Chapter 46: Breaking and Entering

Hesam and Vogar sat on two small stools in great discomfort, looking on with wide eyed fear at the small water rat which stared back in silence. It was morning now, the rat still giving out short breaths from the failed assault outside, as Hesam looked about the rat's tent. He was really hoping to see a cat somewhere, or a small kitten on the rat's shoulder. Yet, there was none, instead he was flanked by two of Hazul's tribe who kept their paws on the handles of their weapons. Hesam found it a little weird they had bows, as rats were all terrible fletchers and usually preferred to use javelins or throwing weapons. Hazul spoke, his voice icy as he calmly spoke to them.

"You are not one of Scarl's agents?" There was a collective groan from Hesam and Vogar at the question, repeated thrice with increasing hostility. Hesam again corrected the water rat.

"N-no! I don't even know what the hell a 'Scarl' even is. Like we keep telling you, we are allies of Milo Greeneyes." Hesam had annoyed Hazul with the question he too had repeated. Hazul firmly informed them otherwise.

"The Greeneyes are dead, and have been in this land for many seasons if not longer than any beast has a right to remember. You two claim to represent them. Your attempt to betray your fellow beasts, as idiotic and well wasted as it was, is duley noted. If you are not Scarl's agent then who?"

"Oh bleeding seasons." Vogar said with frustrated dismay "We keep telling you, rat. We aren't a part of this blasted horde! We are bound to Milo Greeneyes, the blasted 'emperor' of Sandbeach. In the western sea. We thought this horde was aligned to him, since well, yo-" Vogar stopped himself. He knew full well that this creature before him didn't know anything, and he cursed himself for being so caught up in this endless loop.

"Look, we are, erm, agents of Milo Greeneyes. We know or care very little about what you know of him, it was all just a big misund-"

Vogar was stopped when Hazul lifted his paw. He looked at the two, unsure of what to even make of them. It wasn't unheard of for woodlanders to betray their own kind to the vermin, but usually it was for very specific reasons. Like a family being held captive to help open the gates, a broken slave turning in rebellious kin to prevent further cruelty, or even a desperate beast wishing to save their friends by dooming an entire settlement. Hazul had seen it all.

Except for this.

The water rat blinked slowly, as he beheld these two, the Companions as they called themselves. He was moderately aware of their exploits, but one question began to ring out alarm bells across his mind.

"You were apart of Jue the Warrior's retinue I am to understand. So why are you here if I may be so bold to ask?" Hazul insisted. Hesm shrugged very casually, much to Hazul's bafflement.

"Oh, that old bush tail? More like 'were' my good rat! Trust me, warlord, we are more your friends than he was with us, by milestones."

"Then where is he." Hazul seethed. The two companions began to frown as Hazul arose from his chair "Where is the Warrior of Redwall, you two bumbling back stabbers. I have little patience as it is."

"W-we honestly don't know." Vogar responded "We lost him in the forest, and that were we last saw him. Though, be comforted that he is unlikely to ever return."

"How so?" Hazul raised an eyebrow to this comment in particular. Vogar grunted and folded his paws "I believe he fell ill of a snake I think. Yet do trust me, rat, if he hasn't been around these seasons he isn't coming back."

Hazul shook his head with disgust. It was just far too unnatural for him as he pondered what to even do next. He wasn't even sure what Markem would do in such a situation. Hazul only saw problems with even keeping these beasts in camp, foreign agents to a faction he had never met now were held by him. He wasn't sure if the warlord they were bound to considered them invaluable or expendable, and whatever use they had certainly was wasted. Yet, the very notion of it bothered him. These two were meant to open the gates to a foreign force, which could have meant its likely still out there. It may even explain why we didn't face the badger lord himself in battle, if the hares are busy fighting this unknown force. The Greeneyes? They have been dead for a long time, or missing at best. Whatever beast had taken up that accursed name is certainly reaching.

Rather suddenly and without much even a warning, Kylan Bignose rammed himself into the tent which made Hazul jump up with fright, as he held his saber in paw. He had a happy grin on his face as he slapped the two traitorous woodlanders on their backs, which nearly sent Hesam flying.

"Haha!" Kylan boomed as he got himself comfortable by planting his saber into the ground. Hazul looked uncomfortable as an angry looking Kajam came in with his own sword drawn. Kylan picked at his teeth as the fat weasel looked down at the two "Would ya look at dis, me small, dirty, tribal peer! We got ourselves some freshened up meat I dinks fer der boys to play wit."

Kajam growled at him "Only der chief can decide der fates." Hesam and Vogar's eyes lit up as Kylan yelled back "De's two cost me big time, so I am going to have me fun. Markem would frown I am more den certain by such dings, but after what de's two had led me into, I dink I deserve it!"

"N-now hold on, good weasel." Hesam frighteningly spoke up "Now need for violence, or anything of the sort!" Hesam thought as he turned up his charm and got comfortable, prying at the weasel "You see, while we did fail, you do after all have The Companions on your side now, and is that not worth it at the end of the day?"

The weasel blinked and simply asked "Who?"

Hesam frowned, but Vogar spoke up next "My good bean, we were raven slayers and the most gifted adventurers in all of Mossflower! We aided Jue the Warrior and traveled with him to defeat all manner of foes. Although your assault had failed, we took a fair number of our illustrious kin with us. Call it optimistic, but you had shown them how to deal forth terrible damage, wot!"

The weasel paused and was slowly beginning to smile, with Hesam sweetening his words. "I mean, as a mighty warlord yourself, you'd think that such a beast would deserve the credit for all those death of the Long Patrol? Even by accident, it is a blessed honor to meet you, erm-" Hesam didn't know his name, but Kylan introduced himself all formal like "Oh, me name if Kylan. Kylan Bignose, me hearties. Of the great an' mighty city of Jusbrag!"

Hazul rolled his eyes, speaking up with clear spite for his fellow warlord "Kylan, are you done? I have more important business to attend to."

"Aye, about given de's wonderful allies of our some bleeden viddles!" Hesam and Vogar were relieved, as for all the faults of the vermin, the most notable one was their pride. Hazul growled "You first want their heads, and now their attention! Kylan, get out of my tent!"

Kylan didn't and in fact pressed into the rat's desk just to annoy him "Why don't ya get yer bleeden 'spirits' to do it, den? Regardless, doh. What ya goin to do wit dis lot?"

"I don't know." Hazul growled back. Kylan mocked him as swiftly as he spoke "Markem put ya in charge, an ya don't know?"

Hesam intervened, getting up as he spoke with a calmness "My fellow beasts, let us not fight on our account. Oh dear, wise, and most blessed Hazul. Your tribe is certainly mighty, and your horde vast. I come at a friend of Milo to you and only you, so let us not be generous with our peace and we shall cause no trouble as your most willing prisoners. We all but ask is no abuses be put upon us, and we shall do as you say."

Hazul gave him an odd look at first, but then softened. Despite their oddities of these two traitors, he couldn't help agree to these simple requests. He nodded "Fine, your promises will be noted. Markem will hopefully be back from putting down those fool slaves and restore our supply lines. Kylan. Now. Get out of my blasted tent!"

Kylan scoffed and left, as Kylan pointed outside to his brother "Kejam, find these two a tent and we shall deal with this foolery later."

Kejam nodded as the companions quickly followed behind. Hazul felt an odd tickle in the back of his mind, a sudden anger at them. He'd be aligned with them more if he didn't have this weird itch. Hazul, finally alone in his tent, spoke up to whatever ghost was with him in his lonesome office.

"Seasons, guide me. Friend or foe, these woodlanders give me illness. Tell me what I must do?" There was no answer as usual as Hazul arose and left his tent, he would simply have to ask later.
_

Taban kept himself quiet as he walked with Hazul, awkwardly trying to remain on the cat's good side. Hazul had requested him as he walked about the vermin siege which surrounded the abbey, his eyes darting to it from time to time. The water rat's paws were firmly behind his back as he kept pondering what to do next. Had Taban not convinced Kylan to this dreaded assault, Hazul would have ordered it a day before Markem's deal to expire. Hazul found such deals foolish, but at least Markem was reliable even if Hazul considered him a bit too soft. Things have to be done, but now, how does one proceed? Come now, Hazul. You've done this before. Think.

"So, erm. I'm not like, in 'trouble' trouble am I?" Taban asked with a pained smile. Hazul looked at him and shook his head "Your little stunt is forgiven only because Kylan is more of an idiot than I thought, and I could use you still. Otherwise, I would have had my brother behead you for it. Your no longer a mercenary in my opinion, your now apart of this horde to make up for this." Hazul motioned his paw towards injured vermin around him, licking their wounds. Taban frowned as he kept to the rat's side.

"I have a task for you." Hazul asked of him. Taban listened as the rat revealed his plan "The other warlords, I want you to keep an eye on them, tell me if they plan anything similar to what that idiot Kylan did. The Bloodracks are ever impatient even if more agreeable." Hazul looked around at the horde, but he stopped to bring up his attention to the walls of Redwall itself. The hares were now far more vigilant, if not downright paranoid. Officers formed rank and marched hares off, while others were yelled at for being lax on their posts. Hazul could understand their concerns, they were worried of more traitors.

The hares were looking down at the gathered horde, unaware Hazul was walking about. Taban grunted "You think we'd have a lucky shot of sending them back in, get them to open the gates again?"

"Unlikely." Hazul grunted back "Those two were caught and wasted their chance. They are dead weight as far as I am concerned, but tame for now."

"Why not add them to the slaves then?" Taban asked curiously. Hazul looked at him "Kylan will throw a fit, and I wanted that bumbling moron to keep calm. Lest he ruin us by doing yet another failed assault. I can handle him, but its the others I am more concerned about."

Hazul and Taban continued to walk across the camp, with Taban being a big surprised. Usually, failed vermin assaults were a devastating loss in a siege. Assaulting any fortified wall was a costly endeavor, and the reward had to outweigh both the expense and risk. Warlords could always pull more vermin from the forest to serve their army as conscripts, who would meld in at the thought of plunder. Taban himself didn't seem to even mind much being conscripted, it was just a part of vermin life. You either followed your betters, or ended up on the chopping block.

Yet instead, Markem's horde didn't seem really even all that bothered.

The two went past a group of organized tents were injured Jusbrag vermin were being tended to by shamans or enslaved healers. Yet, once back on their feet, they just returned to their tents instead of moped. Hazul had sent out slaves to collect their dead, knowing full well the vengful hares would just pick off vermin sent to do it. Hazul knew sieges all too well, and morale was far more important than progress.

"I need you to also instruct my peers to bury their dead properly, hold funerals if you have to. I care not for their own, but it will make the vermin feel more homely here."

Taban nodded his head as he listened. He had only planned to half complete his tasks, but at the same time he really wanted to stay on the rat's good side. "You think we'd be able to crack it open?"

"Maybe, but we will need to be even more clever."

The two continued around the camp, investigating the various camps. Hazul could note some concerning signs as he explained to Taban "Sieging a fort requires more than just a bigger army, it requires patience we unfortunately lack. Markem's insistence to rush in is understandable considering the enemy we face, but if what those two traitors say is true, perhaps waiting wouldn't be that bad of an idea."

Taban shrugged "Whatever you say, boss. I mean, just as long as you, erm, don't mention my name to Markem anytime soon."

"That will entirely depend on your success, cat." Hazul grumbled. Hazul had high hopes that despite the losses taken, it had done little for his army. As he walked about, watching as slaves were guarded over to build trenches closer, he had come to see vermin joining them. Vermin would eventually work if forced to, but Hazul was always surprised to see the horde of Markem be a lot more willing to work themselves, for their chief always approved. Yet, a number of them had returned to just watching, being a bit farther back. One rat was frowning, keeping his distance. Hazul spoke to him "Get back in the trench, we need them surrounding the entire abbey." Hazul hoped that commanding one beast would get others to obey, but the rat blinked and stood there.

"I am the chief's second in this siege, and I order you to do as I say, hordebeast." Hazul firmly asked. The rat shook his head, as Hazul growled at the impotence.

"Go into that trench and start digging."

"Nay, sir. If yer gonna kill me, den do it, cause I'd be dead if I step into der." The rat said back meekly. Hazul looked a bit surprised. They were far from range as he looked at the walls of Redwall full of hares. He shook his head "Dismissed then, but go do something else." The hordebeast nodded and ran off.

