Bart' never said anything it seemed, as they continued on till they came across a part of the river which jutted upward to a point where Gaisan could see the bottom. He looked about amazed at the clear waters, then yelped "Ah!"

Bart turned immediately to Gaisan as the three looked to where Gaisan had yelped. Jase and Figgum backed away from the waters as they noticed the body of some hordebeast sway through the waters and further into the darkness of the deeper river. Blood seeped from the body as 'Bart' looked at it and shrugged "Byattle took place farther uyp. Worry nyot. Thye will nyot budder us."

"How'd you know?" Jase asked.

"Not tyoo much bylood. Likely flowyed dowyn stream, farder away. Also a lyittle blo-" Before he could finish his sentence, there was gag from Figgum. He grunted and spoke back up "Never myind it. We contyue."

The group trudged towards the shallows of the river as Jase and Gaisan looked around at the white rocks which jutted from the massive stream. They walked along the waters till they got deeper and deeper into the river where 'Bart' swam a bit ahead and found a piece of bark, using it to help the three youngsters cross. Gaisan tried to thank the rat as he was hoisted onto the other side "Thank you."

Yet 'Bart' said nothing and continued to lead the three on, much to Gaisan's increasing annoyance. They were now on the other side of the river, and they remained on their set path. They continued to walk until they were farther from the river, slowing their pace only when 'Bart' felt a bit too tired and decided to temporarily rest. The group continued onward, with Gaisan coming up to 'Bart' and trying to speak to him. "I mean, seriously, thank you for helping us and not selling us to the vermin back there." Gaisan smiled, but 'Bart' didn't even seem to give him much attention.

"Not a talkative type, hmm? I mean, I understand, me pa w-"

"No tyime for tyalk. Be vigylant. Thei beaysts who diyd dat to your eyar are sytill alive and ayround."

"They gotta be days in different directions, though." Gaisan got a harsh look from the old rat who huffed "If you ayre trying to lyearn more of me, kynow I am named 'Byart'. Thyat is all ya nyeed to know myouse."

Gaisan frowned and stayed back with Gaisan who overheard. 'Bart' continued onward, setting his path southward towards the place Jase had directed him to. 'Bart' had not said it, but it seemed that he had agreed to take Jase as far as he needed to, but the fact he had said so little had made Jase uneasy. He just meekishly followed behind the rat, having said little to nothing himself, and had no clue if 'Bart' would help them fully. Gaisan whispered to Jase and Figgum, his eyes set upon the rat farther in front of him.

"We gotta bounce from this beast when we find the chance, Jase." Gaisan said in a serious tone. Jase gave him an odd look "You sure that is, erm, wise Gaisen?"

"Jase, that rat is set in his ways pretty clearly, he doesn't really like or trust us."

Figgum interrupted "I dun know. He seems nice to me."

"Figgum, he tried to sell you back into slavery." Gaisan reminded the hedgehog as he spoke with an honesty "I don't trust this one at all. Whatever reason he has to help us, it isn't for our own sakes. I don't know, maybe he is after you pa for some reason, Jase? Or worse, he's after the sword!"

"If that were true, Gaisan, he'd have had us bound. Or just kept me instead of you or Figgum. I mean, yes, he is vermin but he is a vermin helping us."

"I can get Snot helping us, not this beast." Gaisan kept his critical eye upon the rat, almost half suspecting him of overhearing them. He lowered his voice further "Snot is vermin too, but the abbot said his pa was tame an he was too to some extent, right? Tame vermin don't harm woodlanders. This one? He looks old and winded, no doubt he is some kinda hordebeast. He likely doesn't mean to help us at all, he's just waiting for a better opportunity to stab us in the back."

Jase looked ahead with a worried glance at 'Bart' and nearly flinched when the rat looked around at his surroundings. He shrugged and continued onward, his eyes kept forward and constantly shifting. Jase looked to Gaisan and tried to comfort him "He's helping us to Sout'gen. I trust him, Gaisen. I think-"

Gaisan gave an annoyed sigh and then winced. Jase turned to him as Gaisan touched the bandage where his ear used to be. Figgum also reminded Gaisan "I mean, also doesn't hurt to have a beast who'll keep dat mean ol' Scabbem away, der one th-"

"Yes, I get it!" Gaisan angrily said and sat down. He sniffed. 'Bart's' voice came up from in front of them "Not dyer! We cyamp up ahead." Jase and Figgum helped Gaisan get on his feet as Jase comforted his friend "Gaisan, I trust him. If you were right, you can slap me silly for it later. He knows things a lot more than we do. We need food, water, and protection. He can help us."

"I hope you are right, Jase. I truly do." Gaisan said, unsure but too weak to challenge his friend's reasoning as they followed 'Bart' to a safer place.
_

Jase, Gaisan, and Figgum were resting beneath a large oak tree, nestled between its large and exposed roots which jutted into a circle, packed with dirt and rotting leaves. 'Bart' kept looking upward, looking for signs of birds as he circled back around to the group, as he awaited them to get comfortable. He spoke up once he was confident they were alone "Dyer path uyp ahead is unevyen. I'll be byack shortly. Ryest up."

With his command given, he left without much of a trace, his form disappearing behind a few trees as he climbed up roots and bushes as he searched for a safer path ahead. Gaisan sat down and gripped his head. "Seasons, it still bleeding hurts."

"Should I set up a fire?" Figgum asked, confused. Jase blinked, unsure of how to answer as he gave Figgum a less than agreeable command himself "No, not now I suppose. We'll have to wait to see what that rat says. Help me with Gaisan real quick." Jase could see his friend was still hurting as Gaisan's one ear twitched with a sudden motion. Drugged up from herbs helped him get through most of the pain, but it soon returned. Jase stood over Gaisan, not being sure how to help him, and had to ask the mouse "You remember anything about this whole healing business? I wish Nafpha was here."

"Oh seasons, Jase." Gaisan said horrified "I'd honestly say she is safer in Redwall!"

"I mean, yea." Jase corrected himself and bent down "I think the nurses would unbandage the old stuff and put new stuff on. Right?"

"Oh, right." Gaisan remembered "I think that's how that is done, but do we have anything to replace it with?" Jase and Gaisan looked to Figgum who carried the pack. They waited awkwardly till Figgum realized what they wanted and he looked to see if they had anything. He took out pieces of an old shirt which Jase examined. He smiled and nodded as he set himself to work.

"You got any clue what you are doing, Jase?" Gaisan asked, concerned. Jase partly nodded "I know we gotta keep your bandage clean. Mum threw a big fit when I came home with a cut when I was helping Bollo once. Said that dirty, ragged wounds invited bad things and smelled bad. 'If it smells bad, you'll be sad' as Kalma would say." Jase undressed the wound and gagged at the sight of it. Gaisan frowned as he instinctively touched his wound and recoiled.

The wound was partially healing, but it clearly needed better stitching than what Dape had done. Jase was careful as he cleaned the wound, making sure to not make things furtherly uncomfortable for his friend. "You okay, Gaisan."

Gaisan sniffed "Overall or right now?"

"Ummm, both?" Jase didn't even understand the question. Gaisan gave an equally difficult answer "I don't know. I mean, I'm fine right now? Overall, I'm kinda-" Gaisan began to cough suddenly and wildly. The coughing fit had Jase slip up as a part of his claw ran over Gaisan's ear "Ow!"

"Sorry!" Jase yelped. Gaisan sniffed again and calmed himself, trying to keep still as Jase redid the bandages with the cloth they had. Jase hated to admit it, but a one eyed rat like Dape was a lot better at bandaging his friend than he was. They finished up as Gaisan got comfortable, but then a new problem arose when his stomach rumbled. Gaisan looked around and gulped "You think there is any water nearby?"

"I think 'Bart' has water. Maybe we should yell for him?" Jase asked. They waited for a bit, feeling like an eternity without knowing it had only been a few minutes at most. Figgum's stomach rumbled next as Gaisan got up "Well, who knows how long he'll be gone, or if he'll even return. Let's find something at least."

Jase followed as Gaisan explored their surroundings beyond the tree, going only as far as they could spot Figgum. They both tried to look for berry bushes or some manner of plant to at least satiate their hunger, but could only see trees and bushes. Jase and Gaisan continued to look around till Gaisan felt something at his feet and he looked down, smiling. He was staring down at some mushroom, delicious looking ones which he licked his lips as he played with them with his sandals.

