Chapter 15: Let Nothing You Dismay
Jase and Giasen were up and about much more early than usual, as they began their usual chores. However, Jase was more slow, sleepy, and demoralized than usual. As he got on Garfan's 'recruit' uniform for themselves, Jase seemed rather disturbed. He wanted to speak up about something, but was too embarrassed to say so. Gaisen was quick to notice, calling out to his friend as he dusted off his own uniform was a slight discomfort.
"You look like you've seen a ghost, Jase. Bad dream I take?"
Jase stood in silence and spoke out, his voice flustered and low "Yes. Yes actually. Gaisen, you remember my pa's old tale right? The one Hesam sings at times?"
"Yes. I don't really remember it from the back of me mind, mind you, but I know of it."
"The part where when my father slept, he saw a vision of Martin the Warrior speaking to him?"
Gaisen then sounded a bit discomforted himself "Well. Yes. What of it? Don't tell me Martin the Warrior started to sing you a song and dance in your dreams." The young mouse gave out a discomforting laugh. Jase only stared back, which Gaisen took to quickly shut himself up. Jase then began to explain to him his strange dream, what had happened within the silent forest, and the vision of his father. He mentioned the strangely named 'Sout'gen Barracks' from his dream, which only got him Gaisen's ignorant stare.
"Your saying Martin came to you in a dream? And your father? Huh." Ideas began to form in Gaisen's mind, as he quickly spoke up "Maybe we should talk to ol' Marthomis? I don't know anything about dream business, true or not, but it might just get us out of a decent night patrol!"
"Gaisen, I think this is serious. What if this is a dream of my pa being in danger. Or the abbey about to be attacked by an army of snakes! Or seasons knows what. What if my Pa is returning, and Martin is telling me something that I must do!"
"Jase, I hate to break it to you, but dreams of Martin the Warrior isn't an exact science ya know. All I am saying is that we could benefit from this. You're the son of a warrior of redwall getting a vision! It means we can get out of doing Garfan's infernal patrols for an entire night, if you know what I mean."
"I mean, I suppose?" Jase wasn't so certain. Gaisen felt more desperate to face the abbot then to live in his own personal hell of doing as Garfan bidded. Garfan wasn't in the barrack as of now, and was likely getting some short term rest with another patroller who would be with the two of them shortly to begin circling the walls. The abbey didn't have an official patrol up until Garfan moved in, who often was forceful in getting the stronger mice of the abbey to relieve him of his night shift.
"I think we should sneak off and tell the abbot before that tyrant wakes up and drags us along. Let him deal with Nuck and Darper."
"I don't know, what if we get in trouble?"
"We'll be in trouble regardless! Besides, I just want an excuse to actually eat a decent meal in the great hall!" The two nodded to each other in mutual agreement. Dreams or not, anything would have been better then Garfan's rations. Jase was quick to point dramatically with his finger up and mockingly proclaim his 'true intentions'. "Perhaps while we are telling the abbot of my dream, we can secure the hall from trouble makers and spies, you know. Who knows how many bowls of soup need liberation! With some quick scouting and wacking, we can bring order to those destructive dibbums and secure for ourselves a command post within cavern hole itself!"
"Now you are thinking of good ideas, Jase! Come on. I bet Kalma is fixing up a decent breakfast!"
_
The two hooligans were not very good at keeping their pace in secret, which was perhaps why they got in trouble so often. Before they were bolting across the lawn to their next farflung adventure, they practically ran in Jase's mother. Kana had come out of the Great Hall with a basket of leftovers for the two, and was surprised to see the two younger creatures nearly running into her. Jase had stopped comically in his tracks, half tempted to just turn himself around and run back. Caught by Kana, she sat the two of them down with a fuss.
"Jase! How could you! You are lucky Garfan is a late sleeper that he is, I know full well that brother Alfan is not even up and about yet to relieve you of those wretched duties. Don't think I don't keep tabs on all this, my dear son."
"Ma! We weren't doing anything wrong, we were actually going off to see abbot Marthomis."
Kana looked to Gaisen, trying to figure out what kind of hair brained scheme he was up to. Gaisen felt discomforted to see Kana staring down at him, the sole blame for a lot of ills which befell her son. Kana may have agreed with the abbot about trying to discipline her son, but now she felt it was going too far.
"And whatever thing were you two going to talk with the abbot about. Gaisen, if this is one of your schemes, you can forget it!"
"Ma, I. . ." Jase was paralyized in both embarrassment and fear. He feared telling his mom what he had said. He felt no bravery, and it only made her have further doubts. Kana awaited patiently, and seeing how her son wouldn't explain himself, she sighed "My dear, you two need to learn some responsibilities. We live in a peaceful abbey, and I will not have you both drag yourselves into such tomfoolery! Now run along and I shall bring you warm blankets, a proper breakfast, and a decent washing pan. Garfan should know better on how to keep you clean, Jase!" Kana ranted on for hours, herding the two away from the grand hall. They had come close, but were yet so far.
Garfan awoke with a shake to him. He expected brother Alfan to have awoken him to relieve him of his shift so he could begin the day with a hearty breakfast. The thought of a sweet bread stew sounded very good, with a decent slice of cheese and soft biscuits. That dream was harshly removed when he opened his eyes to look into the furious eyes of a squirrel widow who did not seem very happy at all. Nuck and Darper were sleeping soundly in some ill fitted blankets, the entire group having used the cold stone as their blankets. Garfan arose, recognizing Kana immediately, and did not look or sound very happy to see her.
"If you are looking for your son, Kana, he is sound asleep in the barracks."
"The gatehouse you mean, Garfan."
"Until I say otherwise, it is my barracks. You've seen brother Alfan by chance?"
Kana was annoyed, with Garfan having tried to clumsily change the subject. Garfan knew full well that the warrior of Redwall's wife was as vicious and brave as he was, and had a nasty temper to boot. The mouse guard knew full well how quick Kana was to anger, and tried to tread as carefully as he could, but his old and busted personality always seemed to interfere with his careful wording.
"Now Kana, just so you know, your son should have been more disciplined and will learn to be a more productive beast of the abbey under me, and will be well taken care of."
"Taken care of enough like your own, Garfan? I just ran into my son running into me and trying to get into the great hall. I have a mind to just bring him home now. He was filthy and dirty, and I swear by every season there is, if you even think of giving him a weapon, i'll tan you till the stars themselves fall from the skies!"
Nuck and Darper partly awoke, with the two rising to only see Garfan and Kana arguing. Garfan was having none of it however "I'll deal with those rascals as I always do, Kana, but you do not threaten me you hear!"
"I saw spots of mud on my son's cheek, spots! When he was at home, he was at least safe and clean. What if he gets sick! I've seen how you and your friends act at times, you know, always drinking and marching on cold nights. He could catch a cold or worse!"
Nuck couldn't help but look at the warrior of Redwall's wife a bit amused, with Darper looking on a bit more disappointed. He wondered why a great warrior like Jue would debase himself to such a made creature, and even wondered if Jase was the way he was more so because he was related to a creature such as her. The two remained silent, a smart idea at first as she turned to them with a huff.