Taban asked as they continued "You got plenty of slavebeasts, Hazul. Why even threaten them? Isn't Marke-"

"Markem isn't here." Hazul sighed "Yet, it is as I suspected. If we assault, we'll be beaten back from hesitation alone. We need a victory to get us going again. I need to call the warlords to a meeting, we need to discuss our plans going forward." Hazul had circled the entire camp and was back with his tribe. He called out to his shaman as Taban stood his ground for a bit. He was now looking back at Redwall and couldn't help but wonder to himself out loud.

"How can one small little abbey cause so much trouble."
_

Hazul was in the command tent of the camp, and many of the warlords who entered were in sour moods. Markem usually treated them with dignity and respect, but the gathered group had a more familiar taste of vermin politics when it came to meeting Hazul. The warlord, in his full armor, was pouring over maps almost religiously. 'Almost', as the warlords knew full well of Hazul's zealous beliefs. Kylan was the last to arrive, with Nosecheese being by his side. Each of the united warlords brought their favorite captain with them, an honor which they would use to impress upon others. However, while Markem may have had servants treat them, Hazul gave them no such luxury. Instead he looked up with clear disdain at his peers, scoffing at them instead.

"Your all late, and our time grows short as it is. I will not have any of you delay the funerals for my warriors any longer than need be."

Resker rolled his eyes and spoke first "You call us here, Hazul Leffer. What your vermin do in their own time is little of my concern, rat."

Hazul gave a dangerous look to him in which Resker slowly backed away from. Hazul was a bit amused, for in some way, most of the warlords feared him. They had all heard what he did at Veekun's Burrow, and what he turned it into. Many even whispered he was magical, a title which he proudly wore. Yet, what Resker was more afraid of was that belt he had, full of mice skulls. Hazul gave a grim smile as he spoke up to his collective of warlords. "Our little escapades last night are not a total failure, but Markem's original plan is spoiled, so that is why you are all here."

"Tis not our fault, yer in charge." Jakker grunted. "Yer the one who shoulda held a bigger eye out fer dis Jusbrag fool. Me boys get tired of all dis waiting around, when we goin to see real action?"

Kylan lightly whistled, trying to avoid the conversation about him, but many of the warlords were giving him sour stares. They had not fully forgiven him for his little stunt the night before, as the Jusbrag overlord seemed to not give much care to what his vermin did. One of Resker's captains was forcefully conscripted into the assault and was killed in the fighting when he had noticed the Jusbrag vermin getting into position. Lusket was furious that several of his vermin were trampled in the hasty retreat back to the camp. Kylan as usual would just shrug "Not sure why ya looken at me, we we're close an' I took der risk. I mean, would any of ya not have done so as well?"

"Not der point." Jakker growled "Markem's plan was solid, an I thought ya his pet when it came to obeying his orders."

Kylan took that as an insult, raised his fast and yelling at Jakker "Oh yea take dat back ya rot livered fiend! I may dink of dat rat as a brudder, but we are his allies. Not his cap'ns. Besides, dis fool wouldn't have used our new found friends all dat well. Besides, we killed a few hares."

"Aye, we did." Lusket shook his head "But now we don't got much of a way to get inside now. If dat badger lord comes out of his mountain, an we don't got Markem, den dat rat is goin to go from tolerably soft to hangen us by our entrails. Hazul, we gotta assault dem, even if we take losses."

Hazul grunted "I am not going to do that considering the new information we have. The assault wasn't a complete failure, having extracted those traitors as we did. There is another horde, likely towards the coast, which haunts Mossflower. In fact, I am likely going to send my scouts to search for them. The badger lord and the main hare army are missing, and our victory at Moss Field can be owed to that fact."

"What ya suggest den?"

"We wait." There was grumbling sounds amongst the warlords. Kylan huffed as he noticed the move seemed unpopular. "Ya wanna wait? Markem would have suspected dis abbey taken by den!"

"Of course I want to wait, you idiots." Hazul raised his voice at them "In fact, I order it. Markem and I are the most experienced in these kinds of affairs, and we haven't seen or heard of the hare army since we got here. Markem will be back soon after having dealt with our supply issues. You will get your taste of woodlander blood once we have a plan beyond wasting this horde on the walls. Markem I know doesn't want a pile of corpses when he returns, and even you know this I hope, Kylan."

"Why ya gotta single me out, ya spirit infested rat." Kylan grumbled. Hazul only hissed at him before returning his attention to more intelligible peers.

"I'll tell me boys to wait." Jakker admitted "Hate to say yer right, but I suppose we can wait fer Markem. I hate sitting here though, just so ya know."

Many of the warlords nodded in agreement. Kylan was about to leave, having exhausted his patience as Hazul called out to him "Kylan." Kylan turned to him as Hazul warned him "You will stay put, or so hel-"

"Yes, yes, der vermin of Jusbrag will keep der feet on der ground. Ya don't worry, long tail." Hazul was almost relieved as Kylan left, returning his attention to the warlords to talk about more mundane things. Hazul was content for Kylan to just keep to himself from now on, hopeful he had learned his lesson. Kylan was joined by Nosecheese who was eager to wait out the siege in comfort. "Wanna get me boys together an' find a village to raid, boss? I hear der are plenty of breweries across dis land. Plenty of viddles to eat too. If ya want, I can find a good cook an' get a nice feast goin an-"

"Oh? No need fer dat when when we got so much work to do!" Kylan said happily, approaching his camp. Nosecheese frowned as he commanded his captain around "Gadder der slavebeasts an' pick out der smartest one. I'm goin need some help building der biggest, an' most powerful siege tower ever made! Were gonna build a ramp ya see, an I can already be seeing it in me head. When Markem comes back, dem walls will be waving our orange colors! I can't wait to see dat blasted rot brained scum quiver an' beg at der gates of dis abbey, yapping about ghosts, as we feast inside!"

"Sir, not to say much on dis matter, but uhhh-" Nosecheese sighed "Der lads are tired, an-"

"Den dey can rest while we build it! Now get me some smart beasts an' get em into der far forest far past dem sentries. I wanna build dis without dat fool rat noticin." Hazul then began to laugh heartily "I'm goin to love der look on dem warlords faces when it be Jusbrag once again leaden der charge! Ha!"

Nosecheese sighed, as the Jusbrag warlord got to work drawing up his plans for his mighty war machine.


Garfan and Kana stood at the door leading to the abbey's Great Hall, with both giving a mile long stare at it. Garfan had not spoken for awhile, his whiskers twitched as he remained in his guard uniform. Garfan had not even washed since that night, and Kana had been restless. Both woodlanders were tired, and somewhat famished as they hadn't eaten since then either. Garfan was about to touch the door, but held his paw back as he gave a loud sigh.

"It's not your fault." Kana said, a depression in her voice. Garfan shook his head, spitefully speaking in his usual authoritative tone. "If you say it's 'your fault' Kana, I won't accept it. Those two were my responsibility. Gaisen, that fool boy. He was-"

"Please. Do not say that word. 'Was'." Kana begged. She sniffed and gripped her head in continued anguish. Garfan held her as he tried to make sense of it all "The-they weren't among the prisoners? I didn't see them. They are-" Garfan had no words, his worry was overcoming him. He had spent that night, scanning every wall for even a sign of the two. He had no clue if they were dead, alive, or otherwise. The very thought of them being out in the woods, alone, jolted him to life. Kana could not help but weep softly "My Jase. My poor Jase. He's out there, he's-"

"Garfan. Kana." The two turned to see Marthomis standing there, coming up to them. Garfan apologized "I'm sorry, abbot. We had a rough night. I'm not sure if we ca-"

Mathomis cut him off "We all must, good Garfan." Marthomis put his paws on both of their shoulders, giving them a comforting smile. "Do not think much on logic or what you can see, for hope arrives yet. We have all suffered humiliations and losses this night, and our dear Jase and Gaisen is no doubt alive. You said it yourself, Garfan. You did not see them."

Garfan also remembered that, although he sighed and admitted "I hoped to not see it, abbot. I tried to look but had no heart for it. If I saw anything I didn't wish to see." Garfan paused. Marthomis patted him and gave a soft smile "My friend, you musn't give up hope. Many beasts count on you. In fact, I have much to apologize for."

"Apologize abbot?" Kana asked.

The dormouse looked at the door, his own regrets and troubles filling his mind. He only motioned towards the door with a sigh "My friends, we have a long and terrible talk ahead of us, and I have a good friend to apologize to."

The group opened the door the Great Hall were there was clammor of voices. All around them as Garfan and Kana took their places, Marthomis shifted himself to the head of the table. The voices all around them were loud and full of grief, as the Redwallers had been discussing in length what had happened last night. Some of the Long Patrol officers who joined them were abnormally distant, and only a loud and thunderous voices from Stenna had them all become silent.

"Everyone, please! Our abbot wishes to speak."

Marthomis honestly did not, as he tucked his paws inside his habit as the entire hall had become silent, seeing how the dormouse would react. Breaking this anxious silence, the abbot built up his courage to speak.

"My fellow Redwallers, guests, and soldiers of the Long Patrol. As you know, we have survived the night, but not without losses. Now, I know many of you had heard rumors of treason behind these walls had led to the near collapse of our brave defenders-" Marthomis huffed as he tried to give himself the strength to speak, only thankful the dibbums were not around to hear.

"The Companions have betrayed us. Hesam and Vogar both were caught murdering our guards and opening the gates to the vermin."

There were gasps amongst the monks, and downtrodden faces from the hares. Such things like this was never heard of, as angry voice clamored for answers.

"These were the friends of the Warrior of Redwall, how could they do this to us! To Jue!"

"Oh seasons, mice and hares betraying us? How?!"

"No good, rotten scoundrels! How dare they!"

"Hesam sung for me at me birthday, how could such a sweet mouse do something so evil."

The Redwallers were in dismay, and rightfully so in everyone's honest opinion. It was almost inconceivable for Marthomis to even believe it, that Hesam of all beasts would betray them as he did. Many in the crowd were in utter dismay at this fact, as not even the Long Patrol had caught it. Wild rumors began to circulate around the table, much to Marthomis's dismay.

"Jue called Hesam his friend! What if Jue himself was in on it!? What if we find that squirrel outside mingling in with this 'Mark'!?"

"Silence yourself, be worried about all the mice and hares in these walls. No squirrel betrayed these walls I tell you. We need to start investigating!"

"Huff your nonsense! The companions are, umm, probably just pretending! That's it. It's all a big trick! They'll be delivering that warlord to these gates within the hour I tell you!"

The whole conversation was disheartening to say the least. The Redwallers just could not wrap their heads around it, that the same beast who was so well liked and sang all manner of songs in such high spirits would so callously try to hand them over to the vermin outside. Yet even as their minds calmed, the whole ordeal was difficult to defend. No beast amongst them could deny what had happened. Every beast looked sick, and the bickering between them turned to dismay. Annoyed and frustrated above all of them, Stenna angrily pounded the table, which caused the entire hall to become silent.

"Oh enough out of all of you!" Stenna raised her voice, slowly rising to speak "I will hear no more paranoid business, not in these walls. Yes, Jue was their 'friend' until he up and disappeared. I don't care what caused them to turn on us, they did and we must deal with them as well. Two of our beloved youngsters, for whatever maddening reason, ran out into a vermin horde! Hesam and Vogar both now are outside our walls, and if I hear anymore maddening foolery from any of you, you can go ask them your questions when I throw you from the walls."

Marthomis's eyes widened a bit at the threat as Stenna sat back down with a huff, shaking her head in grief. "Abbot, I will not apologize, but these are my youngsters to take care of. I'd charge out if you but ordered me to. The fact I will have to explain to our dibbums that the same beast who used to tell them all those stories is the same one who nearly had them butchered by vermin."

The very thought disgusted all who heard it, and anger grew. Garfan pounded the table himself and arose in anger "Damn him!" He shouted. Many beasts turned to Garfan who gripped his fur with frustration. He slowly turned his attention to Bollo who was looking at him. Garfan sighed, and then spoke up with a more reasonable voice.