Jase and Gaisan picked the shrooms and brought them over to Figgum, already discussing their next move. "If only we had some cheese. Remember that bowl Kalma made last winter? Cheese, bread crumbs, and mushrooms. All we'd need now is some green peppers and some onions-"

"Figgum, you want some?" Jase offered some to the hedgehog who smiled in turn, and took them in paw. They looked hungrily at their new meal as Figgum was about to take a bite before they heard running and big paw smacking the young hedgehog's paws. Figgum gave a pained yelp, as they looked to see a wide eyed 'Bart' angrily coming over to them.

"They'r hyell are ya dyoin!"

"Ummm, eating." Gaisan said a bit snobbishly, before his own meal was knocked from his paw. To show his disdain, 'Bart' stomped on the shrooms and kicked them away. He took out water and began to scrub Figgum's paws first as Jase soon realized what he was doing. "You idyiots! Thyose ones are poisonous! Qyuick, wash yer pyaws!" Gaisan was speechless and horrified as the rat splashed water on them. When he was done, he growled at them "Whayt were ya thinkyen!? Ya thyree wywant to walk inyto the dark fyorest!?"

"We-we didn't know." Jase responded.

"Howy do you nyot!?" 'Bart' sounded upset, almost beside himself as he bent down to their level. He wanted to be angrier, but he realized something as the three averted their eyes shamefully. They didn't want him to yell at them more, and he growled in frustration. "Youy are nyot fyorest fyolk, too pampyered." He huffed.

"No were not." Gaisen said defensively, but 'Bart' stared him harshly. Gaisan frowned and said nothing next as 'Bart' arose. "Tyell me, what dyo ya kynow?"

"I know, erm, how to-" Jase tried to think "Read. Write. Masonry. I can tell you about nails, an-"

"Useyless." 'Bart' grunted, staring at Gaisan next. "I know how to fight."

'Bart' looked at him funny, not really believing him at all. He didn't really even need to turn to Figgum to know what he could do. "I shyall teach you. Pay attyention. Very, cylose attyention."
_

The next day and a half was the most exhausting thing Jase had ever done. He had marched on Redwall's walls, he had done hard work with Bollo and his moles, and did all manner of tasks at the abbey. Yet, the drain he felt now from sheer disinterest and boredom truly was added to the most unpleasant experience in his life. He and Gaisan stood next to one another with Figgum standing a bit in the back and looking. 'Bart' pointed to different plants, the four marched onward as 'Bart' commanded and tested them constantly and suddenly.

"Thyis one ryight here? Thyis one will gyive you a rash, nasty pyoisen. You cyan only tyell by the byottom of der plyant. Always uyseful to hyave a styick in paw to lyift up lyeaves." The ivy was shown to Jase and Gaisan by a less than thrilled 'Bart'. They tried to look a bit closer, but 'Bart' spoke up harshly "Ayre ya payen attyention!? Repyeat what I said bayck to mey!"

"It's poison ivy." Gaisan said. 'Bart' grumbled and calmed his nerves "I saiyd, repeayt back what I saiyd. How can you tell it's poiyson ivy?"

"There is red on the leaf, at the bottom of it." Figgum said a bit more proudly. There was no response from 'Bart' who looked at Jase and Gaisan to answer. Jase spoke up first, breaking the mood "There is, erm, red on the bottom of the leaf. You can tell if you pick it up. Look, 'Bart', we know what poison ivy is-"

'Bart' was not finished, taking Gaisen's attention over to another plant, something which was much more subtle and hidden. "Thyis one right here? Whyat is it."

"It's-" Gaisen tried to remember, recognizing it. His fumbling only got his harsh slap across the head "If you hayve to think thayt long it, you arey already deayd. This one is poiyson as well. That bushyel over there is ay herb, one whiych we'll be pickying. Coyme."

The woodlander youngsters were learning a lot of new things as they traveled with the old rat. Jase would learn all he ever wanted to know about berries, and Gaisan would learn all he never wanted to learn about the edibleness of flowers. 'Bart' taught in much the same way Garfan had taught them, and soon Gaisan was groaning as he was soon marching on far less even terrain, through bushes and up hills to make distance. Of the three, Figgum was the most impressive. Jase figured this would have been the case, as he was already out here in the country for so long. Even with a pack to his back, the young hedgehog meekly followed behind 'Bart' who barely even noticed him.

Yet, despite their misery, Jase felt he was learning. He and Gaisen were looking in farther off directions with 'Bart' overwatching them. In the night, they were soon showing off their skills in unintentional ways as they prepared the camp. Gaisan and Jase got dry firewood from the forest, collecting it in a pile. 'Bart' watched as the two set to work building a flap from sticks and leaves, creating a dry place for them to sleep in. Figgum attempted to join in helping them, but 'Bart's' paw was put in front of him "Noyt you, slavebeast. We neeyd food, fiyrst an' foreymost."

Figgum frowned as he collected the kindling and sought to light the fire. Jase overheard as he had just finished helping Gaisan and gave 'Bart' a concerned look. 'Bart' looked over the tent and shook it a little "Your learyning, gooyd. Need to mayke sure you twoy are at leayst able to identify between the playnts that'll feeyd you, and the oneys that will kill you."

"You mean the three of us?" Jase tried to correct. 'Bart' only gave him a weird look, and turned his attention to Figgum who was lighting the campfire. The young hedgehog set out his pan and began to fry up something. He grunted and said nothing, returning to a more distant position as the group rested and ate. As they rested, Jase could notice that Figgum was a bit saddened by the remark 'Bart' had made, and he wondered if the rat was simply mistaken. Or if Gaisen was right, and the rat had some nefarious idea in place.

Morning came and they group was packing up as 'Bart' and Gaisan were looking over various mushrooms in a clearing not far off. Jase awoke last and let out a big yawn as Figgum prepared their morning breakfast. 'Bart' and Gaisan returned, with more vittles to share and store for their journey. Gaisan looked down rather unamused at his catch, complaining quite loudly "Is there really only berries out here, not that I am complaining. Oh, the things i'd do for a nice apple, or bread, or-"

"Breayd doesyn't grow on treeys nor bushyes." 'Bart' said in a less than friendly tone. "Slayvebeast, help me stoymp out the fire so we doyn't leave a traiyl for other beaysts to folloyw. Theyn we can-"

"Can you stop calling him that?" Jase spoke up. He could see that Figgum dropped his head when 'Bart' called him that, and he perked back up, almost embarrassed for Jase to speak out in his regard. 'Bart' raised an eyebrow to this and spoke back "Stoyp calling him whayt?"

"You know. Slavebeast. He isn't a slave anymore."

Gaisan folded his paws in upset childishness as 'Bart' turned to Figgum. He scoffed before turning his attention back to Jase. The squirrel had no clue what he was doing, but he hated to see the young hedgehog upset over something he considered so petty. It made now more sense why 'Bart' kept excluding him, and he hated to think what the rat thought of him in this little group amidst the trees. 'Bart' challenged the squirrel, defending his position as best he could relay to two young woodlanders.

"He is a slayvebeast. He served verymin, he does choyres, and noyw he doeys what I asyk. He is freey to you, buyt frankly, he is tooy meek foyr me to heylp. So I commyand him as I dyo. Does this boyther you?"

"Yes. It does." Jase said almost baffled "No beast should be beholden to another in such a way, and I won't have him bound to us like that."

"If he was free to leayve, he would have done so earylier." Bart grunted and looked to Figgum who was fiddling his paws. He asked him "Do you waynt to stay or gyo?"

"I mean, I want to stay sir."

"See. He calls me siyr. Slavyebeast behavior." Bart said, almost proud. Gaisan growled out and marched forward "That isn't fair and you know it!"

"Tis juyst a name." 'Bart' said annoyed "I calls it as far as I seey it, and it wouyld be pointless for me to beynd to whatever fool rules thayt makes you two so incomypetent at living in the woryld around you. You two are by your own adymission incapable. If I leyft, you'd two would be likely deayd or worse. I don't ask muych, but I won't allow you to dicytate what I cayll beasyts nor how I commyand them."

Gaisan had enough and took up a nearby branch and marched on forward. Jase called out for Gaisan to stop, but the mouse angrily tried to swat at the rat with frustration. 'Bart' had seen this and grabbed the stick from the mouse's paw before he could even swing. He grab was so quick and harsh that Gaisan tumbled down and was looking up at the rat who sighed in disappointment. Jase helped his friend up. Jase expected the worst to happen to them, for 'Bart' to leave them utterly.

Yet instead the black rat examined the stick in his paw and looked down at the two. 'Bart' wrung a curved sword from his belt and pointed at the frightened Gaisan and Jase. He watched them partly scurry away from it. "If I werye the degyenerate who tooyk your ear, mouyse, you wouyld be a very dead beayst." 'Bart' warned.

