Redwall: War of the Four Banners

by PepperDeadSworn

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

21. Miserable Pile of Secrets

Chapter 20: Miserable Pile of Secrets

Abbot Marthomis's office was far too small for the meeting he was about to have, already dreading it. Bollo and his moles helped to bring out some chairs and tables into the Great Hall. Marthomis thought it was odd, even absurd, that a raven would even think of getting this near Redwall. The black birds had been a reoccurring issue, a raven 'lord' having made his home in the tall southern trees and sending out his minions to scavenge. While not peaceful birds, bandits by trade who typically robbed and injured poor woodlanders on the road, they had mostly kept to the south. Several failed skirmishes between them and the Long Patrol gave the black birds a harsh lesson in humility, but some still lingered. Hesam and his friends always seem to beat back the birds with success and failings, rescuing many unfortunates from being bullied by the evil flock.

However, it was a mystery why one would stay so close to Redwall, especially with an entire holt of otters within the walls, well armed. As the group set themselves down, Marthomis made a head count. Garfan stood lonesomely on one side, Stenna and Kana to another. Hesam and Vogar were casually to a far end of the table, with Bollo looking uncomfortable. Stenna, normally a meek badger mother, arose to speak harshly to Garfan.

"I don't know what has come over you, mouse, but this is unacceptable! Abbot Marthomis, please, these children may not get along with one another, but this absurd marching is an embarrassment to this abbey. Let me handle this, and kick Garfan out."

Garfan slammed his paw on the table "Try it, badger, and you'll get a good taste what I am made of!"

The dormouse cringed a bit and arose, the room grew silent as he motioned towards the tapestry of Martin "Garfan, do you know the story of our founder, Martin?"

"I don't know what this has to do with anything, but mostly." Garfan huffed. Marthomis continued "Martin lived a long and violent life, from babe to adult, fighting evil tyrants two worlds over, and was nearly felled for it. In his later life, the warrior he was, he settled down in this abbey, to enjoy the life of peace and prosperity our people can afford. When the wars end, and the time to sow and plow begins, we cannot just abide to live in a constant state of battle and preparation, but to embrace the days of peace and family. I was hoping our life here would rub off on you, but apparently I must tell you instead."

Garfan looked at the abbot sadly, but his attention turned to a smirk badger mother "And Stenna, you are as young as the day you came here, and accepted the responsibilities of looking over our youngest dibbums. While Garfan's actions are regrettable, I will ask you not to make harsh words or decisions. We are all good beasts here, and Garfan came here to us willingly and with experience."

Kana huffed up "Abbot, we must do something about this then, I'd like my son back in my own home."

"Not just yet, young Jase and his friend Gaisen have a long history of trouble, which I think Garfan is draining about with Garfan's watch. Although I had hoped, Garfan, you would have been teaching them some general obedience. This step is a bit too far, and I would love to hear your thinking on this."

Garfan looked at the abbot who looked less than enthusiastic, but had suspected he only said these things to give him a chance to explain himself. Ever the creature of peace and understanding, Garfan admired the old dormouse. He spoke with some shaken confidence "I had only been thinking of taking our young recruits out to see what it's like in the countryside, all we were doing was going to meet the Butkans and to chase them away from that camp they like so much. You knew that lot well, and I made all the necessary preparations."

Stenna shook her head "Letting little ones near such vermin to start with. You know full well how dangerous Mr. Butkan is."

"Exactly. Stenna, you know better then anyone here how evil and cruel those beasts are, I was simply trying to show ou-" Garfan was interrupted by Kana "You think we don't know how evil vermin are, Garfan?"

Kana arose, anger and fury sat across her red face "I know full well the cruelty and evil of the vermin, we all know their tyranny, you think showing and not telling does it any better? You endangered my son!"

"Kana, please, calm yourself." Marthomis lightly ordered. Kana sat down, as Marthomis sat down in his chair and spoke "Regardless of our feelings on the matter, let us look at some facts. Garfan, from now on, any of these ideas of yours will be brought to me and Stenna, with our badger mother taking over some of these responsibilities. I do not intend to have young Jase or Gaisen live under your shadow forever or be trained as some part of an army. Is that understood?"

Garfan reluctantly agreed. Bollo, who had been observing the room, would speak up "Mubye Murthomis, yung Juse an' muster Gaisun would enjoy some time bein wit us moles, eh?"

Stenna smiled, while Kana frowned somehow even harder. "I think that is a most clever idea, Bollo. I know you and Jase are closer than messmates, and I think to be honest abbot, if you wanted that young squirrel and mouse to behave better in the abbey, perhaps he should consider being a mason."

Marthomis nodded his head "Perhaps, but discipline with a hammer is very different from discipline with a sword. I chose Garfan to lord over the two as punishment for all those small troubles young Jase and Gaisen had gotten up to. If I must remind you of the 'Noonvale surprise' that was accidentally served that faithful year."

All except Hesam and Vogar looked visibly sick and disgusted at the mention of the infamous 'Noonvale Surprise', which brought out the curiosity of the mouse. Kana spoke up "Absolutely not, I will not have my son endanger himself on those tools! What if he gets hurt, or worse, falls down and cracks open his ribs! It's bad enough he is even on the walls."

"The safety of our youngest is always a concern, Kana, but they must learn to be responsible." Marthomis reminded her. Stenna coughed and spoke out loudly to the group "We also still have a black bird on the loose. If that attack can happen right outside our gates, who knows what else can happen a week from now."

Hesam was quick to play his flute, drawing attention to himself. The jovial mouse spoke with a clear manner, fixing his feathered cap and with undue confidence strode to the middle with Vogar at his side. Of those in the room, only Bollo seemed to openly cringe as he watched the two with immediate disdain and distrust. Nearly all the beasts knew Hesam, he visited as often as he could, speaking good tidings and enchanting everyone with his songs, plays, and stories. "I must say, my good abbot, and good badger mum, the issue of our day is not only the infamous Lady of the Woods, but also the black bird threat. As a foremost professional bird remover, I would humbly offer my services to aid you."

The abbot sighed with some relief "Of course, Hesam, your skills on such matters outside are never in question. I am hoping however you can tell us how to remove these birds peacefully, and quickly."

Vogar spoke up "My dear abbot, wot. You can have one, not both. However we can take the bloody fight to their nest, the bandit is likely tormenting some poor chap as we speak. Naturally, of course, our services are not cheap."

There was a murmur amongst the friars, as the abbot was about to ask the price. Bollo however spoke up rather uncharacteristically. "Yur services be alrudy paid fer, Cumpanions. Yuh eat our fuud, sleup in our hulls, an' live under our ruufs. Whut mur can you want!"

Bollo was eyeing Hesam in particular, the richly garbed mouse had known of Bollo's personal spite between the mole and himself. Jue had even told him so, but Bollo looked furious now. Hesam thought of the mole as a coward who slinked back into his work to avoid personal interaction, but as heads turned to the foremole and resident hero. The abbot was confused by the mole's sudden distrust, but only Kana and Stenna knew what was going on.

Hesam spoke up in his own defense "My dear Bollo, fellow hero of Redwall. As you should know, sleeping and eating in your halls for nothing but our company is not enough to fully indulge heroic and young beasts like me and Vogar. We live outside those walls you know, always on the run from one grand adventure to the next, especially when Jue was around. Remember that thief, 'Jacks' was it? Tried to steal the sword of Martin he did, and we ended him thusly. The black birds, the Lady of the Woods, we fight them quite often and daily. All we but ask, my good foremole, is a little pittance for our efforts, so that when we leave, we can continue our fight against evil as you had once done when you were younger."

Bollo grunted as Hesam weaved his words as both an explanation for his greed and to insult the mole. Marthomis nodded in agreement "I must agree with Hesam on this matter Bollo, for we here in Redwall give our rooms, food, and company freely to such beasts who help our friends and community. Hesam, you have our thanks and gratitude, and I will gladly pay for your services in this matter."

Bollo had enough of this, and left, not even bothering to listen to whatever price the mouse had set. Bollo had his own ideas of how to deal with the black bird threat, and with Hesam.
_

The Infirmary of Redwall was silent and yet serene, as light peaked out from the windows and into the main hall itself, illuminating the room with a heavenly and bright glow. White bed sheets, thankfully unused and well made onto their soft mattresses sat side by side with rows of night stands and medical gear stored in dusty boxes. Redwall had many healers, but not since the days of Kasg the Craven was it ever so used. Few could remember the days of that war when many of the beds were taken up, bleeding and dying creatures writhed onto them, and their silent ghosts now loomed invisibly in the air. A mouse nurse was hurrying down with a bowl of soup, surrounded by her two favorite assistants. The young mouse and otter Nafpha and Norma hurried along with their own things, with Nafpha carrying a small bowl, and Norma being the larger of them carrying a water bucket which had been filled from the abbey's pond. Their guardian for the evening was the nurse Palia.

The three came into the room, expecting their patient to be resting, only to find him looking angry and confused. He was the weasel Garfan had pulled into the abbey, a dirty and typical vermin creature who was younger than the nurse, but older than the youngsters in the room. The two younger maidens could see the troublesome four surrounding him, all collectively on two opposite beds which they pulled close to him, 'guarding' him in a sort of way. However, they had taken this time to ask him a thousand different questions, which the weasel could not answer.

"You know what happened to your family? Who took em'?"

"I don't know, leave me alone snot breath."

"No need to be rude, vermin. Just answer the question."

"I don't know, I can barely remember. Leave me alone before I tan yer hides!"

"What were you all doing so close to the abbey?"

"Oh I don't know, why do you all ask me stupid questions!"

The nurse snapped as Jase, Gaisen, Nuck, and Darper. "You four, stop bothering my patient. I see you, young weasel, are at least a little better. Come now, time for your dinner. The rest of you best make it for Cavern Hole before Kalma throws a fit again about her missing spices. That hedgehog is going to burst a vessel if she finds out we run out of apple spice again, and we'll all starve till she peeters out."

Palia came close to the weasel and put the soup on a nightstand, but before she could even do anything, the young vermin was already slurping it down and burning out his own mouth which he spat out swiftly onto the bed. Uncasually, he slammed the bowl down and complained, fanning his mouth comically "Are ya lot tryin to kill me! It be too hot!"