"There was only one beast who had seen through this, and on behalf of myself I-"

Bollo spoke up first, speaking loudly and with a softness to the Redwallers "Nut nuw Gurfan. Abbut, Hesum is gune an' we gut many beasts to tund to, here an' auderwise. We cun all mupe about Hesum, or we cun get our bottums into geur an' hulp defund dis here abbuy. Our hume. Whatevur Hesum's attentun may be, we gut vermun out our wulls. Let us focus on dum."

Marthomis bowed his head respectively, raising it to add to Bollo's thoughts "As saddened as Hesam's actions are, Bollo is right. Dwelling on his reasons now is a future problem, our current on is on defending our home from the invader. The vermin intend to break our spirits, so I will ask you all to hold your chins high. Cluny the Scourge once tried to breach our walls, and we beat him back. We must now do the same for Mark Brownnose. Or, erm, Markem."

There was a murmur, but then a good deal of nodding. The Redwallers arose as Marthomis dismissed them. Although many began to leave, Bollo and Kalma attempted to join them but Marthomis called to him "Bollo, please. Stay for a moment."

The mole and hedgehog turned as Marthomis and Garfan approached him. Marthomis was frowning with a deep sadness, as the dormouse had difficulty speaking. Garfan shared in the abbot's trouble, the warrior mouse looking away partly in shame.

"Bollo." Marthomis's voice was soft "I am so sorry-"

"Abbut." Bollo responded back quickly "Nu, dur be nutten to apologuze fer. Marthomus. Garfun. We exhcangued bud words, an' I received bud words. I am red in dur fuce about dut mouse, but I pushed yuo all awuy. In angur, I guve Hesum all dut he needud. Everyune wus enchunted by dut mouse's sung. Even Jue." There was a sickening feeling in Bollo's stomach. Garfan grunted at even the thought as he had a realization.

"You think-"

Kalma huffed "No. Jue was very good with that sword of his. Far better than that trumped up, dung looking, nefarious, Ohhhh-" Kalma pouted and stomped her foot "To think! Oh seasons, Bollo. We should have listened."

"I should huve allowud yuo to listun." Bollo said with regret. Bollo then slapped his belly with a strange lightness to him "Well, dur just two mure enemies on dur uder side of our wulls. Hesum an' Vogur can be cumfy in der side of der cump. An me inside de's here wulls. If yur lookun fer me forgivenuss, yuo twu huve it. Me an' Kulma gunna go try to see if we cun find Juse."

Bollo and Kalma left, with Kana coming up behind them. Garfan sighed deeply, coming to respect the mole's words. For a hero of Mossflower, he certainly had the patience of one. Though, to Marthomis, it was a patience he had learned. The abbot sighed and shook his head "I'm afraid I am going to be apologizing to that mole for seasons."

"You and me bo-" The two were interrupted when Marople came into the Great Hall, quickly coming up to the abbot with a wide smile on her face. They were confused by this, but the haress looked wonderfully relieved. She panted out "Abbot. Naus Stag Hare is awake!"
_

The Redwall infirmary was full of hares and other warriors, including some otters and shrews who were pulled from Moss Field and were unable to move. The injured hares did not have their usual spirits, even when gifted with such food. The Redwal healers were all around busy, aided by the Long Patrol's chief medic. Nafpha and Norma spun all across the rooms, carrying bandages and medicine to grasping hares. One hare was being lifted onto stilts, who hopped on a nasty limp. The whole infirmary was full of troubled beasts, all except one.

"Mam, please. I beg thee. I desire more of that wonderful snaps you have." Dramatically begged Naus, laying down in his cot. The annoyed mouse nurse, Palia, scolded him thusly "Naug or Naub or whatever your bleeding name is, I demand you rest! Those cuts won't heal if you keep squirming like that."

Naus gave a wide smile, speaking with a childish fondness "My good, mam. I will be still once I am fed. I starve, and to starve prisoners is such a crime against good beasts."

Palia rolled her eyes, but Naus was still dramatically trying to get her to do his bidding "Oh, if only my ancestor Basil were here, to see how far Redwall had fallen. Not a single Stag Hare will ever be able to-"

"Morning Naus." Garfan spoke, as he and Marthomis entered the infirmary and walked up to his bed. They were joined by Marople, who quickly saluted the injured hare, as the colonel saluted back quite weakly. Naus smiled at her and looked around "Oh good job, Marople. I see I am not tended to by vermin, so I imagine things go well?"

There was an awkward silence between them as Naus tried to remain cheery. "Wot? That rat, Mark the Destroyer, got your tongues? The blighter doesn't have that firm of a grasp over you all, does he?"

Marople gave him an odd look "The 'Destroyer', sir?"

"Yes. That blasted fiend doesn't even have a good nickname to exploit. Marople, I order you to only refer to that rat by absurd nicknames till one sticks. Last thing I want is going back to Salamandastron and telling Biggum or Barfoof that I lost to a bleeding horde led by a rat named 'Mark'. Bolly, if things couldn't get worse as it is!" Naus tried to sit up in his bed, but he winced in pain and immediately went back down. Naus grumbled "Blasted body, if I could control wood like I do my own flesh and bones, I would be demanding amputation!"

Marthomis frowned and shook his head "Let us not get too hasty. You have been out for some time."

"And I imagine you have much to tell me, but only once I get a good word with our dear Dakan." The silence continued as Garfan and Marthomis bowed their heads. Naus's cheer faded as he realized the worst has come to pass. "I see." His voice became more serious and looked about with concern. Marople informed him otherwise.

"Pelma and her otters are out and about in Mossflower, sir. The holt is out there, and so are the Gousim, but even if they were on standby, I am afraid we are in a bleeding bad spot. However, it gets much worse."

Naus listened intently as Marople explained to him what had happened previously, and Naus was not as shocked as he should have been. Naus listened as Markem made his demands, how they attempted to assault the fortress, and how two young Redwallers had run off. Worse yet, a runner from Salamandastron had come with terrible news the day the siege was set up. Naus listened and nodded along, thinking of the new information. Marople finished off her dumping of information on him before he spoke up with a less cheerful tone.

"I see, we are in quite a pickle."

"Pickle!?" Garfan growled "This is no time for jokes. Markem is at our gates, and-"

"Thing is, he likely isn't." Naus quickly and firmly interrupted the mouse. Both grew silent as Naus thought, but Marople confirmed "We saw a host lead itself away from the abbey, but how could you have known, sir?"

"Basic tactics, 101. This Markem fellow isn't a typical warlord type we've fought before, and knowing that I can guess he isn't around to order a foolish assault. If they didn't push in their full force, that assault was not intended. It was likely sloppy and poorly planned, which unless Redwall truly is that cursed for vermin, Markem is likely not pulling the strings. Seasons, I should have just listened to Dakan." Naus grumbled. Garfan raised and eyebrow as Naus again explained "Dakan came to me before the battle, saying he suspected the Companions to doing some awful trick. Wanted my help to arrest them, but we agreed once we dealt with Markem. Hard to imagine Vogar of all beasts killing my own hares, but he'll learn the meaning of 'harsh punishment' when I get my bleeding paws on him."

Garfan looked down in shame and sighed "Dakan told me as well. It is a tragedy we had lost him."

"Him and his son both." Naus spat. "Markem knew our weakness far before we could do much about it. Baited Dakan quite easily, and cost us dearly. So it isn't hard to guess whoever ordered that assault did so quite dumbly. Though it is curious. They should have had us all dead to rights if they attacked so well hidden, near opening those gates. The fact they bungled such a treasonous act at all I am unsure is a blessing or simply that they are cursed." Naus scoffed and then coughed. "Blimey, feeling like I just got hit by several bleeding wagons."

"You will be if you keep trying to stand." Palia forcefully put the hare down into the bed, and he had no power to resist.

"However, we cannot just stand, or well lay, here chit chatting all day. Marople, plans have changed. We can no longer hope for Galgor to send reinforcements. Worse yet, if the Companions have turned as they did, we cannot expect Malgor to be amongst our friends either. Seasons help Salamandastron if he is still in the mountain. We must hold out and buy time, which thankfully for us, may be just an option."

"How so?" Garfan asked cynically, unsure of the hare's point. "Simple, mouse. If Markem isn't here, his number two is. Hazul Leffer. That tribal blighter was better known to us, a murderer and 'sorcerer' if you believe such hog wash. Made his nice little lair in Veekun's Burrow, a quaint mouse village and keep. We sent hares to help deal with him, but Hazul had somehow won out his little rivalry and turned it into a dark and terrible place. We would have burned him out long ago had we not been dealing with what remained of Kasg's horde. Beasts like Pelg the 'Tall' were still wandering about, gathering hordes and what not."

"I saw his blue sword. Or well, his blue flaming sword." Marople said with a hint of fright. Naus laughed, cheerfully mocking the accursed zealot "Bah! Literal tricks me grandmum would have chuckled at! I've seen and heard it all. Yet, that is exactly what we will need to do to keep those vermin away from this here abbey."

"Sir?"

Naus motioned her closer so he didn't have to speak up and harm his voice "Vermin are a superstitious bunch, we all know this. They'll jump at shadows and rumors of ghouls at every turn. Blighters could barely go about their daily lives without some shaman asking the stars and a small pile of bird bones what is what. Hazul and his rats take this to some manner of the extreme, and we can use that to our advantage. Abbot. You got that wonderful patron's armor of your lying around or some copy?"

Marthomis fumbled his words "Well, yes, but its been so long an-"

"Oh perfect! Marople. I believe you know what to do. Tell the captains to do a little bit of a 'trick an' trat' kind of foolery, eh?" Marople nodded and went off, happily saluting her fallen comrade as she went. Garfan and Marthomis looked at each other weirdly before returning their attention to Naus who was in growing spirits "Oh, if only Dakan were here. He would have loved to see it. Though I suppose I will have to gauge his reaction when we all meet again in the dark forest."

"You hares truly are insane." Garfan scoffed "Were surrounded and with little hope, how are you so calm?"

Naus winked "My good boy, if I worried about such things, it would crush me! I don't like being crushed, quite bad for the bones, wot. True, we are in a bad spot, but we have always been in a bad spot. Hares of the Long Patrol don't worry about such mundane things such as 'losses' and 'defeats'. We only need to worry about how to recover and regroup. Its all about mind games you see. Marople is a Tussock Hare, through an' through. She'll know full well what to do. Now that I am awake, its about time I get some of that wonderful Redwall hospitality, hmmmmm?" Naus looked to Palia with a dramatic glare, who got a roll of the eyes from the mouse nurse. Marthomis grinned and nodded.

"You'll get your meal in due time, but do be grateful for Palia. You owe her much."

"Oh fine. Now, tell me in immaculate detail all that I got to miss. Spare no quarter, abbot."
_

Snot looked around the office of the abbot, almost mystified by the books on their shelves, the wonderful view of Redwall from the window, and other amenities of an abbot's much needed home away from their duties. Marthomis was sitting at his desk in front of him, staring down with a mixture of pity and annoyance as the small weasel gave an obvious fake smile to him. Snot shifted uncomfortably in his habit, with Garfan looming just behind him, looking down with a scornful look. Snot then frowned, as Marthomis breaks the silence.

"Snot Butkin, I know you are new this abbey, but perhaps you could enlighten us on what Jase and Gaisen were thinking that night. They-"

"I promised not to tell, flat nose." Snot interrupted and folded his paws. Marthomis sighed deeply, as Garfan growled down at the youngster. "Say that again, weasel, and Stenna won't have much say in what I'll do to you."

"Well yer a softie, anyhow." Snot said a little less confidently. "Wha-what ya gonna do? Make me eat slop er somethen? Put me in a corner?"

"How does marching around the walls for the remainder of your natural life, every day, till the end of time even if one can live that long, sound?" Garfan growled down again "I am missing two wards, which includes my boy. You are going to talk, Snot. Or so help me-"

"Enough Garfan." Marthomis commanded. He could see the weasel was shaking a bit, unsure of what to do or say. Marthomis was a bit curious as he decided to shift his tactics. Snot had been silent on Jase and Gaisen's intentions, and no one knew what they were going to do. It was abnormal for Jase of all beasts to even attempt this. For a moment or two after this, Garfan was cursing Gaisen to the highest heavens, as he was convinced this was some other trick or ploy by his adopted son. Yet even had calmed, not knowing any trick involved running out into a vermin horde.