'Bart' stopped himself from going further in speaking against them, looking in Jase and Gaisan's terrified eyes. The rat had a sudden lapse of judgment. It was most certainly true, had he been any other vermin, these beasts would be beaten or dead. 'Bart' put away his sword and sighed deeply.

"Grayb sticks, the boyth of you. There are a feyw things I need to teaych you."
_

The group had marched for nearly half a day with 'Bart' leading them along to a smaller clearing farther west. Nestled between two thick sets of trees was a moss covered set of rocks and stones which a couple weeds grew to its sides. The rocks were weathered and ancient, only matched by the elder foliage which surrounded it. 'Bart' looked around for a bit as the three youngsters got comfortable on top of this uneven pile of rubble. Once 'Bart' knew the are was safe, did he march up to Jase and Gaisan and examine their newest weapons.

Two sticks.

Gaisan's stick was long and unwieldy, practically a stave for him and twice his size. Some leaves are still stuck to it. Gaisan nearly dropped his weapon when he felt something crawl on his paw. A baffled ant crawled desperately around Gaisan's paw looking for its path back to its hill, and was shaken away by the young mouse and onto the ground. Jase's stick was shorter, lighter, and a bit too wispy. Figgum stayed back a bit at first, but quick command from 'Bart' got him to focus on his tasks "Seyt up camp here, slavyebeast. We will be heyre awhile."

Jase and Gaisan cringed and gave 'Bart' a dark look, but the rat was unapologetic. In fact, the two were tired from an argument they had on the way here. This argument once again flared up when Gaisan complained "I mean, we know how to fight, but I don't know why Figgum can't? And could you stop calling him that."

"Mayke me." 'Bart' challenged

Gaisan blinked, wondering if this was some sort rejection, but 'Bart' reiterated "You waynt me to stoyp calling him slavyebeast. Make me. If you cayn beat me with a styick, I will call him someything else."

Gaisan came forward, getting into a pose he had witnessed his adoptive father get into. 'Bart' blinked as Gaisan got into it and huffed "If you say so, rat. Just fair warning, I've been doing this all me blasted life, and I ca-" Gaisan didn't even get to finish his sentence when 'Bart' grabbed onto his long stick, yanked it upward and slammed it lightly into his face. Gaisan fell back a little, and rubbed his nose "Hey! I wasn't-"

"You don't get the chanyce to tell your foe about much, mouyse. Especially in the miydst of battle. Now either striyke me, or I will start calling you slavyebeast."

Gaisan growled, took up his 'spear' in paw and tried to stab forward at the rat towards his chest. 'Bart' did not have a stick of his own, but he expertly directed the spear to his side. Gaisan tried again and again, but each time the rat showed him a simple flaw in his drilling. Gaisan realized he was not as fast as he thought he was, as his eyes shifted and he froze up trying to think of what to do next. Instead, each time the rat would smack him with his own wooden weapon or his paws. Gaisan wanted to complain, but even he realized how embarrassing it was that he couldn't even pretend to slay a rat who didn't have a weapon of his own. 'Bart' took notice of this far in advance.

"I don't even have a weaypon to use. Spears can be great weaypons, but you need discipline to usye them. You are trying to use it as a stayve or sword, you need to keeyp your distaynce and move. Like thiys."

Gaisan didn't feel like he was being taught as much as toyed with as 'Bart' would evade or do some manner of trick. Gaisan grew more frustrated and tried to lash out more casually at the rat, but soon found dirt kicked into his face or the rat feigning a pause only to strike at him. "Cheater! Plew!"

"You are tayking too lonyg. Your foyrm is good, but a snaiyl moves faster." 'Bart' shook his head "All battles are woyn by who can deceiyve the enemy first, not by who has the beyst form to impress some overgloryified performer. You need to striyke like this." 'Bart' took up his sword, still in its sheath, and swung it like a club down on Gaisan's paws. He dropped his spear and looked down a bit surprised. "You neeyd to do whayt you were already doinyg but far faster. You won't kill let aloyne injure any beayst giving them every chaynce to counter or disarm you."

'Bart' escorted Gaisan over a way and told him what to do. Gaisan stabbed at the air and swung his stick, trying to be fast as he exerted himself. The mouse didn't do this for self improvement however as he glared at 'Bart' for a brief moment. 'Bart' turned his attention over to Jase who was next, looking nervous.

'Bart' took up a nearby branch to use as he didn't really think Jase would be anymore different. The squirrel didn't even get into a stance much to his surprise. Jase barely even moved when 'Bart' attacked him lightly, as Jase awkwardly blocked far after the fact that a branch stung his shoulder. 'Bart' looked almost baffled. "Ways that it?"

"I-I've never done this before." Jase said rather sheepishly.

"Cleayrly."

Jase was not a good fighter as he would soon find out, as 'Bart' struck him quickly and suddenly. 'Bart' advised him on what to do, but it felt almost painful to the rat to even try. Jase returned to old habits as the rat tried to teach him the basics of parrying. More and more the rat found himself knocking the stick from the squirrel's paw, growing more and more frustrated. Jase wasn't much better himself, growing angry at how much the rat was expecting of him. "You are doiyng it wrong, use your blaysted shoulders. Can you do that at leayst?"

"I'm trying!" Jase yelled, his anger boiled over. Jase tried a new approach, trying to attack the rat instead when he got into a position to do so. 'Bart' cringed however, as he easily would simply lay the squirrel's branch to the side or knock it from his paw. The two mockingly dueled, with little progress having been made. When the rat knocked the branch from Jase's paw, the squirrel angrily threw the branch to the side and shouted "Enough! I won't do this anymore!"

"You thiynk your foe will give uyp as well. Stop complaiyning, your not doiyng as bad as you thiynk you are."

"Clearly I am!" Jase huffed. 'Bart' shook his head "You neeyd to leayrn how to fight out here, squyirrel, or you'll be missing liymbs like your frieynd over there. I'm not doiyng this for your sake alone. If we get inyto a fight, you need to leayrn how to beayt off a foe."

"I-I don't want to, that's what you can do, right?" Jase said fearfully. He rubbed his paws where 'Bart' had been striking at as the rat squinted his eyes. Jase's eyes widened when 'Bart' wrung his sword from his sheathe and approached, catching only Figgum's attention. Gaisan was farther off and could barely hear, as Jase's mouth widened and he fell backwards and began to crawl as the old rat approached. 'Bart' was slow, with his sword to his side.

Jase's only saving grace was when Figgum noticed and rushed over, putting himself between 'Bart' and Jase, his paws outstretched. Jase hid behind the hedgehog pathetically, and didn't even have the strength to yelp for help from Gaisan.

'Bart' sighed and put his sword away.

"You areyn't much, squirrel. You can't live ouyt in the woods, you can't leayd beasts clearly, an' ya can't fighyt. You are hiding behind a slavyebeast who probably feayrs what I coulyd have done. I won't teach a cowyard how to fight if all youy are going to do is freeyze up and let soyme beast kill or captyure you. Your pa beytter be worthwhile for the buryden you cleayrly are." 'Bart' sounded spiteful as he turned from Jase who sat down and whimpered. Figgum tried to cheer him up with kind words, but Jase felt horrible. He frantically began to apologize to Figgum, but he gave only a soft cry.

"Figgum, if we find my pa. Please don't tell him about this." Jase sniffed.

---

Gaisan was slowly being driven mad by the depression and silence as they continued to march on. In one good aspect, 'Bart' had seemingly let off on teaching them. Yet in another way, Gaisan was growing to really despise the rat in general. Jase had told him later in the night of what had happened and Gaisan felt horrible that he couldn't hear it. He didn't dare challenge the old black rat on his way, but it reminded him far too much of Garfan. Gaisan had again mentioned abandoning the rat, but Jase had been horrified by the notion. When Gaisan looked at Jase, he was looking anxious and sorrowful.

Which was a fairly accurate way which Jase felt.

He was slow in his walking, and fiddled with his paws, keeping his eyes down at the ground as if he were in trouble. In a way, he felt like his open secret had been revealed. I am a coward, a bad one at that. He hoped he would find Jue soon, his father would set thing right back at Redwall and he could just return to the normality of his bed. He had felt misery before, but never like this. It was a whole new level. He wondered if Figgum or Gaisan were mad at him, having dragged one into this and hid behind another. I'm not brave like pa was, and I don't think i'll ever be. Seasons. Why can't I just be-

Jase in part already knew the answer whenever he rubbed his paws, as they still stung from 'Bart's' attempts to drill him. It hurt, perhaps not as much as what Gaisan or Figgum had gone through, but to him it hurt terribly. He sniffed, with Gaisan speaking softly to him.

