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.

36. The Nail and the Coffin

Chapter 35: The Nail and the Coffin

The starry night over Luzland and swift northern breeze of the eastern coast had been decent for the likes of Garzlo and Skabit. The vermin were turning in for the night as the skeleton crew of the fort began to file back into their now much more empty barracks. Luzland's walls creaked as Skabit sat very close to the castle-side of the vermin settlement, looking down at the darkness below him. It was this spot Markem and his beasts made their way into Luzland, and where Luzgot had used to escape Markem's watchful captains. Luzland had a very cursed history of late, once a vermin fortress which stood in defiance of all of eastern Mossflower, which bloomed for trade and the arming of hordebeasts, now became a laughing stock of Markem's entire realm. The streets were dirty, the slave pens were entirely empty, and vermin now spoke of Gholand with far more pride than they did of Luzland.

The two beasts of intrigue were impatiently waiting, with Garzlo tapping his paws in an anxious mood. "If dem spy beasts from Jusbrag don't come back soon, Luzgot will have me head for sure! Oh, I wish dey hurried up!"

"Are ya fully sure der regent in Jusbrag will side for the likes of us?"

Garzlo nodded "I mean, he should! Jusbrag is a city of usurpers, with all manner of beasts killen one another for der positions." The ferret continued to tap his paws and pace "I mean, we are offering a whole blasted city to Bigring."

"How ya even know his name, ferret?" The rat asked with a raised eyebrow

"How can I not know? Luzgot certainly doesn't know even half the warlords in his own realm! Tis why he made me a captain, cause tis my business to know. Luzland is my home, no matter who be the chief. Anyway I can help it, I will! Even if I gots to listen closely to every boren detail from der likes of travelers. Kylan be gone from Jusbrag, which means o' course the city is ripe fer taking."

As Garzlo awaited, he was hit with a rock. The ferret fell down, and began to nurse his head as Skabit looked down in the darkness below. He now saw a number of figures, staring up at him. Not wishing to illuminate them. A fearful voice spoke up "Eh! You der, rat! You with Garzlo?"

"Who be speakun?"

"Tis me, Sharptoe, yer ol mate!"

"Den why der hell ya hit me wit a rock den!" Gazrlo got up, raising his voice in anger. This was abnormal for him as he looked down from the battlements, seeing the black figures. He didn't see Sharptoe at all, but the figure in front of this group spoke up at him. "Get down here, or the next one is going to be a javelin."

It was Lefen.

Skabit tied a rope to the battlements as both he and Garzlo slid down in the cover of darkness to meet them, although their caution was noted. They were slow, as Skabit's torch became the only light of the group. Garzlo was shocked in all honesty, as he had not heard back from Lefen in over a month, but now the squirrel was standing in an angry pose looking at him, healthier looking and now wearing a blue brigandine. The squirrel had a dagger, a sling, and a short sword to his belt, and was now wearing an iron helm. He looked a lot like a well prepared warrior, and his company was very similar as well.

"Oh. Gone to Noonvale, have you." Garzlo smiled. The badger Loudaxe came forward, not really wearing much armor and pushed a bound Sharptoe to the ground who slid his way behind Garzlo, who then slowly began to nudge his way behind Skabit. Skabit huffed, pretending to not be frightened, but being surrounded by very well armed woodlanders did give him quite a scare.

"I apologize, ferret. We were delayed, although it is curious you do know where we headed."

"Those are the blue colors of Noonvale, a educated guess you could say."

"Bloody educated indeed." A hare with a kelt came forward, a huge creature which now made Skabit backup with fright. Gale bent down to the group and gave an amused huff "Lefen, me lad. You haven't been joking with me have ya? Just look at these folk, barely any meat on em!"

"Don't be fooled, these are still vermin, Gale." Lefen folded his paws as Garzlo spoke up "Oh, you missed so little, and when you didn't get my messages, I assumed ya dead! Although, I am quite happy you are alive."

"You are?"

"Yes, partly because I don't want you putting that sword into me, and partly because now that you folk are here, you will be able to catch up with Luzgot on the way back! Some of our other allies, you see, have been making their way down south to a meeting place, for when the main army of Markem gets defeated, you folk will jump onto the rest of the realm. Now, we haven't heard anything yet, but now that you are here. . ."

"You want us to raid our own villages, hmm?" Loudaxe gripped his axe threateningly, as Garzlo spoke up "No no no, raid? Who said anything about raiding?! Tis liberation, ya see, dats it!"

Lefen grunted "These other allies, who are they?"

"Wells, dey are that fox tribe, an of course Great Marsh, a-" He was stopped as Lefen instinctively pulled out his blade, wanting to threaten Garzlo by putting it to his neck, but it rested just slightly below Skabit's instead. Garzlo realized that he said something wrong, but didn't know what. Lefen spoke up in anger "I should have known the likes of you vermin scum would align with the likes of that deranged fox, Zangan! Tis bad enough to you align with that vile slaver as well, I should cut you down right here and burn this place to the ground!"

"Oh? Zangan, eh?" Skabit creased his teeth, trying to not have Lefen's new blade cut into him "Nay, not dat one of course."

"Then who exactly?"

Garzlo blurted out "Oh?! You know, some fox folk from out east, in the great Plateau! The Wipewhisker folk, ya know? Joined in wit Luzgot dey did. Zangan be any enemy of everyone here as well, ya see, an' we wouldn't got Parb's support other wise. Tis just basic vermin politics ya know, ya don't raid friends, eh?"

Lefen lowered his blade, but wasn't sure if Gazlow was telling the truth. He grunted and finally sheathed his blade "Zangan murdered a bunch of folk, a brave woodlander and hero if he had not been enslaved to the likes of vermin scum such as yourselves."

Garzlo gave a pained grin "Ya see, Lefen, we be waiting for Luzgot. Perhaps if you folk wish to-"

"No need, ferret. We will return to our hideout and find this Luzgot. We'll find him first, and then start liberating villages in our own way. Once we are well armed and have a bunch of beasts, then we'll head out to coordinate with your wretched chief. Now, it would be most gracious if you could help us out, such as any additional supplies. Or weapons."

Garzlo and Skabit looked at one another, unsure of what to say. They only nodded 'yes', unsure of what would happen they said 'no' to Lefen and his bloodthirsty looking liberators.
_

In the secret hideaway of the escaped slaves of Markem's realm, several children were playing outside, pretending to be their fathers. Leav, Letm, and Loaha were chasing two other children, the badger Yusa and the hedgehog Bapa. Bapa separated from Yusa, doing a wide turn. Yusa was perhaps the older of the bunch, doing a complicated manuever in the rocky field beyond the cave of Lefen's family of rebels. The other children were often mixture of busy helping their parents forage for food, or keeping their lair clean and safe. The pups of Streamwaddle however were sitting outside with them, not interested in playing. The sea otter youngsters were dejected, and despite Yusa trying to get them to play with them, they didn't seem interested. Yusa and Bapa played the role of the retreating vermin, and Lefen's young devils played their role as the heroes of their little story.

"Guts you!" Leav jumped on Yusa, and she pretended to fall over in a chuckle "Oh! You gots me alright! I surrender I surrender!"

"No surrender, villun!" Leav pretended to smack Yusa, but then felt a little sorry for it "Or well, I guess you cans?"

"Den I gots you now!" Yusa, pretending to be a treacherous vermin, grabbed onto the yelping young squirrel who chirped out in fake terror. The two were laughing uncontrollably. As the children played outside, the protective field surrounded by a rock formation and blocked off by a massive tree, it would have been difficult for anyone to come in and notice them. Being so far towards the eastern plateaus, the vermin rarely came towards their undeveloped neck of the woods, but a sentry did keep himself on top of the wood truck of the fallen tree and their impromptu gate, looking out for the enemy. When the sentry did see something he turned and called out to the children to be quiet. The pups immediately stopped playing and froze, fearing the worst.

Not every child in the group knew vermin personally, all except Yusa. She had been paralyized of the dark and morbid beasts for a long time, their violence had led to her mother's demise. The sentry got onto a branch of log, looking out into the forest after having seen movement. He looked up, in utter amazement when Lefen and a small army were pushing a cart full of supplies towards it. Lefen looked well armed, and was happy to see the sentry.

The journey back to Lefen's hideout was a lot easier than going north, as the sentries of Eastern Mossflower seemingly disappeared. They were informed by some of the woodlanders in the tributaries that the Great Vermin Band had evacuated some villages and fortified others. Zangan nor his tribe had been seen in a while, although rumors had it he had returned eastward. Lefen did not believe this, but was happy his group could make wide turns back to their hideaway of fellow rebels without getting trailed or spotted. Lefen was lessened by the number of survivors of his failed expedition, as he helped his fellow rebels over the massive log. Yet, he had made up for it with new found friends and allies.