"Snot, you are not in trouble in the traditional sense. You are apart of this abbey, yes, but you must help us to understand Jase and Gaisen's motives in this escape. Were they running away because of the siege?"

"Abbot, this beast is in absolute trouble." Garfan raised his voice "When all this vermin business is done, this beast should be kicked right into the blasted trench outside with the rest of the il-"

"Garfan!" Marthomis raised his own voice. Garfan silenced himself, surprised as the Abbot's normal calmness had broken. Marthomis gave a deep breath and spoke calmly again, explaining to him "Snot may have helped in this conspiracy, but I am not in the mood to kick out beasts from Redwall, especially orphaned ones. Snot, please, we only wish to understand. I promise you, whatever trouble you think you are in, is just your imagination." Marthomis patiently waited, but when Snot didn't say anything, Garfan grew annoyed. He kicked the chair lightly which nearly made the young weasel bolt.

"Fine! I'll tell! Just don't let dat mouse kick me out der!"

"He won't." Marthomis said firmly. Garfan rolled his eyes as Snot spilled what he knew. "Jase an' Gaisen asked me if dey'd help em' out of der abbey. Jase was sayen somedin about dreams an' all. I means, dey helped me, so I didn't know why I couldn't have helped dem. It mean, tis maken sense ya know. Dey says dat Jase's paw be dis here abbey's big ol' warrior beast. An Jase says dat he be missen, so Jase an' Gaisen tells me dey need to go find em'. I-erm-"

Marthomis closed his eyes and sighed, shaking his head as if disappointed. "I see. Thank you, Snot."

Garfan paused as he gave the abbot a concerned look. Marthomis spoke to Snot "While you did help in this foolish act, you can make up for it by helping the hares and Stenna. She needs help more than ever, young Snot. The alternative is joining Garfan in his rounds, alongside Nuck and Darper." Marthomis's warning had its effects as Snot swiftly nodded his head. "I truly sorry abbot." Snot replied, a bit more pitifully "I dought I was helpen."

"I know." Marthomis excused the young weasel who leapt from the chair and swiftly retreated down stairs. Garfan watched him leave, as Marthomis sat back into his chair. Garfan partly joked with him "I'll make sure he doesn't just eat food in a corner if that is fine with you, abbot."

"So long as it is just getting him back on track." Marthomis put his paw to his face. Garfan turned and spoke up, saddened by the whole affair "Bollo says he can't find Jase amongst the vermin captives, though one smaller mouse certainly looked like Gaisen. I think apart of some family the vermin brought with them, the blasted fiends. I confirmed it wasn't him. It does seem they were able to get out entirely."

"I had hoped as much." Marthomis shook his head, and continued to sit back in his chair. "I had hoped in another sense they were captured, so at least we could keep some form of eye on them. I imagine Kana is not calm."

"Bollo and Kalma help her, but she will be sleepless looking for them." Garfan grunted "With your permission abbot, I wish to round up a few fellow mice. If Jase and Gaisen can make their way through the camp undetected, we can as well. I'll bring them back kicking and screeching if I have to, I-"

"Garfan." Marthomis once again spoke, but his voice was low and depressed. "That won't be necessary. Jase and Gaisen are smart beasts, and if they left this abbey as they did considering Jase's meekishness, they must have been quite prepared. If they were this well planned out, they must have some clue where they are heading. Though to not know is a terrible thing."

"I am confident I can do it, abbot."

"I won't even risk it. Jase and Gaisen fled in the midst of battle, and vermin were not looking for them. We need your expertise here, Garfan. Defending this abbey. I loved them as much as you loved them, but this abbey must come first. It would shame us if we set out to search for them, only to come back to see Markem's having enslaved or killed us all."

Garfan sighed as Marthomis arose, comforting the mouse "Gaisen is a smart boy, even if a small devil in himself. I promise you, once the vermin are dealt with, I will personally lead the search myself."

"You think they'll find Jue?" Garfan asked.

Marthomis partly joked, smiling "They better, for they will need a Warrior of Redwall like Jue to stop me from tanning them. Those two will be scrubbing floors from one end of the abbey to another when they get back." Garfan smiled and left the office. Marthomis sat back in his office, looking out over the abbey. He sighed, his thoughts on Jase and Gaisen. Oh I do hope they find you Jue. We need you more than ever.
_

Night had fallen over Redwall as the two forces inside and outside the walls settled in. Neither would take the chance of a counter raid or skirmish, as night time hares began to march up and patrol the walls more fiercely. Hazul's rats scurried in the woods, their lightless camps giving haunting eyes at the hares who pretend to not see them. Bollo and Kalma stayed with Kana that night, who weeped in her son's room. Garfan, Nuck, and Darper transported water to the hares on top. Stenna held her sleeping and terrified dibbums and put them to rest. The abbey grew quiet, especially around the main hall which was seldom visited in the night. The torch lighters and blown out candles and all was quiet.

All except one dormouse abbot who strode through the halls.

In silence, Marthomis bent his old face down towards the ground, pondering on things. He wondered what the previous abbot before him would have done in his situation, and in jealousy he wished they had been alive to take his place. He walked slowly into the Great Hall, looking around the magnificent and colorful tapestry which covered the walls. Marthomis walked up to it's alter, looking up the cloth visage of Martin the Warrior, his sword firmly planted into the ground and all manner of vermin scattered in all directions before him.

Marthomis followed the story of the warrior's life, and the mysteries within. Some he understood, others he had no memory of. Yet, he stared up at Martin, looking around as if expecting some beast to come near him. He approached the alter and bowed his head to the silent figure.

"Martin, ohhh deer Martin." Marthomis began, his soft voice creaking with worry and sorrow "I know you have defended this abbey before, and you have long aided our warriors and good beasts. So I implore you, to aid us in these trying times. I pray for the good souls of Dakan and Kasser who fell in battle, and to watch over Pelma in her darkest hour. Blessings be upon our brave hares so that your strength may inspire them to hero-" Marthomis looked up at the visage, his voice strained. He paused, before continuing.

"Oh Martin, I hope you are inspired by the goodness of our seasons, bless Kana. I-" Marthomis began to redden, his face going up in defiance at the tapestry. "Oh, blast it! Damn you!"

No beast was around to thankfully hear this outburst as Marthomis paced about the empty and dark halls, angrily cursing the beloved hero. "Oh damn you! How could you! You and your blasted stories, inspiring those young souls to march out into that terrible wilderness! I listened to you before, when Jue was but as young as that poor squirrel, following the dreams you give! If you even give them at all!" Marthomis continued to pace, his curses turned inward as tears fell from his eyes.

"Oh, how accursed we are. How accursed! Inspire, inspire to what? Warriors going off to perish, fighting and maining one another till one beast closes his eyes forever? Why couldn't you have inspired our beasts to stay in this blasted abbey!? Dakan and Kasser are gone, so cruelly taken from us and I was too blind to see those evil fools for whom they were. Oh seasons, and Jue-" Marthomis could take it no longer, pathetically sitting upon the ground with his paws into his old, trembling face.

"Martin, why couldn't you have just told Jase to stay put, or why couldn't have I? Did I not try?! Oh seasons, and my poor abbey." Marthomis looked angrily at the warrior standing proudly on that colorful cloth, scolding it so "Why couldn't you heroically have made peace with your foes, or played the diplomat? Seasons, it was bad enough sending Jue out when you approached him in your dreams, with memories of that sword. He went and got it back for you, and what did it do to him? Never did I see that squirrel so miserable, missing his dear Bollo and Kalma, and now I fear he too is gone. Oh seasons, what if he is dead!? They all come here because of our walls, Martin. They all come and throw themselves to their demise because of what we have. I would have traded this abbey and everything in it just to see one beast live who had perished so." Marthomis felt horrible to even say it, but it was the truth.

Marthomis sat beneath one section of the tapestry in the darkness, wondering for awhile if a beast would find him in such a state. That awkward conversation was not worth it as he arose. "Martin, I do not know if you can even hear me, but I believed so much in your stories and your dreams when I was a younger beast with youthful step." Marthomis fixed himself up, as he sadly bowed his head.

"Forgive me Martin." Marthomis asked. He awaited an answer but only silence met him. It was to be suspected as the dormouse's eyes looked up at the unmoving depiction "Please, oh good Martin. Watch over Jase and Gaisen. Forgive me of my words. I am so tired of this. Of all of this. I had hoped to never see such evil in my time again, and yet here I am. Please, Martin. I ask for no sign, only for those two's safety."

Marthomis frowned and turned his head back to the dark halls from whence he came, abandoning the room with a coldness in his stomach. He returned tired to his quarters, leaving an empty Great Hall. A flicker of light shined through the windows, illuminating the room, where shadows could not dwell.


Hazul and Kajam stood side by side, looking out at the abbey. It has been a few days since their last meeting as Kajam stood in silence with his brother. The two rats did not compliment each other well, and Kajam partly knew this. Hazul was always well spoken, collected, and methodical, a fact he would have despised in any other beast. Yet, Kajam couldn't help but be charmed by his brother's brutality and coldness, a true servant of the seasons. Hazul touched his charred paw, and spoke to Kajam after a long hour.

"Kajam, I need you to make sure our supplies are distributed evenly. Take more slavebeasts and vermin into the forest, gather fruits and foliage. We will need it to keep the brown rat's army fed. Content."

Kajam nodded "Ya dink Markem will return?"

Hazul gave his brother a scornful look "Did we not ask Dala this? The spirits say Markem is alive and well, so thus he is. The Long Patrol may be fortified within, but we are in a good position ourselves. Our defenses of the camp are well made, and Kylan is nowhere to be seen, and far from my sight."

Kajam grunted. "That concerns me more Hazul den anything else."

"He isn't smart enough for anything truly ambitious." Hazul yawned "Besides, my greater concern is our ritual tonight. The dreams have started again, I fear the last ritual has wore off and the-"

"Hazul!" The two turned and saw Resker marching down at them, with Lusket in his rear. Both did not look pleased. Hazul grunted and asked "Resker, does something bother you?"

"It bodders us both, tribal." Lusket grunted back. Hazul squinted his eyes at Lusket as Resker looked at the walls. "Today would have been the day we assaulted those walls, but we have issues. Major ones."

"We'll discuss them later." Hazul returned his attention to the abbey. Resker growled, angrily turning him around which the water rat shrugged off. Kajam immediately pulled his sword from his belt, and Lusket did the same. Resker was more calm about it, giving a pointing finger at Hazul "Ya don't call us, ya don't ask us, and I'm tired of it! Markem at least kept us in the loop, but we barely got a plan. We meet to discuss dis now."

"Or what." Hazul scoffed. Lusket grinned quite villanously and mocked him "Den ya can explain to out Great Warlord why der be four missing warlords from dis here siege, five if ya count Kylan who may just join us."

"You'll abandon our cause so quickly over this?" Hazul asked, annoyed he has to even entertain the fact. Lusket shook his head, speaking to the tribal chief like an annoying brother. "Aye. Were all getten hit by der slow down of Markem's supplies an' me boys an' Resker's can barely feed der own vermin let alone der slaves. Foraging is a mess, an' we can't get enough viddles to keep our soldiers in line. Kylan's vermin seem much more content fer whatever reason, but its probably because he hoards all kinda dings. Look, eder we start eating Markem's slaves at dis rate or we deal wit dis food situation now."

Resker grunted "Not our only issue eder. Der is the whole slaves ding as well." Lusket and Resker exchanged dark glances as Kajam mocked them "You have issues controlling your slavebeasts, pine marten? I thought you prided on your slaving."

"I do." Resker scoffed, but Lusket interrupted "Markem owns our slaves technically, but he rents dem out to us to do whatever, but our own slavebeasts intermingle all across der camp. Der is dis otter we caught in Moss Field dat I want as a laborer fer me camp-"

"Dat river dog was mine from the start, you washed corsair!"

Hazul rolled his eyes and turned back to the abbey, having little patience for these earthly troubles. Warlords complaining about viddles and property, when they should be more concerned about the spiritual power before us. Can they not see? Look at those indomitable walls, filled with but one terrible curse strong enough to expel all others. Such power, if I were to obt-"

"Yer gonna call der meeting den?" Lusket asked, annoyed as he was. Hazul didn't turn and simply spoke "Tell Jakker and the Bloodrrack siblings I will be the command tent shortly, for I have a plan to put your stupidity at ease."