"Don't let that rat keep you down, Jase. He's just a grown up Darper or Nuck."

"Darper and Nuck were right." Jase said with a light despair "I am a coward, there is just no hiding it."

"You are certainly no coward!" Gaisan said, almost frustrated, "You got us into this, and we were able to find our way back out into Mossflower through a blasted vermin siege! You climb on Redwall's walls to get into the library."

"I was fleeing, Gaisan. I'm just afraid to meet pa. What will he think of me? He won't see a brave son of a great warrior, just a wimp who will hide behind other beasts. We are out in the woods, Gaisan, and I nearly led us into starvation till you pulled me out of it. I'm not a warrior, that I know for certain."

Gaisan couldn't really challenge his friend's thinking, and sighed in turn. 'Bart' overheard, turning his head slightly to them and returned his attention to the front. He heard a twig snap, and he paused. He pulled up his paw as the group stopped. 'Bart' shifted his eyes around, and his paw immediately went towards his bow which he unfurled from his back. The youngsters tensed up, all except Gaisan who already felt like 'Bart' had long stayed past his due. "It's likely nothing anyway, let's just go on and get to Sout'gen."

'Bart' didn't listen as his eyes widened when a familiar hordebeast bursted from the bushes with a knife and grabbed the old rat. 'Bart' grabbed the vermin's paw and twisted it, the hordebeast letting out a terrified yelp before being kicked away from him. Gaisan's eyes widened and took up his branch, as three more came out of the bushes and rushed up to the youngsters. 'Bart' instinctively took up his hatchet and threw it against one of the vermin, but it missed as it flew in front of the beast's face and landed with a loud crack into a nearby tree.

"Dare dat beast is! Kill'em!" A roar from Scabbem yelled. 'Bart' heard the twang of a bow, as Dape landed a shot into 'Bart's' shoulder, with a joyous yelp for landing his shot. 'Bart' yelled out in pain, breaking the poorly made arrow and returned to a defensive stance in time before Scabbem could stick him with a spear. The wild ferret clawed at him, only for 'Bart' to take up his saber slash at him.

'Bart' looked behind him fearfully, wondering if the youngsters were alright, and he was surprised to learn they were. The hordebeasts were better armed, with Mince and Dake trying to slash at Gaisan with rusty knives and sharpened branches. Gaisan kept up pace, but he eventually began to falter as he went in too deep as the vermin backed away as Dake grabbed onto his stick and pulled it from him. Dake was proud, only to yelp in pain when Figgum slammed a pan onto his foot and he quickly backed away.

Mince retreated quickly, as he eyed his boss trying to fight 'Bart'. Scabbem struck at him again and again, eventually getting on top of him and pinning him to the ground, only to get a shoulder to his face and was sent flying back into a member of his gang. Dape tried to approach by notching another arrow, but 'Bart' recovered far faster than he suspected. The old black rat pulled the remaining arrow from his shoulder and moved his arm around, giving a grimice of pain, but was yet relieved the arrow had not done more damage. He quickly took cover behind a tree before Dape could get off another shot.

Dake and one other gangster tried to grab onto the youngsters, but he dumbly put his paw into Figgum's back and yelped again in pain as he pulled a nasty spike from his paw. Gaisan tripped up another vermin, as Jase kept still and hidden behind his tail. Gaisan frowned at this, but he couldn't say or do much as Dape came scurrying out of the bushes to grab at the youngsters. However, 'Bart' grabbed his tail and pulled hard on him, before wrestling him and trying to strangle the enemy archer.

'Bart' then heard a scream.

"Let me go! Please!" Figgum shouted as Dake learned from his previous mistakes, taking up Dake by the pack strapped him. Dake smiled greedily, as he took a knife from his belt and began to pull Figgum away.

Then his eyes widened and yelled in pain, letting go of Figgum who tumbled to the ground.

Jase bit and scratched at Dake's ankles, gagging and spitting up fur and blood as Mince finally took the hint and retreated farther off. 'Bart' was surprised as Jase looked almost shocked he did so. Figgum and Gaisan surrounded Jase as the last remaining member of the gang was called by Scabbem "Kill dis one, ya idiots! Der youngsters are easy! Help me!"

The other gangsters came up to try to overwhelm 'Bart', but the rat jumped away from Dape and took a grip of his saber. He awaited the perfect time for one to get close as he used his sheathe to block an incoming attack and unfurled his blade and cut into an unfortunate creature who dared to come forward. Dape and Scabbem were at a distance as their fellow gangsters were beaten with such speed and ease as 'Bart' bit in enemies and knocked others onto their feet. The danger of what they faced became all too real as 'Bart' slammed his blade into the paw of a dodging vermin trying to disengage. 'Bart' did not kill the vermin and let him go, but not before taking up his bow and staring at Scabbem.

The ferret didn't know it, but he was backing away into another danger as Mince stood behind a tree with a knife in paw. Mince greedily eyed his boss who was baffled as to why his horde faltered against one old rat. Heh, sorry boss, looks like ya were too soft. Ol' Mince will be in charge next, eh! Mince snuck his way up to him, thinking if he could kill Scabbem quickly, he could blame his death on the old rat.

Scabbem began to run as 'Bart' notched his bow, noticing Dape was running away as well. He cursed him mentally for not at least sacrificing his life for the glory of him! He noticed Mince was standing in his way, but he didn't notice the roots beneath him, and tripped.

Mince's last sight was an arrow coming straight between his eyes, and he fell down into the dirt and grass.

"Danks, Mince! Knew ya would do me well! Retreat ya idiots! Quickly!" Scabbem called out and continued to head off. There was a silence as 'Bart' gripped his shoulder as the bandits retreated, yelping and horrified.
_

'Bart' stood still as night began to fall, watching as Jase began to help patch up the old rat. 'Bart' had patronized him on how to stitch up his wound, but grew silent when Jase used knowledge he himself did not know as the squirrel used water to clean it. The group was recovering from the scratches and sprains taken with defeating Scabbem and his beasts, with Figgum tending a fire to prepare an evening brunch. 'Bart' continued to stare at Jase, unsure of what to say. "I think that's done it, 'Bart'. If I did this right, you shouldn't have to worry about it being infected."

'Bart' nodded and twisted his shoulder a bit "Youyr stitching is good enouygh, but you'll neeyd a bit more practice on it. Let's get a biyte to eat."

Jase and 'Bart' sat around the fire with Gaisan and Figgum, with Figgum a bit confused "You don't think they were waiting for us, right? Maybe we were just unlucky. You don't think they'll return?"

'Bart' shook his head "No douybt that bandit leayder is as petty as every othyer vermin gangster. They may not havye been waiting for us, buyt the one with the bow muyst have spoytted us when we ran acroyss their turf. They'll huynt us knowying we are here if they weynt through the trouyble to ambush us. They will likely return, so we will have to be douybly cautious as we mayrch. They didn't seeym particularly difficult to kiyck around however, but it will be more imporytant for us to be ready when they coyme back."

Gaisanand Figgum looked worried, something 'Bart' was quick to notice. He tried to put a more positive spin on it "You two diyd better than suspectyed, but we have fewer trouybles to worry abouyt now. One is dead and others are injuryed. It'll take them a bit to try agayin."

Gaisan gave a small grin before the group prepared for their meager meal. It was simple, but Figgum tried his best. They ate and talked a bit, planning out their journey as Jase and Gaisan learned where they were. 'Bart' knew the forests well enough, telling them they were close to the 'lighter forests' just beyond their road. 'Bart' wanted to avoid the nasty problem of running into Markem's vermin near Redwall, and the plains were a place that was harder to be ambushed in, and thus less vermin bandits to worry about. As the night dragged on and the stars began to appear in the sky, the group began to drift off one by one.

Figgum nestled into some roots and sleps on top of his pack like a pillow, as Gaisan dozed off in a more natural way. Feeling tired himself, Jase was about to nestle into his fluffy tail, but he saw 'Bart' looking at him. Jase was curious, but he felt like he still owed him some thanks, even if they were not exactly striking out in a friendly way.

"Thank you, 'Bart'. I know we aren't exactly very competent, but we owe you a lot. I swear, when we get back to Redwall with pa, we'll have a big feast an-"

"You are noyt as cowardly as I thouyght you were, and I am sorry for my woyrds earlier, squiyrrel."