"Now youngster, of course it be hot, let it cool off a bit before you try to burn yourself again." The nurse tried to wipe off the soup from the poor weasel's blanket which he had covered himself in, but he swapped her paw away "No! I am fine! Don't touch me an' leave!"

The nurse forcefully cleaned the weasel's face with a cloth and pulled up some dirt from his whiskers and snout. She sighed, knowing the job in front of her was going to to terrifying. "Nafpha. Norma, go fetch me some good towels, they should be in that drawer over yonder. Your four, can't you go guard somewhere else."

Gaisen answered for the group "Nay. Garfan said we had to stay put for now. Until of course they come for us. I think the abbot an' Stenna are speaking on our behalf."

Nuck had a show of confidence "I hope they let us stay, I think I am well destined to be a hero, eh Darper?"

"Hero? More like sham! I'm the one who had to face down the raven. All you did was save this poor fool the trouble of getting a little clawed." Darper pointed to Jase who didn't seem bothered with the two's bullying. Jase stared at the vermin before him. He had truly never seen a vermin before, he looked a lot like an otter, but smaller, fuzzier, if not much more dirtier and rude. Jase took mental notes, trying to figure out what was evil about him. What was his father fighting? All his life he heard tales of vermin cruelty, tyranny, and pillaging but all he saw before him was some impoverished fool, who seemed to be dealing with demons of his own. I know it be a stupid thing to ask an' think, but do they have feelings? They feel sadness right, or some kind of happiness? I wonder what he thinks about his family. Oh seasons, his poor family.

Jase perked up and asked a simple question, one which none of the others had bothered to ask him. "Whats your name?"

The weasel angrily turned to him and snarled "Whose asken?"

"Jase." The squirrel looked curious. The weasel shook his head "Me Pa calls me Snot, though I guess dat be all he gives now. Will you all just leave me alone now?"

The nurse came over to give him his answer and with a wet towel. Forcefully cleaning the struggling youngster, she had turned the once white towel nearly black and groomed Snot Butkan, a name which Jase found the most odd. Do all vermin name themselves after such things? Snot?

Nafpha and Norma continued to 'help' the young weasel, getting him out of his uncomfy and old tunic, torn from years of wear, and into a cleaner habit. The weasel complained constantly. Nafpha got a moment to break from the group, as came close to Gaisen who explained better what had happened. Nafpha was shocked "I could never imagine being named after mucus. Do you two know what has happened?"

"Nuttin much." Gaisen commented "Garfan and Dakan found him abandoned in a hole, I thinks his family was ambushed, and he was well enough hidden to not get caught."

"Who would kidnap a vermin like him? If his family was as dirty and rude as he is. He acts worse than a naughty dibbum."

Gaisen shrugged "Garfan says der evil, so I guess that is what evil does I suppose, makes ya dirty, rude, an' petty."

Once Snot Butkan was dressed and clean, the nurse left to get him a clean sheet. The weasel again tried to sip his hot soup with some more caution and failed once again, sneezing into it. The woodlander children looked on shocked as he continued to drink as if he hadn't eaten for years. He did not comment on neither taste nor the hospitality, he simply sat on his bed in silence, uninterested and sad looking. Nuck and Darper eventually got bored and went with Norma to another side of the room to talk amongst themselves, mostly about their earlier bravery which enamored the otter maiden. Jase, Nafpha, and Gaisen continued to stare with disbelief until the weasel snarled at them "Whatta ya lookin at, lump eyes."

Gaisen spoke up when others did not "You were muttering something all the way into the abbey, something about 'eyes'. We are just trying to figure out what happened to your family."

The weasel looked a bit shocked and was frozen still for a moment, unable to move or speak. He began to mutter 'eyes' to himself several times before snapping out of it. "I. . I don' know. Leave me alone, ya flea bitten cretans. I wanna rest."

The three left him alone as the weasel snuggly put himself into the bed's pillow and covered himself with the sheet. Jase looked at his companions, uncertain of what had happened. Nafpha explained "He be sick, but with no normal illness. A sickness of the mind I thinks, having seen something which has stressed him out. Its best we leave him alone. I think it means hes gone through something he cannot really think on without bein sad."

Jase looked to Nafpha for answers "You seen this before."

"No, but Palia had. The war your father fought made many creatures like that, which the nurses don't like to talk about. The stories I heard made me shiver."
_

Palia was looking over the young weasel who was pouting in his habit, examining him as much as trying to groom him, a task easier said than done. She and her party of young redwallers was soon joined by another host, filling the room with Garfan, Stenna, and Marthomis coming down to greet them. The young weasel struggled often, uncooperative up until Garfan entered the room in his full guard gear and looked down at the young weasel. Noticing his sword to his side, the weasel shaped himself up, fearful of the mouse who was automatically suspicious of him. Stenna looked over pitifully at the weasel with mixed feelings. She had known weasels when she was a prisoner of Kasg the Craven, who tormented her and tortured good beasts without pity or mercy. Snot looked up at them in silence as Marthomis spoke to him.

"I am Marthomis, Abbot of Redwall. I believe you don't need to be told where you are, youngster." Marthomis tried to give a calm expression, but experience with the Butkans was quite forthcoming. Snot snidely remarked "Ya, I know where I am, flat nose."

Garfan angrily spoke up "Speak ill of the abbot again, weasel, and you will be-"

"That is enough Garfan. I can handle this."

"Abbot, with all due respect, I don't think you can. I know how to talk to vermin."

The abbot shook his head "Garfan, we are not here to torment this poor creature, nor cause him more harm then he suffered. Why don't you gather up your recruits and usher them back into Cavern Hole to get their meal. Stenna and I will handle this."

Garfan obliged, snapping at his recruits who came to attention as he marched them off down the hall. Norma and Nafpha were not sure wether to join them or not, but Marthomis shooed them along, leaving him and Stenna alone with the young weasel. The weasel huffed angrily, scratching at new clothes "How ya even live as you do, this thing itches worse then a cotten blanket it does!"

"Believe me, young weasel, you get use to it." Stenna noted. The weasel soured her mood by cursing loudly "Well, stripe dog, you can shove it! I don't wanna wear this stupid habit anyway! I wanna go home!"

"That would be most unwise, youngster." Marthomis reminded him. Marthomis sat on the youngster's bed and patted it, his old face looking at the aggressive vermin. Marthomis didn't particularly understand the vermin, and he didn't really know them all too well. The only vermin he had known were the ones who broke into his abbey, stole the sword of martin, and killed several of his good friends in their escape. In his younger years, he could have ranted and raved about them, but in his older years he now could not but pity them. The Butkans were dumb fools, who were just beginning to understand they did not need to steal or raid for their food and livelihoods. He had healed Mr. Butkan once, and even helped deliver his first son into the world when the weasel kidnapped him, an adventure he told no one of. Especially not Jue. Now they were gone, and all that remains of that family was this youngster.

"Tell me, young Butkan. Tell me what happened, and I promise I will do as much as I can to get your family back to you."

The weasel looked angry and snarled "Who be sayin I want that ol' fool an me brothers back, I just wanna go home, it be. . be mine now." The verminous speech would have been shocking to others, but there was a crack in Snot's voice, a deep sadness for what had happened.

Stenna came to the youngster's side and patted his back. The weasel felt comfortable despite his attitude as he began to break down a bit. Marthomis watched in silence as the youngster began to cry and weep, as he tried to explain through his mucus dripping nose and redding cheek, coughing up in a horrible way. Both badger and dormouse awaited for him to calm down as he explained as best he could what had happened.

"Pa an' us were campen near our favorite spot, sayin it was time fer me an' my brothers to learn how to take our own vittles, he says. Gobber didn't wanna, so pa beat him silly a bit before ma herded us out of our home. We were campen we wer'z, an' Gakker robbed his first woodlander he says, but I thinks he just scavenged in the woods. Pa believed it, gave em a knife he did, said he was proud of em'. Pa was sayin he wanna headed south, heard of some big rat down der, with a big ol' camp. Said he was tempted, but ma slapped him over the head, tol' him if he took us down der, she'd skin him alive fer abandonun our rout. I was eaten some vittles when some. . .some big ol' beast showed up. A cats i think, an' some rats. I scurried away as'z dey began surroundin, an I watched from some roots I did, seein what. . .what dey did to me Pa an' siblins."

Snot paused for a moment as Marthomis held his paw, trying to comfort the young weasel. Stenna asked Snot to continue, and with a sniff he did.

"Dey. . .dey began chaining me pa up first, den me ma, me brothers, an' me sis. Dey beat em' dey did. They kept beating em, an' beatin em. Pa looked in me direction, his nose was bleedin, but said nothin. I couldn't take it no more, I. . .I hid. I ran. I couldn't do anything, dey dragged em' off! I just wanna go home!"

Instinctively, Stenna held the young weasel in her paws as he continued to weep. Marthomis looked up at Stenna, thinking over what he had heard. He commented to her "Slaving band it sounds like, I heard of no such low lives such as that since Kasg the Craven wandered into this land. Yet, I heard of no kidnappings, or raids on the outer villages."

Stenna thought over this mystery as well "Abbot, what if they are not after woodlanders and gentle beasts. What if they are after vermin?"

The abbot looked sorrowfully at Snot, crying out for the unfairness of his life "I will send out some friars to the friendlier vermin we know in Mossflower proper, especially those around the abbey. I doubt they will want to join in the abbey itself, considering many are far more hostile than the Butkans were."

"Well, it'll give Garfan something to do at least. Not to mention the trouble with this black bird. I fear trouble is coming upon the abbey, Marthomis. I only wish Jue was here."

Marthomis sighed in agreement.

---

The friars of the abbey had filed out towards the front gate of Redwall, carrying torches despite it being late afternoon. The dry morning had the mice and other woodlanders of the abbey worried, constantly looking up into the skies. Hesam had ordered them not to bring arrows or slings, since the peaceful creatures had no experience with them, but instead they would use staves. Hesam and Vogar were perhaps, outside of Garfan, the only creatures in the abbey with proper experience with swords and could use them well. Hesam played lightly on his flute to set the mood as he gave away his experience to the abbeybeasts. Most listened intently as Hesam spoke with confidence and guile to the collection of mice, some voles, a couple squirrels, and other myriad of woodlanders.