The two warlords could be heard giving a frustrated sigh before turning and complaining to one another. Hazul stared out for a time till Kajam nudged him "Ya got a plan, brother? Ya goin to share it?"

"Get me Dala." Hazul commanded. Kajam nodded and obediently went about his business, as Hazul continued to ponder one simple question. How do I tame a spirit?
_

Hazul was the last to walk into the command tent, almost relieved to not see any sign of Kylan or his cronies, pushing past an angry Jakker and Gatom Bloodrack, who seemed to be arguing over something. Hazul got into the front desk, before silence fell over the warlords. Each of them had no idea what kind of plan Hazul had formed, but they were eager to hear it. The rat had an infamy for two things; his mundane brutality and his genius when it came to sieges like these. Many knew he was a skilled warrior, but his skills with assaulting fortresses like Tussock earned him their respect. Hazul spoke up, "Let us be done with the more mundane troubles, otherwise we will be here all day."

"Aye, an' about der foo-" Lusket was about to begin, but Hazul stopped him. The water rat coughed before speaking up "We'll restrict what food we have till the supply lines are restored. I will send out raiders to some of the villages not conquered yet and bring back food for us if need be, but we will need to wait for Markem."

There were some frowns much to Hazul's annoyance. Is this not what they wanted? "As for slaves you had brought with you, they are all Markem's property by default, we all agreed to this little demand of his. If you have issues of that nature, you can take it up with Markem."

Resker frowned "Erm, sure, but-"

"Finally, I hear there is a space situation, our camp is expanding and crowded, with disease spreading amongst Jakker's horde. I will send Dala to help cure this sickness before it gets out of paw. However, Markem-"

"Ya mentioned dat already!" Resker said, annoyed. Hazul paused as Resker seemed almost insulted "Yer Markem's chosen voice in dis, so make decisions den Hazul. None of dis solves are problems, yer only pushing into Markem's lap."

"Yes, but this is all apart of the plan." Hazul said quite confidently. Jakker spoke up "What about der abbey?"

"What about it." Hazul coldly returned the question. Lusket again spoke up "Ya said we gotta wait, but we are waiting an' we are also starving, matey. Half der folk in dis tent are at each other's throats eder for space or confusion on who owns what slavebeast. Dis isn't mentioning who owns what hordebeast eder. We want ya to act like Markem at least, an tell us what needs to be done. At least skirmish at der walls?"

"I won't be doing that." Hazul held up his paw. There was a groan from the collected warlords "Why der hell not?" One of the Bloodracks asked. Hazul explained as calmly as he could, hyping up his master plan.

"We must wait to break the spirit of the woodlanders, through might as much as brains. Think, is it better to fight strong and readied foes, or ones with broken movements and minds? No, we must prepare the ultimate incursion. I have not forgotten we are sieging down this abbey, for I know of it well and its tales. It is a powerful and mighty abbey. We must be methodical in our movements, and cautious in our attacks. Skirmishing won't do much but break our own wills. I have a plan to push the woodlanders out of their high spirits."

The warlord's heads moved closer, waiting to listen to this amazing plan. Hazul spoke like a dark lord, commanding his minions, although his would be minions began to lose heart the more they listened.

"The spirit of Redwall no doubt returns, and I will banish him away once again with a more powerful spell. One for which no beast alive or dead can foster hope against! My shaman as we speak seeks a rare plant an-and-" Hazul frowned as he saw his warlords looking at him disappointed.

"Yer just gonna do another one dem weird rituals?" Lusket asked. Hazul slammed his paws down on the table "It is more than just 'weird rituals'! Do you know the complex theology which goes behind my spellcraft!"

"I mean, I guess?" Resker added. Hazul frowned harder than before, as the warlords seemed to be unsure what to do. In one instance, they didn't have the zeal or belief that Hazul did, but they also knew the value of good and ill omens. The Bloodracks trusted Hazul immensely, but Lusket gave the water rat an irate stare, folding his paws to show his discontent. Lusket spoke up before the conversations between the warlords grew louder "Hazul, spirit or no spirit, Markem may be gone longer an' we need a victory. We need somethen. We got numbers, I say we assault der abbey now an' be done wit it!"

"Too costly." Hazul scoffed "Not that it would work, the spirit there is too powerful for any of us, even combined."

"How'd you even know?"

"I saw it in my dreams." Hazul said quite confidently. There was another groan amongst the warlords. Jakker held up his paws, angrily scolding Hazul "Oh enough of dis! Hazul, if ya ain't gonna do anyding, den we will! We got no time fer dis softie foolery. We got stuff to do an creatures to kill! Ya eder lead der assault now, or we'll get Kylan to do it!"

"You impatient moron, we need Markem and my rituals to-"

"Markem is busy! Were tired of waiting an' der is food an' shelter inside dem walls! We got more vermin den dey got arrows!"

Hazul growled and slammed his paws on the table. "Fine! I'll lead an assault!" Hazul angrily spoke back "If you idiots want blood, I'll give it to you!"

"Finally, were doing something!" One of the Bloodracks said quite joyously. Hazul gripped his head "Get your hordes ready, we will need at least a day to prepare. We will need shields and ladders." The vermin warlords nodded, more content at the prospect of butchering the beasts inside. Hazul sighed and looked to about, hoping he could conduct a more quicker ritual to banish Martin's spirit, it would have to do.
_

Hazul stood far across the front gates of the abbey, joined by Kajam and Taban in their full battle gear. Taban held up his spear to the abbey, although he really wished he could be apart of the skirishers. Kajam growled at the tribebeasts next to him, a pair of younger water rat warriors who struggled to grip onto one of the ladders. Hazul was waiting, as his intentions were quite obvious. Far above him, he could see hares rallying around the walls, seeing the vermin move about their camp surrounding the abbey, as beasts dove into trenches. Slaves gripped large wooden presiers into position as Hazul's archers hid behind them. They moved forward, the hares holding fire to not fire on the unfortunate slave beasts who reluctantly obeyed the vermin invaders.

Hazul was tended to by Kajam who put white face paint across the water rat's face, as well as his own. Dala came up to Hazul who stoically held firm as he gripped his sword in his uncharred paw. Hazul didn't move as his shaman whispered all manner of strange words into the sword he wielded, covering it was a powder. Hazul looked blankly at the walls of Redwall, and knew this assault would not be easy.

The hares he knew were far too prepared and held a high ground. In one sense, it was true, archers did run out of arrows. Getting up the walls would be painful, but that would be a trouble for other vermin. He would burn down the wooden gates, and establish a safe shielded zone just below it to work on and hack at Redwall's fearsome portal. The whole ordeal had to be coordinated, with Resker leading a large force around the other side to divide up the hare's attention.

Jakker and the Bloodracks would go in from the sides, but it was Resker who would hold the larger force. It was a mind game, as the hares would be unsure which the main area Hazul intended to breach. Hazul had confidence, but he also had a great deal of worries. He held onto a charm which he put onto his belt, to ward off the spiritual powers of the dead. Something Dala had given him and blessed with. Only Kylan was missing, as the last thing Hazul needed was the Jusbrag warlord to cause him problems. Kylan likely already knew, but Hazul had one of his minions tell him to keep the horde in reserve in case they needed reinforcements. Hazul mentally prepared himself, as his fox shaman put a flame to his sword which erupted into a blue flame.

"By the soul stealing fires of my blade, we will overcome this foe both physically and spiritually!" Hazul said with a preaching tone. He raised his sword and put it forward "Glasium Vak Gadus! Death an' Glory!" Hazul screamed as his vermin cheered. The force advanced as the hare prepared bows, but then something shining caught his attention.

Hazul tried to keep going, but that shine was abnormal. Hares aren't know to wear very shiny armor? Hazul was advancing, but his movement slowed and his horde followed. The battle had not sounded yet as Hazul froze.

Taban looked at the warlord whose jaw began to extend, backing up into his horde like as if he saw a ghost. Hazul pointed out, and began to let out a horrible scream.

"Oh seasons! Retreat! Back to the camp!" Hazul kept backing into his vermin, as Kajam and Taban turned their attention to the walls, looking on with concern and terror. There was an anomaly on the walls, an imposing mouse sized beast who wandered about, looking frozen as it moved. Taban tried to collect the panicking rat "Tis just a beast in armor!"

"Its a wraith, a demon! It will rend our very souls!" Hazul screamed. The vermin looked at one another and began to slow their advance, stop, and back away as their leader panicked and kept trying to flee. It was abnormal for this brave siege master to suddenly lose such heart, but the vermin looked up at this ghastly figure. The arms moved inside this metal armor which gripped the helm. Taban was utterly horrified as the hares could not seemingly see it, as the metal armor removed its helm to reveal nothingness beneath. Kajam called out "Retreat! Retreat back to the camp!"

The attack failed miserably, and was in fact bloodless for the woodlanders. The hares looked on as a domino effect came into place as the vermin horde stopped and quickly bolted back into their defensive camps. Resker was confused when beasts began to back away from his sides, and was told of a horrible retreat. The vermin trampled one another in their haste as Hazul continued to cry out in horrible fear.

And if the vermin could hear, there was snickering behind the walls of Redwall.

"Heh." Marople hid in the upper gate house, watching with an amazed Garfan as her best captains used all manner of strings and puppetry on the armor of the famed warrior. Marople couldn't help herself, giggling like a child as she saw her captains struggle to keep their little puppet afloat above their heads. One of the nearby hares caught the helm of the famed warrior in time when the puppet nearly knocked it over the walls, and quickly returned it to a position. This puppet show put in its helm, and quickly retreated to another section of the walls to do the same thing.

Garfan was shocked, having prepared for battle since the vermin camp began to move and become more active. He gave Marople a horrified stare, as she explained the best way she could.

"You'd have loved my teacher on vermin tricks and belief structures back in Salamandastron. Pa wouldn't have it any other way. Now lets make sure we can use this to our full advantage before the vermin get wise to it!"
_

The next day, the vermin miserably went about their business as they watched their warlords all converge, bickering and arguing with one another as they approached the command tent. Even their most experienced captains made way for them, and slaves rushed to the side to avoid their gaze. The warlords angrily piled their problems on top of their growing new ones, as each was getting at each other's throats.

"Your side of the trench? Yer an idiot Jakker! An Idiot! Just cause ya claim der trench cause ya built it don't mean you own it, its in me camp an' its mine!"

"Lusket you fiend! Ya dare insult our pa cause he kicked ya out of our port but once! Oh, when Hazul gets his paws on ya, he's goin to-"

"Dat water rat can't do nutten right!" Lusket angrily scolded the Bloodracks next to him "Running at ghosts, and other dings! How does Markem even tolerate such a beast!? A ghost routed us, an' now we are in a worse spot den ever!"

The warlords were greeted at the edge of the command tent by Kajam who held up his paw. "Wait, my brother needs his rest." The other warlords looked at one another, and continued to bicker, not aware what was happening inside. They smelled the air, looking at the tent which reeked of strange scents. Lusket rolled his eyes and asked "Your brother, is he doin some weird ritual?"

"A wraith inhabits that abbey, and all who look upon it must cleanse themselves." Kajam attempted to explain, but Lusket was having none of it. "It were just anuder hare trick, ya oaf! Dey do dis kinda ding all der blasted time, an' ya should know better! Even it were some ghost it w-"

"It was a wraith, not a ghost." A voice came from behind the tent cover. Hazul came out, coughing as he drank down some vile substance and spat it out. "Wraiths are physical beings, undead who have come to life for a singular purpose. Their weapons are all too real, and more important, cursed to rend at the very souls themselves! We stood no chance against such a foe!"

Resker scoffed "Den send in me boys an' we'd have taken care of it!"

Jakker gulped and scratched his head "I mean, if der be ghosts like dat, maybe we should do dat ritual Hazul wants to do. Get dat beast to get away again, like der last time? Martin der Warrior be an ancient evil to us, right? Maybe we need spiritual weapons to beat a spiritual beast?"

"Oh listen to yerself, Jakker!" Resker growled "Yer goin to be jumping at gorgons an' Malkariss rats next. Ain't nutten but tales slaves an' stupid beasts tell one another."