Jase paused and blinked. He frowned a bit, and was quick to correct him as he sat back up "You got nothing to apologize for, cause what you spoke of was the truth, 'Bart'. I'm not strong, nor brave. I felt like I needed to run, and when i saw those gangsters approaching I-I-"

"You bit into a beayst's leg when he tried to drag away one of your frieynds." 'Bart' firmly corrected him. "Ya. It was because he was in danger. I was angry, I didn't want them to take him back into that horrible life, ya know?"

"I know." 'Bart' said oddly. He turned his attention to the fire before taking out his pipe to smoke. "You are noyt as cowardly as you thinyk you are, squirryel. Back there, I was trying to see if you wouyld fend for youyrself. Back in a horyde I was in, as young as you, me captaiyn did muych the same to me and other beaysts who did want to fight. I leayrned the easy way, otheyrs were not so luycky. I was hoping you wooydlander folk wouyld be much the same. Thouygh, to be honest, thiys is all new to me."

Jase took his words with a grain of salt at first, but 'Bart' blew into his pipe and was becoming calm. He blew out smoke from his nose and mouse before inhaling the foul smelling burnt leaves he put into it.

"To be honest, I am afraid. I am very afraid. If there is bravery in me, it doesn't come out at the best times, nor in the best ways. All I ever wanted to do was just live an easy life back in the abbey, helping Bollo and his moles. All this business about warriors isn't what I wanted. My pa was the warrior, and when we find him and the sword he carries, everything will be alright again. Normal again."

"Wyill it?" 'Bart' asked. Jase gave him an inquisitive look as the old rat spoke. "You shouyld learn these things not becauyse you want it, but becauyse you need to. Normal life isn't somyething that is given in me experiyence, it is earned and solemnly ever retained. Only so few are luycky to achieve it, and many squaynder it."

"If I may ask, 'Bart'. Why are you helping us? Truly?" Jase asked, "We haven't exactly been kind to you or grateful." Jase was hoping that while they were honest with one another, he wondered if Gaisan was right. Did he have some nefarious purpose, does he lead us somewhere else? Had Scabbem not attacked and 'Bart' defended them, Jase wondered if he, Gaisen, and Figgum would have escaped that very night. Yet, if the rat was genuine, Jase wondered why he held such patience for them, even as a vermin who had so poorly viewed them. 'Bart' gave a long pause before shrugging and answering as best he could.

"I am old, wooydlander. Very oyld and very tiyred. I am teayching you cauyse one day, maybe tomoyrrow or some day, I will be goyne. This is likely my final seayson, and I have seayrched for a long time for a playce to rest before I passed, and I have never fouynd it. You youyngsters, whatever queyst you are on, I can only hope it is worth it, becauyse otherwise I would be doiyng what I have done hundreds of timeys before acroyss this land and beyond. This is my final seayson, I knoyw it be in me bones, buyt I do not knoyw the day nor doeys any other beayst. I hope whayt I do, youngster, will make thiys life I lived have at leayst some woyrth. I have leayrned much, and perhaps you two will leayrn something at leayst. Tis the leayst a beayst like me can do in this loyng life." 'Bart' drew deeply of his pipe and blew out once again, blinking with a brokenness that Jase had not seen in the rat before.

He smiled and then yawned. 'Bart' watched the young squirrel curl up in a ball and fall asleep, resting near the warmth of the fire. The old rat would stay awake to keep watch over the camp that night, thinking and pondering as he did. His attention turned to the night's sky and grinned.
_

Jase felt a light push on his stomach and he immediately came awake and looked about. 'Bart' stood over him as the young squirrel yawned. He suspected that 'Bart' wanted to be on the move swiftly, but instead the rat dropped a branch next to him and pointed to it. Jase was a bit confused by this at first, but 'Bart' waited for him to get up and take it. Jase got up, asking the old hordebeast "I thought you didn't want to train me?"

"You still neeyd to leayrn."

Jase blinked as 'Bart' motioned him to follow. Taking up the stick in paw, Jase followed the old rat as his lit his pipe and smoked, leading him a little ways from the camp. Jase was tense, not sure what 'Bart' was thinking. I'll just freeze up again. Jase frowned, wondering what he had to do to convince the rat he could not fight. Jase soon found himself facing 'Bart' who breathed out his smoke and took a branch in paw. "Now, looyk and listen, squiyrrel."

'Bart' took his stick and slowly pushed against Jase's "Keeyp your shouylders up and your weaypons standing ouytward. Tis a weaypon, a tooyl, and you need to treayt it as such. Push it slowly agaiynst mine. Like that, but a bit haryder. Haryder. You are improvying, just a bit haryder." Jase did so as 'Bart' began to teach him all manner of basics. The squirrel felt like he was fumbling again, just in time for Gaisan and Figgum to awake. Gaisan rushed over with his own stick as Figgum watched from afar, both were worried that 'Bart' would do something to upset Jase further.

Yet, much to Gaisan's surprise, Jase was improving.

Gaisan now watched as he parried his first blow, as the rat was slow and methodical. No longer was he quick in his strikes or dirty in his tactics, as he introduced it slowly. 'Bart's' eyes widened a bit as Jase began to keep up with his strikes throughout the day, as he stopped and noticed Gaisan. "Let's have some bruynch, and I waynt to see you two hitting eaych other more so thayn me."

Jase smiled at this as Figgum prepared their meal in the clearing as Gaisan approached. He was happy to see Jase not being so miserable for once, but yet was even more happy to see him less of a terrified mess than he usually was. The three sat and ate for a bit, before arising again as 'Bart' oversaw the two youngsters awkwardly stand in front of each other. Neither Jase nor Gaisan wanted to hit each other, although both were in mutual agreement that Gaisan was the better fighter. "You do noyt have to hurt eaych other, you just neeyd to parry eaych other's blows. You both neeyd to learn to be steaydfast and quiyck in your strikes, exploiyt a foe's mistakes. Best way to find those mistyakes is fighting with your fellow beayst."

The two nodded and tried their best in a way which made the older beast frown. Gaisan thrusted his stick forward at Jase and he kept backing away in fear of it. 'Bart' had an idea and stood behind the squirrel and forced him forward, taking a hold of his paw and teaching him a basic disarming technique. Jase allowed 'Bart' to do so without resistance, partly in fear of him. 'Bart' let Jase go to do what he had taught him on his own, giving Gaisan tips himself.

Yet, even to Gaisan and 'Bart', Jase was starting to surprise them.

Jase started at fumbling his strikes and parries, but soon he was going toe to toe with Gaisan in most ways. 'Bart' took over and battled the two in a mock duel with the thwaking of sticks as Figgum watched. Gaisan still could not keep up with 'Bart' in most cases, but slowly he was gaining the handle on things. The cracking of sticks became louder and faster as the day dragged on, Jase and Gaisan learning on how to dodge, use their arms, and to thrust. Jase learned much more quickly, and it surprised as much as terrified him as he found himself parrying downward strikes. When 'Bart' began to introduce deceptions into his strikes, Jase and Gaisan were soon countering him as he had wanted.

Jase was happier than he had been since he first started this trip, as Gaisan noted to him "If I didn't know better, Jase, I'd say you're pretty talented."

Jase enjoyed that comment greatly "You really think so? I mean, coming from you especially, Gaisan. Garfan liked to drill you."

"Ya, he did." Gaisan cringed "The rat reminds me too much of him, but I think he at least is, erm, more agreeable." Gaisan admitted. The three continued to train for a bit till Jase noticed out of the group all whacking each other with sticks, one was missing. He turned to Figgum who just continued to watch meekly. Jase stopped and decided to request something simple of the rat. "Hey. 'Bart'. Could you help Figgum to fight as well?"

'Bart' frowned at this and looked to Figgum a bit quizzingly. He shook his head "Too meeyk. You two are gooyd enouygh."

"I mean." Gaisan helped Jase defend his point "He did fight the vermin as well, ya know."

'Bart' pursed his lips, unsure of what to say, because it was true. He looked at Figgum who only gave an awkward and embarrassed look, kicking his feet in a nervous way. 'Bart' continued to shake his head, until Gaisan put his foot down "I mean, if you think he is so meek, at least give him a chance to prove against it?"

"Fiyne." 'Bart' said, annoyed by the idea. 'Bart' didn't expect much when he came over to Figgum, picking up a stick for him to use and giving it to him. Figgum was unsure what to do, and even tried to beg to not get himself involved "Oh, no need for that, sirs. I really don't think I am good at any of this."