The children looked on with excitement and rushed on over, with Lefen thrown to the ground by his own kids which he embraced so openly. "Kids! Kids! Ouch! Enough of that, you'll damage my poor back!" Lefen said playfully. Loudaxe and others came over the top next, and Yusa ran over to him and hugged his legs. He bent down to gently embrace her.

Barkat came out of the door to see the commotion, and froze in disbelief of what he was seeing. Lefen looked like a formal beast-at-arms now, and several woodlanders were carrying and dropping bags of much needed food, materials, and supplies onto the ground. Barkat ran over, nearly wanting to embrace Lefen himself "Oh by the good season, Lefen! I nearly thought you were gone for good! How long was your journey to Luzland anyhow?!"

"Barkat, I have a really long and convoluted tale to tell you! However, let's get our new friends and supplies inside. We must speak, for now I believe we stand a chance against that blasted rat!"

Barkat looked as a group of hares in kilts passed by him, followed by several well armed otters and mice, who looked battle hardened. Barkat was confused, but did as asked. Lefen looked out over the small field, his impromptu fortress. At long last, he was home.
_

Lefen's tale was truly long as Barkat and other members of Lefen's resistance swapped tales and stories. They all sat in the central cave, overwatched by other families and members of Lefen's rebels. Although Lefen's tale intrigued his fellow woodlanders, it still saddened them that they had lost a fair number to the trickery of Jarolom and his vile hordebeasts. Yet, Noonvale's support had brightened their spirits. It was Gale and the Noonvale volunteers who were intrigued by Lefen and his escaped rebels, for reasons which became more clear as Gale shot up question after question.

"Trib-u-what now? Hard to imagine any blasted vermin realm has anything less then slaves of us, laddie. You are all escapees of Markem's horde I takes it?"

Loudaxe shook his head "Not all. Markem's hordebeasts are no less evil than any other vermin scum. Some like myself were attacked, while others came to our aid when we most needed it. To admit it, Markem is less cruel than his predecessors, but by any milestone."

Lefen grunted "Burned my farm in his early days, watched with my two eyes as he built up his little horde in the seasons. Attacked Veekun's Burrow, murdered its family, and gave it to a tribe of water rats. Now most of the inhabitants are slaves in Gholand, along with many others, including a good friend of mine. Streamwaddle."

Gale nodded "Aye, slavery be still slavery. Back up north, dem vermin folk and their slaving warbands be bloody everywhere. When Kasg was still alive, dey Black clad folk were on de verge of wipin us out for good."

A noonvale otter cringed at the mention of the evil beast, the butcher of the north "Blasted rat, I owe some beasts thanks for ending the likes of him."

Loudaxe nodded "You may meet them, if those blasted hares get their act together." There was a silence over the group, as Lefen and Barkat exchanged information they heard. What was once a rumor had become the truth of Tussock's fall, and that Markem had won some pitched battle against a combined woodlander army. Lefen had learned this information from his associates in the tributary villages, as the vermin who got the news celebrated with loud singing and yelps of joy. Barkat had learned of what happened at Tussock when he sent out scouts to find out why a massive army of vermin was marching out of Gholand. The march of Markem's army into Mossflower was not easy to conceal, and when his scouts found Tussock, they found the hare fortress now flying the brown colors of the Great Vermin Band. Disappointment and hopelessness had been the order of the day, up until now.

"They will, Markem can't be lucky forever." Lefen reassured him "Besides, Markem is not Kasg, he'll be beaten or perish at Redwall Abbey. The ancient red walls had withstood many impractical sieges, perhaps the spirit of Martin there will fight Markem off."

Gale raised a curious eyebrow to this in ignorance "Mart-what-now?"

"Martin the Warrior." One of the Noonvale mice piped up in pride "Northern folk like us, from the west coast he was. Taken to Marshank, an old vermin fort which is now but rubble, and who drove the cats out of Mossflower! I'm surprised you don't know Gale."

"There are only three things I know for certain, lad. To stay clear of the sea, to keep yer eyes open, an to stay clear of dem western folk. A troubled land me home is, a shame your warrior of legend didn't go north and drove dem oversized weasels out."

"Wolverines you mean?" Barkat asked, a little frightened.

"Aye, but dey are all bark an' not a single lick of bite usually. Dey growl a lot, but when ya growl back they usually flee. Usually."

This gave Barkat a little relief, but Lefen set a new mood. "Alright, let us not beat around the bush, we have to make a plan. Slowing Markem down is important, and Luzgot's plan ain't exactly sound. The arrogant wretch he is, he relies on the fact Markem will eventually die on his own terms, but I highly doubt it. We have to damage him where it hurts, and Luzgot wants us to liberate the villages and hamlets, while he and his allies prepare to besiege Gholand. However, I got my own plan."

The group leaned forward to listen "We'll do more than just liberate, we'll build an army of woodlanders and get as many to our side as we can! We'll distract Markem's gaze south and buy the Long Patrol time to regroup. It's risky, but we don't need to engage Markem in pitched battle at all, just move faster than him. With an army of free beasts, we'll wither down any force Markem sends against us."

Gale smirked "Aye! A brilliant idea, lad! However, how we going to deal with the likes of Luzgot an' his vicious crew."

"Luzgot is going to carve out his own territory, sure, but he is going to have a miserable time in Gholand. Those walls are thick, and it still has a garrison regardless. If we move fast enough, and get enough beasts on our side, we'll be large enough to challenge Markem in his own damned territory. If I know Markem, he isn't going to just allow Luzgot to continue to siege down his home, especially with his missus and pups inside."

Loudaxe grunted in amusement "I'm not so sure, vermin are not exactly the family types, Lefen. They are just as much to abandon them at a moment's notice or murder one another for their own gain. If Markem comes after us, we'll have a nasty fight on our paws."

Barkat spoke up "Tis true for the likes of Luzgot an' his kin, but not true for Markem. We all know how Markem is and how he treats beasts, but we also know he is protective of his brood. I think if Luzgot besieges Gholand, Markem will break it, might even be angry enough to ignore us and chase Luzgot all the way to Great Marsh! If we are lucky. Vermin killing vermin, tis a tale as old as time."

Lefen nodded in agreement "Once we march south and meet up with Luzgot, we can begin this campaign. It is important that we do this at the same time as Luzgot besieges Gholand, otherwise we may not get another chance like what we have now."

Barkat's missus came out with a large number of tankards and passed them around Lefen's inner council, filled with a delicious ale which Gale sniffed with excitement. "Nutmeg ale, tis what we got left when I still had a brewery." Barkat said proudly, but also sadly. The fox Jarolom some time back had stolen barrels from him, and next thing he knew a vermin host was crawling over his farmstead and taking away barrels. Only Lefen and his rebels were able to save him and his family from being captured that fateful day, although it also gave him a hint of ironic happiness that Markem supposedly really liked his drink.

Lefen raised his mug before sipping, calling for toast "To Freedom! And to Mossflower!"

"To Freedom and Mossflower!" The group cheered and clanged their mugs together, drinking heartily of their newfound oath.

---

Zangan and his brother were in a clearing, dueling with their sabres. The two foxes in their clad orange and intricate uniform. Zangan was frowning mostly, as he easily disarmed his brother once again whose own smaller sabre flew up into the air and crashed down onto the ground. Stukan sighed and picked it up once again, trying to take a decent stance he had been trained for, but Zangan angrily huffed "If You'z keep uzing that stance, little bruda, den I'll startz cutting youz to little ribbonz." Zangan was used to be a practical dancer of swords, but to see his brother being so incompetent with his own blade made him depressed. "If'z you don'tz improve, brother Stukan, denz there will bez consquence'z."

"Like'z de last few time'z?" Stukan sarcastically mocked. Zangan smiled as he raised his sword in a threatening gesture. The two foxes again were clanging swords, the blow of each blade harder than the last. Yet once again, Zangan had won his respective duel and once again was cursing at his brother "What'z I just'z say! Tiz not a timez for gamez, brother Stukan."

"Brother Zangan, maybe I just concede yaz are better'z zen me? Notz like I am weakerz zen any utter beast."

Zangan shook his head "Nay'z, you must'z be as a strong'z as yer'z chief! Ifz you are not az strong as me, denz you are just'z as much a threat'z to the tribe a'z any utter beast. You'z got'z to be better, Stukan, anz gots to be stronger'z. We'z are foxes of ze east, camez here to plunder an loot'z the like of the soft beastz. We be better'z, an' we get riches'z!"

Stukan frowned and spoke up "Brother Zangan, wez be strong, sure'z. Yet, a soft'z beast hasz been kicking usz in the rear, over'z an over'z again."

Zangan shot his brother with a dangerous look, who shut himself up immediately. "What'z are you implying'z, brother Stukan?"

"Nuthin'z much, but we'z been at war'z with Markemz an' his horde ferz seasons'z now. We been raiding'z and living'z on zer run from him, even as he offer'z peace, we did'z not accept. We mustz be stronger zen all other vermin'z, for our tribe's survivalz. Yetz, I am just not so certainz why you poke atz this warlord so."

