Seabane reclined on the uncomfortable wooden bench in his cell. Marrow did the same on the bench across from him with a glum expression painted across his face. He had wrapped a thick brown cloak he had been gifted by the Foremole over his shoulders. The fire from the iron cauldron was cold and dead and no beast had sensed any urgency in relighting it when the two rats were thrown once more into their cell. Although he didn't know why he was back in the dungeon, he attempted to enjoy the peaceful silence the dark and damp stone surroundings brought him. Several minutes had passed and his enjoyment began to wane as his mind fantasized of all the terrible things that could've put him back in the prison.
Seabane chewed his lip out of nervous habit as distant pawsteps got louder and louder. He and Marrow hadn't done anything wrong, they hadn't said anything but a greeting to Foremole Grumm. The staunch mole wouldn't have let them get a word in if they had tried. He had talked both their ears off, but neither of them could understand the odd creature. Seabane hoped that he hadn't done anything to anger the mole, he had snapped at them when Marrow grabbed a mallet out of instinct. The giant rat had put it down immediately. As the steps got louder moans of pain became audible. Seabane realized that there was something terribly wrong.
"Marrow get yer paws ready to fight!" Seabane hissed as the steps came to an end at their door.
Marrow's eyes narrowed to slits as he leaned forward on his seat ready to bolt or fight to the death. Seabane readied himself for the same.
With a jingle of keys followed by the heavy clanking of the rusted iron lock, the door whipped open sending an absurd amount of light into the dark cell.
"Get in there ye cowardly cretin!" A voice boomed as a shadow darkened the light from the door. Marrow lept to the bottom of the stairs just in time to catch Crooksnout who came tumbling down them. The giant rat backpedaled in surprise as the door to the cell slammed shut returning the vermin to darkness.
Seabane's eyes took a moment to adjust. Crooksnout groaned in pain as Marrow eased the lame beast to Seabane's bench.
"Yarr what's goin' on matey! What'd yew do tah get us all thrown in the brig!" Seabane snapped as he got up to help his fellow deserter.
An agonized groan escaped the weasel's mouth. Beneath that, there was a muted cry. Seabane was horrified to find Fenril clutching her father's tunic.
"Woodland scum! He was carrying a kit ye wormbrained monsters!" Seabane shouted, hoping one of his captors could hear him, and decided he wanted to fight.
"What happened matey?" Seabane asked returning his focus to his fellow deserter. Marrow turned and watched the door, one ear listening to the vermin and the other searching for incoming paw steps.
"I don't know." Crooksnout snapped through the pain. "Aye was strollin' back to the infirmary after snatchin' breakfast with Fenril when I heard screams echoin' through the air like a bunch o' screechin' seagulls."
Seabane listened in horror as the weasel continued to speak. "I thought Sathe had finally gone mad and was tryin' tah off the old squirrel and her maid. But I figgered she's too much of a coward tah kill the stripedog that was wid her."
"Why would a badger want anything tah do with that miserable fool?"
"I dunno? The wench said something about having some free time this morning. But tha screaming," Crooksnout stiffened as he was placed onto the rough bench. "Sounded like Herrik finally came to 'is senses."
"I thought he was a dead beast!"
"We all did! The last thing we needed was for that mad idjit tah wake up and find a badger at an arm's length!"
"What happened then?"
"I told yah I dunno! I hurried back with our vikkles knowin' Silvertongue might be next. The next thing I know, there's a ruckus from behind, and one of those accursed rabbits comes hurtlin' through me like a runaway cart. I ended up sprawled on me broken limb instead of Fenril, but I reckon I've rebroken the cursed thing."
Glancing at his arm it didn't look like anything was broken, but in the darkness, Seabane couldn't see much. However, it smelled as if the bandages were becoming soaked with blood.
"Then a small horde of them hauled me down here." Crooksnout rocked back and forth, clenching his teeth in an attempt to numb the pain.
"Herrik yew mad fool!" Seabane swore under his breath.
"Yer the idjit who decided tah bring him with us! If it weren't for Herrik and Muckfur we'd never have found this cursed abbey, and we'd never kill that squirrel family, so I'd never get hurt!" Fury shone in Crooksnout's teal eyes. Seabane knew that the weasel and his family had suffered the most on their journey here. Slowly withering away was a terrible fate, the rat couldn't imagine what it was like to watch his family have their life sapped from them. Although it would help all the deserters if he wasn't a loud fool.
"Shut your mouth you stupid weasel!" Seabane snapped clenching Crooksnout's mouth shut with his paws. "They don't know that as long as we keep quiet!"
"Dere gonna kill us anyways! Sathe doesn't have the squirrel and there's a mob of beasts trying to persuade the abbot to toss us out, or worse!" Crooksnout cried.
"What! Where's the squirrel!" Seabane grabbed Crooksnout's shoulders which elicited a piercing scream from the weasel. The rat jumped back in horror as Crooksnout's eyes rolled back into his head and he slumped over unconscious. Fenril began to wail.