"You'll be fine, Figgum. Besides, if we can get Jase to be a warrior, we can do it for you as well! I saw how you defended yourself. Wouldn't it be nice to not have to be able to be picked up by those bandits again?" Gaisan said in a friendly tone. Figgum frowned and shrugged, but a little encouragement from Gaisan got him and 'Bart' to face one another. Figgum shook a bit as 'Bart' decided to be extra slow for his sake.

"I am goiyng to strike you, hedgeyhog. Now, like I've been teylling them, its all abouyt speed. When this stick connyects with your own, you're goynna want to push agaiynst it." 'Bart' watched as Figgum stood still, unsure of what he fully meant. Jase and Gaisan watched it all unfold as 'Bart' lightly tapped his stick against Figgum's own. He began to push, but the stick was not moving. Figgum blinked and kept still, as 'Bart' tried to move his stick harder. The old hordebeast took his stick in both paws and began to try to move Figgum's, but it was fruitless. 'Bart' blinked and gave Figgum a confused look.

He then tried to swat at the stick Figgum held, but it still kept still. 'Bart' gave in and told Figgum "Huh, lets try someything different. Try hittying me, as haryd as ya can."

Figgum did.

'Bart' saw his stick disappear as Figgum swung his stick and it broke his in half much to his surprise. He gave the small hedgehog a terrified look, who looked unsure of what was happening. 'Bart' threw the broken stick away and huffed. 'Bart' got a bigger branch "Alright, let's try thiys again. I don't think I neyed to tell you how to whayck a vermin, younygster." Jase and Gaisan smiled as Figgum was taught by 'Bart' how to fend for himself, the two watching the larger rat treat the young hedgehog like an angry badger.
_

Scabbem awaited in his camp with his fellow bandits nursing their wounds and tying old cloth to their scars. He growled lightly at Dake who cracked his toes into place, and nurse his feet from the attack. The bandits were demoralized for sure, as they whispered behind their chief's back. Scabbem stared angrily at two of them who slinked away when they whispered about joining another gang, as the whole affair stunk to them. Scabbem arose when Dape returned, yelling at him "Tell me ya found dem, and if ya didn't, i'll claw ya to death."

Dape meekishly nodded "Aye boss, I tracked dem all der way down towards the western plains, an der passing det way through the forest. If ya so wish, I can snipe dat rat I dinks an' we can pick up dem young'uns."

"Oh, I no longer want dem young'uns! I want revenge!" Scabbem threw his fist into the air and kicked the dirt "All of ya! Useless ingrates! How could ya let pups der size of yer legs take ya on like dat! I should have ya all whipped if I had one!" Scabbem paced around as the other vermin looked at him fearfully. He grabbed his knife and twirled it in his paw before looking around at the group. Dake cracked his neck, not paying attention till he got dirt kicked into his face "Well?! Are any of ya not soft weaklings?! Get up an' follow ol' Scabbem, cause were gonna dunk on dat lot. Dape, ya lead der way, we'll do what we did last time. We'll ambush dat lot an' den skin dem for what dey did to us!"

"Of course, boss." Dape frowned, having no intention of skinning or killing his prey. He tried to speak to Scabbem "Boss, we ain't gonna skin or kill dem youngsters, right? We ain't degene-"

"Ya do what I tell ya, you failed black clad fool!" Scabbem grabbed him and shook him. "If dey live, I am gonna be taken dat little mouse's eye! Dat squirrel's tail. An dat stupid hedgehog is gonna get der worst beaten of his life! I am going to break dem, sell dem, an' laugh as we get ourselves some grog! Ya do what I say, ya one eyed wretch, or I'll be taken yer uder eye."

Dape frowned and nodded as Scabbem pushed him down and yelled at his fellow gangsters, getting them into a bloodlust with a wild speech. "I want ya all ready to follow a real vermin like meself into battle, yer gonna show ol' Scabbem dat ya are vermin, true an' bold! Were gonna crush dem easy like, an' were gonna do before dey can even say 'Oh no! Tis Scabbem!'. Gonna avenge our dear old Mince, we will." The gangsters were only a little motivated as Scabbem led his party into the woods, following Dape who cringed at his statement. Dape had figured Mince would try to kill the chief when it was explained to him, but he had no strength to tell Scabbem otherwise.

The gangsters snuck through the woods, keeping their weapons ready as Dape pointed straight ahead at a small woodland path. Dape informed Scabbem that the strange black rat who fled the youngsters along was following the trail, likely avoiding whatever was happening eastward. Scabbem didn't want to even bother going towards Redwall, hearing tales of the Companions, and he certainly didn't consider himself bold enough to challenge them. The group waited for the figures to appear, and after a time, they did.

'Bart' led the group along, but stopped when he noticed something almost comical. Dake was a big rat whose ears poked out of the bushes, as the other gangsters hid more casually. Scabbem looked the Dape, wondering if they had been caught.

"I dink dey know were here, boss." Dape notched an arrow into his bow. 'Bart' was alone, as he turned and backed away. Dape was looking to see if the arrow he pierced 'Bart' with was affecting him, and it didn't seem so. 'Bart' took out his bow, and called out behind him, and the youngsters quickly appeared. Scabbem felt mocked as 'Bart' used the opportunity to teach them how to spot the group, and the nervous looking woodlanders took out sticks, branches, and a frying pan as weapons.

"Oh to heck wit it." Scabbem cursed beneath his breath and arose. "Dape, kill dat rat, cause dat is all we need to kill." Dape nodded, but as soon as he brought out his bow, 'Bart' quickly equipped his own and shot an arrow into the bushes where Dape and Scabbem were. Scabbem jumped for cover as Dape looked unphased. He looked down at his bow and blinked, horrified by what 'Bart' had been aiming at.

"Well, shoot him! He missed, ya idiot."

"Can't boss."

"Why not!?"

Dape lifted his bow, the string of it was cut. Scabbem pounded the dirt with his fist and yelled at his minions "Gettem, ya idiots!"

The bandits all changed forward at once, revealing themselves from the bushes and advancing on them, their main target being 'Bart'. They got in range of the group, only for Scabbem to watch on with horror and amazement as the youngsters whacked at them and parried their own weapons. 'Bart' used his hatchet to cut at and shatter the ancient and rusty blades and makeshift spears, as Figgum was soon chasing Dake around the group with his frying pan. The larger rat was gripping his tail, which had been thrice pounded by Figgum's pan.

Jase and Gaisan fought together, whacking and thrusting their branches at the bandits who were surprised to be being beaten by the younger beasts. One of them tried to grapple onto them, but was quickly pulled away by 'Bart' who kicked and slashed at them. One by one, the bandits began to retreat and flee in terror. Dape watched, almost amazed by what he saw, yet an angry Scabbem got up and charged at them.

For his efforts, he got punched in the face by 'Bart' which sent two of his rotting teeth flying, as he fell into the dirt where Gaisan and Jase beat him on his back and drove him off again. Scabbem screamed in terror as he fled "Ya kill dem, not me! Mercy! Mercy!" The brave and bloodthirsty bandit warlord fled into the woods with his remaining gangsters in tow, with Dape retreating with them. Jase and Gaisan couldn't help but be proud to see the hated foe be driven off as 'Bart' kicked the last of the weaker bandits into retreat.

"That was for my ear, ya cretan!" Gaisan yelled at Scabbem, hoping he heard.

---

Night had fallen as the group encamped themselves in the plain, but not before pilfering Scabbem's empty camp. 'Bart' had figured the bandit would hide and collect his minions again, so they now had a chance to rest and be out of Scabbem's domain for good. Jase and Gaisan were able to get some new rags to cover themselves with, and Figgum was happy to find another pack, one which 'Bart' could carry. The four encamped out on the plain, with the shadow of Salamandastron looking down on them. After a fine dinner, and joyous over their victory, the three youngsters went to bed.

Jase slept well, but was awakened by a sudden rustling. His eyes opened as he looked around, and could not see 'Bart'. This didn't concern him, since the old rat was keeping watch. Yet he heard something off in the distance, 'Bart's' voice trailed as it got Jase to be curious. Is he talking to someone? No, as he would find out, as to much of his surprise, the old black rat was singing.

And lamenting.

-you weyre fairer then all the rest, moyre beauytiful for me

Your smile brouyght the sun and the rain, solyely for me

No gift couyld I give, no song I could sing, couyld give you charity

For you weyre all that I lived for, in clarity

Oh wheyre did you go, oh my fine missyus

Oh why did you leave

I would have folloywed from here and there

To fiynd you and be with you

For all etyernity

They took you, my fine missyus

They took you and the gift you gave

For that I wanyder, alone in this woryld

Till we reunite in the grave.