"And to think, you two, bothering my son like that! If my husband was here, he'd have tanned your hides as well!"
"Now is not the time for this, Kana. Please, I have no interest in this foolishness." Garfan tried to bring her attention back to him "I will deal with it. What were they even doing, abandoning their post."
"No doubt a machination of your son, Garfan."
"He isn't my son, Kana." Garfan sharply reminded her "If he was, he'd be paying a bit more attention."
"Not your son? He lives with you doesn't he?"
"He is an adopted orphan I share my bunk with, and commonly slacks in his duties. It's just a matter of principle is all."
Kana was always shocked by Garfan to some degree, a mouse from a village far from Redwall who fought in battles, wars, and spent his youth slapping away bandits and thieves who came from vermin hamlets. He came to Redwall abbey with Gaisen, but yet treated him and everyone in the abbey like a disgusting foreigner who was beneath him. She wondered why the abbot, or the skipper of the otters, ever enjoyed his company.
"Principle? How can you call that principled!"
"I will not discuss it here, or ever, now please, let me do my duties!"
Garfan and Kana did not relent as they argued for hours, Garfan eventually giving up and trying to return to the gatehouse with Kana behind him, arguing with him further. Nuck and Darper closed themselves out and meekly followed. The young mouse and otter whispered to one another with vain hopes.
"Maybe ol' Garfan will forget we are here an' we can go out and do something else, I bet me rudder on it."
"Nah! I want to see the looks on Jase and Gaisen's faces when they get in trouble."
_
Gaisen and Jase stood at attention as Garfan looked over them. They were in his own personal room above the 'bunks' of the main gatehouse floor, with Garfan not looking happy at all. Although much to the relief of Gaisen and Jase, that unhappiness was not with them initially as it was with Jase's mother. The two had been trying to figure out how to get in contact with their own abbot, when Garfan and Kana burst in, the two loudly arguing and complaining to one another. Nuck and Darper sadistically suspected that Garfan was going to unload a lot of grievances on Jase and Gaisen in particular, but the two bullies were sorely disappointed. Kana herded Garfan into his own room and yelled all manner of curses and complaints at him. Garfan shot back with his own, and the two did not seem to give an inch of ground. The four youngsters, united temporarily by their befuddlement of what was happening simply stared up into the ceiling, fearful of moving.
Kana eventually came back down, taking Jase by the arm outside and began to scrub him down. Garfan eventually came down looking angry and exhausted, ordering Nuck and Darper to take a momentary rest while Gaisen was to follow Garfan outside. Gaisen never particularly liked the military order of his life, but seeing Jase look humiliated as his mother harshly scrubbed him without a single word made him reflect how free he was in comparison. Kana tried, and failed, to show Garfan how her son was to be kept clean, groomed, and otherwise, but the older mouse didn't seem to care much at all which only angered her further. Eventually, Kana went off, leaving her belongings with Garfan who had the two put the tools away in his 'armory' for the time being and had ordered them to stand at attention in his room.
"Now. Gaisen, do explain to me, in very limited detail, why you wanted to go see the abbot." Garfan began, his words stretched with more exhaustion then annoyance. Jase looked down at the floor with Gaisen poorly explained.
"Ya see, sir, me friend here got a dream from Martin the Warrior, ya know, the big ol' spooky mouse which haunts the abbey! I an' Jase were just thinkin we should tell the abbot."
"A dream. All this was for a dream." Garfan wasn't fully surprised as he stared down Gaisen. "I sure do hope your friend's dream involved a lot of scrubbing of the armor and weapons in our armory, and being willing to do a night patrol without complaint or adventure this time."
"No, I don't really remember that." Jase accidentally shot up. Garfan sat on his bed, and sneered "Well you best do, because you two are going to put this nonsense of 'dreams' out of your heads. It's bad enough already I have to deal with your mum, Jase. The squirrel can turn a creature like me queasy! Gaisen, you can get started. Jase, you stay here for a bit."
Gaisen didn't move and yelped out "Sir, maybe if-"
"Go. Now." Garfan turned a brutal expression to Gaisen who was forced to abandon his friend with his adoptive father. Garfan turned to Jase, his expression softened a bit. "Now tell me about this dream, Jase."
Jase began to explain in the best details he could, although was discomforted and disheartened by what he was saying. Garfan listened intently and with a grim expression, with Jase unable to tell if he was buying what he was telling him. Jase choked often, as he told him of the warrior mouse who led him to the grove, the strange visions in the clearings. Garfan then stopped him when he got to a part about the otter couple who burst into a light.
"Tell me again of these river dogs you saw. Be thorough."
Jase tried the best he could despite his limited vocabulary. Yet, the expression on Garfan's face softened, but not into a believing tone, but into a horrified one. Garfan stopped him when Jase tried to describe the otter's looks and an empty sheath. Garfan stopped Jase again, seemingly deep in thought. Garfan himself wasn't really religious, he was in an abbey, but he never held strong beliefs. However, here was Jase, describing an old friend's very appearance who would have never known him.
"I don't know if I can believe you, young bush tail, but you just described someone whose seasons were far past his own. Did you see two younger otters with them by chance?"
"Oh. No, they did look like they were waiting for someone. Or something, though."
"You are describing an' old guard mate of mine. Michael. Michael Oakwater."
_
Garfan took Jase aside, and out into the abbot's quarters. Jase had no clue what was really happening, but Garfan looked spooked. Garfan told him of the 'safe' story of what happened to the Oakwaters, a farming family whose patriarch had been a fellow guard of a woodlander settlement. Michael and Mia were close friends to him, but they decided to retire and head out eastward, and it was there he was informed of a tragedy by the Long Patrol. The farm was burned, the children of the Oakwaters were missing, and tracks led out of several ferrets and a single rat. They never found the bodies of the Oakwater children, and their fates still tore at Garfan's heart. Very few, if any, knew of this. Only he, Dakan, and several villagers close to the Oakwaters knew of their fate. Garfan half blamed himself for not telling them to start their lives closer to Mossflower's center, but Michael was always a stubborn old river dog.
Garfan was never a true believer, but it did spook him enough to at least bring Jase before Marthomis who was writing a small treatise from his personal desk. Garfan stood at attention as the old dormouse moved his eyes lazily to him and gave him a smile. "Ah, how are you and your new recruits doing, good Garfan?"
"They are doing. . . .okay."
"Just okay?"
"They. . .look, abbot, I didn't come here to talk about my recruits, Jase here wished to talk with you. Alone." Jase looked shy, speechless as Marthomis looked him over. Despite his consoling smile, Jase did not seem much better. Perhaps with the uniform he was wearing which chafed him, or maybe he had no strength to speak up. Garfan excused himself and went outside into the main hall.
Marthomis sat back down, and continued to write away at his treatise. It was a beautifully worded message to some friends in Riftguard, which he wanted to show off his new found studies of butterfly languages and his theories on regional dialects. Yet, he turned aside to Jase. "So, my young warrior friend, what is it you wished to talk about."
"Sir. I had a dream last night."