"Black birds hate fire, and by fire you will shoo them away. I saw only one bird, a raven from the north I think, but do not be fooled. Such a beast like that will need to be tracked down and driven off. You are to stay in groups of three, and more. Black birds are cowards, like vermin are, but fear the fire of the torch. You are to scour the woods and look for its next, and me and Vogar will look for the bird in the deeper forest. Once it knows and sees that you have gone on the hunt for it, me and Vogar will again attempt to trap it. These black birds can be quite crafty, so be on the lookout. Vogar, you got our javelins ready?"

"You bloomen know I do, Hesam."

"Good, let us go off." Hesam led the groups of friars through the woods, and the day rolled on without much event. Hesam and Vogar were snickering to themselves for miles as they led themselves deeper into the woodlands, past the smaller hamlets and villages. The group lost the mice, overly cautious and looking into the sky as they found their more formal camp deeper in the woods. Gaunt the rat was with the very raven the abbey was trying to chase off, eating peacefully in the brush. Hesam was happy the idiotic group of fellow scammers did not light a fire and commented on their initiative "I see as always, you can do even basic tasks Gaunt."

"Ya were quite specific, boss." The rat shrugged "Our big blundering fool here nearly got caught flyen dis way though, so I put up some traps near the far end of the woods I did. Those vermin folk though, that you an' dat der wildcat were talken too gave me the creeps. What was that all about?"

"Don't ask stupid questions, you blighted fool." Vogar snapped at him "What we do is none of your bloomen business, you just do as we say. Besides, Hesam here has quite a plan to make us some nice riches."

"Do tell, boss." Gaunt sat down, his paw on his chin. The rat mentally prepared himself for whatever scheme his boss had cooked up.

"Simple. While Vogar leads our dear Redwall elite to battle our dear Yushag here." Hesam pointed his lute at the raven, who looked on with mild disinterest "I will be in Redwall Abbey, clearing out its silver and gold. I will put in a couple large sacks while you take our new found loot into the forests to hide it. From right under the nose of these stupid fools, we'll be getting our just deserts."

"Boss, dat seems a bit risky." The rat scratched his head in confusion. Vogar grunted in amusement "Don't think too hard, or you'll damage something rat."

Gaunt sighed "Aye, boss."

Hesam reassured his minion "Risky, sure? However, when is there never a risk. Besides, when the Green Eyed Horde moves through here, you think Milo is going to just let us keep any of that rich loot? I'm not asking to steal the tapestry of Martin the Warrior or something, and by the seasons I would love to, but let's not fool ourselves in thinking our benefactors would not treat us cheaply. Think of this as a. . .preemptive looting."

Vogar had a twisted smile "The Redwallers certainly are rich off their own charity, wot. Besides, with Maglor lollygagging in that big ol' mountain of his, we need something to do till the green tide arrives on dee's shores. I bet my bloody jacket that by the time the Redwallers catch onto what is happening, they will already be in chains being sent off to Sandbeach."

Hesam found the thought amusing, especially the irony of seeing old and suspicious heroes to confirm their worst fears as they are dragged off by their benefactors in irons, while he triumphantly watched on. Hesam noted this "I can see it now, my friend, or dear fellow Bollo looking on with dismay and tamed fury as I, Hesam Whiteflower, sing the heroic songs of old, the last tune he would ever hear! Kasg the Craven, more like Kasg the easily forgotten! Ha! Oh, how that mole already knows of us, Vogar, you should see the look on his face when his very abbot gave us that nice sack of coin to deal with Yushag over here. It is quite priceless."

"You think we'll need to get rid of him?"

"No, no. Let him stew, cause I know full well no one believes him. Not his friends, not his allies. No one. While we engorge ourselves on our rightful claims to glory and riches, he can continue hammering away at a roof which will soon burn and crumble to ashes."

"Eh boss." Gaunt spoke up, both companions looked harshly at him "Maybe I be dumb an' stupid, but wouldn't dem good beasts be missen der goodies?"

"Oh they will." Hesam came close to the uncomfortable rat "However, I got a plan for that as well. You see, once they realized they have been robbed, we'll put the blame on some vermin lout and all the better for us. We'll even lead the charge ourselves, maybe even put a little spoon in that new weasel's bed, make them think he stole their precious cutlery and finery. We'll hide it well, and Gaunt, I do hope you will hide it well."

Gaunt nodded, knowing he had no choice. Vogar spoke to Yushag "Alright, so the normal plan as per usual, you fouled rat with wings."

Yushag scoffed and lifted his wing in a mock pose of being insulted "Long ears be always insulting Yushag, but feed Yushag you must or I fly off, then where will you two be then?"

Vogar growled at this, but Hesam calmed them both with a loud play of his flute "You two must get along better. Yushag, you do what you do best, scratch and fly off. Vogar will purposefully miss, like all the other times, while I an' Gaunt are at the abbey. Does that sound like a good plan or not?"

"Caewwww! Fine, round ears. You do what you must, so long as Yushag is fed."

"Oh, you will my friend! You will." The raven flew off as Hesam turned to Vogar and whispered to him. Vogar smiled, sharpening his javelin. Gaunt remained still, awaiting his orders of his boss. It'll all be worth it Gaunt, several more jobs an' you will pay off yer debts. All of them. Then I am outta here, and hopefully away from Mossflower when this is all done!
_

The day was still fresh for Bollo who was in a new set of clothes most did not suspect him to wear, but to him it was a very old and traditional set. Bollo was in his tight tunic, with an old brown belt, his pants a little saggy, and a knapsack slung around his waist. Bollo was followed out by the hedgehog maiden and cook Kalma, who had been more or less dressed in her habit. Bollo was a little disappointed she had not worn the old dress she wore all those seasons ago, when they were young and foolish beasts following Jue the Warrior out into the wilds of Mossflower. Bollo was dressed as the day he went out with his friend, looking for the Sword of Martin. Now he dressed for a more simpler occasion, to find the truth.

"Oh Bollo, don't you think you are being a bit harsh an' paranoid?" Kalma asked, as the two went out of the gates. Bollo was determined and stubborn "Nu, yuo know as much as aye do that Hesum an' Vugar are up to sumthin! Askun us fer our coin makes me suspicious, it dus!"

Kalma sighed and continued outward, occasionally looking around a bit paranoid herself. She saw groups of friars slowly walking around outside, like as if there was some hidden festival going on, all of them having torches and looking constantly to the skies. However, the lack of an actual attack by the supposed black bird made things a bit boring and stable. Most of the mice were talking to one another about mundane things.

Bollo looked around at the sky, not surprised to see any birds. Ever since Kasg the Craven rampaged through Mossflower, the vermin had hunted birds of all kinds. There were very few communities left, sparrows included. The birds of Mossflower had only slowly begun to return, but it was a slow process. Bollo and Kalma headed out towards a group of Redwallers, asking where Hesam and Vogar had gone. They had no clue, so Bollo and Kalma kept asking with increasing suspicion in Bollo's voice. Bollo wanted to see with his own small eyes how Hesam 'hunted' the black birds he heard so much about.

"I gut a theury me frund." Bollo whispered to her, as they moved about "I dun thunk Hesum actually hunts der burds. It must be a scaum I reckun. Huw many times hus he tuld his stury about killun birds, a big ol' ravun to be perciuse?"

Kalma stopped him "Bollo, even I think you are going a bit too far with this. You have had no proof for seasons, and I would prefer you didn't pull me into all this! I just came out here to help, and you promised me you would help."

"I am be helpun. Helpun Redwall in general." Bollo explained "Besidues, remembur whun we lust the swurd to that snake? Me nose was right den, an' it be right nuw. I am nut goin to have me good abbuy tarnished oar robbed. Especiaully not agun! Think on ut, Kulma. You ever knuw Hesum to ever succeed in killun a black burd? Jue an' him hunted black burds fer seasuns, an not once did they ever catch one. You dun' find dat a bit straunge?"

"I do." Kalma sighed "I just think you hate Hesam for what Jue has done. Look, you were not the only one who confronted him, old friend. I made my little speech to him as well when he stormed off back into the wilderness. Besides, here come those two now."

Bollo and Kalma turned to Hesam and Vogar as they approached. Hesam was playing his favorite lute. Bollo confronted the mouse "Whur be der black burd, Hesum? Ya chasued it off agun?"

"No actually, my good friend." Hesam smiled lightly and mockingly "In fact, I think we may have accidentally gone in the wrong direction. We returned in the hopes it was around. Vogar has been sharpening stakes along the way, perhaps you'd wish to show us your throwing arm, Bollo?"

"Maybue I will." Bollo gave a rare smirk, even though Kalma knew full well that Bollo was a terrible thrower. She interrupted them both "Perhaps we can patrol together, since you know a lot about this black birds an' all."

"Vogar can show you, I must be off inside. I have business to attend to, primarily gathering some special herbs and bait. Black bird have a fondness for a specific type of nut you see, one for which I carry around in our luggage. No doubt it will be useful."

Bollo squinted his small eyes as Hesam went back off inside, leaving them with the grim looking Vogar who grinned at them, although neither could tell if the hare was sincere. He took up a stake and tossed it to Bollo "Lets be on our way, wot! Blasted raven is likely around here, somewhere. I bet it will be in the northern part of the forest." Bollo reluctantly followed, glancing at Hesam as he headed back towards the abbey.
_

Bollo was unsure of what to think. He wanted to catch Hesam in the act of trickery, not Vogar. He knew little of the hare and badger which followed Hesam around as he and Kalma could barely catch up with the fast paced former Long Patrol. Vogar was a strange hare, stranger than hares the abbey had known in many years. He was rather grim looking, his whiskers and fur was ungroomed, his jacket dirty and worn. He looked as if he had come out of battle, but lacked any scars to prove he had ever been in one. Bollo always suspected Vogar was more of Hesam's minion than his friend, and wondered why a hare like him would even follow him around. He supposed it was also strange for a badger lord's son, Malgor, to follow Hesam around as well. Yet, the hare was a curiosity. Vogar led the group through the woods, having given Kalma a torch as they looked to the skies of the tree tops, looking for signs of raven.