"I got'z no sympathy for'z any beast, brother Stukan, who admires'z a soft beast likez Markem. Weak'z beast he is brother Stukan. An insult'z he is upon'z zer like of me. Treat'z slavebeast'z an der likes like'z serfs, warriors'z be as soft'z as a pillow. Ze only reason'z he had won thus far, iz because he got'z more beastz zen I! When'z I have'z his head, zen his horde'z will collpasez an'z I will have'z Jusbrag, dat big ol' fortress fer'z us! We'llz be settled az last, brother Stukan."

Stukan shook his head "Soft'z beast he is, tis not good to forget'z that Luzgot be a tricky one'z. No doubt'z we'll have'z to fight him ze future'z."

Stukan grasped his brother "True'z! Yet'z, tis Markem'z I want, he an'z his head."

Stukan frowned a bit. He loved his brother, and would do anything for him. They had been together since they crossed the eastern sea on ships they stole, and did a lot of raiding together. In comparison to where they were from, they were well off. The raiding was good, the land was plenty in food and warmth, and the tribe had never been prosperous as it was. Yet, he was concerned, partly for his brother. "Zat all you'z want? What'z of the tribe'z?"

"Ze serve usz, brother Stukan! Ze live to helpz us, an'z me brood. Ifz ze are weak, ze are not tribesbeast'z. Ze are dead one'z."

Stukan tried to argue with his brother a bit "We'z be prosperous brother Zangan, we'z got slave'z an a mighty'z host. Maybe'z we should. . ." Stukan stopped himself, as Zangan was giving him that murderous glare. If there was one thing his angry, easily amused brother did not tolerate, it was softness. Stukan always found it silly, but questioning his brother had dire consequences. Fatal ones in fact.

"You'z will speak no'z more of this, orz ever again. Now come'z, ze tribe is moving outz soon."
_

Luzgot was marching at the head of his army of vermin, surrounded this time by creatures he considered just slightly below him. They were the coastal warlords of eastern Mossflower, the vermin who were to be a part of his conspiracy to usurp the Great Vermin Band from Markem. However, to say they were his equals was an insult to say the least, but were far more agreeable than Markem and his cronies. They marched at the head of a horde they could never imagine ever bringing with them, but each was not buying into the whole 'unity' thing which they felt forced upon them. Pelp, the fox slaver, was the first to openly complain as he walked alongside Luzgot "How ever do you put up with dat rat, Luzzie?"

"Calls me 'Luzzie' again, Pelp. An see what be happenen."

"Luzgot, ya grown soft." Pelp chided him. "I thought we were gonna hang back, an you says it yourself!" Luzgot grabbed the fox and pulled him close, giving him a seething and hushed answer "Pelp, you ignorant buffoon! Do you think I don't know that?!" Luzgot looked back at his hordebeasts who marched near him, knowing them as Markem's personal guard he had assigned to the rat to keep him in check. They were mostly former Luzland vermin, who were all too eager to always keep a metaphorical leash on the increasingly angered rat.

He turned back to Pelp and spoke lowly "Dem ignorant buffoons are all eder payed really well or are stupidly loyal to Markem an' his little Gholand fools. No doubt dat ferret has dem all on a short leash, an's we do not go much time before he finishes off dat abbey. Not even Redwall can withstand such a force marchen against dem, which is why we must return an' await Markem and de hares to finish each other off. We have to find an' meet ups wit our 'other allies' if you can even call'em dat."

Pelp was let go and collected himself, but still complained openly "Aye, buts can't we start raiden dem Tributary villages, o' course? Dem workbeasts be ripe fer der pickings, know even a couple northern folk who'd pay a fortune fer some big ol' slavebeasts."

Luzgot rolled his eyes "I bets, but do keep yer mouth shut an' yer greed on the down low. If dem beasts behind us suspect treachery, no doubt dey will tattle to der true master."

"If's dat is the case, Luzgot, den why we trailing dis wretched lot!"

"You see, just a little twist me original design, me genius if you will. Markem's luck will run out eventually, and he needed beasts like me to win his battles. If he an's the Long Patrol kill one another, den this whole Vermin Band will be mine. However, we can't just strike yet, we gotta conscript a new army in Luzland, an gather me new cap'n. When we are ready to strike, our hammer will fall nice an quick on top of Markem an his little brood."

As the army marched on forward towards the north, Luzgot could see another division marching towards him. He halted the horde, wondering why his scouts didn't report activity in front of him. He cursed, also wondering if he was also going to punish them for incompetence. The procession came forward, as the beasts approached. It was apparently one of his scouts, looking dazed as he slowly trodden forward, with an outline of blood around his mouth. Luzgot and the other warlords looked at the hordebeast who remained silent. "Wells, speak up ya idiotic wretch."

The hordebeast didn't, only staring pitifully at Luzgot. The rat was annoyed at first, but then looked with disturbed disgust at him. Luzgot wordlessly came forward, yanking open the hordebeast's mouth, revealing that his tongue was now missing. The other warlords and some of the hordebeasts in the front looked shocked, but Luzgot did not. He pushed the tongueless scout back and into the ground, shaking his paw as if he had touched something slimy. He called for his captain Gazla and Snackfur, who came rushing to him.

"Tell the horde we camp here fer today, gather up some me better vermin an' meet me near de woods. We got a hunt to do." They did as bidded, as Luzgot waited far off from the group. He was a little annoyed, but as the vermin began to settle, Gazla was the first to come forward. She had some rare anger "Oh! If I find dat fool who cut out dat tongue of me scout, I'll string him up chief! We huntin fer bandits, right?"

"No you imbecile, tis Zangan and his little fox tribe of degenerates. They are here. I asked dat fool to send me a signal when he was closeby."

Gazla sighed, knowing now she wouldn't have her vengeance. However, she was curious about one thing "Chief, how ya know tis dat fox?"

Luzgot spat "Bah! Your idiocy profounds me, but at least your beasts listen to you. Only reason I'd tolerate your moronic questions, gal. Markem an' his horde offered Zangan a spot as an equal to us some time ago, I believe. The fox refused, cut out the tongue of Markem's envoy. Markem been smashing up his horde since, but dat fox be too fast of a raider to pin down. Ya understand now?"

Gazla was silent, as Snackfur and several of Luzgot's loyal hordebeasts came over. Gazla and Snackfur joined together, side by side as they followed Luzgot into the forests. Her arm still hurt from the battle's wound, and it showed. Snackfur felt pity for her, trying to comfort her "Just be thinkin about der loot we be gettin from dis campaign, ya flea bitten lass. Be all worth it, ya see."

Gazla sighed "Been tryen, I truly do. As me ma used to say 'ya gots a name to fear, an a history to keep' she says. Not much good it doin to me."

Snackfur kept a hushed tone. He always knew how Gazla came to be a captain despite being clearly not a bright tool in the shed of Luzgot's many infamous beasts he called his subordinates. He asked his fellow captain "Gazla. Yer surname. 'Cheesethief', same one from der tales of ol' Cluny I takes it?"

Gazla cringed a bit, matching his tone and felt a bit embarrassed "Aye, doh tis a odd story ya see. Me grandpops tells me dat some ol' rat a long times ago was a captain under the scourge, an dat he heard der name from another vermin. Says dat this captain of the scourge be a great warrior, an' led a mighty siege. Now, I dink me ma always embellished the tale, but me grandpa was convinced we's descended from dis rat. Ya see, it was revealed to him in a dream."

Snackfur nearly coughed in shock, as Gazla just blatantly told him that her entire reason for being a captain was a big fat lie "Gazla, I knows you well an' all, but maybe keep dat down a bit."

"Wells, you did ask."

"Aye, but der chief only gots you bein a captain cause he dinks ya actually are some descendent of der scourge's captains."

"I mean, I dink I am. Tis what me ma told me. Twas revealed to me grandpa in a dream, an dem mice in der big red fort got dreams an' all. Tis how dey defeated the scourge, dey did. Why can't vermin get dreams like dat too?"

Snackfur had to think on that one. If there were tales the vermin told amongst each other, the chief of them was the tale of Cluny the Scourge, the infamous raider and legend amongst vermin kind. A warlord of repute, whose name invoked fear and awe when he was little. Cluny's story was mixed in with his demise, how a young mouse of redwall dueled him on top of the bell tower, and how his horde was scattered to the wind after coming so close to victory. If his legend had any morals for the vermin to know, it was this; That the brick abbey of Redwall was a cursed place, a place haunted by a warrior mouse who drove the cats from Mossflower long ago. Snackfur found such things silly, but yet the tale was all too familiar. Beasts coming in dreams, speaking riddles.

"Will you two fools shut up with your nonsense, or whatever you are speaking of!" Luzgot's voice snapped the two rats out of their conversation, as Markem stopped towards the far end of the woods, far from the camp. The group looked around and saw nothing at first as Luzgot called out angrily into the nothingness "I can hear one yer scouts Zangan! Come forward an' speak wit me!"