Jase again found himself awkwardly trying to explain his vision to the abbot who listened just as intently as Garfan, interjectionally more often to question him on specific details. However, Marthomis wasn't so convinced.
"You can stop that now, master Jase. I believe you had simply had a nightmare."
"It didn't seem that way, sir."
"Believe me, my studies into warrior dreams has always been one of my most favored subjects. I do not believe you had a dream nor a vision, but simply a bad feverish sight from what I can imagine is a cold and long night in Garfan's little 'barracks' he calls out gatehouse. When I guided your father, he told me of a vision I at first could not believe, of a missing sword from which he would chase after, I began to experience such visions of Martin myself, guiding me to clues and riddles left behind by our predecessors to help find a shield of Martin himself and had a group of overly friendly sparrows grant it to him. If you did have a vision, my young friend, we'd all be sharing it in one way or another."
"What if Pa is in trouble, what if I am the only one who can help?"
"Your father, Jue, was always a troublemaker believe it or not, not much like yourself and young master Gaisen. He was always meant to be in danger, and the years when Kasg still walked this land had been one which I hope to never see again. Young Jase, visions of Martin only come during a time of great peril, nor during a year of clean up and peace. The visions you think you saw was one which I know full well cannot be true. You mentioned a graying and black forest of clearings, correct? You know full well what that place is."
"Not fully, sir."
"The silent forest, my dear Jase, appears to us in all dreams one way or another, and likely you had but seen a short sighted view of it in a haze. You see, it is a place where all beasts go when they pass this world, a dark and silent land where all are reunited with those they loved and cared for deeply. I know your vision is a false one for one simple reason."
"How so?"
"Your father, I am more than certain, has not passed this world, and there are certainly no snakes which live in such a place. Your father may have been missing for what feels like forever, but I am certain he is on some far flung adventure and will return to us some day. I am more then certain that despite his disappearance, he will return to us. He must return to us."
Jase had never seen Marthomis frown so low before as he stared out the window, as if hoping to see his good friend once again. Jase never saw it before until recently just how much the woodlanders of Redwall missed his father. Bollo had his grievances, certainly, but Jase could only wonder and imagine if Marthomis had his as well. He shook his head and looked happily at Jase. "I'm certain a good tankard of cordial will wash any of these fool ideas away, my good friend. I hope you will learn some manners and much needed discipline from Garfan, but if you and Gaisen behave, I will allow you to return to your original tasks in the abbey before winter."
"Abbot Marthomis, could you tell me more about my father's dreams? I still wor-"
"Cordial first my boy, writing these long letters to our good friends in Riftguard does take a lot out of me you know."
_
Jase was enjoying some Cordial with Kalma, who was happily telling him an old story about how she nearly lost her favorite ladle to a Southward merchant and chased him all the way to the southernmost border just to get it back with Bollo. It was a long time ago, where Jue was hunting down black birds and looking for an evil snake, and had not joined them. It was a minor adventure, but the way she told it filled her with more confidence and bravery than her own infamous adventure in finding the sword of martin. It amused Jase greatly, but as he sipped on his drink, Marthomis and Garfan were watching from their own table.
"You sure this isn't some warrior vision?" Garfan asked, a bit relieved that it wasn't but still having to prod just to make sure.
"No doubt the idea came from your poor excuse for a makeshift cot, no doubt. It is likely nothing but coincidance that he saw an otter and his wife in such a vision. For all you know, he could have been thinking on Darper's family."
Garfan sighed, wondering if it was perhaps true. Darper, like many dibbums in the abbey, were orphans or abandoned, many came from Kasg's dark and evil war. Darper and his friend Nuck were no exceptions to this. Darper was fond of telling others of his father's bravery in the wars, and was to Garfan eager to learn how to march like a soldier and act as a brave creature. Nuck was no different, his own parents were butchered by black clad vermin under the lash, only to be rescued by Jue and his friends when they broke out of Kasg's dungeons and butchered the vermin. It was entirely possible, but Garfan found it a hard idea to take in.
"Maybe, but the way he described them didn't sound very. . . .right."
"There is also the matter of Jue himself."
"Abbot, are you so certain Jue is even alive?" Garfan gave a low whisper with the abbot sighing and putting down his tankard, whispering back "I'm certain of nothing, but I know full well what adventure I had sent him on before. If he could survive the evil that was Kasg the Craven, I'm certain he is helping other good woodlanders against black birds and the Lady of the Woods. He hasn't been missing for that long."
"I don't know, abbot. It spooks me proper."
"As it does me. Despite what others may say, a vision of Martin the Warrior is a bad omen, one which brings suffering and war like no other and that we need divine aid to help us against such coming troubles. Kasg is dead, and the Long Patrol continue to hunt down his minions with no issue it seems."
"What if it is true, abbot. What if something is coming to our abbey."
"Try not to think of such things, good friend. Our enemies are long dead and buried, and only minor gangsters and vermin bands remain. Dakan and his otters are here as well, keeping everyone safe until they go back to their Holt. If there was trouble, more beasts would have seen our dear warrior guardian by now. Martin the Warrior doesn't reveal himself solely to one beast, you know."
Garfan accepted that answer, drinking of his ale. He still thought of Jase's vision, not sure what to think anymore. If Marthomis is content with such things, I guess I will be too. What is the worst that could happen anyway?
"What a bunch of posies!" Gaisen complained. He and Jase were on the 'night patrol', circling the abbey's walls. Jase was disheartened to know that Marthomis had not believed him or his visions, but he couldn't help but think more on it. Maybe he was wrong, maybe it was just a fever dream. However, Gaisen complained regardless, denied what he felt was a righteous adventure around the abbey. "Here we are, doing this silly night patrol and you over there are getting visions from Martin himself, and we still end up here!"
"Don't be too loud, Gaisen, or Garfan will hear you." Jase reminded him. Garfan wasn't on the walls himself, and was somewhere in Cavern Hole with the otter skipper and others. For what reason, neither knew. Gaisen still complained, feeling more free with his adoptive father going about his own business.
"Bah, so what! I'm bored! Bored bored bored! Garfan will have us doing this same droll thing all winter, you know! 'Make sure yer boots be clean, you layabout' and 'I want to see dem spear handles shine, boy' and all that nonsense! I swear, he can make the abbey feel like a prison at times."
"What do you suggest?"
"I be saying your vision is real and until proven otherwise, we should do things on our own accord."
"But Abbot Marthomis sai-"
"What does that old dormouse even know? If your pa's visions was real to him, why shouldn't it be real to you? Even with your Pa still alive, what if its his magic sword which is tellin us he is in danger."
"Gaisen, the sword isn't magic. Ma told me."
"How can it not be magic! Look, I gots a plan."
"Giasen, remember the last few plans? I mean, we are here now because of those plans of yours."
"No, but listen, this is a good one!"
Jase listened, but only halved interest. "You saw a vision of some place called 'Sout'gen Barracks', right? What if we made our way into the library? Just to find out what it is, eh?"
"I don't know, Curlor could be sleeping in there for all we know? Who knows how many books we'd have to go through! More importantly, what happens when we get caught."
"If we get caught. We will be back in a jiffy, I tell you what!"