"Blasted black birds, I tell you wot. Every time we get close to wiping them out, another blighter shows up! I tell you, good Bollo, how many times me and Jue chased off the blasted things from inner Mossflower. I swear the Lady of the Woods controls a good number of them I bets."

Kalma shivered at the name, a legend made manifest. The creature was a kidnapper at best, a murderer at worst. None could figure out what manner of beast it was, some thought of it as a snake, others claimed it was a wolverine. No one particularly knew. Bollo commented to Vogar's complaints "Aye, but yuo huv been goin aftur durr black burds fer seasuns now. Huw have you nut dealt wit der'em yet?"

Vogar shrugged "Who knows, maybe there is another grand next somewhere in inner Mossflower. Mossflower is a big country after all, Bollo."

Bollo was about to question the hare further, until they heard a high pitched scream. Vogar turned in the direction of where it was coming from and grabbed a javelin instinctively. The group rushed out of the forest and into Redwall's clearing, where they could now see the Raven had swooped from on high and began attacking a group of mice. Yushag had returned, and was avoiding the torches of the group. One of the friars was injured, having just been pecked harshly by the raven. It was running circles around the group as it flew off into the sky, mocking the Redwallers.

Vogar came up to the group "Rush this poor blighter inside, I got this."

Bollo grunted at the comment, already expecting what to happen. Both he and Kalma watched this grand show. Vogar would swagger forth, throw a javelin up into the air and miss. He would throw again, a bit closer and challenge the bird directly once it landed. While the other redwallers, unsure of how to help watch the battle of wits go on, Vogar would come forward with a dramatic stab. Now that Kalma could see what was happening with her eyes, now she began to understand Bollo's point with an increasing sadness. While her fellows and peers were enamored by Vogar's dramatic fight, she knew all too well how fake it looked. Thrusting his sword forward was not a clever tactic, it was to warn the bird to back off. Bollo. Kalma, and Jue had all fought for their lives before, they knew how ugly it was, and how they stretched themselves to their limits in the thick of it. Kalma never wanted to return to such things, and the dramatic fighting before her still made her overly nervous.

However, something was a bit different, as the raven began to fly off. Vogar looked victorious as Bollo watched the raven fly further and further, another victory by the companions. Yet Vogar was not done. He chucked one javelin as hard as he could, suddenly and with some surprise at the fleeing and calm raven, who suddenly felt a jab into his underbelly. The surprised bird began to flop and fall. All looked on with surprise, especially Bollo and Kalma.

Bollo and Kalma hurried along with other redwallers to the site where the bird was dropping. The bird was screaming and cursing the entire way in an incoherent voice, with Vogar catching up. The bird fell through, but as Vogar led the group along in a rush to finish off the black bird, Bollo noticed something. The black bird weaved and ducked past the trees, spreading sprinkles of blood and dipped into the trees. Bollo and Kalma followed, looking to catch up to see the slain or captured black bird for themselves. Kalma's mind was put to rest by the sudden slaying, and both she and Bollo were dutiful.

Vogar led the groups northward in a wider search, but Bollo stepped from the group when he noticed something. Sprays of blood were all about the forest and he noticed one trail leading eastward. The ravun must huv ducked into der ferust an' headud dis way, sprayin it's blood to confuse der trackurs. Bollo didn't have a weapon on him, so he picked up a big stick and followed the trail. Bollo ran through the brush, eventually coming to a stream where he found disturbed rocks and broken twigs. The path was obvious, a harsh landing in which the panicked bird was moving away. Bollo followed the stream a bit further and saw a large black splotch in the distance, breathing heavily.

Bollo approached the black bird which had pecked the javelin out of its gut and was now laying on the ground near the stream, its wounds turning it partly red. Bollo circled in a wide berth of the raven, its eyes transfixing in fear on the mole. It groaned in horrible pain as Bollo approached with his stick, leaned forward like a spear.

Bollo then began to hear something from the raven, angry and desperate. "H-Hes-Hesh-" It tried to speak out. Bollo could hear it, trying to name something. He crept closer, realizing it was dying. "Hes. . .Hes. . ."

Bollo could not believe his ears, perked up as he heard the infernal name from the raven's lips. His hopes were dashed when a javelin struck it's head from behind. Bollo was knocked to his feet in fright as Vogar and the group of redwallers were looking over. Bollo looked up in anger at Vogar, who did not look to particularly understand what he had just done. However, in Vogar's own mind, he was sighing with relief. He spoke up "You must be careful mole! Black birds are dangerous creatures, and worse liars, wot! We did it! We killed this villian, let us bury it and be done with it."

Bollo looked up in silence and anger in his eyes, determination filling the black void in his heart ever further.

---

Jase and Gaisen were inside Redwall, enjoying a rare day off with Stenna. Garfan had 'loaned' the two out to Stenna to help in activities to keep the dibbums entertained while Garfan and his two other recruits were out and about in Mossflower forest on some kind of secret mission. Jase and Gaisen were being followed by Nafpha who was happy to come along, unlike her two very unfortunate and unlucky friends. Jase and Gaisen groaned dramatically to Stenna "Stenna, could we just go back to our rooms or somethin? I don't really wanna watch a bunch of babes tear out me head fur!"

Stenna chuckled and then sternly chastised Gaisen who had spoken up "Young Gaisen, with the youngsters out and about today, especially being unable to go into the courtyard to play their games, I can use all the help I can get! You know how many otter pups are running around the abbey now? All their mums an' elders are all outside, looking for that blasted bird that attacked you and Jase."

"I thought you'd be happy to help with the young'uns Gaisen." Nafpha laughed "It certainly beats staying inside cavern hole all day, or being trapped in that 'barracks' Garfan had set up for you."

Gaisen shook his head "Me peers, I get. I can handle fellows of equal intellect like myself, as you should know. Babes? I don't know what to do with them!"

Stenna huffed "Well, your guardian seems to think the same way. I am still furious about what has happened, and frankly you two should never have been out there at all. Garfan is fooling himself if he thinks this was a good idea."

The group bounded up the stairs and into the waiting rooms of the nursery, where all the dibbums had been playing loud and rambunctious games amongst themselves. Jase and Gaisen looked on in undue terror to see several otter pups jumping all over the beds, several mole children chasing each other around and wrestling. Nafpha took one of the younger mice in paw and hummed loudly to herself, settling down as Stenna tapped her feet to the ground. The Redwall children were still in the thrall of their game making as Stenna sighed in defeat. "Nafpha, why don't you start with that corner. We need to get these misfits in baths straight away!"

The word 'bath' was soon heard like an echo, as a loud and dramatic scream from the youngsters soon filled the room. Many ducked under beds, others fled into makeshift forts, especially the younger otter pups who did not learn how to swim yet. Stenna was like a terrifying monster who dragged several of the babes from their hiding holes, begging to remain as she took them in paw and into a separate room to clean them up. Nafpha helped along as Gaisen and Jase found themselves mostly alone in the room with the youngsters.

"Uhg! I wish I was outside!" Gaisen complained. Jase did not agree, looking out at the window and into the sky, hoping no one had gotten hurt by the evil bird.
_

Hesam was alone in the kitchens, where Kalma and her cooks were all outside and playing along to his scheme. Hesam was in a fantastic mood, as he opened up empty drawers and began filling up a brown bag, occasionally looking to make sure no one was around. Nearly everyone was somewhere else as he filled up a bag full of silverware and some candle holders. Hesam was picking out fine china, spices, and other things as he bit down on an apple, looking about the room with little care. Cavern hole was empty, as everyone was outside or elsewhere. Hesam was sure Marthomis was still in his office, and with Garfan out and about, he was free to pick apart the kitchens first and storage. Hesam was disappointed at first, unable to find grand riches he first sought, but smiled gleefully at the prospect of the new world his lord would build, making such objects he stole as rarities. He placed a nice amount of silverware in his knapsack and began to look around for more. Leaving Cavern Hole with his pilfered goods, Hesam whistled to himself as he looked for an easy means to get to the wall.

Below the wall facing the east was a rat hiding in a ditch, Gaunt awaited his boss to tie a rope to his new goods and lead them down to him. Gaunt was to then take this loot and bury it in a place in the woods. Hesam didn't particularly like the dumb rat, but he did like the power he held over him. Hesam was kind of glad he gained the rat from his temporary time in the north, winning him and his debts from an insane game of cards. Hesam was walking down with his loot through some empty dorms when he realized he was close to the infirmary. Hesam looked inside to see if the weasel which his slaver friends had missed was still sleeping, but was surprised to find the room empty. He wondered if the young weasel was off and about. He crept close to the bed where he was originally sleeping and left a single, small, silver spoon dropped on the floor. Oh, it would be amusing to see the youngster's face when the Redwallers tear him apart looking for the cutlery.

Hesam went out of the infirmary, and was headed out but stopped to see a door opening at the far end of a corridor. Coming down the corridor was several otters, led by one of Dakan's captains Papet. Papet spotted Hesam and waved at him, with Hesam holding the stolen cutlery in his knapsack. Hesam smiled and came up to the otter, worried and sweating, hoping the otter would not bring attention to it.

"Aye der, mate. You lost?"

"Oh no, good otter. I am actually making my way out. I had some bad news for the group actually, I think I don't have as much bird bait as I thought I had."

Papet chuckled "Well, either or, my otters are out there combing the forest with slings and javelins. We caught some rat out there not too long ago, and I am heading up to see the abbot about it."

"R-rat?" Hesam froze, a bit shocked. Papet relieved his concern, or at least, he thought he was "Likely some thief I think, or a bandit hanging around in some ditch. One my scouts spotted him running a large circle around the abbey, and was fairly good at it too, up until he got spotted."

"How?"

"Oh, easy mate. We had a guard on the upper wall, but. . well, don't tell the abbot. Dakan ordered me to keep a couple lads up on the walls just in case. You know how the stories go 'the bounder walked right off the walls, with sword of martin in paw' an' all that. Never know, ya know."