"Do not speak that name." Kajam growled out. Resker looked at him confused as Hazul responded in kind "The evil and heresy of that ancient beast is long gone, best we do not summon his spirit with a call to his evil name. We must obliterate the forces behind those walls with spiritual fire, and no spell we have among us can beat such a thing. We must sit and wait for-"

"Ya all got a ghost problem!?" Kylan's voice roared from behind as the smirking fat weasel climbed his way up to the group. Kylan had a big grin on his face, as if happy about their little stunt. Kylan gave him a dangerous look as the fat weasel mockingly swaggered his way into the conversation. "More den just ghosts, but hares an' soft beasts too?" Kylan bounded his way with a proud look on his face, looking very kindly at his fellow warlords. Hazul seethed "None of your concern, Kylan."

"I dink it be me big concern alright, ya tree worshippen, long snouted snapper!" Kylan snapped back "Ya just all embarrassed yerselves in front of dem Long Patrol, dey gone from fearen ya to laughen at ya! Seems like waiten weren't our best option after all." Kylan winked at the fuming water rat as he held his paws around Resker and Lusket's necks, being overly friend to his fellow warlords "Me hearties, Markem wouldn't want ya to be all fuss an' trouble wit one anuder. Were all in dis together, bound like shield brudders locked together! Me maties, I say we try our little assault again. Under a new direction."

Hazul growled "The spirit in that wall-" He was cut off by a loud and booming laugh from the fat weasel, nearly crying with furious gurgling chuckling. "I fear no spirit! I killed more beasts dat shoulda come back an' throw me into an early grave, like me former boss! Or Markem's fadder in law. Yet dem beasts don't come back! I see ya jumpen at ghosts, ya liver rotted idiot. I'll take me chance, especially wit der newest tool I got in my arsenal!"

Hazul looked baffled, wondering what kind of weapon his hated rival could possibly have. A thought invaded Hazul's mind of what Kylan could possibly mean, as the obese Jusbrag ovelord spoke with a high spirited tone "Me maties an' friends, let me show you somethen that is goin to be senden us over dem walls in no time!"

The warlords were curious to what Kylan was talking about, and followed the large weasel down into his camp. Hazul slowly trudged behind with his brother scratching his head in confusion. The group followed Kylan farther into the woods, towards a small clearing which was surrounded by Jusbraf tents and flags. The warlords had their jaws drop with surprise, and Hazul's eyes widened with a mix of wonder and concern as they beheld a massive wooden tower on wheels.

It was a massive thing, practically the size of a house with many vermin and slaves working tirelessly on it. Hammers pounded into the wood in this hulking 'thing'. It was no traditional siege tower, not by a long shot. It was closer to that of a massive ramp which slid down by several levels. Five beasts at a time could possibly go side by side up this ramp, and firmly climb onto the walls. A small drawbridge was held upright at the far end of the tower. Hazul came over to his wonderful new device, kissing the wood with a sweetness.

"I calls it, der Kylan Tower! Dey'll be talken about dis fer seasons!" Kylan looked upon his creation with pride, and the warlords all 'ooohed' and 'aaahed' in amazement. Not at the creation itself, but at Kylan. For all his faults, the most known to the warlords was that the weasel had a few screws loose in his head, a prideful and dumb warlord. Yet, even Hazul was amazed by this, but his amazement ceased when he came to a sudden realization.

"How long did it take you to build this, Kylan?" Hazul asked, although he already knew the answer. Kylan attempted to play dumb "Ohh, I dun know, Hazul. Does it really matter?"

Hazul seethed, marching up to the fat weasel and snarled at him. Kylan was hardly intimidated as the fat weasel simply folded his paws. Hazul bursted into rage "You disobeyed my orders, set by our warlord! Oh, knowing this was what you intended from the start, going behind my back, I should have known otherwise! Now dismantle this stupid machine and let us get back to real busin-"

"Dismantle me beauty!?" Kylan laughed. "Ya hear dat, der tribal wants to dismantle our only way into dat abbey!"

Hazul pointed to problem number one "Kylan, you idiot, you can't even get that thing into position! Your surrounded by trees. By the time you chop them down, manuever it around, and get it into position those hares will have found a means to counter it! Now a spirit lays on those walls! Waiting for Markem isn't hard, you moronic lot. When your vermin suffer because you wouldn't wait only a few days for-"

"I mean, not like ya did much anyhow. At least Kylan here got a plan." Lusket said gratefully, overlooking the machine with amazement.

Hazul angrily pointed his fingers at the warlord, making his accusations "All of you are morons if you think that your petty concerns matter in this world, and think so little of the next! At least I planned to get rid of the curse that surrounds it! You follow Kylan's little plan, you'll-you'll-" Hazul noticed the other warlords weren't listening to him, now all surrounding Kylan and admiring his amazing work. Kylan smirked and spoke up "Since yer Markem's number two in dis siege, perhaps ya will give us yer blessing to do what ya can't, water rat."

Hazul's face returned to a mundane pose, as the water rat seemingly calmed. The other warlords listened on in as Hazul finally said with a defeated tone "Fine, we shall use Kylan's little machine to try to break into the abbey. We will discuss this more formally in the command tent. I will meet you all there shortly."

Hazul turned as Kylan happily cheered his success. Kajam walked with his brother out of the camp, somewhat worried for him. Once far away enough, Kajam spoke up "If you wish, brother. I can have Dala brew a nice poison for that vicious idiot."

"No need." Hazul spoke with a weird happiness to his voice, smirking himself once he was far enough from Hazul's camp "Kajam, I want you to find Taban. Get my spymaster as well. Kylan can assault the fortress, but I won't give him the satisfaction of dragging him along with me." Hazul and Kajam walked back to their tribal camp, formulating their darkest scheme to date.
_

A few days had passed since the attempted assault as the hares took their time to further prepare their defenses and make other plans, yet Marople and Garfan both watched with interest as the vermin camp in the north became busy. It was the Jusbrag camp, its vermin cutting down trees and uprooting stumps from their camp and going out into the forest. At first, Marople feared that the Jusbrag vermin would build a large fort around the abbey, but then the vermin began gathering their slaves and marched them out into the forest. Marople and Garfan exchanged glances before they heard a loud snap in the forest, seeing the sway of tree branches move. Being pulled in by a small army of hordebeasts and slaves, a huge and long siege tower began to come onto the horizon, and the vermin began to take their positions around the abbey.

Marople quickly spoke up to Garfan "They will attempt an assault for real I am afraid. Get all of the non combatants inside."

"You think we can hold them off?" Garfan asked, concerned. He was looking at this massive behemoth of a tower slowly coming into the vermin camp, with captains choosing their best soldiers to carry them up into the ramp. Kylan himself walked proudly with his captain Nosecheese, as the Jusbrag vermin began to give war shouts and beat their drums. Marople gave a charming smile to the mouse.

"I got a plan alright." Marople smiled as she quickly rushed downward towards the camp, giving out orders. Garfan did what was needed of him, as the beasts began to evacuate the courtyard quickly and the bells rang out. Kylan breathed in the air, already imagining quite loudly his oncoming fantasy.

"Oh, when we get into dat der abbey, I'll be taken dem bells all der way back to Jusbrag. Maybe even bring dat ol' tapestry an' a few slaves beasts to tend to it! Maybe even bring der whole stinken abbey, stone by stone, to be a nice fortress tower fer me beautiful city! Vermin of der Great Vermin Band! Wit me!" Kylan raised his sword high into the air and the vermin cheered, and soon began to push their weapon into place. Exhausted slaves watched in hopeless terror as the vermin warriors crawled beneath the machine and began to inch it ever closer in a slow manner.

The plan had been simple enough, for once the siege tower was in place, the warlords on the other sides would rush the walls with ladders, forcing the hares to separate their forces. A couple nasty volleys between the defenders and skirmishers would weaken any resistance within the walls, as vermin poured onto the walls. Once the walls were taken it would be a fight towards the gates and open them for the remainder of the forces. Kylan saw Hazul and his archers standing in a field, looking at the abbey. Kylan rolled his eyes. Blasted, stupid zealot. I bets he doesn't even wanna attack dis abbey out of some respect fer it. I'll be having me vermin wipe der mouths wit dat precious tapestry dey got. If me boys don't find some means of defiling dat ghost an' banishing it out o' shame, den I will find a shaman who will tell me!

The vermin got within archer range, with shields held up and beasts taking cover behind large wooden planks. Hares fired a weak volley into them, but they seemed to not mobilize. Kylan saw an opportunity, ordering his captain about "Go in der, Nosecheese! Tell em' to go faster fer der lives depend on it! We'll have Redwall within der hour!"

Nosecheese nodded and rushed to the large device, which the hares were firing their arrows at. He looked up at the walls, with hares doing something rather odd to it. He saw them take up barrels and pour them out, and were not reinforced. He smiled at the foolery of it. Hares are probably eating demselves silly! When we got dem worken fer us, we'll show em how to eat like proper workbeasts. Nosecheese growled at his subordinates who kept pushing the huge ramp tower forward, cresting the point of no return.

Stenna appeared on the walls, taking cover and rushing for something. The ramp got closer as Nosecheese got onto the ramp itself and got to the front. He took up a shield, but took note of one particular problem. Not a lot of the vermin around him had shields. He shrugged, perhaps thinking this was their lose. Sounds of battle went all across the abbey as the other vermin made their move.

There was a loud cracking of wood, with something hitting the drawbridge with tremendous force. Nosecheese figured that badger had thrown something at it, but he felt a small splash of something on his face as other vermin smelled something oddly foul in the air. It smell like oil, as another loud crack was heard just beneath them. Nosecheese was a bit concerned as vermin drew weapons as the great ramp got closer. It began to stop as the vermin pushed the ramp down fully. Nosecheese suspected to be greeted by a mass of hares, but stopped when he saw nothing. Other vermin came on in, only for arrows to hit them instead.

Nosecheese's eyes widened as he hid behind his shield, as a swift volley hit the vermin coming on the ramp. The volley didn't stop as the hares below in the courtyard formed rank and fired above them, aiming for the vermin who had just put themselves in a nice choke point. All it took was Nosecheese to doom the whole thing as vermin who were pushing him onto the ledge, soon found themselves trying to retreat as the hares picked them off so quickly. Some vermin got onto the walls, getting to cover only to find their paws were sticky with oil which slicked across the walls. Nosecheese realized quickly what was going to happen as fiery bolts of arrows began to fly at him.

The walls became an inferno, as vermin burned trying to get onto the wall they had put effort into breaching. The hares kept firing methodically, picking off stragglers. Nosecheese abandoned his weapon and shield, pushing through vermin as another stream of flaming arrows hit over the side and onto the massive wooden war machine. Kylan watched awestruck as the huge machine began to burst into flame, with the vermin unable to put it out quickly enough.

The huge ramp was clogged with vermin, trying to both get on and off of it. Once the idea of the inferno set it, vermin began to jump off of the flaming death trap, but those inside pushing it were far less lucky. Only quick thinking from Nosecheese, taking the opportunity to rescue his soldiers from the smoke and flames without Long Patrol archers firing down at him, the Jusbrag vermin admitted defeat and retreated on their own.

Hazul just stood there, along with most of the archers watching the show unfold, his eyes scanning the walls for the spirit. He smiled to himself as heard Kylan scream and kick as the assault faltered and the vermin realized their defeat had come quite sooner than expected. As the fires died down, the huge wooden tower had bursted into flame entirely and broke down, eventually crashing down onto the ground. Some light damage to the wall left some parts melted, but it was still usable as the hares quickly reclaimed their wall and fired down at retreating vermin soldiers.

Kylan looked distraught as he watched his plan collapse before his eyes, kicking and screaming in the distance.

"Sweet music." Hazul said with a lovely voice. He turned to Taban who returned, having done his dark deed. "The other skirmishers failed to show up, Hazul. You don't think the other warlords are going to-"

"You need not worry of them, I will deal with them. If they wish to cause me such trouble, they can take it up with Markem. Let them wallow in their defeat. At least now they will have to wait as originally ordered." Hazul yawned and turned back towards his camp as Taban watched the hares cheer in celebration as they saw the vermin run before them. Taban frowned, going back to Hazul's side swiftly.