Jase liked the excuse, even if he did know better. The library was a fun place to be in, and he had never seen it after dark. There were many manuscripts, fantastical tales, and grand archives filled to the brim with lore. If he hadn't spent much of his time learning how to properly care for the abbey's garden, he would have preferred to stay in the library as his main vocation. Although, it paled in comparison when it came to working with Bollo and the moles. Jase nodded his head, agreeing to Gaisen's unspoken plans.
"Alright, I suppose, but we gotta be sneaky. Last thing we want is to get caught."
"Don't worry, Garfan will probably be with the otter skipper all night, I reckon. That word, 'sout'gen' sounds pretty simple to find, I suppose. How hard can scholarship be?"
_
The two rascals were off, having snuck across the dark abbey grounds and into the main library. Jase was anxious and worried most of the time, but the thrill of doing something new and exciting certainly had been more preferable than miserably dragging his feet across the abbey's walls. The squirrel nimbly crept around corners, and as the two came to the door of the library itself. It was larger and more spacious with expansions added to it over the years, but getting into the lower attics was no easy task for two sneaking youngsters. Several lamp lights of the night crews were busily making their rounds and heading off to sleep elsewhere. As they came up to the library's door, seeing only a slim darkness, the two slowly prodded it open, and were dismayed to see it locked.
"Darn it. It's locked. Well good news is, no beast be here at least." Jase looked around in the dark, tempted to find a torch light. They were lucky that the moon was shining so brightly through the windows, giving a light amount of illumination. "If the moon is that bright out tonight, we could sneak through the construction site in the upper addic, and climb down through the windows. Although it would probably be safer if you waited here."
"Sounds dangerous, you sure you're up for it. Not give Nuck credit, but you can tense up you know."
"I know, but it's either this or going back to the wall itself."
Gaisen weighed his options and agreed. Jase was a little frightened going alone, but he was feeling freer than he usually was, bounding around corners and making his way up empty flights of stairs. As things kept getting darker, Jase pushed through and found himself in the empty and darkly lit construction site. Moving upward from the rafters, being lovely careful, he came up onto the nearly finished roof. He looked down into the abbey below, his fear dissipating as he looked for an entrance into the library. The library's dark windows were hard to see from the side of the roof, as the squirrel slowly lowered himself. It was a difficult process which Jase had no confidence in, wondering if he should have gone from the bottom instead, or not at all. The thought of his father's vision raced through his mind however, and with a gritting of his teeth, lowered himself to the windows with a jump. With a better view, he could see into a room of sleeping Dibbums, which meant he wasn't as close to the library as he thought he was.
Carefully scurrying along the edge of the wall, the squirrel had never felt so much in danger in his life, but he could quickly bound naturally between the edges of the walls and windows. This wasn't a particularly hard thing to do for him, but it was still fairly dangerous. He nearly slipped up, and hanged onto a more safer ledge with his dear life. I'm not ready for this kind of thing! What dumb fool thing I was thinking. I should have tied myself to a rope, or just went back to the walls. Jase looked down into the courtyard, trying to find a way down, but saw none. He was frightened, wanting to burst into the dibbum's room and make his way out, but a small voice inside his head goaded him onward.
I am that is, you are safer than you know. Huh. That's weird. It was as if two voices were in his head, and he shook himself. Regaining some lost bravery, he leaped through the sides of windows, and was relieved to find himself at the window of the library. In front, beyond the glass pane, was Curlor's empty desk. Jase was even more relieved to know the window was left open, the convenience alone left him blessed up until he did slip up and stumble beyond the desk and fall face flat into the wooden floor. Getting up and brushing himself off, he closed the window and hurried to the door to unlock it for Gaisen.
Gaisen was happy to see Jase as he swaggered on in "Any troubles? I heard a knocking on the ground. Curlors isn't in here, is he?"
"No, that was me. Nearly slipped just trying to get on into the room. Lock the door, just in case anyone else heard."
Gaisen locked the door as the two explored around the large library of books, scrolls, and ancient texts of Redwall's past. Gaisen was very confident that much like the tales of Jue, their answer to Jase's riddle would be just as easy. He was after all a masterful solver of riddles, at least, that is what he told himself. "Sout'gen Barracks, eh? Well. . .ummm. . .lets start with. . ." Gaisen was at a loss for words. Barracks felt like a word he should know, but 'Sout'gen'? He didn't really know the library very well himself and pulled a random book off the shelf with a hollow smile "Ha! We'll start here!"
Jase read the title of the book aloud " 'Journal of Friar Bibble, Cook of Redwall' " Jase looked up at his friend who quickly pushed the book back into its place and pulled out another. "I mean this one!"
Jase had no heart to tell Gaisen it was another cookbook. He pushed the book back into the side and pointed to the other side. "Maybe these ones over here will help us?"
_
The two friends spent little more then an hour looking through books, a pile of lopsided and unread papers were piling up on the floor and Jase and Gaisen became a bit more desperate. Jase had no intention of risking his way of getting into the abbey's window again, as the two read through the books with a fleeting hope of finding even the mention of a 'barracks' let alone a 'Sout'gen'. The two piled on books from old manuscripts, records of old harvests, and philosophical books on the nature of faiths across the world. The most interesting book so far which nearly sucked in Jase was an old recorder's overly detailed scrawl of notes about what he had for an evening brunch. The two continued on, up until they began to hear a jingle of a key on the locked door of the library. Gaisen put out a nearby lamp they had been using, and were panicking as they tried to find a means to get onto the window to escape. However, Gaisen looked down with a deep fright "I think I'd rather just hide."
"Agreed."
The two didn't have time, as the door slowly and silently opened, and the two found themselves looking at a young mole maiden who had come into the room with her own lamp. Lusma Rocklore was surprised and nearly dropped her lamp as she saw Jase and Gaisen looking on with frozen shock. Lusma snapped them back to reality "Wut are ya twu doin here?"
Gaisen was quick to snap back, realizing that a younger creature like this mole was likely not suppose to be here. "I'd ask you the same thing. . .ummm. . .whoever you are?"
"Lusma, Lusma Rocklore."
Jase meekly answered back, introducing himself and his friend "Jase and Gaisen."
"Well Jause an' Gaisum, ya bust be tellun me whut yu be doin in dis der library!"
"I like to think we are adding to the scholarly works of this here. . .ummmm. . ." Gaisen picked up one of the books, not realizing it was another cookbook " 'Cookery Tips and Tricks of Skipper Mort' "
"Wel'uz, I dubt dat." Lusma closed the door and locked it and began making herself comfortable "Nuw, whut yu two really be doin here. Answer quickly, or der be trouble fer yu lut."
Jase could believe her, Lusma was as young as they were, but a slightly bit older and better built. He didn't know her personally, but as she tapped the ground with her foot in impacitience, Jase began to explain. Lusma listened intently and intrigued, as Jase told her about the dream and his mission to find out what the riddle Martin had given him, but he believed a clue could be found in finding out what 'Sout'gen Barracks' was. The mystery intrigued her as she escorted the two over to some of the books in the library in a section of geography and histories.