Hesam feigned relief, but as Papet was going off, Hesam realized how foolish he had been. Otters. It always has to be those black nosed, fish eating, sled munching, water dogs! Warriors indeed, I hope Milo kills the lot of them. Hesam took his knapsack in paw and began heading out towards his dorm. He shoved the knapsack under his bed and was already out and about. Anxious, Hesam began to look for Vogar first, to see if he could plot a new demise.
_

Jase and Gaisen were having a fun time, a fun time which they did not fully suspect. Half of the room of dibbums was clean as the badger mother was mechanically working away at them as Jase and Gaisen were playing childish games with them, Nafpha had been ultimately correct, seeing Gaisen especially active as he played tag with several other mice and Jase getting to know a bunch of questioning otter pups from the Mossflower holt, asking him a hundred questions. However, another figure came into the room with a worried expression, Norma who had been with nurse Palia was shoving past a couple of rascal dibbums already climbing over her. She came up to Nafpha with a concern clogging up her voice. "Nafpha, you haven't seen that weasel anywhere have you?"

"Oh? No, I think he is down in the infirmary still. Stenna said to leave him alone for now."

"Well, I went to go check on him and get him some dinner, but all I found was an empty bed and some silver spoon. I am looking everywhere, even in the library, but no one saw or heard anything. Oh, I am concerned! I don't want to lose an entire beast! What will Darper think of me then?"

Gaisen stopped playing with the youngsters, and came over to Norma "I still have no clue, she dog what you see in that otter!"

"I mean, he may be a bully, sure, but he is quite. . ."

Gaisen stopped her "I will hear none of it, ya hear? I swear, if I have to hear anything more about Nuck and Darper again, I'll be sick! Besides, I hope they are having the time of their lives helping Garfan out."

"Still, if you haven't seen him I-"

Jase interrupted her "Snot is missing? I mean, I suppose we could help, but Stenna is so busy with us I doubt she will let us go."

Norma thought it over "Maybe you could 'help' me and look for him? I mean, you two have all manner of skills in finding trouble."

Jase asked "You said there was silver spoon near his bed, maybe he was just in the kitchens and got hungry himself. We'll check there first. You coming Gaisen?"

Gaisen was happy to see Jase in an adventurous mood, and Norma came up to Stenna who was washing a struggling mole babe. "Stenna, I need to borrow Jase and Gaisen for a moment if that is okay."

"Go ahead, young Norma, but have them back here pronto."

Jase and Gaisen followed Norma out on a new found adventure, leaving Nafpha and Stenna to look over the room of adorable dibbums playing about.
_

Jase, Gaisen, and Norma were down in the Cavern Hole, with Jase admiring the new floor which Bollo had put in. It was a more ornate, tiled floor which the moles under Bollo had been working tirelessly at. The three however were not there to admire the floors, following Jase's hunch as they headed for the empty halls looking for Snot Butkan. They looked under tables, in corners, and found nothing. All they found were some small footprints partly covered in flour which neither of the youngsters could read. Both headed towards the kitchens, seeing nothing being made. It was calm and anxious silence, almost deafening as the group looked around. Gaisen opened one of the cupboards and cringed, finding nothing inside. Gaisen opened another and another, with similar findings.

Gaisen turned to his searching friends "Hey, um, Norma. You know where all the silverware went?"

Norma shrugged, unsure of what Gaisen was asking of her "It should be with our plate storage, why?"

"Cause the silverware is missing. The plates as well I thinks."

Norma and Jase looked at each other confused, they came over Gaisen checking as Norma's eyes widened with fear "No. Nononono." Norma began to check all she could, finding many missing and some very expensive things, including a lot of spices. Norma cursed openly, something neither Jase nor Gaisen had ever heard, except from Darper of course "That lying, no good, two faced, ungrateful, cretan! Oh, if I catch that weasel, I will crop his tail I will!" Norma stomped angrily. "Oh, I must tell the abbot at once! Faker, wretch! Thief!"

Jase and Gaisen looked at one another and calmed her down. Gaisen sushed the otter maid "Now hold on, for one moment or two. Me and Jase are two capable guards, an' frankly I this thief is our ticket out of these uniforms I thinks! If we catch the thief and get the cutlery back before others do, that means the abbot gotta pardon us, right?"

"I cannot believe you would endanger our cutlery to some thief so you two can go out and get into more trouble!" Norma said angrily. Jase meekly held still, wanting to speak up, but Gaisen spoke for him. "Norma, if we get the cutlery, I promise, an' crossing me heart and tail here, that means Nuck and Darper can' get free as well, but you gotta be silent on this."

Norma closed her mouth and thought it over, it was quite a difficult deal to take, but she was was still uncertain. Gaisen nudged her "Look, Nuck and Darper are all snug with the others in their dorms, even though they should be helpen us. You can spend time with Darper if ya keep em' out of our way. Besides, Kalma will discover this before us. . .which you should warn her about I suppose."

"What about Snot?"

"We'll take care of him." Jase commented "However, the abbey's cutlery is important."

Norma shook her head "I cannot buy you both any time, so do hurry. You have any clue where he headed off to, since you two are such lucky detectives."

Jase nodded "No doubt, looking for his family's hole. It's where I'd go if I were sad. Or a thief."

---

Garfan was out in the northern end of Mossflower woods, his sword to his side and his domed helm strapped on, with holes cut into the side for which his round ears could flop out. Garfan trudged through the woods with purpose as he came up to a small vermin hole. The hole was covered by some brush, well hidden from view and located near a small clearing. Garfan was annoyed how vermin could live so comfortably underground, hiding in plain sight. He knocked on a round wooden door, which were a couple poorly stitched together planks of wood. A voice called out from inside, a female voice which Garfan preferred not hear "Ayyyy! Go away! You ain't stealen me vittles, nor me pups you ain't!"

Garfan called out "I ain't here for both, rat. Come out, I need to talk with you."

The door creaked open and a big and fat black rattess plopped out, and staring back from the doorway was three young faces which stared back in morbid curiosity of Garfan. Garfan gave a grunt towards them as they scurried back into their hole, leaving the large rat mother to snarl at Garfan "Whacha want, mouse?"

"Nothing, like I said. Rat. I'm here to give you a warning. Slaving band was spotted in the region nearby. Wildcat and his crew."

"I ain't hear of no slaving band." The rat wife chided him "If they did comes around here, know I ain't gonna bother with you abbey folk. Nor dem otter folk. Or shrew folk. I got me own problems, ya know."

"I understand, but pl-"

"Now go away, I be waiten fer that fool of a husband of mine."

"Mam, the slaving band was hunting vermin. Your kind."

"Whacha mean 'my kind'? Rats? Weasels?"

"Vermin."

The rat mother scoffed "You woodlanders be pullen me leg, there be plenty of woodlanders an' der like all over der forest. If der was a slaven band comen on through, vermin layabouts be the last thing they be putten in chains. Oh, I should know."

Garfan gritted his teeth in annoyance "Look, I am just here to-"

The two were interrupted as some brush moved. Garfan took his paw instinctively to sword and drew it, but a voice called out "Garfan, put dat ding away before you hurt yerself!" and Dakan and his two offspring came out. The rattess snidely looked them over, and seeing she was surrounded, began to slowly climb back down into her hole. Dakan however looked at her with a stern look. "You there, you need to pack up an' move, yer goin to the abbey."

The rat dropped her fear and scolded him "I ain't goin to dat der cursed abbey, filled wit dumb work beasts an' taskmasters! I'm stayin here."

"I ain't giving you a choice, mam. Grab yer young'uns."

Garfan came up to his friend, the skipper looking grim at the rattess as she complained and went back into her hole to do as bidded. Behind the skipper and his offspring was a small cadre of various vermin, some of them Garfan knew. One was a roughed up looking bandit, a ferret and scoundrel. There was a fox family behind him, several rat brothers and their sister still fighting over their own vittles in a comical way. Garfan chided the skipper "Hey Dakan, yer startin a horde I take it? Never thought you to be a some big fan of Kasg the Craven, eh?"

Dakan was no in a friendly mood, and Garfan soon regretted his words. He voicelessly went past him, tapping his feet and tail. Kasser came over and grasped Garfan's shoulder. "I see ya got the same idea as well, mate."

"Kind of. Some other friars were checking in on the other vermin holes we know of, with well armed escorts mind you. Whats gotten into your father?"

"Garfan, we just went to the Long Patrol post. Its best you hear it when we talk to the abbot. This lot we are dragging to the monastery be quite difficult and rude, so some experience with them will do us good."

Garfan looked at the small vermin families and chuckled "What? That lot, where ya find them, in some bandit camp?"

"Garfan." Kasser said sadly "These are the only vermin we could find in several miles between here and Redwall. The rest of them are gone."
_

The peaceful office of the abbot was quite serene, quiet, and peaceful. Marthomis was with one his favorite students of history, Lusma Rocklore. She was building up a grand tome of the histories of her home, the mole colony which was collapsed by Kasg the Craven's horde. Marthomis had dismissed the mole lass to read over the first chapter of the tome, and made his revisions to the best of his ability, impressed by the quality and craftsmanship of her writing. Living in Redwall was truly a paradise on earth, and Marthomis gave a sigh of relief. That relief was quickly beheaded when he heard yelling and arguing from the doors outside to his office. Like as if an enemy army was at the gates, he gave one last look outside at the setting sun as a large cadre of shocked, dumbfounded, angry, and vicious looking woodlanders bursted on in. Of the mass which came through the door, some tripping on themselves, he recognized Bollo and Kalma almost immediately. "How could this have happened, especially now! Our silverware! Our spices! I had just gotten them all sorted too! Abbot, we must speak of this theft!"

"Abbut! I wanna speuk to yur about dee's here villuns! We's need to talk in privut we do!"

The next pair that came into the room was Hesam and Vogar, who also did not look unhappy. As per usual, Hesam was trying to explain his case to Bollo who was having none of it. The two constantly interrupted one another while Vogar acted as insulted as possible. Kalma tried to speak for both her friend and Vogar, but Bollo stubbornly refused to budge.

"I am certain, good Bollo, that Vogar had simply been trying to help you! He did not know the bird was gravely injured enough, and I can reassure you that not all Black Birds are under our command. If they were, we would have sent them all north. Please, be reasonable!"

"Huw did der black burd knuw you!"

"Bollo, please! I am certain many villianous birds know Hesam of the Good Song."

"He namued yu, Hesum. Yuo weren't evun out der, but he numed ya!"