Like a ghost, Zangan and some of his foxes came out of the bushes and all around. Zangan was giving a deadly glare to one of his own, who slicked back into the crowd of fellow tribebeasts. Zangan took out his large sabre and pulled it to the ground, leaning on it. He looked to Luzgot and smiled greedily "I hope'z you gotz me message."

"I did. Show me to yer camp, we must speak."
_

It was Luzgot's first time in Zangan's camp, although he was hardly impressed. Zangan would always twirl around with the camp's foxesses, and drink heartily with each step. Several foxes were humming or singing various songs, as the air was quite festive. Luzgot was offered nothing but contempt from the foxes who looked down upon him, even in his full getup of spiked armor which was about as menacing to them as a hedgehog was. Zangan showed them his camp only briefly, motioning the ever disgusted rat into the middle of the camp, where the fox plopped down onto a lounging area of rugs of pillows, surrounded by his wives and distant eyed pups who were sneering or lightly mocking the rat in silence. Gazla and Snackfur attempted to lounge in some limited respect for Zangan, but were caught on their shoulders by Luzgot who forced them to stand with him. Luzgot looked down at Zangan who got comfortable, smirking at him.

"I hope'z me message waz clear, rat."

"Twas." Luzgot grunted in annoyance "Although I would be missen a bunch of scout's tongues if dat is how ya get me attention."

"Denz I'll take'z eyes an fingers."

Gazla gritted her teeth in disgust. Degenerate! It took Snackfur's firm and adult comfort as he came close to Gazla to keep her from acting against both their wills. Even as allies, Zangan took pride in torturing her vermin cohorts, creatures she trained and commanded. Zangan's smirk continue to grow as he quickly spoke up "Soz. Markem'z is dead den? Ifz you return'z north, tis me time to strike'z."

Luzgot shook his head, explaining to Zangan and his captains what had happened. Zangan listened with a bored expression at first, he had known Markem had won some absurd victory at some long ear fortress, something he pretended to not be impressed at. Yet, when he listened to Luzgot explain what happened at Moss Field, and Markem's continued to march southward, Zangan's mood changed to a more serious and contemptuous one. "You'z a strange onez, Luzgab."

"Luzgot."

"Luzgab." Zangan angrily re-corrected the rat "Dont'z care. Yaz helped Markem'z win a battle'z did you? Why?"

"If he lost, ya would also have to be fighting the Long Patrol, ya idiot. Wit me army marching to Luzland and I getten Markem's trust to keep his ol' realm safe, now tis the time for a change o' pace. Markem's defeat is inevitable, just delayed."

Zangan patted the hilt of his blade in his sash "Ahz, a tame'z beast like dem'z rope collared slavezbeasts, hmm?"

Luzgot angrily gritted his teeth, unable to understand Zangan's stupidity compared to his masterful genius. Even when explained in terms a child could understand, Zangan was still thinking Luzgot had grown soft "No you dolt! Listen an' listen good. Ya are to start raiding der less defended new tributaries to der south, towards the river, cutten off Markem's supply lines. Whens his vermin start to starve, he'll flounder. Until den, I gotta act as der loyal beast an' prepare me own armies an' allies till we are prepared."

Zangan calmed himself and breathed in heavily "Iz see."

"Oh good, cause'z if ya didn't I'd be really damned angry."

Zangan motioned his paws towards some of his guards, who grabbed quickly onto Luzgot and his own. Luzgot yelped out in fear, as they mostly just restrained him. Zangan got up and then motioned his favored captain to him. Barlov came over and gave an evil grin "Der'z heads chief?"

"Aye."

"Now hold on ya treacherous orange-eyed fiend!" Luzgot called out. Zangan offered his excuse, partly seething "Ya'z see, Luzgab. If'z I start'z raiden Markem'z pet villages, den'z he'll come after'z me for sure. Zer are no reason fer'z me to continue diz stupid alliance. Yer'z tricking'z me eder way. Your'z head will make'z a fine trophy fer'z me banner, and yer'z vermin fine practice fer'z me younger warriors'z to beat upon. Do'z you think me dumb'z? Markem'z iz a smart beast, a soft'z one, but a smart'z one. Hate'z em I do. However'z, I am smarter, stronger'z, and faster zen any of you lot combined'z!"

Luzgot had to think fast, and spoke up in a desperate and pitiful voice, especially as Barlov drew his sabre from his sash. "Wait! Ya don't know der utter half of me plan!"

Zangan again motioned his paw, but Barlov stopped. Zangan waited and listened as Luzgot spoke up in anger "The other warlord, Parb. She will poison Markem, have him dead by der time ya even get to raiden! His horde will be scattered, an busy fighten der badgers an' hares!"

Zangan paused and thought it through. He lifted his paw and dismissed his foxes as they let go of Luzgot and his vermin. Luzgot breathed a sigh of relief, but was increasingly growing angry at Zangan and his tribe. Zangan returned to lounging, confident enough to smile at Luzgot in a content mood "Iz will give you a week'z headstart, no more'z no less. Ya falter'z, zen our deal is off an'z I come fer'z you an Parb."

"Deal." Luzgot gritted his fangs and left. Luzgot's pace out of the camp was much swifter than him coming in, not wishing to know if Zangan would try and have him killed again.
_

Luzgot's march north was being watched

Although not in a military sense, but by the vermin and woodlanders from Markem's new realm. Luzgot found it utterly disgusting what society Markem had planned for his new realm, as it felt foreign and alien to him. His army would pass by villages and farmsteads that were not sacked for all they had, as woodlanders continued on with their daily lives as if nothing had really changed. The only difference was that a new tax had been levied on them, and the vermin were now patrolling their villages. The tributaries were allowed to keep their warriors and militias for the most part, but were now subordinate to small garrisons of vermin warriors who held feudal rule over them, and enacted their society in a weird mix. It was an awkward relationship, where the two peoples had once been separate people for most of their lives and now lived so closely with one another. What had been mostly contempt for each other's cultures now began to suddenly mix.

The vermin were growing soft in Luzgot's eyes, a form which he found disgusting. His people were warriors, born to pillage and conquer in the name of superior beasts like himself. Instead, vermin were coming out of the woodwork to join the Great Vermin Band, and were seen working in woodlander villages. He gave a contemptuous look to one younger rat who was plowing happily next to a mouse and his family, earning a minor wage when he could have joined up in his horde for vittles and gear worth three times he could earn in seasons! The vermin he saw tried to mimic Markem's kindness, even towards their slaves, wanting his success. They diligently joined in improving or expanding the paths, working in their free time rather than dozing off and having other beasts do so. Luzgot rolled his eyes. Vermin who preferred a life of peace existed, but they existed as miserable clowns and jesters, not worth his time or the time of any warlord.

The woodlanders were surprised by Markem's vermin, but also not. It was hard for them to explain. Markem's vermin were certainly still vermin, thugs and bullies with weapons they lorded over them. They still had slaves do their bidding, which was becoming quite common to see. The rope collars that clung to woodlander's neck marked them as the workbeasts of Markem's horde, and yet this was what confused them. Markem's hordebeasts almost avoided their slaves, rarely if ever did they push them to work or punish them. In fact, the vermin would rather punish their own for harming Markem's workers than the slaves themselves. Markem never separated the families of those who fell into his horde, and worked as laborers in various villages. They were perhaps not paid or granted freedom from vermin tyranny, but Markem's example rubbed off on his vermin in a way which the woodlanders were relieved with.

Luzgot found this especially disgusting. None of the woodlanders should have been free, they should be working from dawn to dusk under the threat of the lash in farming the food and supplies for the horde. Their moderately better treatment under Markem was stupidly soft for the likes of the rat, who saw such things as a house of cards being ready to tumble. He was already thinking what changes he would make in Markem's realm, where the woodlanders would live in fear of him and obey him under pain of death. How he would drag the vermin back into being the simple minded and greedy warriors they were meant to be.

His army eventually found a field to camp for the night in, as Luzgot awaited his tent to be completed. He was awaiting his chance to finally return to Luzland. However, before he returned, he was going to make just one little stop.

At Gholand.

Luzgot stood in silence as his vermin began to set up his personal tent and sleep quarters, the largest and most extravagant tent of his horde. Although his hordebeasts complained and fumbled in the background, Luzgot's mind was calm as he looked over the forests of Mossflower. He hated it, the whispering trees and cool breeze which flowed through the ancient timbers and hills. It was far too tranquil for his liking. He would have loved to see the trees being toppled, their roots dragged out, and a big wooden fort placed right where he was. He was only snapped out of his daze by a cautious tap from his captain Snackfur.

"You betta got good reason to bother me." Luzgot hissed out, not even turning around to face the creature who shook him.