"I knuw nuttin about a 'Sout'gen', but Barrucks is at least a word I can handle wit. You sure it be culled 'Sout'gen'?"
"I remember it as if it was in front of me. There were no missing letters or cracks in the stone of my vision, it was just 'Sout'gen'. It looked like an old stone, but i couldn't tell you how old."
"Wull, old is a guod start I suppose? Removes all der presunt literature."
Lusma was like an expert, advising Jase and Gaisen to pull out various books of lore and maps from the shelves, while also characteristically putting away the thrown away literature which had piled the ground. Lusma had every right and mind to drag the two away to the abbot, but she knew full well she would get in trouble herself if anyone were to discover her night time escapades. The fellow Redwallers soon found themselves staring into various old journals and records, trying to find any mention of a 'barracks' or 'Sout'gen' with limits to their own patience.
"I wish Martin the Warrior gave you a better vision, not going to lie Jase." Gaisen sighed, flipping through a red book of the histories of Tim Churchmouse. "Whatever does that nonsense riddle even mean? 'Friend will be foe, and foe will be friend?'"
Lusma piped up "Dat sounds familur!"
Lusma brought her lantern to an older series of scrolls and journals, searching for something. She pulled out an old manuscript, one which was bound in hemp leather, it was old and crusty, but it lacked any spider webs and other such things, and looked well read. Lusma dusted off the old manuscript and presented it to Jase, its murky title reading 'The Accounts and Histories of King Brome of Noonvale, Reports of Northern Vermin Activity in the Year of the Dancing Lights'.
"Long title. . .and old!"
"Ya wouldn't beliuve how much is savued in this uld abbey. We got accounts as faur back as loamhudge."
Jase and his gang of misfits looked through the old tome, with Lusma pointing to a relevant chapter.
". . .The vermin warlord Habsguld and his horde of 400 vermin had set themselves up in the highlands beyond the Ice River, building their first grainery. Of our scout reports, we have counted less than two slaves in the horde, which is unusual for a horde that big. I am informed by the captains and advisers that the horde may be struggling from some sort of labor crises, its warriors having been unable to dive deep into woodlander hamlets which I can only be thankful for. Having seen first hand the misery that was Marshank, Habsguld is likely no different from any of the other northern vermin. We believe that this vermin has been a major rival to the dark port of Mortbay, a wild cat settlement on the northern coastlines with over 2,000-4,000 vermin in total, a bay for which pirates continue to haunt the eastern shores from. The recent warlord of the fortress seems to be a lieutenant of its founder, and fell out with Habsguld.
Late Spring, Year of the Dancing Lights: We had a rare opportunity to speak with Habsguld, who agreed to help me in an old ambition of mine, to rid the world of Mortbay entirely. My people are not warriors, but his is, and he has agreed to act as my proxy in bullying the wild cats from our shores in return for food, supplies, and materials. I was glad I was able to speak to him at all, in part thanks to a rat I thought I would have thought to never see again, a former Marshank hordebeast named Wulpp who had joined Habsguld. I was even more thankful for the vermin warlord to hand over his last remaining woodlanders into my care in return for our materials. I have promised him he could have Mortbay.
Early Summer, Year of the Dancing Lights: Our spies in Mortbay have discovered a disturbing sight. Several large divisions of wildcats have crossed the sea, searching for Mortspear and his armies, and soon descended upon the settlement for an unknown reason. In the chaos, Habsguld and his horde launched a risky siege, entrapping the vermin. Despite my calls for helping any of the prisoners of Mortbay, they have been left unanswered. Only Wulpp has been of some help, claiming he could aid in a breakout of the slaves of Mortbay in return. I had sent several mice to aid in this endeavor, but I fear Mortbay's siege will be difficult for all involved.
Our foe has become quite a friend it seems, and and friends have become foes. These were the words said to me by Keyla when I asked him of these odd times. He rightfully suspects that Habsguld will betray our trust, and that perhaps we should approach these wild cats. I agree reluctantly.
Late Summer, Year of the Dancing Lights: Habsguld and his vermin attempted to follow back our scouts, and killed the rat Wulpp. How long Habsguld was in league with Mortbay I do not know, but he reinforced their position and repelled the attacking forces of the enemy wild cats. Keyla had been right, our scouts rescued one of their number who presented an odd scroll to us, an order of arrest from some foreign land beyond the western sea for Mortspear. When informed of his demise, the wild cat did not seem surprised, but had orders to 'cull' the entire family much to our disgust. He promised to help us rid ourselves of Mortbay as well, but our last betrayal did not give me much confidence. However, I do have a plan. I just hope it works. . ."
"Huh." Gaisen noted "I don't remember that part of the story."
"Tis histury, round ears. There be all mannur of things left out of recunt memury. We knuw only of Martun an' his tales cause we lives in dis here abbuy. Yet der be all manner of tales an' interestun things beyund our walls."
"Whats with all these words like 'proxies' and 'Mortbay'? What happened next? How does this help me?"
"I'z dun knuw. Readun history be no easy feut."
Jase pointed his fingers towards the passage that read 'Our foe has become quite a friend it seems, and and friends have become foes'. He looked on and the more he thought about it, it confused him. It was an oddly specific thing, right, and even in the right context, it made little sense to write. "Lusma, do we have any journals of Keyla, by chance? Diaries an' such?"
Lusma wondered that herself, and looked through the old journals, pulling out one which only read 'Journey into Redwall Abbey, by Legran, Daughter of Keyla of Noonvale'. It was an odd tome, which was even more beat up and misused then the report journal. The group skimmed through it, passing by passages of small friendly greeting. Lusma noted that it was written during Redwall's construction, the otter who wrote on it seemed intent on describing every flower she passed by with boring details. Jase stopped them, pointing to a specific passage.
". . .My pa Keyla and me brothers, I swear by me rudder, would never speak much of what happened in that ol' vermin fort. I once passed by it ya see, just to see what it was like, only to find disappointment. Some mad, fat stout who looked ancient greeted me, told me all manner of sea shanties an' stories he did, an' built a small stone fence around a stone base of what I can only guess to have been Marshank. I told Martin of this, and he was surprised and worried, telling me the old stout was an enemy of his, and was shocked he still lived around the base of that ol' fort.
However, I must admit, the roses which I saw on me way to the abbey did seem a bit out of touch. It reminds me of me pa's old saying he took up lately. 'Friends be enemies, an enemies be friends'. Tis an odd saying I must say, an' I once asked him of it. He just says it popped into his head one day, ya know, an' he couldn't get it out of his ol' blubbery head! Told Martin that one too, but he seemed more sad then amused by it. I wonder what that was all about. . ."
Jase flipped some of the pages in the old journal, eventually finding a crude otter map of Legran's journey across Noonvale and into Mossflower. In one particular area, she had mapped several areas, but one place drew Jase's attention the most. It was a crossed out place called South Glade. Jase turned to Lusma, with a begging voice he spoke in desperation "Lusma, do you got anything on. . .vermin settlements?"
Lusma wondered a bit and searched the histories, but was shocked to find nothing. Redwall had a lot of books, but not all of them. She shook her head "We prubably dun' have bouks on that kund of subject, surry to say."