When I pass, I will looyk for you

In the dark forest an' beyond

And if i cannoyt find you, I will follow

To wheryever you had gone.

'Bart's' voice was full of sorrow which Jase was all too familiar with as the rat sat on a rock and looked out over at the forests and grassy hills before him. He smoked from his pipe, and heard a noise behind him. Jase had slipped on some rocks as 'Bart' turned around suddenly with his paw on the hilt of his blade, but calmed when he saw Jase staring back at him. Jase began to profusely apologize "Oh, I'm sorry 'Bart', I didn't mean to-"

"No. You are fine. You shouyld be asleep, Jayse." 'Bart' expected the squirrel to quickly return to sleep. Jase didn't want trouble himself, but he couldn't help but ask. "'Bart'. That song. Who was it for?"

'Bart' blinked at him and replied after a long pause "Me missyus." He sounded broken when he had mentioned it. Jase was smart enough to know what this meant. 'Bart' looked back out into the country of Mossflower, frowning as he did. He heard Jase move, but he didn't expect the squirrel to sit next to him. He looked down, as Jase tried to be more comforting towards him. "From the way you speak of her, she must have been quite a wonderful rat. I got a friend back in Redwall who lost his family, a fellow vermin. It's just strange to me, I guess. You loved her that deeply?"

'Bart' would have been insulted had he not known what Jase meant by it, because it was strange. Vermin families were not the healthiest, and no beast could deny it. He nodded "Aye. She was naymed Lulma, and we met in a horyde together, the sayme horde I was draygged to when I was your age, younygster. She and I worked togyether often, but she was not alloywed to fight as I did. She worked in oyther ways, but we grew toygether and moved betyween horde to horde with a grouyp of others. Those others either perishyed, disappyeared, or betrayed us but we surviyved. We left thayt life, hoping to be away froym ever having to woyrk so hard for so little ever agaiyn, and set ouryselves up near the souythern river. Raised a puyp together."

"You have a youngster of your own?"

"Aye, I diyd. A boy."

"What was his name?"

"Kasg."

Jase's blood ran cold and his mouth dropped a little, his eyes widened with new found fear of the old black rat. 'Bart' didn't seem to notice as he continued to look on. No, it can't be. It can't be the same Kasg, right? Kasg the Craven!? How. It felt almost inconceivable, of such an evil villain even having been a youngster like he was let alone being in a family. He heard of Kasg's evil, and it made so little sense to him that 'Bart' would be his progenitor.

'Bart' remained silent, thinking and smoking as he did. He put his pipe away. Jase collected himself, speechless and unable to even comprehend this news. He spoke up, weakly, asking him "'Bart'. What happened."

"Sayme as it always has been, and always wiyll be." 'Bart' began "Our neyighbors were jeaylous of us, we were soyft in their eyes and they desiyred much of what we collyected. So, they tooyk a gang to my home whiyle I was away, huntying for bird, and pillayged my home. My soyn was gone, and my missyus laid bloodied in our bed."

"And what happened to them? The ones who did that?"

"I bloodyied the riyver."

The statement ran a cold shiver down Jase's spine. Jase felt like he owed the rat the truth in some respect, but waited to say it. "'Bart'. I'm sorry, but Kasg is-"

"Deayd. I knoyw."

Jase blinked. 'Bart' sighed and explained "I did not seayrch for him for very loyng, as he was far goyne and disappeayred without as much as a whiymper. I traveled much, looking for fooyd and work in the horydes, where I found so little and did so little. He reayppeared when I was far souyth and heard he was coming to Mossyflower. I went to go find and join him, juyst to be with him when I was not there at the very leayst. By the time I fouynd him, he was alreaydy gone and buriyed. Buried with his soldiers in some grayve where the hares buriyed the dead of that horyde."

"I'm so sorry, 'Bart'" Jase blurted out. 'Bart' gave him an odd look. Jase frowned, explaining to him in a nervous and awkward manner. "The beast were looking for, 'Bart'. My pa is the warrior of Redwall. He-Ummm-He-"

"Killyed him?" Jase expected the worse from the rat, to up and leave in the least. Yet, instead the rat only gave Jase a sad look. Jase tried to explain "No, but he did fight him. It was a hare named Biggum, a general of the hares, who killed him. 'Bart', I-If you want to leave us, I cannot blame you."

"Leayve?" 'Bart' shook his head and gave a pitiful look to Jase. "Younygster, if you thiynk I am angry with you or this hare, you are mistayken. I had hoped, in vaiyn, to find my puyp as he onyce was the day he was tayken from me, althoyugh I knew full weyll he had no douybt changed and became as deybased as the tales saiyd he had become. I had wiyshed to join him so deayrly, yet, I knew full well he wouyld not even know me."

Jase was again stricken with speechlessness as he listened to 'Bart' speak, looking out with sad eyes upon the country. Jase pitied him, the thought of losing one he loved and to find them not as they once were terrified him so. He wanted to help him, but he had no idea how, so he sat in silence with him. 'Bart' smoked on his pipe, and continued to sing, lamenting over what was once was, and what could have been.

In the laynd of plenty, I could hayve seen you grow

To be a creatuyre of might and strength, with an uneayrthly glow

You couyld have been a sailor mooryed in the docks beyond

Or a farmer who tenyded to crops, from duysk till dawn

In all theyse days, and all these fates, you would have been loyved

By me and my missyus dear, from memory gone

Be at peace, oh ghoyst of mine, of disappearing boy

May we meeyt beyond the world, which will payss us by.
_

The long journey was nearing its end as 'Bart' led them into the southern forests. They had stopped near the southern river, following it a little ways before getting onto a new trail. Jase was silent towards 'Bart' for awhile as they camped together, but he came to accept the fact he traveled with the father of his own kin's rival, just as much as 'Bart' had seemingly accepted Jase and his friends as if he had not known from the start. Jase had no clue what to make of it, but through memory and pinpointing, the group made their way towards Sout'gen, with Gaisan and Figgum being loud about their expectations.

"I know it's a ruin Figgum, but this was like a former village, right? Its going to be ancient, so like a house, but empty and such. Maybe it'll be full of skeletons!? Who knows! I heard from the otters that ruins are full of treasures, you know. Ohhh, I bet there is big ol' diamonds and gold coins just waiting for us."

"Oh don't be silly, mouse. Ruins aren't just abandoned houses, they'd be big ol castles an' things! It'll be big an' huge an' big-"

"You already said 'big' Figgum."

"I know, but I don't know how big I can make it."

'Bart' was amused in some way by the two's expectations, but he quickly spoke up to try to undo the hype they had. "No douybt these ruins you seayrch for are little moyre than bayses of structures at most, coyvered in weeds. One of my comypanions used to have built his hoyme on top of a big stone ruin. Keep youyr eyes to the grouynd."

Gaisan frowned and challenged such an assertion "Oh, don't listen to him, Figgum. Come on, Jase. I mean, you were the one with the dream about it. Your pa is there, so no doubt he is somehow trapped there, right?"

Jase shrugged "I don't know, we won't know anything till we fi-" Jase was speaking before his paw scraped on something below him. He looked down, a bit surprised to see a rather odd patch of dirt. 'Bart' looked down as well and picked some of it up, rustling it in his paws. Gaisan and Figgum stopped as well and looked about and began to notice they were in a strange place.

A ruinous place.

All around them were small mounds and vine covered rock bases, many of them chipped. No walls remained of what was once this village, as the group looked around. 'Bart' was quick to declare "This muyst be it, seeyms like the right playce the way you descriybed Jase."

The squirrel didn't say anything as he looked around with less curiosity and more of an urgency. "There gotta be something here, right? A clue, or riddle? Thats how it all usually works. I think."

"Riyddle?" 'Bart' asked. The group heard a sudden and loud snapping nearby, as a bird flew up and darted away in the distance. 'Bart' lifted an eyebrow to this, but then his eyes widened when he looked into the distance and began to see a shape move. It was big, and it was fast. 'Bart' drew out his bow and notched an arrow as the youngsters noticed him tensing up. Only Figgum felt out of the loop as Jase and Gaisan rushed to be behind the rat and took up their wooden arms.

"Jassse." A lone figure boomed in the distance, as 'Bart' gave a worried look to the squirrel. He cursed under his breath as he motioned the youngsters to follow "Snayke, and a big onye at thayt." He warned. Jase had nearly forgotten about this mysterious foe who they had noticed. The huge head of an ancient serpent arose beyond the trees and looked down into the clearing the group had been in. 'Bart' and the youngsters hid in the bushes, looking on in terror at this huge thing which slithered so quickly and suddenly into the opening with a disturbed silence.