"Chief, yer tent be ready." Snackfur said, although Luzgot could hear some dissatisfaction in his voice. The rat turned to him and spoke in a hateful tone "I better be, captain Snackfur. Go an fetch me mole, and have him beaten fer not already cooken me food."

"Chief, I gotta ask, why ain't I taken dat double agent out into der woods an shanken him?" Snackfur asked. The captain of Luzland would occasionally eye the well armed weasel, who would sit far off and eat some of his vittles in a temporary break. Kudgel would occasionally look up, eyeing at Snackfur and giving a friendly smile. Snackfur knew it was faked. Luzgot spoke in a low tone "Cause if he disappears, who do ya think is gonna notice first, ya brainless cretan? Scarl an' his beasts got eyes an ears everywhere, an no doubt dat one is suspicious I didn't take em' wit me to Zangan's camp. Getten harder an harder to keep him at an arm's length."

"Den why don't I just disappear him?"

Luzgot harshly put his claw into Snackfur's ear and cut it a little, the rat went back a little from the sudden pain as his chief seethed "Ya don't got cloth in yer ears? No doubt dat weasel ain't der only one who is spyen on us. When we gets to Luzland, i'll send him all nice an unharmed back to Scarl to report as a 'trusted' beast. Markem won't even know what hit em before long."

Luzgot was confident in his scheme and turned to his completed tent for the coming night, not bothering to sit by his fellow peers and warchiefs. The Front entrance of Luzgot's tent was quickly occupied by Kudgel's shadow, as Luzgot sat snug in his tent. Dannek eventually came by with a plate of food and a pitcher of fresh water for his master to feast on as the rat lounged comfortably in his bunk, but was annoyed that Dannek had been slow. The slave's reward was a swift slash of the rat's claws upside his head, and the mole retreated shortly afterward to retire outside in his own lesser bunk.

Luzgot fell asleep, snoring loudly as the lights of the camp dimmed. Yet, a loud crunch brought him back awake close to his tent, and he awoke in the darkness of the night. Luzgot looked around annoyed, and saw that Kudgel was gone from his position, as his shadow wasn't there. Luzgot grumbled, wondering if the double agent was just changing out the evening guard before trying to get back to sleep, which was when a furry paw covered his mouth. Luzgot did not even noticed the shadows in his own oversized tent as he heard an all too familiar voice.

"Morning, Luzgot." Lefen said, the squirrel's barely visible form matched that of a couple other woodlanders who were in the tent as well. Luzgot had at first panicked, thinking it was assassins. He growled as Lefen released his paw from his mouth and hushed himself "You. You folk disappeared! The hells you been at, ya useless muckers."

"Getting ready." Luzgot felt a playful jab to his chest, realizing Lefen had a sword aimed right at him. The bandit and rebel looked about and seemed amused "That weasel let us straight in you see. I'd have killed him, but he says he was half expecting us."

Luzgot was angry, as Lefen had perhaps single handedly doomed him. Not only did the double agent now know that the leader of the freed slaves and other rebels of Markem's lands were now in his tent, speaking to him. Now, Kudgel had just allowed Lefen to enter to supposedly kill or deal with him. Luzgot asked in a whisper "Dat weasel, he ain't still out der is he?"

A voice from the flap of the tent came out "Nay rat, but he is watchen." It sounded like a hare, with a strange accent. "Got a mole wit him, yours i take it ya slaving, skabby wretch."

Knowing Lefen, Luzgot quickly blurted out "Nay, ain't mine up until recently! A gift from de slaver Markem ya see, a servant o' sorts. I'd free em, but if he wit dat weasel, tis better ya leave it be."

He felt that sword jab slowly push into him, as he knew Lefen was furious "Give me a good reason, and I may not just gut you here."

"That weasel be called Kudgel! One of Scarl's spies, an if ya act now, our little plan won't work ya see. All I but need to do is reach Luzland, and ya to go down south."

"South? Towards Markem?"

"Aye, tis where Zangan an his tribebeasts are." Luzgot had blurted out, but almost immediately regretted it when he heard Lefen's increasing vicious tone "You aligned with Zangan then?"

Luzgot had to think quickly, but he was smart enough to put two and two together. The angry tone made him prod for questions "Nay, never said anythin like dat. Why? He does sound like a nice ally, don't he? He hate Markem an-"

"He is a murderer." Lefen angrily spat "Killed a good otter in cold blood, and a beast just as deserving of death as Markem is."

Ooooohhhhh. Luzgot's mouth was nearly watering with the possibilities of this, another couple of birds with one stone. Luzgot calmed himself and thought, as he prodded Lefen a bit more "Aye, the fox cut out der tongue on one me scouts, tis a shame really. No doubt to intimidate me. Dat fox be trailing Markem like a parasite ya see, no doubt after der loot an' other things. Markem be well informed by me of der fox, but he don't know of you. If we's are gonna win dis war, we gotta cut off Markem's supply lines. He'll have to fight der badger lords an dat redstone fortress of an abbey. When I return to Luzland, I'll begin preparing me armies to march to Gholand, an begin taken his lands fer meself, an o' course makin yer beasts free."

Lefen didn't trust Luzgot as much as he could throw him, but the rat had a purpose to serve. The squirrel took a short comfort in knowing that he and Luzgot both had a spite for Zangan, and knowing he was down south also worried him. Tactically, fighting both Zangan and Markem would be suicide, but perhaps he could bait the fox into fighting Markem. Lefen grunted "Fine, but once you reach Luzland you will free that beast immediately. We will await for your signal till then."

Luzgot could imagine it now, Lefen and Zangan fighting each other, killing one another as Markem wasted his time fighting two dying 'allies' of his. He could sit back and relax in Luzland while all of these idiots suffered, and take his time building up his forces. Then, when Markem was comfortable and weak, Parb would strike and kill him. The whole deck of cards would fall straight into his claws. "Fine. However, wit Zangan down der, i'd doubt he'll be content fer long. I'd suggest ya wait exactly two weeks an' prepare, an den hit Markem's supply routes hard, an retake yer villages. If I know Zangan right, he'll no doubt get scared and run straight down south to do his raiden, an straight into Markem first. Remember, squirrel, ya got to hold der line against da Great Vermin Band an keep em chasen ghosts while I build up me army."

It was almost too perfect, as Lefen's dark form only nodded his head to the sensible plan. Luzgot's scheme was evolving and blossoming, and with the right strike he would finally bring down his sword the moment Markem passed. All he had to do was wait, and to play a little game of deception with the likes of Kudgel. As Lefen and his woodlanders left in the night, passing by lazy vermin guards, the squirrel was a little more confident. He had a time table at least.

Two weeks, and Markem will rue the day he stepped foot into Mossflower!

---

Luzgot was a bit prideful of himself as his army marched past Gholand, looking down with greedy eyes at the home of Markem and his brood. The woodlanders who were captured during the Battle of Moss Field who were not conscripted into the army now found themselves being led inside its gates to toil for Markem's cause. Luzgot cracked his neck and gave a sigh of relief, having told his army to continue to march to a field outside of Gholand to camp for the night, for he was more than pleased with himself as he strode downward from the hills surrounding the grand vermin fortress with his captains in tow. Kudgel kept close to him, who kept an eye on him as Luzgot continued to speak to the weasel in a weird and uncomfortable manner.

"Dat squirrel gave me quite a spook dey did, waited for ya to leave. Now, don't tell any beast, but me an' dat squirrel an's I got a deal."

"I mean, yes o' course chief bu-" Kudgel thought he had Luzgot caught like a fish on a hook, and the moment he entered Gholand he would have a courier flying straight to Scarl and Markem. He had kept hidden that night when he noticed Lefen and a group of woodlanders enter Luzgot's tent. Not hearing the immediate screams and instead a bunch of whispers, he carried Dannek off to the side and hid. The mole would have likely been freed if Lefen had been just a little quicker and had dealt with him, and Kudgel didn't really care much for the mole servant. However, the idea of disappointing Scarl outweighed his apathy, especially with such a valuable spy in Luzgot's presence.

Luzgot cut him off with a dangerous gaze "Listen here, weasel. Ya gots to know beasts like me got to have more den just Markem as me ally an' chief. Lefen may be a bandit and an enemy, but dat be the ploy. He approached me ya see, asken fer me to deal with Markem in return fer. . .wells not very much. Me and him had a nice little deal ya see, he bothered Markem before an I pretend to not notice em in me lands. Now he outlives his usefulness, an I thinks he knows it as well."

"Oh. Den what be der plan chief?"

They loomed ever closer to Gholand's gates, as Luzgot gave a devilish grin "Simples, when we return to Luzland, I need to send a trusted beast down to Markem, warn him dat Lefen will 'suddenly' act up on 'good' information. Convinced him to wait two or so weeks before I made me final decision. I was thinkin of senden ya."