Gaisen looked around and back into the journal "How about. . .how about a creature who lived during the times when the Greeneyes ruled Mossflower? Do we have any of those?"
Lusma didn't know if they had any books or first hand sources on that kind of thing, at least ones which she didn't read. However, her small eyes did pass over an old series of books on the top shelves. She ordered Jase to bring some of them down, and read through them. The three eventually found the correct book, clearing off cobwebs and dust from the cover of a nameless book, practically falling apart with its opening. It was a smaller journal with deeply faded letters. On the inside, it merely read 'Diary of Vadus Brownspike, Former Cook to the Thousand Eyed Horde'
"Me ma used to tell me woodlanders ruled this land, but I gotta admit here an' now, that ma is crazy to think that we'd be free of these vermin tyrants. Pa thinks I should write more to keep me mind off things, an' he tends to be right. We Brownspikes got out farms to think about, ya know. Maybe I'll write more later, we'll see.
Some weasel sergeant from the horde of the Thousand eyes was disappointed in our grain shipments. Pa tried to tell em' of a bad harvest, but he got a beating for it. So much for protection. No wonder ma hates em! Tyrants an' burglars all.
Pa hasn't recovered. Feeling a bit down. Tired. Maybe write later.
Saw a butterfly today. Looks like a yellow breed, from the south glade. Pa still isn't doing well. Farmed hard, but barely know what I am doin.
The weasel came by again today, was still disappointed. Ma argued with him while I cared for pa. Pa is sick. Still feeling down.
The pages abruptly stopped, became more ordered and neatly in a sudden instance. Jase looked on at the mention of the south glade, and how similar it was to 'Sout'gen'. Yet there was no mention of a barracks, and he wondered if they were at a dead end. Lusma however pointed to a page number further down as the two read on.
'Captain Molbard says I should write in my journal if I'm feeling down in the dumps. It's been several seasons since he decided to take me as a prisoner for my pa's failing to farm, and wants me to cook for his barracks. Took me all the way down into the southern whole of Mossflower, and now I mostly just cook the vermin bread and edibles. For an army which marches on its stomach, the fact that every member can barely cook still shocks me. How the vermin continue to live also shocks me, all of them northern and mossflower vermin from a mix of beasts and creeds.
Captain Molbard is at least from Mossflower, but the weasel is always impatient. He likes to stand over me to make sure I am doing my tasks. He stopped treating me like a slave a season ago, allowing me to return home to help ma and pa with the farm at least. Pa recovered, but he is angry enough to join the resistance against them. I try to tell them it's a terrible idea, but he and Ma are convinced. I hope Molbard never finds out.
Molbard is sending me away for whatever reason to help cook for his family in South Glade. Not sure why they call it 'Sout'gen' however. It's always been South Glade. Tis an older settlement, mostly woodlander, but the barracks there are small and dingy. It's made of stone, and the Thousand Eye division there is mostly keeping an eye on the tribal rats which come out of the south. I asked Molbard once about it, but he says it's a name his own pa used, and that his family always pronounced it as 'Sout'gen'. I never knew why. . .'
"Huh. Well at least we know where this 'Sout'gen' is, right?"
Jase looked back to a map, wondering why it was crossed out. It was a settlement in the farther south, at least what he thought. He then realized just how crude the map was, with Redwall abbey sitting on top of what should have been the great inland lake. The road was a mix and match, and the rivers simply were wrong. Lusma sighed "Yur 'Sout'gen' could be eider in der middle of Mussfoluwer er in der literal south!"
"Your right, Lusma. Thank you for this."
"Yer welcome, bush taul. I hope whatevur ye be findin will bring ya closur to findun yer pa."
"I hope so too."
It was early the next morning in Redwall as Garfan awoke from his bed and went downstairs to find Gaisen and Jase sleeping. He had been up all night drinking with the otter skipper and lightly shrugged Gaisen and Jase awake. Gaisen openly complained, more tired then usual "Garfan. I'm tryin to sleep, mate. Twas a long night last night, ya know?"
"Not long enough, lad. Now get up, we are goin for a walk."
Jase blinked tiredly. He and Gaisen had escaped back to their posts, but spent much of the remainder of the night being exhausted from their small and successful adventure. Jase was just happy things didn't go horribly wrong. He and Gaisen began to put on their uniforms, with Garfan awakening Nuck and Darper as well in the bottom part of the gatehouse. Jase looked to his friend, wondering what was going on. Gaisen had no answer as Nuck and Darper were climbing upward with Garfan taking onto his belt a sword. Jase couldn't help but try to ask Nuck who was next to him what was going on.
"Garfan seems busy this morning, you know what is happening?"
"Shut up, Jase. Of course not. I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for you."
It was about the only answer he'd get from the bully. The four stood at attention as Garfan began to speak to them "We are going on a patrol, the four of you. With Dakan and his children. It's going to be a small journey beyond the road. There was an incident, and this I believe is going to be a good learning experience for the lot of you. Jase, your mum had specifically wanted me to clean you, but I think I will just skip that part. Grab some rations and be ready to move out."
Garfan left in what felt like a hurry, leaving the four confused. They did as they bid, with Nuck and Darper collection their rations, with Jase and Gaisen speaking softly together about the events of last night. Nuck and Darper didn't dare try to mess with Jase and Gaisen again, out of fear that their punishment under Garfan would only balloon out. However, as the four began to line up. Nuck saw a chance to entertain himself and spoke loudly. "So I hears, Jase, ya got a vision from Martin der Warrior, eh?" Nuck said in a mocking tone. Jase didn't turn, he already suspected that Nuck and Darper knew in some way or form.
"Why don't ya tell us, Jase, tell us how even the spirit of a true warrior rejected you. I'd love to hear it."
Gaisen snapped at Nuck "Jealous, are we Nuck? Did the spirit of the abbey not find you and your water dog mate good company, and spend some time to the likes of us 'cowards', eh?"
Darper was particularly offended by that "You shut your trap, Gaisen, you lopped ear wretch! If anyone be worth the time of any ol' true warrior, it be me and Nuck here. Unlike you, at least we are stronger beasts, an brave!"
Jase gave a rare shot back at Darper "Real brave, picking on smaller beasts then."
"You be quiet, Jase the Coward. Or Jase the Craven I say." Darper angrily spat, fervent in his frustration "Me and Nuck at least do our duties. Unlike you lot who slack off. Maybe Garfan may even teach me how to use a spear proper, then I'll show you what a real warrior can do."
"Believe me, ya bully, ya wouldn't want that."
"An why not."
Gaisen smirked "Garfan can be real picky about how ya hold a spear. I doubt ya would last five minutes."
"Oh yea, blunt nose! I bets I can master any ol' weapon in a matter of seconds!"
Garfan returned, with Dakan Whitewhisker in tow. The two looked down disappointed as the four were in the middle of arguing as he the otter skipper loudly spoke to the crowd of kids. "You four be actin like a bunch of vermin, eh? Where be yer vittles. . .bah! No time, we will go now. Maybe a half starved lot of ya will at least bring you to some order." Nuck and Darper wanted to speak up, but were silenced by Garfan's angry stare. Gaisen and Jase meekly saluted as Dakan came up to them all friendly like and patted their shoulders "An how you two young warriors be doin, this fine day? Ready fer a march, I take it?"