"Of course he bloody named him, mole, who doesn't know Hesam or me for that matter! He probably saw me and was trying to curse him."

Garfan and Dakan were soon entering the room as well, filling up more space. Following them was Stenna who had to stand out in the doorway, also having beef with Garfan and Dakan. "What kind of madness thought it is wise for you to take so many vermin into Redwall itself! You know how many of them are now down there, some of them I swear had weapons! Abbot, these two villains just brought a whole stinking horde into our abbey, and then have gall to tell them to sleep outside without blankets let alone food! Now they are causing a ruckus!"

Marthomis sat in temporary shock as the groups argued. He raised his paws, as the group slowly silenced themselves. Marthomis breathed a sigh and spoke as calmly as he could. "Now, I will deal with all of you one at a time. Now please. We are all peaceful and good creatures here, correct? We can have a civil conversation every once in awhile, preferably all the time even. Now, someone tell me. Is the black bird taken care of. Yes or no."

Vogar strode confidently forward "Yes, I killed the bird. Apparently it was quite contr-" Vogar's attempted mockery of Bollo was silenced by a paw "Please, good hare, no need for a speech. It is good, the body was taken care of? Proper rites given?"

Kalma nodded slowly "Yes abbot."

"Good. Alright. Onto the next issue at paw. Kalma, what happened to our cutlery?"

"It's missing, sir. It's all missing! All of our plates, our spices, and especially our silverware! Candles holders an' all! It's all gone! Oh, I don't know what beast took it, but when I find them, I will make them wish they were never born!"

"Your zeal for our finery is appreciated Kalma, but do remember, we are trying to be peaceful here. This most dire, it isn't normal for our good finery to be stolen from right under our noses, but we will look into it soon, considering the laundry list of other things. Now Da-"

Bollo cut off the abbot "Marthumis! I wunt to speuk! Der villaun in dis here ruum, an' I will not stand fer it!"

Vogar cheekily commented "Then you can sit down then, me chap."

Bollo stomped his foot in anger. Marthomis tried to take control of the situation as most in the room looked in awe as the once usually solitary mole and friendly mason turned vicious. "Yuo murdured dat black burd! Murdured him befur he could speak!"

"I am pretty certain that black 'burd' was trying to murder those young'uns, so I simply returned the favor." Vogar smirked.

Hesam remained silent, not trying to explode the situation. He wasn't sure Vogar knew that Gaunt was captured and that their stolen goods were now hiding under his bed in particular. Dakan gave a grim eye at the mole, his own anger boiling over "Bollo, please, there are more important things. Abbot, I need to-"

"I um not finushed!"

"Yes you are." Dakan reminded him, anger etching in his throat "Look, this is not the best time for old feuds or problems between you and this mouse here."

"Problems? What problems?" Hesam retorted. This was a particularly wrong thing to say as all of them watched as Bollo rushed at Hesam with fury in his eyes and slammed the mouse harshly into a wall. The room erupted into a frenzy as Bollo began screaming "I knuw ya were a thievun, scammen, bandit! Yuo an' dat black burd were in on some schume!"

Garfan was in shock, but Dakan acted much more quickly, harshly pulling him off Hesam. Stenna entered awkwardly into the room, holding the mole back and also sternly putting her claws into his shoulders. Marthomis had also arose, as all the angry eyes of Redwall looked at Bollo as he accused Hesam of treachery "Scum! Yuo frund stealun scum, Hesum! I hope yuo rot fer whut yuo did to me frund! Yuo may got everyun else fooled, but nut me! Whut utter lies ya tuld! Loukin fer Jue? Fightun der snakes an' black burds! All of it lies, an' I had proof befer yer wretched hare took it away! I had yuo!"

Marthomis was shocked and angrily called out "Stenna, please! Bollo, I have no clue what came over you, but this is absurd! I will deal with you later!" Kalma was perhaps the only creature who looked on in sadness as Bollo's rapid fury turned to crying and weeping. Hesam was helped up by Garfan who was in disbelief "We are. . .sorry about that, is there anything we can do?"

"Oh no, I cannot blame him too much. After all, jealousy is quite a nasty problem, eh?" Hesam brushed himself off "Do not punish the foremole on my behalf, good abbot. Perhaps I shou-"

"It won't be necessary. I did not know Bollo held such fury, I will speak to him alone on my own behalf. He should have never acted like that, and will be punished for it accordingly. Now, I will offer you a good reward for your service. I will take 'no thanks' as an unacceptable answer for your services to this abbey, Hesam of the Good Song."

Marthomis turned to Dakan who was looking down the hallway, and turned to the abbot when he coughed at him. "Now, what about these vermin? What has happened?"
_

Bollo sat in his room, stewing in anger. Humiliated and friendless, he was pacing his room with increasingly pained waddles from his sheer walking. An otter guard was posted at the door to prevent him from wandering around and trying what he did again. The door opened, having expected either Kalma or Stenna to harshly criticize him, or perhaps even the abbot himself. Instead, he saw Dakan in the doorway whom calmly relieved his tribesbeast. He sat on Bollo's bed, pinching his nose in frustration as he looked at Bollo. There was not a lot of sympathy in his eyes, and Bollo knew it, the easy to anger otter was swift to say his peace.

"Bollo, I don't wish to have this conversation again, but apparently you seem intent on your own self destruction, matey. Tell me, and tell me quick, what kind of dumb madness came over you. I spoke to the others, and it doesn't sound good for you."

"I knuw." Bollo regretted "But I meaunt every wurd I said."

Bollo could see through the otter's fragile anger, seeing a deep disturbance and sadness which he showed with a blank and unfeeling stare. Bollo perked up "Sumthun gut yer down as well, lad. Yuo tell me what be wrung, I tell you whut I hurd."

"Fair enough I suppose." Dakan said "We came back from our trip from the Long Patrol outpost with some disturbing news. Vermin are being rounded up right underneath me nose. Their homes are abandoned, and many are missing, seasons in the making. This isn't normal, not since the days of Cluny the Scourge. There is a slaving band in the woods, but they aren't goin after woodlanders, but vermin. We don't know for what purpose, and the Long Patrol aren't prepared or willing to engage them. Told me 'they were just a bunch of vermin' they says. A bunch of fools that lot, so I took it upon myself gather up those left and bring them here. So now we got a bunch of rats, weasels, ferrets, foxes, and some very disturbed looking martens on the front lawn. We don't have food or beds for all of them, so the abbot is goin to have them taken care of as best we can. Not everyone be happy though, an frankly I don't blame em."

Bollo looked at him confused "Why varments?"

"We don't know, and the Long Patrol we met didn't care. Made me quite pissy, although I would have still dragged you out personally the way you acted in der."

"It wus a lung time commen." Bollo's anger returned and he began to pace again. Dakan stopped him and turned him around with his paws, no longer playing games with the mole.

"Okay, I gettet mate, Hesam an' Vogar did you wrong. Accusing them of scamming, banditry, an' other business on the other paw. Thats be a bit more serious."

"Vogur jammed a javelun into dat black burd dat attacked Garfan an' our young uns on der way back, a nuble act on papur. I thunk. . .no, I knuw it be mere sinister. I folluwed der injured burd and it spoke to me, skupper. I spoke 'Hes' to me, tryun to spell out Hesum's name, an' I just knuw it! Befur it could speak out its last an' dyun breath, Vogur committed to it's killun blow! I alwuys knew dem varments were up to no guud! To think poor woodlunders been given dem free vittles an' silver fer years! I even but Hesum was responsible fer stealun our cutlery!"

"Bollo, ya need to listen to yerself more, me mate. Ya sound like a paranoid ferret! 'Hes' could literally mean anythin, it could even be his name. Ya are just hearen der things ya wanna hear, an' worse yet, ya be blamen what is clearly a vermin act on the companions. You also gotta remember, mate. What you blame the companions for, you blame Jue for."

That sentence made Bollo look at the down in sadness, giving up a weak "I knuw" in response. Dakan shook his head. "Look, the abbot entrusted me to help find the cutlery, but I know full well that weasel we let into the abbey stole it an' ran off, cause he is missing as well. Look, the next few days are goin to be rough fer ya, an' I cannot help ya. I just hope you can get past all this, matey."

"I cannut. Not fer Jue's sake, an' not fer me own sake's. I've beun starin at der demun fer years, skippur."

Dakan got up and left Bollo who sat in his room, staring at the floor. Alone at long last, he stared up into the night's sky and put out the candle to his room, knowing the day was going to be long and difficult tomorrow for him.

---

"Oh, where the hells are they!" Garfan cursed loudly. He, Nuck, and Darper were searching for Jase and Gaisen, although his two recruits were not very enthusiastic. They had searched high and low for them, all over the abbey in secret, getting away from the night crews which still combed the abbey for their missing finery. Garfan was frightened with the prospect of adding yet another problem to the abbot, who had turned in for the night. A small camp of vermin were busily singing groggy songs outside, much to the dismay of him and the woodlanders who had all turned in for the night, their horrible singing filling the air as some drank away. Garfan pitied the poor gardeners who would have to tend to the bushes and ponds the coming morning. The three were heading into the library, one of the last places either suspected to check, and Garfan was relieved to find Jase and Gaisen pouring over some old scroll with Lusma.

"Oh for the season's sake, you have any idea what heartache the badger mother and I have been searching for you two layabouts!" Gaisen and Jase were surprised to see them, as the mouse carried a lantern. Garfan entered the library, seeing Lusma was up as well, and that both Jase and Gaisen looked a bit dirtier then usual.

"The heck is this, dirt? Grime?"

Gaisen quickly explained "Uhh, sir, we were just. . .ummm. . .playen ya know, in the grassy knoll behind the abbey. We got carried away, got lost, an' ended up here. Books ya know, read em an' look up to see the sky turnen dark."

"Your lucky Stenna didn't catch you two. Come back to the barracks immediately or I will have you both tanned!"

Both obeyed as Lusma followed suit. Jase whispered to the mole "Thanks again, Lusma. We were searchen for hours out in the forest past Mossflower! Although I wish dat map could tell me where the Butkan house was."

"You'd huve to talk to Garfan about dat une, I can only tell you that you encurcled around fer two whule hours in a clearun. How did ya two evun get out the frunt door?"