Luzgot hoped that Kudgel would at least pretend to try to play the loyalist himself, give him the excuse to get rid of him quickly. After all, what manner of creature would dare deny his whims? Yet Luzgot grew suspicious when Kudgel simply smiled and nodded "I'll do it chief. When ya want me to leave?"

Luzgot gave Kudgel an odd look, but only spoke in a hushed tone "When I leave Gholand. Be important ya don't mention me, don't want to be embarrassed ya see." The two were deprived of their weapons by the guards at the gates as Luzgot and his cadre of captains and guards came inside Gholand's walls. Luzgot gave a look around, amused that even with the main horde gone, the streets and homes were busy with slaves and vermin families. Only a smaller garrison kept order in Gholand, which were lazily slacking off in their duties in comfort. He even spotted a guard downright sleeping on the walls, confident that no trouble would head their way. It surprised Luzgot that the slaves in this laziness would not rise up, as they now had an ample opportunity to do so. The nature of gentle beasts, truly docile an servile creatures.

Luzgot was heading up to the manor in the middle of the settlement, Markem's elevated home and grand hall. Going up the stone stairs, he was quickly greeted by two foxes, Karlgo and Vake. Both stood above him as the warlord looked up as Vake seemed less than pleased he was here. The grim fox kept silent, as his more social counterpart spoke up in humble greeting "Luzgot, tis an honor. We saw your army coming nearby, and are informed of your new duties by one of Scarl's couriers."

"I am, ya bumbling buffoon. Now let me through, I must speak wit dat graying witch." Luzgot was a lot more comfortable being his normal self without Markem around, but heard the loud tap of Vake's halberd tap on the ground. As sheriff of Markem's horde, the fox spoke with annoyed spite at him "Speak ill again, rat, and you will leave here a few few inches shorter. Now follow and be silent."

Luzgot followed up the stairs and towards the court of the Brownnoses, and was let in by Vake and Karlgo. In their usual positions, the two otters 'Mud' and Yala were scrubbing a part of the floor and watched as the rat and his retainers entered, meeting with Sheera was sitting comfortably on Markem's throne. She looked down at Luzgot, as she grunted at his presence.

"Me lady." Luzgot said in a humble voice, although it came off as a mocking one knowing his personality "You heard of our victo-"

"What ya want, Luzgot." Sheera cut him off.

Luzgot pursed his lips and smirked "Tis simple, Markem has sent me here to-"

"I am informed of what me husband has asked of ya. His victory twas celebrated a few days ago here, only lessened that he sends ya back here to help guard his realm."

Sheera had a nostalgic moment, having awaited at the gates of Gholand for days with her youngsters. It was when a jubilant vermin courier came rushing back, shouting 'Victory! We won! We won!' did Sheera finally get the news. She had been ruling Gholand in name, but she had Karlgo run much of the horde in her constant absence. When the news broke, the vermin cheered, throwing up weapons and singing into the night. A victory feast was held for the families in the honor of the Great Vermin Band, but the same mood was not shared by the woodlanders in Gholand. The victory for the vermin now sealed their fates as being permanent fixtures as the serviles to Gholand, and any hope for a swift release was not entirely dashed. That brokenness had only increased when they watched a small prison line of struggling otters, hares, and shrews being dragged through Gholand's gates and now found themselves working for the very creatures who defeated them. A few had even been sent to the infamous Stone Pit, and fewer returned having learned a valuable lesson in vermin cruelty.

Sheera shook herself "You are not much a defender as my subordinate, Luzgot." Sheera hissed "You may have done bravely as far as I heard, but you do not got me respect just yet. I have been instructed by Gutan to grant you some of our stock of slaves, to send back to Luzland."

"Aye." Luzgot raised an eyebrow "You will have them, but under me husband's conditions. Now, get out. I'd prefer not have your stink in my home."

Luzgot did not, and instead came a bit closer "Me lady, let us be reasonable! I've only but come to coordinate the defense of our realm, an to secure our holdings o' course. If der hares come, would be quite a shame to lose me new fort of Tussock to an enemy, it would. An especially wit so little help from der likes of me chief's missus."

Sheera gritted her teeth, but did have to agree on what Luzgot was saying. She got up from the throne and walked down to Luzgot's level, looking him straight in the eyes. Luzgot was giving her his evil grin, but even he backed up a little at Sheera's presence. "Me pa used to bash rats like ya fer fun."

"Till one bashed back."

Sheera continued to chomp down hard but held her anger in check, she wanted Luzgot to overreact, but seeing as he wouldn't budge, she instead motioned him towards Markem's office. The door to the office slammed behind them. 'Mud' wondered to himself, questioning if it was a matter of 'if' or 'when' Markem's horde fell apart. A part of him hoped it would, but another part hoped it didn't, fearing what fate his people would face if beasts like Luzgot were let loose without Markem's shadow over him.
_

When Luzgot finally was out of Gholand, we was in a happier mood then he suspected himself to be. Snackfur and his vermin were now pushing out twenty picked slaves from the pens, with one of Markem's own overseers keeping a vicious eye on his new 'chief' who would join Luzland. Luzgot had convinced Sheera of his supposed loyalties and his 'reasoning', and was content. He would begin his defensive plan by sending reinforcements to Tussock to reinforce the fort, and to repair and prepare the fortress for a counter attack, Sheera would send out a scouting party to get a good idea of what is happening on the borders. Luzgot was putting the pieces on the board, and was now more confident than ever of his impending victory. He and his horde marched to Luzland, his fellow coastal warlords bickered amongst each other the entire way. Luzgot had something valuable, the trust of Markem and his horde, something which was only temporarily earned. He had set up a schedule, where he and the other captains still in northeast Mossflower would gather up in Gholand to read reports and discuss their next plan of actions, at Sheera's insistence.

Yet all his planning depended on one tiny detail.

Markem had to die, and his horde shattered against the likes of the coming badger lord.

Luzgot was confident that Markem would be crushed by a Long Patrol army as he floundered on Redwall's walls, and with his supplies cut off by Zangan and Lefen, the rat would start to make crucial mistakes. He was a common hordebeast in Luzgot's eye, having no ambition or tactical skill which matched his own, a warrior pretending to be a leader. His amazing victory at Moss Field could have been pulled off by any old warlord, and he could have done much better in his head. As his horde marched to Luzland, his vermin were proud of their victory. Luzgot had lost a number of his vermin to the silver words of Markem, but others were happy to be Luzland vermin. There had not been a time in an age where the vermin of Luzland felt the tingle of pride for being hordebeasts.

As Luzgot finally came close to the coasts, he could see Luzland in the far off distance with relief. His horde moved past him, eager to finally rest after their long march. The gates of Luzland went open as Luzgot smelled the ragged air of his fortress and looked longingly to his keep. Yet, something bothered him a little. His captain Gazla was busy getting her vermin back into barracks and schedules of patrols, and Snackfur was pushing his new slaves into Luzland's pen. Garzlo was missing, having not come out to greet him.

Luzgot eventually figured out why as he went inside, with Garzlo and Skabit turning to the opening door as a confident Luzgot marched in, showing off his war wounds.

"Chief! Yer home?!" Garzlo said surprised. He had hoped that Luzgot would have at least sent a runner to tell him of this, but Luzgot got comfortable. "Of course I am home, you dim witted ferret! Whatcha dink I was gonna do down der, die?"

"No, no of course not chief!" Garzlo said in fear, but Luzgot calmed himself and went to go lounge on his throne. The Mole Dannek sighed to himself as he returned to the hated place he called home, already missing the dirt and grass beneath his feet. Before he could set down the things he was carrying, Luzgot snapped at him "Go fetch me some wine, you useless creature. Garzlo! We must talk."

Dannek paused only slightly to listen, and listened intently. Garzlo spoke up "O' course, chief. I got news as well, ya see. Ya see, Lefen an' his folk didn't perish up der in the north as i susp-"

"I know dat. I met him on der road back up, Zangan as well."

Skabit turned to his sides, seeing that Kudgel was missing. He spoke up to Luzgot "Yer spy be missen it seems. He taken care of?"

"Nay, in fact, he be spiriting himself down south to Scarl to give em' a false report ya see. Lefen found a way into me tent."

Garzlo smiled "Oh good. So ya did meet em, den? Ya didn't mention Zangan did ya by chance?"

Luzgot was curious at this, as Garzlo explained his own encounter with the squirrel. Both he and Luzgot were at least on the same page as Luzgot chuckled "Oh, of course. Dat squirrel was quite quick to anger at der mention of dat fox, but due tell me Garzlo, ya have been at least diligent fer yer sake."

"Yes, of course chief. Our coup in Great Marsh an' Jusbrag be ready at yer command! Goba an' I have been exchanging letters, but we gotta hammer out some simple details o' course. Our contact wit Bigring in Jusbrag hit a snag, Bigring was deposed but he be waiten fer our support to help him retake it, an fer ya of course. Chief, although we are in a good position now, by der end of next season, Gholand will be ours." Garzlo was proud, his little web of intrigue was blossoming, but then Luzgot smiled and spoke something which dropped his enthusiasm.