Gaisen spoke up "If I may ask, skipper, where we marchin to?"
"Not far off, there been a vermin sighting, an unsanctioned one at dat. A little time off from the abbey will cool me head. . .I mean, yer heads."
Garfan chuckled. He knew that Dakan didn't like being bungled up in comfort for very long, and his playful nature always had him adventuring. The group was off before long towards the gates, meeting with Dakan's two ready children of his own, the two siblings saluted their father like a triumphant captain. Jase whispered to Garfan as they moved out.
"You won't tell mum will you?"
"Nay, I was about to ask you the same question." Both nodded in agreement as the group left and bounded down the road. Unbeknownst to them, another pair watched from the walls, getting ready to follow them. Hesam and Vogar ate apples and smiled greedily.
_
Beyond the walls of Redwall, past the main road and towards the forests, Jase could see the plains and mountains in the far off distance, with scattering of forests and clearing beyond. It was a strange place to him to be so far off from the abbey, with two adult otters marching alongside him and Gaisen. Pelma and Kasser Whitewhisker were friendly beasts, bound up in lighter armor and carrying a sword to their belts each, with a sack of javelins hoisted over their shoulders. Neither of the kids had weapons, but they did have their uniforms, which Pelma couldn't help but give a silent laugh at "Do tell me at least, those darn things protect you."
Gaisen answered back "I wish. They are more itchy then armored I say."
Kasser spoke loudly and valiantly, his dramatic voice filled with confidence as he cheered up the group with a loud and robust roleplay "I must say, we simple peasant otters are most gracious that the noble and young knights of Redwall themselves keep us company on our journey to smash up this vermin encampment! Why, I must say our weapons won't even need to run from our sheathes, as the rats an' other scum of the earth flee back to their holes! With such a valiant group, we are barely even needed at all!"
The group couldn't help but chuckle as Kasser bobbed and weaved with his arms in a dramatic fashion. Pelma smiled as she went along with it "If nothing else, how can any ol' gang of villains escape the grasp of such fine young knights such as yourselves! Why, you don't even need weapons, for if a bandit even sees you, they will fly away in terror!"
Garfan was less appreciative of the jests, and the two otters knew it. Dakan silenced the group, pointing outward into the distance. "There be that camp. Strange fer those bands of rogues to be out here this far way. Ya think they took up banditry?"
"The Butkans are idiots, but not that idiotic. I think this be a different group. Ya lot stay back, this won't take us long."
The two older warriors went off, but as they did, Garfan pulled out his sword. Pelma bit her lip and moved close to Kasser, not sure what was even going on. This entire thing had been sudden, and Kasser was perhaps the only informed creature in the group. "Who are the Butkans?"
"Weasels, bandit clan mostly, but harmless by vermin standards. Mostly live near here I thinks. Younger lot, about our age."
"Weasels? Here? Shouldn't we be more concerned?"
"Nay, i've met em. Docile folk, worst they'll do is try to scam ya. They tried to steal from pa once, an' got a good thrashen. They returned an' promised to behave, but Garfan thinken they are campin too close for comfort an' fer some unknown reason. They are likely to just given them a good talken too."
"Didn't know there were docile vermin."
"Not many of em', but it happens. Its when they get into hordes when ya should be concerned."
Jase looked up at Kasser with a bit of worry "They won't harm us, right?"
"With us around, no." Kasser sighed, a bit more seriousness to his voice then before. "Alone though? Ya should always be concerned. I'll never understand that lot. More likely to steal yer lunch then to do an honest day's work fer it."
Dakan returned, a little bit mortified and beckoned the group to come closer. Jase was nervous. He had never seen a vermin before, but the look on Dakan's face seemed to be twisted into a frown. Pelma recognized it almost immediately. "What's wrong, pa?"
"Best ya come look. Kasser, ya know these signs better then I do."
"They dead?" Kasser was quick to ask, his attention shifted to the kids in their little audience.
"No, but somethin did happen. One is alive though."
_
The group entered the camp, with Garfan looking down at a terrified younger weasel who was curled up in a corner of a destroyed camp. The camp was in a small but hidden forest clearing, and while trashy and haphazard, it was clear a group of others had come on through recently. Garfan was looking around at the trees, trying to shake the weasel, but the youngster was mortified. He was older then the redwall children for certain, but he was young then Pelma and Kasser by quite a bit, his clothes ragged and ill worn. He was wide eyed, completely and utterly silent except for some deranged mumbling. Garfan stood up, frustrated with him.
"I don't know, this is too odd, Dakab. Maybe we should head back."
Dakan ignored his friend, turning to his son "Can ya search the camp, me boy? I want to know what happened here." Kasser looked around as Pelma held the two close. It was the first time either Jase and Gaisen had seen a weasel before, but for Darper and Nuck it was a second. Both knew full well what they beheld was a common vermin, sulking and angrily muttering to himself. Yet, they could not help but pity him.
Pelma came forward and bent herself to the weasel, who didn't even notice her. "He looks shaken, eh? You alright in there? Hello?"
The weasel blurted out words and sayings that made no sense, with Dakan shaking his head "Hes been like this, practically dragged him out of a nearby hole where he was hiding in. Found the camp like this. . .and this." Dakan kicked at some blades of grass with a crimson red substance upon it, and while not confirmed to be blood by him, they could only guess. Garfan turned to his friend "Well so much for today's easy trip I suppose. You think it was a gang fight?"
"No. We'd have seen bodies. No, I think the older brothers and sister were captured. That or they fled."
Kasser was peering around, and noticed a large patch in the ground. He felt it and looked on concerned "Pa, look at this. Something fairly heavy was pressed in right here."
"Heavy?"
"Heavy like chain I thinks." Kasser was a fair expert when it came to tracking, and he saw tracks all over the place. The most oddly specific of which was rats, and even what he was swore was a cat. He wasn't certain. "I think a slaver came this way, but that wouldn't really make sense. Ya think the Long Patrol would have done away with that kind of lot, eh?"
"They did, an' quite brutally. Odd though, maybe the fell into some bad luck with em?"
"No, I think they were hunted by em. Look at these tracks in the bushes, this lot was ambushed."
Pelma held her paw to her sword and looked around "If there be worse vermin, we should head back to the abbey. I don't think our brave knights gots the stomach fer this."
Garfan picked up the young weasel to his feet. Dakan hurried the group along. "This fire still be quite hot, if they are around, they didn't get far. Kasser, Pelma, and I will follow the tracks, see if that lot still be out there."
Garfan hurried the terrified group along, with only Darper showing some bravery and picking up a stick for himself. Jase was mortified and was soon keeping close to Gaisen as the group marched back to Redwall abbey. The younger weasel, grabbed by Garfan began to coherently repeat and blurt out "E-eyes. Eyes. Eyes! Eyes!"