Seabane felt the darkness closing in on him. He had to do something but there was very little he could do. He was trapped in his cell while Herrik partook in some unspeakable horror and Sathe was left to do damage control, if she was still alive. Even worse their bargaining chip was gone! The Redwallers made it clear what would happen if any of the vermin even thought of harming a woodlander. Herrik certainly must've done more than ponder the idea. It was evident that the Long Patrol was to run the vermin through. Seabane knew how vile those hares were, but that otter Dokkur was much more concerning. Whereas the hares followed orders the otter didn't. He hoped the cocky beast would come to their cell alone, it would make it easier for the corsair to slay him. But unless he made an appearance Seabane had to sit and try to comfort the crying kit hoping that Sathe was less useless as she made herself out to be.
Several minutes passed with nothing aside from the sounds of the crying weasel grating on Seabanes' already frayed nerves. He had tried to comfort the kit but didn't know what to do or where to begin. All his attempts to calm Fenril only made the weasel more terrified. Giving up, he sat next to his unconscious comrade leaning against the cool stone wall. After a few moments, Seabane could feel a cold sweat across his back. Confused, he stood up. He was freezing so he shouldn't be sweating. He pressed his paw to the stone wall, to his surprise it was wet and slippery like a stone he would find along the shore of one of Mossflower's many riverbanks.
"Yar look at this Marrow, it's as wet as a riverdogs backside."
"Beasts coming." Marrow snapped.
Awkward paw steps could be heard traveling towards them. An odd mix of the pitter-patter of paws and the occasional clank of wood against stone. Seabane quickly forgot about the water streaming down the walls as he realized that Redwall's champion was drawing near.
The door to the cell was thrown open once again. This time Eli stormed into the room, a torch held in his paw and a look of determination set upon his face.
"Yarr what's tha matter mouse? We didn't do anything wrong." Seabane thought it best to feign ignorance.
Eli said nothing but tossed the torch into the iron cauldron. The cauldron burst into flames illuminating the room in a bright yellow and orange.
"I know you're lying rat!" Eli spat as he landed a fist into Seabane's stomach. The corsair doubled over as Eil grabbed his collar and threw him to the frigid stone floor.
"And you're gonna tell me exactly what I want to know." Eli hissed.
"We told yew everything. I swear it!"
"No, you didn't! Now beasts are dead because of you scum!" Eli pulled his longsword free.
"I want answers!" He shouted, pointing his sword at the vermin. "One of your friends is-"
"Herrik's dead we know that!" Seabane shouted at the mouse as he scrambled to his knees. "And now you wanna know why and if we've gotten anything tah do wid it, but we don't!"
"I've heard that same excuse from your lot ever since you've shown up. Each time you show yer true colors it's someone else's fault or it's because yer a bunch o' poor starving beasts who didn't have any other choice."
"But we're not lying!"
"You're not telling us the whole truth." Eli snapped rounding his fury back to Seabane. "Your healer admitted she knew the weasel was mad but still let Sister Beryl near him. Now she's clinging to life after he ripped her throat out!"
Seabane felt all the goodwill the vermin had garnered slip through his claws like sand. The dread he had felt when he fought Ferris outside of his burning cottage was present once more. Seabane opened his mouth to respond but what could he say? The vermin had been given multiple chances and they continued to find ways to toss them away. They couldn't possibly fight the abbeybeasts and flee, and even if they did escape, they would've certainly been hunted down and slain, or the winter would finish the survivors off. More and more Seabane felt the need to beg and grovel to be spared. It continued to work, but for how much longer?
"Please sah. We didn't know if he was going to survive, we woulda told ya if there were any sign he would." Seabane fell onto his face, bowing before Eli like a conquered foe. Eli scoffed and kicked at the rat with his peg leg.
"Words are cheap rat; action is all that matters. If the lot of ye changed overnight it might mean somethin' but considering how nasty ye have been since we saved your lives, I don't think anything will change."
"Eli makes an important point, Seabane. I want to believe you, but I'm finding a hard time to do so after our incident in the infirmary." Abbot Micah materialized in the doorway to the cell. A stoic Sergeant Danburr and a frightened Samuel Greyfur flanked him.
"Abbot Micah." Eli nodded a greeting towards the old mouse as he carefully navigated his way down the steps.
"Good Morning Eli." The abbot returned the greeting with a polite nod before looking down at the vermin through his small spectacles.
"You already know your friend is dead, and the less said about him the better. Like Eli, I want to know why we weren't told he was a mad beast! Sister Beryl and our healers were almost killed and now Sister Lilac's too afraid to even sniff the infirmary."
"Sathe, she kin act as a healer!" Seabane stated hoping that the ferret could give the rat a reason not to regret bringing her along with him.
"She's doing enough not to be thrown down here with the lot of ye." Eli snapped; his face darkened in the flickering firelight. "An when she eventually messes up the lot of ye are out of this abbey!"
"What!" Seabane snapped spittle flying everywhere. "But w-we didn't do anything! Herrik was mad an none of us thought he'd survive. Besides he didn't know about the rules."
"I don't care if he's the most miserable mistreated wretch in Mossflower you don't attack a beast who's tryin' to help ye! Besides we've given you all plenty of chances!" Abbot Micah sighed as Eli snapped back at the vermin.