"Nay, not next season. Give it three weeks, ya blasted fool."

"Thre-three weeks?"

Luzgot was distant in his thinking "Ya see, Zangan an' Lefen are gonna start der campaign a little bit together down south, an's well, I may have edged him into fightin dat fox an his tribebeasts once he figures out dat Zangan is gonna be raiden before he be prepared fer him. When Markem sends a relief force, he'll grind his teeth on dem, as well as der badger lords. When he finally distracted, we will strike immediately!"

Garzlo dropped his jaw in sheer disbelief "C-chief, der plan. We needs to strike at zer same time, cut off Markem when he be vulnerable?!"

Luzgot grunted in anger, which made his spymaster retreat back a little ways in fear "What manner of foolishness ya on about, ya buffoon?"

"Sir, we don't got der resources right now, an if Markem bashes dat squirrel an fox, and dey fight each other, den we gots nothin to fight Markem wit! Luzgot, me chief, please ya gotta see reason an send a courier down south an get em to wait! If dey strike now, while Markem be at full strength, den we wasten dem!"

"You miserable buffoon!" Luzgot screeched out, and Garzlo nearly bent backwards in fear of him "Ya think like a dumb beast, Markem be already defeated an he don't even know it yet. We'll wait an see, but our little 'alliance' wit those two will weaken him in der own way, and Markem will butcher em for us. We'll have all der spoils fer ourselves, which is why we gotta strike sooner den later on our other 'allies'. Send a message to Goba, we must speak."

Garzlo didn't understand, his chief had a golden opportunity to take everything he desired and was endangering it for personal greed. He always knew his chief was greedy and an unrepentant tyrant, but he never thought of him as stupid. Garzlo could see it now, all Scarl needed was to capture and torture Lefen or Zangan and his entire plan would fall apart, and everything he had built would be gone. He needed only time as he begged his chief to reconsider.

"Chief, ya gotta understand, we are close to victory ya see, tis a plan dat takes seasons! Dis plan will work! I begs ya, we gotta send a courier at once to delay them two's attack and coordinate dem! If dey start attacken one another, we'll have wasted dem utterly an Markem will find us out!"

Luzgot got up from his throne and came over to Garzlo, smacking him across the face as he fell face first into the ground. Garzlo whimpered as Luzgot seethed out "Ya be my eyes an ears, not me brains! Be silent, ya stupid welp! I didn't need ya to help take dis fort from me pa, an I don't need ya now to plan out me coup!" Luzgot looked around as his gathered captains and huffed "Now, get back to yer work, an gets ready fer changes."

Dannek waddled off, horrified at what he witnessed, but also satisfied. His master had just uttered his own demise, and all he had to do was to wait for Kudgel's return.
_

Skabit was picking his teeth with a knife, getting a small piece of chicken between his teeth to fall out. It had been only a few days since Luzgot's return, and Garzlo had gone from cowardly and meek to cowardly, meek, and miserable. Skabit kind of pitied him in a way, he was reminded of Scarl in many ways, with the ferret's obsessive attention to details and intrigue. Garzlo was hunched over in a room full of his maps and small things, a tiny and pathetic box which was also a broom closet where all his plans had come together. It was cramp, damp, and the stressed ferret was grumbling to himself.

"Okay, give me a clue, ya think ya can pull it off?"

Garzlo knew what Skabit had asked of him and gave a weak nod "Luzgot's plan is mostly sound. Kind of. Markem is over extending an' when a relief army does come, he just won't be able to stand a chance. If Markem is lucky enough, he'll take enough hares to to der grave before Zangan an Lefend strikes. Parb is gonna poison Markem, or well attempt at least, an Goba will kill her when she gets back to Great Marsh. Taking Jusbrag won't be easy, ya see, but it be doable. Tis all just time an' stuff." Garzlo tried to give a confident grin, but he failed and it became a frustrated frown. "Den of course, if Zangan an Lefen start killen one another, Markem will just crush em both and our attempt to cut into his supply lines be wasted effort."

"Ya worry too much." Skabit shrugged "Ya gots money, vermin, an allies. Tis civil war can be won even if all goes awry. Markem can't fight der two of us, an he knows it."

"Ya, so long as der badger lord an his armies are of course not busy, or some utter threat don't arrives."

"Like who?"

Garzlo sniffed "Der is always somethin. Luzgot's pa didn't take the signs of Markem seriously, an now der is a giant vermin fort rulen half of Mossflower an' siegen down Redwall. Our main threat was Great Marsh an' Jusbrag. Relyen on one ding don't sit right wit me, but Luzgot plan still be sound so long as he don't veer it right off a cliff."

Skabit shook his head "I don gettet, why ya follow der likes of Luzgot anyhow? Ya do know Scarl likes ya. Hells, if ya asked him, he'd even allows ya to join his crew. Pay be bad doh."

Garzlo sighed "To be honest, rat, I do think on it often ya see. Luzland be me home, twas where I grew up in, learned how to kill beasts in, and fed me from pup to now. Luzgot's pa conscripted me, ya see, an Luzgot himself made me a cap'n fer knowin all der right things. It would be easy to give Luzgot over to Scarl, but where does dat get the likes of me an' ya? Paperwork an' maybe a bite to eat at best? If Luzgot wins, all de's abuses will pays off, a home of me own an' plenty o loot. Luzland was standen before Markem was even born, an I ain't gonna see it waven any ol banner of some dumb hordebeast pretenden to be a warlord like Luzgot." Garzlo looked down at his papers and plans, shifting them from side to side "Though, I still do dink about it. All I wanna do is live an' see me eyes turn gray, an' enjoyen a good meal. Won't get dat under insane beasts like Markem tryen to invade Mossflower."

There was a knock on the door, as Dannek slowly opened it and came in with a plate of food. The mole gave a cautious eye to Skabit, whose casual agreements with Luzgot revealed him a traitor to Skabit. None were suspicious of the meek mole as he spoke up to Garzlo "Guud sur, dut munk be hur. Luzgut askued fur yuo." Dannek put the plate onto a table he could barely reach, as Garzlo sighed and took his meal in silence.

Garzlo and Skabit eventually exited the room, but Skabit spotted the mole was abnormally slow, as if trying to listen in on their conversation. When Dannek noticed him, he quickened his pace.

Skabit now had suspicions, but Garzlo reassured him "Don't mind dat dirt digger too much, odd beast he is. Hopefully, wit Goba here we can get to proper business."

The two spies went towards the opposite end of the keep, passing through room after room of empty and dusty corridors. Luzgot was a lonesome beast, the only beasts in his keep was himself, Dannek, and maybe Garzlo. Skabit learned, much to his own amusement that Luzgot only allowed some guards inside, but everyone else slept outside in barracks. Luzgot's father used to have captains, their families, and servants live inside the keep and it had been far more lively. The two found themselves back in the main court, with Garzlo seeing Goba and his own personal guard were in the middle.

Minks were an odd bunch, Goba's own family had fled from the far east to set up their own little horde in the ruined castle of Great Marsh, and by pure luck did they find a massive node of silver. Great Marsh's relatively small horde may not have been frightening in its earlier days, but vermin pirates and mercenaries all fell into being willing thralls of the silver-touched vermin. Parb had poisoned her family to claim it all for herself, but spared Goba, her youngest brother whom she had practically raised. Garzlo knew this already, as Parb's ascension had calmed relations between Luzland and Great Marsh.

Goba was already speaking with Luzgot, although his company Garzlo found odd. Garzlo and Skabit took their places near Luzgot, as the ferret looked over the scene. Great Marsh vermin wore some very good looking gear, their grayish scarves and capes were clean and fancy. Yet, their actual skill was questionable at best. None of them had even a battle scar, or an old wound which could be seen. Even Garzlo had at least a couple small claw marks and healed gashes, and he didn't fight often at all. This told Garzlo a lot of things without anyone having to ask anything, of how Great Marsh ran its horde and who was a part of it. Goba was accompanied by a servant, or more accurately, a borrowed servant of his sister's. It was a squirrel who was supposed to keep his head bowed in the presence of the vermin, the white tunic servant however kept looking around in amazement at the keep.

"Finally you arrive." Luzgot hissed lightly at Garzlo as he motioned to Goba "I was just telling our good little mink here of our overall plans."

"I still think it's risky." Goba was pondering, scratching his chin "You think it'll work?"

"You'd have be an absolute clown of a beast to think that the badgers will stay put in their mountain for long. We must be ready to strike at Gholand and Veekun's Burrow the moment Markem is crushed."

Garzlo interjected, as he tried to welcome Goba more formally to Luzland. They had exchanged letters and details ever since their meeting of treason months ago, but this was the first time they met face to face. "An o' course, welcome to Luzland if ya weren't given proper greeting."