_
As the group entered the plains again, Jase could hear a flapping of wings. Overhead of them was a big shape, huge in size to himself and was circling ever closer downward. He slowed a bit, as Garfan looked behind. In a sudden instant, Nuck rushed over and pushed Jase to the ground as a large pair of claws nearly grabbed them. Nuck angrily shouted out "Its a black bird! Its a black bird!" To say Jase was surprised by Nuck saving him would have been an understatement, swiftly followed up by him grabbing Jase and pushing him aside as the bird tried to grab at him. Garfan forced the frightened weasel back down onto the ground, and took out his sword. He attempted to swat at the blackbird who circled them overhead, who kept a good distance. Frightened and confused, the group was bobbing and weaving away, with Darper trying to make it into a forest for safety but was cut off by the bird. The bird landed, revealing itself to be a raven, speaking lowly to the frightened otter.
"River dog, you will make good food for me, eh? Good food indeed."
At a sudden moment, a javelin hit the ground near the bird as two figures came bounding out. The Mouse bard Hesam drew a short sword, and his hare friend Vogar Bakepaw brought up another javelin. He threw it harshly, clattering against a tree stump as the bird swiftly flew off. Hesam called out "Missed yet again, old bean! You certainly do need practice."
"Practice indeed, wot!" The two came over to Garfan, staring down at the weasel. Hesam was secretly discomforted by this. He had been in Redwall, but his side gig was of course aiding his true lord. He was informed of a group of weasels near the abbey, and was disappointed that his 'friends' had missed even one creature. Hesam quickly gathered the group as Vogar collected the youngsters. Without a second beat, he called out "Keep in a large group, black birds don't like it when you are in a large group!"
Once inside, Stenna came out rushing along with Kana. Jase ran to his mother for safety as Garfan awkwardly came in. The black bird was seeable from the walls, keeping a short distance away. The abbot came out, and wasn't surprised to see his fellow redwallers arguing. The otters were asking questions where their skipper went, and Garfan felt stressed as he was backed up against a wall by Stenna and Kana.
The badger mom looked furious "I have a good means to tan you black and white, Garfan. Taking youngsters like that on such a stupid trip!"
Kana grabbed Jase and held him close "And look at my son! He looks like he barely even had breakfast! And that Black bird! Ohhh, if my husband was here. . ."
Marthomis called out "Silence, everyone! Please, someone explain to me what is going on." Jase zoned out from the awkward silence and fury of explanations which went on. Garfan had originally wanted to show his new trope about patrolling outside the abbey, much to the abbot's dismay. When Garfan explained what had happened to the weasel's camp, the abbot stopped him. "Garfan, when we agreed to this particular punishment, I didn't think you would do something so foolish or drastic."
Hesam interfered and played a light lute to get his much needed attention. "My friends, let us all calm down. These parts of the woods are quite dangerous and quite difficult with all the black birds around! Perhaps we should consider keeping everyone in the abbey from now on. I am certain Garfan meant no harm, my good friends, and besides, our dear friends need rest and comfort! Let us take our nasty words inside, rightfully."
"Yes, yes, we will discuss this in my office. For now, Stenna, why don't you take our young ones inside and have them cleaned up. Garfan, my disappointment is quite immeasurable, perhaps I should have set some fairly obvious limits. A mistake I will not repeat twice."
Garfan grumbled, following the abbot inside. Stenna herded the group inside for a warm meal, even though all four felt changed by the near death experience. Nuck complained as always, gloating over having to save Jase, an act which annoyed the squirrel deeply. "It looks like once again, I have to act the brave warrior, Jase. Heck, if your pa was here, he'd have given me the sword as a sign of good will, eh?"
A swift and light slap of a badger's paw upside Nuck's head silenced him "You will not speak so passive aggressively, Nuck. If you value your mercy from the abbot this day, you will remain silent and dutiful. I already have enough troubles with those dibbums! Do not add to them."
As the group went back inside, with Hesam and Vogar purposefully keeping a pace back. Hesam gave a cruel and vicious smile as he prodded his friend "We'll have this lot eating right out of our paws by mid afternoon, eh Vogar?"
Vogar rolled his eyes "Only if we keep it up. Whats the scam this time, friend?"
"I think it's time for a little rest, before we-" Hesam paused, making sure no one was within distance to hear him "Before we get our orders, eh?"
The otters were on the trail of the enemy, following up the river in which they passed by several still standing and untroubled villages. Kasser kept the group forward, as they began to realize their enemy was well hidden. As they passed on by, they began to notice something was afoot in western Mossflower. They found some old vermin holes, doors burst open and their contents removed. It was a cold sight to see empty vermin holes. Dakan knew vermin well enough, he had to fight them often. The larger and older males would go off to find hordes, or get kidnapped into them. Sometimes they would start families in their older years, and live off the loot they made in life. Vermin families he could tolerate, even if they were a bunch of future threats to him. Yet to see so many homes abandoned, he found it disturbing. Things were this bad during the years when Kasg the Craven invaded, a common tactic he used to grow his horde was conscription. Even in tales of Cluny the Scourge, he smashed up the homes of vermin to force them into his own horde. This was different however, more sinister.
The three followed, eventually spotting some figures in the far off woodlands, beyond the hamlets and villages of the woodlanders. Kasser and Dakan looked on, seeing a group of twelve vermin in green cloaks and clothes, lording over several captured vermin of various ages. This had included the entire Butkan family. The patriarch of the family was known to Dakan, a former bandit turned gentle scavenger who retired due to a leg injury. He looked well lashed and beaten, much to the dismay of his wife. His older children angrily pouted, all wearing heavy manacles. A single wild cat with a spear kept his eye on the group, also looking over several other vermin who kept their heads down. This however confused Dakan.
"Slavers alright, but why vermin?" Kasser said with some ignorance. He could not recognize their symbols, and we're definitely not in a gang, horde, or nation he knew of.
"Vermin usually enslave other vermin lacking woodlanders to enslave." Dakan said to his kids "Although, some of the villages we passed along the way looked fairly healthy. As if they were avoiden them."
"But why?"
Dakan wanted to creep closer, figure out what the vermin were talking of. He had no love for the weasels, bandits and future bandits all. Yet, he deeply pitied the Butkan family. He had seen such cruelty before, visited on fellow woodlanders, otters even, and it disgusted him.
"I don't know, however, we cannot help them. We'll inform the Long Patrol. Those rats look too well armored. Look." The rats had colored themselves in forest colors, some wore cloaks with leaves and wielded bows. Nearly all of them had branding marks on their cheek, depicting an eye. Fighting them wasn't an option, as Dakan slinked back "There is a long patrol outpost not too far from here. Maybe we'll find Barfoof and grab some hares, but otherwise, we will head back to the abbey."
"What about the Butkans?"
"Only they can help themselves. I don't know what they did to get in the bad sights of that lot, but it be unnatural. I'd rather just not deal with it."
Kasser seemed displeased but agreed. The three otters sneaked off towards the north and towards a Long Patrol outpost. Pelma hoped that those poor creatures would escape, for it was likely she would never see them again any time soon. Perhaps the Long Patrol will rescue those folk. They may be vermin, but no beast deserves that kind of fate.