The warlords all remained silent as a grinning Hazul sat in the commander's chair of the command post, his paws held together as if in prayer. The water rat cricked his neck as he looked at his fellow warlord, who silently gave him deathly stares. Of the worst of them, Kylan was looking furious at him as the water rat spoke with a stronger firmness. "I did tell you all that the abbey is cursed, and none of you believed me?"

"I should gut ya fer dat." Lusket growled at him, approaching but only stopped when Hazul raised his paw. He spoke with authority over them as he shamed them eagerly "I told you all to wait for Markem to return, and did I not tell you I would be there? I was, and I decided that your plan was stupid as it was foolish. It is blood on your paws, not mine, that you waste the lives of your vermin. Your attack would not have worked regardless, so I order you now to sit and wait." Hazul arose from his chair, speaking in a more diplomatic tone.

"Your concerns are heard, but I do not see them as serious. Markem, as predicted, has carved his way through the enemy's attempt to kill our logistical train. Food is slowly coming back into the camp again, all while you idiots went mad thinking we needed to take the abbey before then. You had you bloodlust, now are you all satisfied or not?"

"Ya flea-bitten, ill manged, plague ridden-" Kylan began to work up a rant, but Hazul spoke up first "You though, for all your love of Markem and his friendship, you stab him in the back by defying me. If you drop this little trouble, I won't mention it to Markem that you decided to go against his direct orders of assaulting the abbey. Markem enjoys his reputation amongst vermin and woodlanders, something I can in one way respect. I also enjoy my own reputation, Kylan. The one which had many beasts avoided Veekun's Burrow like a plague."

There was a continued silence amongst the group who took the hint, but their view of the water rat had caused them to curse him beneath their breaths. Full of small battle scars and cuts from the failed assault, the group left the tent with Kylan yelling and ranting loudly. Hazul sat back in the chair Markem would normally sit in, smiling to himself.

Hazul knew full well things would not last, but today at least had not been an utter disaster. The attack was foiled, and the vermin only took some minor casualties. Not casualties one would normally scoff at, but not enough to change much. The supplies began to roll back into the horde from the north, with a messenger being bullied by his new subordinate Taban into telling Markem all was fine. A lot of small problems would have to resolve themselves, but these problems could always be handled with a little more tact. Hazul began to think, maybe he should handle them in Markem's stead, not out of a genuine need to improve life in the camp but simply so this foolishness wouldn't happen again.

Kajam entered the tent and spoke quickly, getting Hazul's attention who snapped into action upon seeing his brother looked battle ready. Kajam held his sword in paw, speaking quickly "Hazul, a badger approaches."

Hazul froze, and stood. He was now partly regretting not helping Kylan breach into the abbey, as he spoke up "How many? Perhaps we can bait them into attacking the main defenses of the camp."

"No, brudder." Kajam now sounded almost confused, fumbling his words "The stripe dog, he approaches, erm, alone."

Hazul silently went out with his brother as he was led through the camp. The other warlords were again bickering with one another, their new found hatred of Hazul was driving them to set up agreements in their own way, but seeing the chieftain wander out with a growing group of guards got their attention. Kajam led Hazul, and a small group of curious vermin, to a scene in a field farther outside the camp. A group of vermin scout held up spears and hatchets to a large badger which stood defiantly with a lighter wear to him. He held a mighty sword at his belt which wasn't wrung out. Instead, the badger looked down at the vermin. A singular grunt sent some vermin quickly to careening away from the badger who dared not approach while surrounded.

Hazul looked around as he approached, half expecting a Long Patrol sniper to appear from the bushes to deliver a shot at him, but none came. The badger spoke up in a fairly friendly but bored tone.

"Are you the Warlord of this Horde?" He asked. Hazul looked at him curiously, speaking up from a distance.

"I am Hazul Leffer, Chieftain of Veekun's Burrow. You are brave to approach, badger."

"Brave indeed." The badger gave a bow of his head, introducing himself "I am Malgor Ironpaw, son of Galgor Ironpaw. I have come with a message from my liege and lord."

Kylan and the other caught up, looking up at the huge but otherwise tame creature. Hazul felt no mood for being friendly towards his foe, but yet it was curious. "Your father, Galgor. He sends a message looking for Markem?"

Malgor shrugged "If that is your warlord, then yes."

"Great Warlord to ya, stripe dog." Kylan huffed. Malgor gave a dark look to him which made the fat weasel retreat behind Resker who only gave his fellow warlord an dissatisfied look. Hazul asked the badger a simple question "Malgor, I will only offer Markem's articles of surrender to your father-"

"You misunderstand." Malgor quickly said, taking out a scroll. The badger handed it to Kajam who took it to his brother, a delicate and fine looking thing with a cat's eye emblazoned upon it. Hazul looked down in his paw, returning his icy gaze to the badger, begging him silently to explain.

"I come on the behalf of Milo Greeneyes, Emperor of the Green Eyed Horde. He offers your horde a place within his own, and a friendliness abounds. I have come on their behalf. Is there a place we may talk?"

Hazul nodded slowly as Malgor entered the camp with the guards surrounding him. Kylan and the other warlords eyed him suspiciously as he wandered across the camp with Hazul who had his guards shoving the badger into the command tent. Crowded as it was, Malgor looked almost bored to death as he looked about the tent with increasing spite. The cloth was ragged and dirty, unlike the homely tent Minto had put him in. Malgor stood as Hazul sat in the chair facing the desk. The water rat removed small maps and figurines, making it clear as he unfurled the small scroll and read it to himself. Malgor chimed in "Do you wish me to read it out loud? I know not all rats can re-"

"Speak ill of me or my tribe again, badger, and I will have your head lopped off." Hazul said casually, continuing to read the scroll. The letter was formal, full of vibrant words and amazing titles, all of course were vague. It was that the Green Eyed Horde's emperor had little to no information about them, as much as they had information of this 'Emperor'. Hazul aimed to change that, but not before humoring himself on these foolish demands. Hazul read aloud "The Emperor will grand us land across the river Moss to the north east as the domain of the mighty warlord who fouled the Long Patrol there, to rule in his name. An interesting demand. You would banish us back to our original lands, having gained nothing for doing all the hard work."

Malgor found himself flanked in the command tent by Kajam and a few other vermin who held their swords out. Malgor could hear other warlords whispering outside the tent, as the badger kept his eyes focused on the water rat, giving a cold smile "That is why they sent me, to hammer out such details. I have come to meet with your overlord, not with you."

"You have come to the wrong place then Badger. How do I know this is not a trick of the hares?"

"Are you aware of who the Companions are?"

"Sort of." Hazul scratched beneath his neck, becoming a bit uncomfortable with how the badger had so little care to the things happening around him. "I am the third companion. We were made aware by a scout of a failed assault on the abbey, but by some miracle you had not taken it? What if I told you you had traitors to help you inside those very wa-"

Hazul stopped him and explained "I don't need to know more. Your friends mucked up a plan of our own, and got some of our own beasts in trouble. They are now in this camp, under my protection. It is strange for a badger, let alone the son of the badger lord, to align with these strange beasts. Especially the Greeneyes, an extinct family."

"Not so extinct now." Malgor shrugged. Hazul continued, his voice full of suspicion "How do I know this isn't some distraction from a grander ploy? What is exactly happening out west? Why align with them at all, and for what purpose?"

"Well. My reasons are my own, vermin. Yet you may rest easy. The mountain of Salamandastron will fall soon, and my father is dead."

"How do you know?"

"Simple. I killed him."

Malgor continued to explain to a shocked Hazul of what had happened out west, how a mighty host of northern vermin, cats, Juska, and pirates all joined into one terrible amalgamation and were now tunneling into the mountain. Malgor was cold as he explained Minto's grand plans, and the way they fought off the enemy. Hazul listened and Kajam looked almost disgusted. Maglor then gave a small grin "In conclusion, I shall wish to offer the invitation of my lord to your own."

"Markem is our equal, not our lord. He is the first among many." Hazul replied. Malgor again shrugged and got up "I shall need to rejoin my companions, if you will allow me to." Hazul nodded slowly as Malgor left, instructed by Kajam to where they had set up their little lair inside the vermin siege. Hazul tapped his paws on the table, having a sudden sickness in his stomach. Something felt horribly wrong meeting this corrupt creature, and he arose and sought out his shaman. A simple phrase entered Hazul's mind, one which he could not push out.

Traitor.
_

Hesam and Vogar looked down at the cursed rations given to them by Hazul's rats. Hesam gave a weird look to Vogar and mutually agreed they would just find something to eat amongst the slaves, once they had perhaps bullied them into making something editable. Hesam scoffed "Vermin, how do they even live a moment longer than a few moment at a time without falling over at even the smell of this garbage."

"You can ask them later." Vogar took up the rations and tossed it into the tent, hitting Gaunt over the top of the head. The rat gripped his head in pain as he angrily packed things into sacks for them. Hesam had threatened him earlier, telling him he could make up for his many mistakes by doing some basic chores for him. The mouse laid down on the floor of the pavilion he was in, playing with his lute and flute to make sure it was clean and tidy.

"You and those stupid instruments of yours." Vogar grunted "I can't believe there are two whole vermin hordes rummaging about. Those cats are going to pull out their fur once they realize how big this horde really is."

"Gaunt, why don't you grab us one of the slaves to cook us up something fine to eat, why don't you." Hesam ordered. Gaunt stopped what he was doing, and reluctantly obeyed. Once he left, Hesam sat up and gave a friendly jab at the hare "You worry too much Vogar. Knowing Milo, he already has some blasted plans to deal with situations such as these. These stupid vermin will be bowing to the green banner soon enough."

"Your confidence is intriguing and toxic, Hesam." Vogar commented as he sat in the pavilion's corner "Seasons, whatever the hells Malgor is doing is hopefully far more successful than us."

"Then I got bad news for you." A familiar voice rang out. Hesam and Vogar looked excitedly to the edge of the tent as Malgor confidently walked on in, swaggering his way as Hesam and Vogar both cried out in childish glee "Malgor!"

The three friends met in the middle as Malgor gave a confident stride to them "I heard your little escapades went as well as mine, Hesam."

"The hell are you doing here anyway, you dumb stripe dog?" Vogar asked, suddenly as he realized it was odd he was here. The plan had always been that they would all meet up back in Sandbeach once they tasks were done. Malgor shrugged and gave a happy tune to his bad news. "Well, Minto bungled the assault on the mountain. Hares are all trapped inside as far as I am aware. Father did mention some hidden entrance that Salgor may know of, but it'll be found in due time."

"How is that old fool anyhow?" Hesam asked.

The two were shocked as Malgor confidently and quite proudly proclaimed "Dead as a doornail, thanks to yours truly." Malgor gave a dramatic bow as Vogar gave a clap of his paws. The two listened to Malgor's tales, exchanging their dark stories and darker fantasies. Malgor laughed loudly when he heard of the mistaken horde, not at all blaming Hesam and Vogar. Yet, when the question again was asked 'why are you here', Malgor lowered his voice and made sure to look about the tent to make sure shadows could not be seen spying on them.

"Officially, I am here on behalf of Milo, to offer friendship and tact to this 'Great Vermin Band'."

"Unofficially?" Hesam asked

"Kamala sent me. Milo had told Minto to consider this horde hostile or a threat. We have a new order from our patron, something we are all too familiar with. Twist a few arms, bash a few skulls, and snack on a hill while this whole horde of fools start tearing each other apart. I am thinking we can start with that 'Hazul' fellow, or wait to play our paw and strike at Markem. Shouldn't be too hard, since I have a scroll which declares us friend. Hells, we could probably put some poison in that rat's soup this very night."

Vogar nodded, already thinking with the lines of this plan "A little risky, but I suppose we can do a half baked job an' still get in Milo's graces, hmm?"

"Or." Hesam blew into his flute with a lovely melody. The two groaned, knowing their friend had some manner of grandiose plot forming in his small head. Hesam smiled, putting away his flute as he spoke up "Remember those rats talking about Markem, the ones from the night before, Vogar? Vermin are such predictable beasts, one can't even go a mile without walking in on one back stabbing their mates. I say we take a little inspiration, my friends. There is a rat who is most troublesome, some beast called 'Luzgot' from some faraway vermin fort. We want to damage this horde? We need to make some poor fool think we are their friend."

Vogar chuckled a bit "Ah, the ol' 'Jue' trick, hmmm?"