Gaisen shrugged "Look. Just don't tell Norma that we likely wasted her entire time on this. If she finds us again and hears about that adventure, I think half the abbey will truly start considering us to be flogged!"

Lusma chuckled as she spirited herself back to her dorms before Garfan could realize she was not supposed to be out and about. Jase and Gaisen felt a bit embarrassed that their small time adventure throughout the day did not only bear fruit, they had been super late in returning to Stenna. Jase especially could not even think what the badger mother now thought of him and Gaisen as they disappeared, or the trouble they put Norma in. However, what was yet even more humiliation was their short journey into the woods and Gaisen leading them both in circles for two whole hours, before returning inside for defeat and looking to Lusma for help once again. The three poured over maps of Mossflower, but none would show where vermin holes were.

Once they returned to the barracks and were off to bed, Jase whispered to Gaisen "You have any idea where the Butkan whole is?"

"No clue, Jase. Although I do gotta plan to not only get out into Redwall, but find where that vermin lives! I'll tell you more in the morning."
_

Jase and Gaisen were putting on their 'recruit' uniforms as Garfan came down from his room in a foul mood. Gaisen found this odd, cause it usually took a few more hours before Garfan was in such a mood. The mouse warrior took up his sword and called out to Darper and Nuck who had decided to set up their bunks downstairs. "Nuck! Darper! Get up here! You two are on first watch of the walls!" Garfan looked to Jase and Gaisen "You two will be cleaning the armory today, and if I see one speck of dust on any of it, I will be tanning you in front of the abbot."

Gaisen kind of figured something was wrong and perked up "Something the matter, Garfan?"

"Whoever stole our cutlery also stole my map! My good one of all of Mossflower too."

Gaisen didn't really particularly care, but he decided to put his plan into action "Oh. So, you think it was that weasel. Snot was he? We goin to go looken for him?"

"You aren't supposed to go even outside these walls, but yes I will need to go looking for him soon. Dakan is giving me Kasser to help with that. However, I have to interrogate a rat first, who may also be responsible. Caught him outside wandering around apparently while I was away."

"Well, don't charm him to death I suppose." Gaisen smiled. Garfan frowned as he looked down at them before going out the door. Gaisen quickly spoke up "I would have liked to have seen a vermin hole, ya know. Sounds exciting to see how those vermin like, eh? Sir, you'd take us to see the Butkan home, right?"

Garfan turned and shook his head "It's a vermin hole, like any other. The Butkan hole in particular is no different from any other vermin hole."

"You know where it is?"

"Of course I do, but why do you want to know?"

"I just wanna know at least where it be, ya know. After all, I'm starten to think you don't know yerself." Gaisen smirked. Garfan took such bait easily as the guard mouse grunted. "Of course I know where they held up, you dope. In a western oak tree, a bit tilted. Not far off from the abbey in fact. Now, tell me why you want to know."

"I don't know, maybe I'd like to move in since the Butkans are no longer usen it, ya know?"

Garfan should have been disturbed by that comment, but Jase was disturbed for him. Garfan didn't speak, glaring down at Gaisen as he moved out and slammed the door behind him. Nuck and Darper peaked their heads out, having just changed into their uniform. "The heck was goin on up here, you two nitwits?"

Jase shrugged as Nuck and Darper shoved themselves past them and went out to meet up with Garfan. Their needs to bully the two younger redwallers was outweighed by the need to keep with the increasingly angry Garfan. Jase nudged Gaisen "I don't know Gaisen, even I think that was a bit cruel."

"Jase, you insult me, I didn't mean it one bit. Although. . ."

"Come on, you had another part of the plan to get out into Mossflower and find the cutlery. I'd like to be out of these uniforms frankly."
_

Jase and Gaisen were peaking their heads out at the closed gates of Redwall. They were guarded by two otters with javelins. To say both feared the two otters would have been a common mistake, for woodlanders of Mossflower never came to harm young ones such as themselves, especially the otters. The true fear was getting caught and sent back to Garfan, who had no such qualms. It was early morning, and much of Redwall was still searching for the missing cutlery. The two youngsters were approached by two angry fellow children, who were not Nuck and Darper, who tapped them on the shoulder. It gave both a fright as they turned, half expecting to stare into their tormenter's faces, but instead saw Nafpha and Norma looking back at them.

"Oh you two, I should have known you'd abandon me like that! You know how angry Stenna is!"

"You'd said you would have done all what you said by now, Gaisen. Now the whole abbey is in a rush, and I got Palia on my back about it!"

Gaisen gave his devious smile "Mams, let me tell you a bit a secret, for you see, I have am about to fulfill my plan as we speak. We just had a couple hiccups is all, but I am glad you two are here. We need to get back out into Mossflower again, an' find the Butkan hideaway. We now know where it be, but we need to sneak out."

"Considering all the trou-" Nafpha was about to complain, but Gaisen silenced her "Nafpha, ya know me, I am good at these kinds of things you know! If you two can get those two otters away, I promise that me an' Jase will make it up to you!"

"Oh you better, Gaisen, or Garfan and Stenna will be the least of your problems. So, oh brave hero, what exactly did you need then?"

Gaisen pointed at the two otter guards. "Can you distract them?"

Norma nodded "Maybe, but if we get in trouble, we are throwing you both under a cart."

Jase looked worried, but Gaisen spoke for him once again "Deal. We'll be back with the cutlery in a jiffy!"

Norma and Nafpha went outside of the gate and spoke to the otter guards as Jase and Gaisen watched. Gaisen didn't have a lie good enough to convince two otter guards of their intention of playing around in the woods, looking for holes in the ground. However, Nafpha and Norma crafted a masterful lie which inspired him. Norma told a sob tale of her paws hurting trying to find the cutlery, and Nafpha convinced them with her sweet childish voice to abandon their posts to help them. The otters left their post and closed the gates behind them lightly to make them appear to be closed. Nafpha gave the two youngsters a wink and both set off beyond Redwall's walls for a second time. Jase looked nervous, his first time outside the walls made him considerably frightened, but his second time just made him anxious. Gaining bravery, the two had set off towards the best locations they could think of in their heads.
_

The two made their way through Mossflower's forests, heading westward and looking for a specific oak with a limp. Both kept the abbey as much in sight as possible, as the plain between the forest and the abbey was short. Both were losing hope, wondering if their time was being wasted. The thought of going back in defeat, facing Nafpha and Norma kept the two out and about. However, as the two drew closer to the forest a bit farther out, they finally saw a tipped oak, and both smiled as they saw a small wooden door on its side. It was truly a vermin hole, the door hanging open. Jase and Gaisen approached, the rush of cold air came over them as they silently strode forward, looking down into the dark hole and seeing a poorly lit torch illuminating the small hall inside. Jase was frightened, not wanting to go into the darkness.

"If ya want, you can keep guard out here, Jase." Gaisen offered. Jase gulped down his fear and shook his head "No, I need to do this. Come, lets get the abbey's stolen goods back."

"What if Snot left?" Gaisen wondered. Jase looked to him, fear still in his eyes "If he ran off further, we may never see that cutlery again, and we will still be in these uniforms at the end of the day. Not to mention, that torch down there means some beast is inside."

"In that case." Gaisen grabbed a rock and handed it to Jase, taking a nearby stick for himself. Both descended a small dirt and root slope down into the vermin hole and looked around. Jase had never seen such poverty before, with all manner of trash strung about. A simple wooden table, decayed by time and well scratched sat in the middle of an uncomfortable looking living room, with bits of food scattered on it. Several holes were inside this warren, some off to the side with closed doors. Only one was open, the larger of the tunnels. Jase and Gaisen looked around, trying to look for the cutlery, but found nothing more than trash, and eventually looked into the open hole to see a 'bed' inside, sleeping upon it was Snot Butkan. The bed was little more than damaged cloth piled high onto it, as the weasel still wore the habit of the abbey. Both Gaisen and Jase came close, but they had misjudged whether or not the weasel was sleeping or not. The young weasel looked up fearfully to see who it was, and snarled at the two intruders.

"Whacha doin in me home, abbeybeasts! Shove off! I'm tryin to sleep!"

Snot was surprised when Jase and Gaisen tried to tackle him, Snot struggled as Gaisen and Jase struggled to hold him down. "Gett'off of me! Whatcha doin! Get off!"

"Thief, where is our silverware!"

"Silver-what?"

Jase looked at Gaisen as they struggled to hold the weasel's arms who with great effort were trying to get the two youngsters off of him. The weasel had nearly escaped when Jase's fury suddenly returned. He grabbed the rock and smacked it harshly on the weasel's tummy who fell over on the bed in some pain, crying and wailing "Wha-whacha do that for, ya mad beast!"

Jase half realized what happened and regretted it immediately "Oh. Sorry!"

"Don't apologize to this thief, Jase." Gaisen snapped. He came over and tried to grab Snot, but the weasel lost much of his resistance and was dragged out of the room. Jase looked around, seeing that he was in Mr. Butkan's room. The personality of a former vermin bandit was all to bear, including a broken hatchet pridely snug onto some pair of roots, mismatched clothes strung about, and a small heap of evening snacks slathered in a corner. He was not surprised to see any books, except for one for which had its pages torn out, and its paper used for less than savory things. It was quite unsavory to look at it all, but he didn't see any of the cutlery or spices anywhere.

Gaisen was a bad interrogator, trying to get information out of a sad looking weasel. Jase then realized something. "Gaisen. You can stop it. The cutlery ain't here, he ain't the one who stole it."

"What? How ya know?"

Snot spoke up "Listen to yer friend, round ears! Let me go an' let me rest!"

Jase came up to Snot and Gaisen, lifting himself onto the dirty table and knelt "You came back home, to grieve didn't you?"

"Me pa says we don't grieve, we survive." Snot angrily retorted, but there was a deep sadness in his voice, a crack in it as it were. "Me Pa. . .I was hoping he would be home. I was hopen Ma would be home, like they always were. He was a rough ol' bandit, but he is me Pa an' I loved them all I dids. I. . ." Gaisen let go of Snot as he looked shaken. Gaisen looked into the rooms, finding nothing of true value and believing Jase as soon as he finished looking around, very disappointed. "Well, heck! I was kinda hopen you. . .you. . ." Gaisen stopped as Snot looked down sadly at the floor, tears occasionally streaming out of his eyes. The rude vermin sniffed as he looked to head back to the bed of his parents, but Jase stopped him.