"Jassse. I can sssmell you." It warned. "Come out, son of Jue the Warrior."

Jase's eyes widened, no longer as much in fright but surprise, noting upon the ancient serpent was an old wound which ran down from the edge of his eye and deep into his body. He was mostly green, nearly invisible amongst the trees, and he was absolutely massive. The serpent's eyes looked around, soulless and searching. The elderly thing moved it's head around as 'Bart' directed the youngsters to follow him.

They moved slowly with 'Bart' looking at the ancient thing as it moved. It continued to call for Jase to reveal himself, but 'Bart' continued to lead the youngsters away from this danger. 'Bart' fixated on the ancient snake, his head turned away from them, but then slowly began to turn towards them. 'Bart' believed it was just looking, not able to see them.

Until it spoke.

"Ccclever, but not ccclever enough. Halt, and be ssstill."

'Bart's' eyes widened and he yelled to his companions "Ruyn!" before firing an arrow at the snake's head. The ancient snake spun it's head to the side, as the arrow grazed his scales fruitlessly. The ancient creature slithered swiftly towards them as 'Bart' herded the group and began to make for the river. Jase and Gaisan were farther ahead, but stopped to help Figgum who struggled to keep up.

"Jassse! Ssstop!" The ancient snake boomed. Jase of course didn't, and continued on. 'Bart' fired arrows at the beast, trying to keep it's attention before trying to duck between some roots. The serpent disappeared behind them much to 'Bart's' worry, and reappeared having slithered quickly up to Jase and Gaisan from the front. Jase froze, and Gaisan froze with him as they stared up at the ancient thing. 'Bart' came forward, aiming an arrow towards the ancient beast's eye, angrily rebuking him. "Moyve an inch, an you'll be a bliynd beast!"

The snake didn't move as the snake wheeled his head to the side and his form surrounded the four. It spoke with a strange friendliness "Do you know who you ccconfront?"

Jase was beyond frightened, but yet his curiosity got the better of him. This being had them dead to rights, and he wondered if it was toying with them. "I am the kin of Asssmodeus, born and assscended beyond what the cccycle has allowed. We dwelled here for generationsss, far before and far after. I am death itssself, and yet death is not your enemy, Jassse. Son of Jue the Warrior."

Jase and his friends gave a confused look to the snake whose threatening tone began to soften. "I am Kanazzar, he who hasss beheld and shall behold, and I have waited for you for a long time, Jassse. Now that you are here, time grows ssshort, and you must have what was taken. What must be recovered, and shall be."
_

Jase's shock was without doubt, as he and his friend returned to the clearing with the snake trudging behind them. It herded the four into the clearing as Jase was not comforted by what it had said, but in fact he was more concerned than ever. Kanazzar was not a name he expected to hear, a felled serpent that his father had helped chuck into a cavernous pit. In the old tales, Kanazzar was dead. Jase at first didn't believe the old snake, but the scar on the snake's face was undeniable. The ancient being moved its head to the side, it's single eye laid on Jase and 'Bart' as it slithered it's tongue and surrounded them. 'Bart' kept a arrow notched in his bow, utterly baffled as much as he was concerned.

"I welcome you to the sword bearer's mark, Oh honored beast. Your return was foressseen many times over, long have I sssought you, and long have you avoided me till now. Underssstandable I sssuppose, but time grows ever shorter, and we no longer have the blessing of foresssight. He walks once again upon these grounds, living within blood, casssting his evil sssong across this land once again."

The group only blinked at the snake's statements, having no clue what he meant. Yet, for Kanazzar, he acted as if they fully understood.

"You have come here after too much time ssspent wandering, Jassse of Redwall. Son of Jue the Warrior. You are without your sword, and you must reclaim what hasss been ssstolen."

"You are Kanazzar, weren't you, ummmm, killed?" Gaisan asked.

"Yes." The snake said quite proudly. 'Bart' whispered to the group as the snake continued to circle them, keeping its eye on him in particular. 'Bart' felt a sliver of fear. He didn't know the beast's intention, and he was not calmed by it. Figgum couldn't help but ask of him "Hey. If you were killed, how are you-" Figgum gulped "Alive?"

"Who sssays I am alive, when I was once dead. The body is casssted down along with the sssoul into that pit, and I sssought reveng-"

Jase grew angry "You didn't hunt my father, did you?"

"At first I did, but sssomething happened long ago, far longer than before I had come to be, and ssshall be. For friend ssshall be foe, and foe ssshall be friend." The sentence took Jase back a little. Surprised he knew of that saying he had dreamed of. The snake turned its face for its other eye to look upon them and curled itself up before them, slithering it's massive tongue out in a friendly manner.

"I am far more friend than foe asss I once was, as was promisssed and asss wasss foressseen. I have come to help you, and thus help this land. A dark creature hasss taken your father from this place, along with many others. They are beyond my help, for only the one who wasss not taken can help them." The snake looked at Jase, but Jase just kept silent. He looked to Figgum and Gaisan, all three in silent agreement of having no clue what the beast spoke of, but there were some things they picked up on. A glimmer of hope, and a shadow of concern washed over him.

"You said my father was taken? Who are the others?"

"They asss one, and one asss they. For they are asss they are, one of many and many in one. Bound to a sssword all, their lives intertwined in plots and plans from placesss we cannot speak of let alone sssee." Kanazzar continued on, and it made less and less sense to Jase. Jase looked desperately to 'Bart', wondering if this was some kind of foolery he might know of, but the old rat only gave a confused and terrified look to the ancient snake.

"Bound to-Bound to the sword of Martin? In what way? Are they friend of my father?"

"They were friendsss to all, taken from living pawsss and brought beyond the river and into darknesssss."

"Jase, I think he is saying your pa is, erm, beyond the river."

"But we just came from that way!" Jase said with frustration. The idea of going all the way back north felt inconceivable to him. He had saw his friend lose an ear, escape slavery and death, and gone through all this just for a snake to tell them to return north? "Pa, he must be here, or some clue, right?"

"He is here as he is there, ssson of Jue the Warrior."

"Why arye you helping them, snayke." 'Bart' asked, a spite and eagerness to distrust this beast was apparent. Jase agreed with 'Bart's' concern. In the old tales, Kanazzar was an enemy no different from every other snake. He wondered if it were some trick, but it didn't make sense if it was. The snake had its fangs, and 'Bart' was darkly concerned with the speed and skill it had. It was not a young monster by any means. Kanazzar explained in a soft and condescending tone.

"Long ago I wasss here, ssseeking the one who threw me into the darknesssss. I climbed from that hole, bleeding and broken as I wasss, but changed. I was bombarded with visionsss, terrible and great in their length and frequency. I sssaw what would come to passss, a vision of what shall be if all is truly lost. The sssword must be reclaimed, and those who use it must find it once more. Only then can the plan be ressstored, the plot against the great king be stopped before it findsss itsss fruit."

"You want to help us find the sword then? To find my pa?" Jase asked. Kanazzar nodded slowly, its head directed northward "I ssshall ssshow you to where you will find them, all of them, where you must join them. You were not of the original plan, Jassse of Redwall. Yet, you are the lassst of the plot to yet fulfill itself. I will guide you, for there is one who desssiresss a peace which cannot be."

Jase and his companions watched Kanazzar get down to the ground and slither into the forest slowly, with 'Bart' sweating profusely. Jase turned to his friends, with Gaisan the first to speak up "Jase, I don't know about this. Can we trust this creature? It was an enemy of your father."

"'Bart', do you know anything about these kinds of things?" Jase hoped that 'Bart' would know, but he shook his head.

"Snaykes are wild things, squirryel. Deadly always and hostyile in many ways. They vieyw us as food. Yet, if it was hungry or hostyile, it certainly has not shoywn it. It no douybt knows I couyld not defend us if it deciyded to kill us. We were luycky. Too luycky."

"You have any clue what it was talking about?" Figgum asked. Jase and Gaisan shook their heads. Jase could only guess "I think it means to say that it saw pa was taken. North with other prisoners. If he knows where the sword is and is willing to help, I don't intentionally distrust him. Though, it is a long, long way." Jase frowned.

Gaisan patted his friend's back "Well, at least if we get attacked by those stinking bandits again, we'll have a big ol' snake gobbling them up."

Jase gave a low chuckle, just as the loud and booming voice of the snake called them to follow and to hurry. Taking their things and packing away, the group followed Kanazzar northward, once again setting out into the open country of Mossflower to find Martin's sword. And hopefully me pa as well.