"Exactly." Hesam added. Malgor nodded along and couldn't think of a better way to go along with his plan. Assassinating leaders always took time, and was just plain old boring. Even as he struck down his mighty father while he was exhausted from battle, the mundane nature of it all spoiled his mood. "Not to mention, it is much safer. That water rat certainly had a bad eye for us. Those other warlords whisper as well. I say we turn up the charm, Hesam."

"That is why I like both of you, agreeable beasts!" Hesam stuck out his paw. Vogar and Malgor did as well, shaking each other's paw as they always did. "Forever friends, and together not a single beast can defy us!" Hesam said dramatically. Malgor pushed his paw down hard and huffed. "Oh. Stop making that a thing, you blasted mouse! I am telling you, it hardly is the 'tavern saying' as you claim it is!"

Hesam shrugged at this, but the group was interrupted. Gaunt returned, with a Mossflower otter coming in. He gave the companions a scared look as he was forced in by the rat with a bowl of soup in paw. Hesam smelled it, nodding "Good word for once, rat. Slavebeast, go put it over on the table and leave."

Gaunt went back to his original business, pushing clothes and things into sacks, ones which he would likely have to carry. Gaunt could overhear a dark conversation brew behind him, as the Mossflower otter only stood there with soup in paw and simply asked.

"Why."

The companion turned to the Mossflower otter, as Hesam partly recognized him. It was a simple beast, one of Dakan's warriors no doubt and one with a brimming family of beasts. Hesam gave a light chuckle to this little outburst from the baffled otter, as Hesam started to guess what his true troubles were. "Oh, let me guess, your wondering as well, hmmm?" Hesam approached dangerously, his paw on the tip of his knife which he took out and played in his paw. Hesam noticed the rope collar around the otter's neck, mocking him.

"You know, your chief was nearly onto me and Vogar I think, which I must admit is a bit sad. I would have loved to see him alive you know, here and now, seeing beasts like you get into their proper place." Hesam feigned sadness as the companions tormented their new servant. Gaunt stood and turned, shouldering his own pack as he watched the companions torment their new prey. Gaunt squinted, as Hesam tormented his new guest while Vogar and Malgor chipped into the conversation.

"I must say, a strong lad you are, kind of like your boys? They aren't in the abbey, sure, but I am more than certain you will see them again. You and your holt will all be back together in the way it all used to be. Though, you'll likely be in chains still, mining away under some rat's whip, while I am standing high above a quarry singing downwards. A little weird, sure, but doable."

The former warrior was silent, his face reddened with rage as Vogar chipped in. He took out a knife and carressed the otter's cheek. "I don't like this one Hesam. Maybe we should be rid of it. You can pretend its Dakan."

"Maybe, but I don't wish Dakan was dead. Oh, I wish he was alive to see what Milo would do to his pathetic tribe."

The otter stood there as Malgor commanded him "Put the soup on the table and leave."

The otter looked at him, breathing in and out before slowly and firmly dumping the contents onto the tent floor. Hesam and Vogar watched their meal be stolen by the earth itself as the otter got dark stares from them. Vogar spoke with a clue to the otter's dark fate. "A foolish mistake for a dead beast, we'll be sure to gladly give your holt similar treatment. Might even mention this little event, just in your honor."

"You harm me, traitors, and you'll be dead beasts." The otter threatened. Hesam laughed "Oh? You are going to pummel us with your paws?"

"No. The vermin out there won't allow it." The otter tapped his rope collar and scoffed "Get your own blasted food, Companions." Malgor was getting up, heading over to harm this foolish beast, but Vogar held up his paw. Malgor was confused as Hesam simply gave the otter a dark eye, as he left with some petty revenge. Vogar grunted "Some sort of quirk of this horde, Malgor. This 'Mark' or whatever his blasted name is doesn't have his laboring beasts lashed. They won't tolerate us harming them."

"As deserved as it is." Hesam huffed. He turned his attention to Gaunt who had stopped packing, giving Hesam a disappointed stare. Hesam shook his head, ordering him about "Get our things, Gaunt. Were leaving."

"Gaunt advises ya grab yer own things." He replied. Hesam nodded his head and took out his dagger, but Gaunt edged his way to the front of the tent. Hesam dared not approach to attract unwanted attention. Vogar scoffed "Then stay put and spy for us, you idiot."

"No." Gaunt shook his head. Malgor raised and eyebrow "Backing away now, with your debts?"

"Yes."

Malgor had known Gaunt for seasons now, so it was odd the meekish minion was now acting this way. Hesam tapped his knife and scoffed "Oh, we'll tell Milo and Minto all about your little troubles, Gaunt. You can either keep with us, or perish in some wilderness."

Gaunt coldly replied, speaking angrily to them for the first time, telling them off. "Gaunt did a lot of things to cover up for you, Gaunt did a lot of things to help you. You treated me wrongly, and I get that. What Gaunt doesn't understand is why you of all beasts act the way you do. Your stupid, Hesam. Stupid and cruel. Ya are rash, and you'll just get me killed. Or worse. This horde, Milo's horde, don't matter. I am going east, and staying there. I am going to go so far you won't even get the chance to follow. I'll at least be alive, unlike others. You can get yourselves killed for all I care, but I won't let you drag Gaunt down with you. No sir. Goodbye, Hesam." Gaunt turned and left, leaving the mouse speechless. Hesam was tempted to follow, to be rid of him out of sheer spite, but Malgor held him back.

"It's not worth it. He can enjoy his misery elsewhere, we got an emperor to please."
_

Hazul and Kylan were not beasts who walked side by side on a daily basis, let alone a lonesome one. They had no kind words for each others in all their long years, with Dala and her servants keeping to Hazul's side. Nosecheese kept his paw on the grip of his sword and Hazul and Kylan whispered to one another, as they approached the farther end of Kylan's camp.

"Ya don't trust em? I dun' eder. Creepy fer woodlanders to act like dat, an' cruel ones at best. If I didn't know better, dey act like degenerates if they could. Dey bully me slavebeasts a bit too much fer me liking. Dey failed to get us into der abbey. I still say we kill'em."

Hazul nodded "I would normally agree, but Markem is diplomatic and the last thing I need is him talking down to us for killing an envoy from this 'Greeneyed Horde'." Kylan also nodded, as it was an option he would have never fully considered. Vermin 'diplomacy' in both of the warlord's eyes was a very dubious game. It was a game of promises, often wondering who would backstab whom first. Hazul found such games difficult, and Kylan just didn't have patience. It amazed both of them that Markem could master it as he did, even if the rat couldn't even remember a single beast's name.

They continued till they could see the Companion in the camp, having sacks on their back and looking fairly fresh. The vermin and slavebeasts gave them estranged looks, which they ignored as they did. Hesam was practicing with his lute, giving a wide bow to both warlords who approached.

"Ah, it is good you have arrived, perhaps then we can-"

"You said you wished to go to Gholand." Hazul grunted. The three were silent, as they had not told Hazul that in particular. The water rat chief had gotten word from Taban who acted as a courier that they had simply wished to speak. Kylan spoke up first, grumbling loudly "Swine like ya can wait fer Markem to return here. Gholand ain't fer yer kind."

"We wish to meet Markem ourselves, and besides, we are useless to you in this camp, chieftain." Vogar noted. Hazul raised an eyebrow as Hesam explained "Look, we are useless here. You aren't going to get much out of us till Markem arrives, and all we seek to do is act as the Green Eyed Horde's public face while in this horde's future lands. Malgor here has explained to us his mission, and we seek an audience with your lovely boss. Allow us to leave, and we'll be out of your hair for good."

"Why can't you wait for Markem here, is it not closer to your overlord in the west?" Hazul asked

"It is, but we would serve better in Gholand. On the emperor's whim, we wish to keep free of your conquests, as our lord doesn't fully trust you as much as you do not trust us. I imagine your lord will want to meet with us and know our emperor's intentions. I mean, look at it this way, we can't do much harm in the middle of some vermin fort, hmmm?"

Kylan gave an odd look to Hazul, who didn't seem to answer. Hazul shrugged "I suppose it is for Markem to decide, I will have you go to his camp, since your attempted help and behavior in this camp has not made you our enemy."

"Ohhh good!" Hesam said with relief "Then we can g-"

"It has not made you our friend either." Hesam and his friends frowned as Hazul revealed his charred paw. He took out his own knife, cutting into it and flaking bits of his damaged paw onto the ground in a horrifying display. Kylan looked at this display and cringed, as the water rat casually put his trembling paw over the ground and put away his knife. Hesam was silent as Hazul motioned his paw to Dala.

"Only our spirits know the truth, mouse. By the seasons, I will know your true intent."

"You can ask the spirit of my father of our intentions then, rat." Malgor scoffed. Hazul nodded his head "I will be."

Malgor frowned again, a bit confused as Dala gave Hazul a pair of bird bones and old twigs. Hazul explained "I will roll thrice, for each one of you. Not all beasts know of the spells needed for such things, but if you speak truth and the spirits think good of your intentions, I will send you to Markem. If they don't. I will be having you three flayed, a peace offering to our future prey behind those walls of that mighty warrior."

Hesam's jaw dropped a little, trying to be a bit more diplomatic "Umm, maybe this isn't the best way to conduct diplomacy-"

"Silence." Hazul ordered. Kylan looked annoyed as he watched the display. Hazul struggled to hold his many charms, feeling them in his paw before chanting into them in a language neither of the Companions understood. Kylan sneezed which forced Hazul to drop his charms in surprise, watching them fall into the tainted ground. Hazul bent down, looking at them and cocking his head. Dala shook her head "The spirits did not enjoy that, my lord. Perhaps we shall do it ag-"

"Again."

Hazul picked up his charms as Dala chuckled quiet cruelly, seeing the hare in particular folded down his ears as he watched his life get gambled on. Hazul chanted again, dropping the charms onto the ground and again bent down. He growled lightly, looking up at Dala "get me the ferret teeth." He ordered. Dala picked up the charms and went off as Kylan didn't even bother to try to understand Hazul's strange rituals. Malgor asked "Did you spirits do us ill?"

Hazul was silent, looking down at the ground as Dala returned with a bag. Pulling from the bag was a ferret's skull which was old and decayed. The two otter servants of Dala looked away in disgust as Hazul pulled the teeth from it, as rotted at they were. Hazul played with them in his paw before chanting once again. Yet, this time, Dala was giving her chief a strange look. "My lord?"

Hazul kept up an unfamiliar chant, whispering out some phrase "I am, what was once, I shall be, and shall be, I am."

The ferrets teeth dropped to the ground, scattering in all manner of directions. Dala gave it a frightful look as she turned slowly to Hazul. She sighed and spoke "Your brother is nearby, shall I gra-"

Hazul wasn't listening, walking along the ground and looking at one tooth in particular and picked it up, seeing a big black decaying spot upon it. Hazul stared it for a long while before turning to the companions, giving a soft smile "You have thrice been blessed, Hesam Whiteflower. The spirit do not lie, and wish you the best of luck in your travels. I shall send a couple of my rats with you to guide you."

The change in Hazul's attitude got Kylan's attention, yet he kept silent when he stared at Dala who seemed utterly baffled. Hesam sighed with relief. The Companions made their goodbyes as they went off, with Hazul watching them leave. He huffed at they left as Dala's servants cleaned up the mess. Kylan couldn't help but ask.

"Horde business cause some blasted rocks drop in der wrong direction, hmm? I guess pragmatism be damned, eh?" Hazul ignored him as Dala spoke up next, a bit confused "My chief, the omens. I am surprised."

"Do not be, for it is all that has come to pass." Hazul explained. Kylan could be heard scoffing in frustration, heading off to ignore such foolishness. Now that the companions were on their way out of their camp, Kylan no longer had much in common with the tribal. Hazul didn't seem to care, as he turned and smiled brightly to his personal witch. "The spirit of a powerful mouse came to me, and I saw thrice cursed omens for me to observe. Thrice did it happen exactly as it did in the vision from the beyond."

"My chief, I do not understand."

"You will in time, Dala." Hazul turned and looked at the companions leaving "For powerful forces are at work, and I intend to aid them." Dala only blinked, unsure what to make of this new belief she would have to co-opt. Hazul touched his pained paw, gripping it tenderly.