"No, we're not going to throw you out just yet. But Eli's threat shouldn't be ignored. We have done our best to aid you in your recovery, but we cannot put our own in danger of being attacked by some mad or evil creature. That's why before we let any of you out of this room you are going to tell us everything that you've hidden from us." Abbot Micah ignored a disappointed glare from Eli and an angry snort from Sergent Danburr.
"We did tell ye everything!"
"You didn't warn us about Herrik! What if the fox wakes up and goes on to kill Mildred or Sister Lilac? I cannot and will not stand before Redwall and protect you then."
"Ruddy's alive?" Seabane asked his mouth dropped open in shock.
Abbot Micah shared a confused glance with Eli.
"The fox? To my understanding Mildred patched him up as best she could, and he's been asleep ever since."
"He's alive?" Disbelief and relief washed over the corsair as he struggled to stand.
"Where is he? Take me to him now!" Seabane grasped at Eli's tunic. Sergeant Danburr stepped in front of Abbot Micah as Eli pushed the rat off him.
"Where's the fox!"
"Try that again an ye'll meet him at the gates of the dark forest!"
"Where's Ruddy?" Seabane sobbed, blubbering over his words. "I thought you chopped him tah bits and threw him in yer pond!"
"Why would we do that?" Eli looked disgusted at the idea. "He's been unconscious since yew vermin arrived here."
"But Dokkur…" Seabane trailed off. As he did so a wave of fury coursed through his body.
"That lying riverdog!"
"Watch your mouth rat! Remember what we said about threatening other beasts!"
"That otter lied to me! He said that you killed him an threw his body away!"
Eli's face twisted into confused disgust. "He wouldn't do that, Dokkur's a good beast."
"Words are cheap mouse! He's been harassing us ever since we got here!"
"You haven't been very good guests and he's not the only beast who'd like tah see you freeze." Sergeant Danburr piped up. Seabane wished Marrow would break the hare's neck.
"I don't know what was said between you or Dokkur." Abbot Micah interjected, stepping from behind the hare. "But if you want to see him again in this life, you'll tell me everything we should know about him."
"I'm not hiding anything with the fox. He's just a young fool that thinks he'll be the next warlord tah capture all of Mossflower."
Sergeant Danburr snorted. "The hares of the Long Patrol can fix that."
"He's truly a pitiful warrior. He'd hurt himself before he'd harm another beast." Seabane lied. "But he's eager to test his mettle and hates otters."
"Why otters?" Samuel who had remained silent asked as he poked his head from behind the abbot.
"He was knocked unconscious by one when he was younger. Despised them ever since."
Eli didn't try and stifle his smile. "Poor beast. Ye'd think he'd learn his lesson."
"Vermin aren't the brightest, wot." Sergeant Danburr quipped. Seabane ignored the smug hare.
"Just let me see the lad. He's a good beast, he's just an idjit at times."
"Good beasts don't dream of becoming warlords." Eli snapped at him.
"Again, he's just a bit of an idjit. But he'll listen to me, and I'll make sure that he doesn't harm anybeast."
Abbot Micah watched the rat with tired eyes.
"Alright, you may stay in the infirmary with him." Abbot Micah said without smiling. "Don't make me regret it."
"On my life sah, I swear you won't."
"Abbot Micah," Eli interjected. "Respectfully, this is a terrible idea. Redwall's as angry as a riled-up hive, taking these vermin anywhere near the infirmary would be a mistake."
"Crooksnout's still hurt. He broke his arm again." Seabane offered, trying whatever he could to melt the old beast's heart. "Fenril's here as well. She should be returned to her mother."
As if commanded Fenril turned her small head to look at the abbot, her teal eyes filled with tears.
"Marrow kin carry the two of them and I'll just follow along." Seabane pressed.
"I still don't like it. There's far too much hostility in the air for this to end well." Eli snapped.
"The source of the violence is dead." Abbot Micah retorted. "None of the vermin have made any attempt to help Herrik or harm any abbeybeast. They didn't even seem to know he was alive. It would be wrong for us to blame them for the actions of one of their mad comrades. Especially considering he didn't know the rules we made for our vermin friends. Wouldn't you say so Eli?"
There was a pause as the mouse begrudgingly mulled over Abbot Micah's words. "Aye, it would be wrong."
"What about the fox, sah?" Sergeant Danburr asked. "This could be a trap, wot."
"I have a very difficult time believing the fox would be capable of anything, Sergeant." Abbot Micah responded as he rubbed his spectacles. "Have you gotten everything you wanted from them?"
"I hope I have." Eli cast a distrusting look at the vermin.
"Eli, these beasts are now a part of Redwall. I trust you to trust my judgment and protect all the beasts in the abbey who call it home, be it rat or mouse."
"I trust you, sir, you know that. But I still think this is a terrible idea."
This chapter has been a pain to write, I had to separate it into two. The second part will be posted a few days after this and that will probably be the last chapter of 2023.
As always please let me know what you think and what I can improve on. Any and all feedback is appreciated!