Snot grumbled "Please, just leave me alone. I don't wanna be apart of yer abbey. This be my home now, ya hear."

"Maybe, but you should head back to the abbey with us. They think you stole the cutlery from the kitchens. An our spices. When they know you aren't in the abbey, they will come here, an' treat you a bit more harshly I thinks. Last thing you want to ending up banished. You think your pa and ma would want that?"

Snot looked at the young squirrel dumbly, but eventually agreed, mostly because Gaisen was tapping his foot and he didn't want to get hurt by the two. Jase tried to comfort the young weasel as best he could "You'll like the abbey, we got good food an' such. I know it don't bring your family back, but good work is done for the good of all beasts."

"But I dun' wanna work." Snot complained

"Well me neither, but its gotta be done if we wanna eat."

"Ya say dat like it be a normal ding. Ma says that was what slaves beasts do, not brave vermin like mes and me brothers." Snot said quite proudly. Both Jase and Gaisen cringed, bringing the weasel back to Redwall.

---

Hesam and Vogar were in the basement of Redwall, with the supplies and pantry which had been shifted out and where two otter guards stood vigilant in front of the door. Hesam was thankful the guards looked bored as they entered the room, and with Garfan angrily leaving. Gaunt the rat sat in his 'cell', picking at his teeth with his claws, and a partly spilled bowl of soup on the ground. Garfan had been trying to interrogate the rat for hours, getting not even a name. Hesam had convinced the abbot that he could perhaps play the 'good guard' to Garfan's 'bad guard', and both entered the room to interrogate their prisoner. Hesam and Vogar came well and close to Gaunt, unsure of what to do with him, but Vogar sneered at him in silence as the door closed behind them. Gaunt looked up rather confidently at Hesam, who noticed his expression quite quickly.

"Your quite confident for a dead beast, Gaunt, I give you that."

"Cause I know ya can't kill me, Hesam." Gaunt replied in a whisper. The rat made himself comfortable, hugging his hips. "Reveal yer what you really are to a bunch of abbeybeasts, ya an' Vogar be smarter then that. Then again, should have known you'd miss the guards watching the walls. Should have told me sooner, otherwise I'd have slipped on past them."

"You told them nothing?" Vogar asked "Why?"

"De's abbeybeasts don't understand me debts, an' frankly wouldn't believe me if I told them what ya did to the Butkans. That big ol' mouse reminds me a bit too much of me own pa, so I don't think he'd care. I know what you did to Yushag, I know what be commen if I don't act yer hordebeast, mate. Don't wanna die just yet."

"Your loyalty is appreciated." Hesam smirked "However, now the question is, how do we solve this little problem. I have a bunch of stolen goods under my bed, and a lot of Redwallers looking for it. Word around the grapevine that the one our 'mutual friend' missed a younger weasel in that ambush, now in this abbey, had stolen it. Although my faked evidence was stolen as well, but he'll act as our distraction till we get it out into Mossflower. That only leaves you."

"Boss, don't be backing me into a corner here, ya gotta get me out."

Vogar smiled "Why shouldn't we just kill you here, Gaunt? After all, wot. You are a vermin blighter, a possible thief, maybe you had a sudden bout of rage and tried to strike at us and I slew you, eh?"

"You can do that Vogar." Gaunt yawned "But den ya gotta explain to dat der guard mouse that a weak, an' starving ol' rat me like meself, peace as the day he born, why I would suddenly leap up an' try to kill you both. Seems like quite a risk, considerin the words I just heard him say about that mole. Wouldn't want that rumor growen, especially without 'mutual benefactors' still so far away, eh?"

"I preferred you when you were dumb, Gaunt." Hesam retorted

"I gotta be smart boss, fer occasions like dis." Gaunt folded his paws and smirked "I'll keep quiet, but if I were ya two, I'd just cut yer losses an' return der cutlery, eh?"

Vogar sighed "Hesam, hes right. We got too greedy if you ask me, ol' bean. Besides, we cut our losses before, this wouldn't be any different."

Hesam groaned "Oh fine! Gaunt, if you keep quiet in all this, you can live. Vogar, lead that group in circles while I find a place to put all that silverware and miraculously return it. Maybe we can still get something out of all this."
_

Dakan was no longer looking for the cutlery, but for the weasel Snot Butkan. He and his captain Papet were looking high and low for the little thief, but with no luck. They were checking rooms and corridors, and even the small vermin camp inside. Many were shocked to learn that the Butkans were gone, and it depressed Dakan when one of the Butkan's old 'ship mates' approached him, wondering what happened. Dakan had no heart to tell him that he had plans to personally take the youngster and thief far into the woods and leave him there, but the youngster's fate would have been in the abbot's paws. Kalma was leading the search herself, with Vogar leading everyone along on the other side of the abbey. As Dakan and Papet were ready to go find Garfan to finally go search Mossflower woods, particularly the old Butkan home, he ran across a hall to find Jase, Gaisen, and Snot walking casually through it, although both had been trying to sneakily go on by.

Dakan came up to him and quickly grabbed Snot by the habit. Snot panicked, and tried to claw at the otter's paws, but a swift knock to his head by Papet made him hold still. "You, where have you been! Jase, Gaisen, shouldn't you two be in the armory?"

Gaisen spoke up with a quick lie "Ummm, yes sir, we were, its where we found him." Dakan looked at the weasel and let him go. He stood like a tall and terrifying beast to the youngsters as Snot let out an angry cry "Wacha' gotta do that fer!"

"Where is our cutlery, thief. I know it is you, it couldn't have been anyone else."

Snot snarled at the otter chief bravely, something he could easily have come to regret "I ain't stole nuttin since I been here, an' even if I did, what'd I do wit yer knives, spoons, an' forks anyhow?!"

"Well, sell em. I'm certain your pa knew more than enough ill gotten bandits to trade with. You ain't foolen me."

Jase attempted to speak up, especially as Snot was about to be dragged of "S-skipper! Wait!"

The skipper of the otters turned to Jase, Snot grumpily held and being dragged off. Jase spoke up, fearfully speaking up in the vermin's defense "T-that wasn't the full truth, sir. He wasn't in the armory."

"Then where was he?" Dakan said, his playful demeanor gone. Gaisen looked on in surprise as Jase spoke bravely and with an increasing confidence to the adult, especially one so annoyed and easy to anger. "He-he was at home, sir. We were also looking for the cutlery, but we didn't find it. He didn't steal it, skipper, sir."

Dakan looked at the two with disbelief and came over "You left the abbey? Well, bless me rudder, you two trouble makers are brave, I can tell you dat der much, as foolish as you are. You were at the Butkan home then, but likely just didn't see the stolen goods, eh."

"Bah!" Snot retorted "Tis not like you folk got anyding good! Not like that mouse who talked to Pa a few days ago, sayin all manner of things. Silver coins in every purse, he says, what a bunch of rubbish!"

Dakan paused and let go of Snot who fixed up his habit. Dakan looked shocked as he spoke, as if he heard something most foul. "Mouse. Ya know who was talken to yer pa? What they say?"

"How am I suppose to know! Pa just said we'd be rich soon. He took us all out into der woods to get ready fer somethin, tellen us we needed to get our own vittles fer once. Pa was out there preparen fer some meeten. When he and pa were in some hole, he be tellen him all kinds of things ya know, silver stacked high on shelves an' all. What a bunch of rubbish, I thinks yer all mad beasts!"

Papet looked to his skipper, unsure what he was thinking. Dakan shook himself and looked to Jase and Gaisen "You two best report to the abbot, straight away. Tell him you found this poor fool in the armory. Go, and go swiftly you three." Jase and Gaisen did as ordered, dragging along Snot who groaned loudly as they ascended up towards the abbot's office. Dakan next turned to the confused looking Papet "Papet, me mate. Come with me, I got a feelen where the cutlery is I thinks."
_

Hesam was struggling to find a good spot, for he had been avoiding attention as he had the stolen goods in his paws, wrapped in a knapsack. He was carrying them around through empty halls, trying to find a reasonable place to set them down. He still hoped that where the younger weasel was, he would be found and interrogated. Children always make up bad stories, and the confusion alone will make him suspicious. While they are busy with this whole drama, me and Vogar can finally settle. Gaunt. . .Oh, when I get my paws on that idiot, hes goin to suffer a thousand fold!

Hesam turned a corner and towards an empty closet. It was a perfect and dusty place to hide the goods for him to find. Setting the knapsack down, he was interrupted rather swiftly by a call from the far end of a corridor. The hedgehog Kalma was pointing to Hesam "Thats where he be Skipper. Like as I told you."

Several other friars were following them, which looked around further in the party following Kalma. Dakan was the only beast looking forlorn and grim as he came closer. Hesam froze in terror, unsure what was happening. Dakan looked down at the knapsack and was joined by Kalma. Dakan took the end of one of his javelins and lightly touched the knapsack and heard the clink of silverware. Kalma instinctively came over and nearly hugged Hesam to deah "Oh! Thank you so much, Mouse of the Good Song! You found our cutlery! Oh, now where are those spices!" All the stolen goods were poured out as Hesam bowed and took in much admiration from the friars for his find. Only Dakan stared at him, with Hesam smiling back "I had a feeling it was in a closet, now the question is, where is the thief? Our rat friend isn't talking, and the weasel is still missing. I must say, they co-"

Dakan stopped him "No no, we found him and he didn't steal anything. The thief is still around, and it was likely either the rat or an accomplice we haven't found yet." Dakan didn't wish to break the mood, staring deep into an increasingly frightened Hesam. The brave hero of Redwall and Mossflower looked away in some cowardice as Kalma continued to congratulate him "Oh, Mr. Whitewhisker, if only you and your friends were with us in defeating Kasg all the way back then. Now, let's fix you up a proper meal."

Dakan looked as the group pulled Hesam away, who gave a worried glance back to the otter. Dakan looked to give a smile at him, relieving the mouse of his suspicions. Once they were all away, Dakan frowned. Son of a. . .