Goba didn't react, much to Garzlo's disappointment. Rather than a friendly greeting, Goba looked the ferret up and down and grunted "I'll prefer to be off soon, but our plan is going well. I have already demoted my sister's loyalists, and made the rest of the horde prepared to march. So long as I have Great Marsh, all the better for me."

"Good, cause der just be one little trouble I wanted ya to take care of."

Garzlo turned to his chief, fearing what exactly he would say next. Luzgot snickered "I need ya to send one of yer loyal captains down der to Markem's camp, an' put dat wretched sister of yers in the ground."

There was silence in the hall, but Garzlo looked horrified and shocked. He wanted to claw out his own eyes as Luzgot continued "Once she is gone fer good, den I want ya to meet up wit me here. We'll party an' wait out Markem's demise together!"

Skabit spoke up, seeing that Garzlo was in dismay, as Luzgot again was changing his already convoluted plan once again "Chief, are ya sure dat be wise? Shouldn't ya wait fer her to poison Markem before ya try to make a move? If she dies under mysterious circumstances, den dat draws in Markem."

Garzlo was in total agreement, he had hoped Luzgot could at least see reason but the rat warlord dismissed his new found spy "Ya lack any form of true intrigue, ya flea bitten jester. Goba here will be in charge regardless! Parb will grow suspicious if we delay any further, an we cannot afford for her to escape. Goba, once ya return to Great Marsh, i'd suggest ya execute any traitors, as a piece o' advice."

Skabit was now starting to have second thoughts, as he could see Garzlo shaking with both fear and horrified contempt of his chief. It didn't take a genius to know that all this back stabbing, so early into the planning was only going to backfire. Worse yet, Goba seemed to nod in agreement to this, and grinned at the prospect of owning Great Marsh. Goba and Luzgot sealed their deal with a shake of their paws. Garzlo excused himself, but in truth was rushing to Luzland's gates to meet up with Goba.

"Hold on! Wait!"

Goba didn't give him much attention, seeing how his usefulness was now wearing off. Trying to salvage this planning, Garzlo begged and pleaded with the future warlord "Goba, ya gotta listen, ya gotta delay any orders fer such things!" Garzlo tried to keep a whispering voice, as he attracted unwanted attention from the busy vermin around him. "Ya gotta at least wait, till rat is dead! A lot relies on rat dying, an yer sister is good wit poisons! Ya know that! I know dat! If ya go through wit this, dat rat is gonna come up here an' lash us till our spines be showin!"

Goba pushed the ferret away, proudly exclaiming "Oh I know my sister all too well, thinking me tame. By the time I sent my agent to deal with me sis, she'd already got that 'rat' in the dirt. If not? Then the badger lord will kill him. It's a win win as far as I see it."

"You don't know dat!" Garzlo blurted in rare anger "You don't an tis a risk dat is gonna get us all killed!" His yelling drew attention from other vermin as he calmed himself and tried to stand up straight. Goba huffed and left, dismissing the demoralized ferret at the gates of Luzland. Garzlo had a sickening feeling in his stomach, and wondered if he just walked out of Luzland right now and went to Gholand, he could just have an easy life in Markem's horde. Yet, he turned around and in dejected pace led himself back inside to begin the long process of scrapping his plans to make new ones. Well, at least me plans in Jusbrag are goin well.

---

When captain Baskerclaw was roaming the streets of Jusbrag, his armed guard with him at all times, he was looking around with a bit of delight. The dirty and stoney homes of the vermin settlement stunk of terrible things, but the city was booming with life in a way Baskerclaw was surprised with. In pure spite of Bigring, the fox had gone full into Markem's reforms, and he had sent for Gholand vermin to come to Jusbrag to help him. Power was getting in Baskerclaw's head like any vermin regent, but he played the loyalist quite well enough. As he walked, he was shocked at just how much Markem's reforms had been doing for Jusbrag, and now came to understand his chief's obsession and loyalism to the Mossflower rat.

Jusbrag had small slave colonies of farmers who worked tirelessly along the coast and drylands, which were almost universally mismanaged by petty overseers. Now these communities were free, and its woodlander inhabitants had control over their own villages while under Jusbrag's protection racket. These farms and fisheries were now supplying new sources of food and resources to the city, the relaxed hours on the builders had allowed construction of Jusbrag's keep to go along swimmingly. Construction was always a major issue for the city, and Baskerclaw's Gholand vermin were advising him on how Markem ran his horde and took it more to heart.

"Ya see, chief, Gholand was built by woodlanders, but our mason are a bunch o' spike backs from Noonvale. We's got em from Jusbrag ya sees, an maybe der be masons who can churn up dis place into a proper o' settlement! Gots enough space I sees." One Gholand vermin advised.

"I see. I'll have der slaves sorted out, see if we gots actual experienced beasts in der. Boss always preferred to build himself ya sees, an dat mouse we gots up der been workin around da clock on Kylan's home. Chief will be happy to know we gets ever closer to realizen his big ol' dream!"

The biggest change yet was the vermin, who were now willingly flooding into the city. Jusbrag had a reputation as being a web which caught vermin who fled southward, conscripting them and being settled by north and sea vermin from the east. All manner of criminals and their families called Jusbrag home, but now a new kind of vermin was coming to them; immigrants. With the relaxing of Jusbrag's policies on conscription, vermin began to more willingly seek out the city rather than just end up in it. Baskerclaw was at Jusbrag's gates, overlooking the new vermin who were coming into the city to swear to him in mass. Baskerclaw could never have imagined having gone from the captain of a failed horde to now a warlord in all but name.

"Welcome to Jusbrag! Ya will be given food an' provisions if ya work fer the horde here, an swear onto me an' yer chief Kylan Bignose! Ya also swear onto Markem Brownnose, Great Warlord of der Great Vermin Band! Ya keep to our laws, an ya will prosper here!" Vermin were raising their paws in fist or beating them on their chests, speaking Markem's and Kylan's name.

Yet Baskerclaw didn't notice one figure who was moving about in the crowd, a small ferret child who was a native of Jusbrag who looked on at him. Once it became clear the fox was staying put, the youngster pushed beyond the crowds and ran into the streets. Passing by guards and unconcerned adults, he ducked into an alley and towards an odd crevice in the wall of a small house. He snuck inside and plopped down onto a makeshift stairs of wooden crates and stools, and into a basement which was dimly lit.

Inside were various youngsters, woodlander and vermin alike. While some of the younger slaves kept to themselves, all of them were eagerly munching on sweets they had not tasted before in their lives. In the middle stood a hunched over figure in a white cloak, her paws tapping against one another in patience. When the young ferret came up to her, he quickly blurted out "Mrs white! Mrs white! Baskerclaw be at der gates, mam!" The mink rubbed his small head and smiled "Thank you, my deary. Here, take this caramel, a reward most dear!" The ferret immediately scoffed down the Caramel, as Danza slowly arose and announced to her willing eyes and ears.

"I will be off, but you my pretties can wait here. I have treats for you!" The bribery of her remaining scones and small candies were distributed amongst the cheerful and remaining children whose lives seemed to liven up with such basic tasks provided by her. Yet Danza licked her lips, looking forward to the next part of her master plan. To coup Jusbrag.
_

Danza made her way through the shadows of the streets in quick movements, only stopping to be sure she was not seen. She had been in Jusbrag for only a few weeks, but this playing ground of intrigue was like a natural habitat for her. She had gotten in contact with the deposed regent Bigring, a small setback which she was about to fix in about three to five months from now, but today was special. With Baskerclaw away from his palace, Bigring was about to make his big and grand entrance back into the politics of Jusbrag, without his wardens or Baskerclaw watching so closely. Danza was quite excited for this maneuver, as she and Bigring had been planning out their coup through many nights since she arrived. Her mission to aid in bringing Jusbrag into the fold had gone well.

At least. Mostly.

Danza had known the incompetence of vermin warlords before, how many of them would backstab and harm each other for petty reasons. She was content in being in Parb's employment, but working with Bigring and his colleagues was an experience she could only describe as 'miserable' rather than 'difficult'. Confident in the designs of Luzgot, Bigring was planning out his return to power, and with that confidence came a lot of troubling characteristics.

Danza had snuck through the alleys and into a secret tunnel she and Bigring's loyalists had dug out which filtered through some basements and into the middle of Bigring's home. Crawling through dirt, Danza lifted her hooded head to look around to see Bigring and his loyalists were drinking and snoring much to her dismay.

"Oh finally!" Bigring growled at her, not even lifting his paw to help her into his home. "Good dat yer here, cause I got some news."

"Nevermind that, Bigring. Baskerclaw be busy now, and our second part of our plan must go into motion. We need to make our way up to the main keep, and gain the support of Baskerclaw's captains and bribe them. Then we will be ready to strike!"

Bigring responded by chugging down a gulp of grog from his tankard; some of his lackeys were already drunk or passed out. Danza wondered if Garzlo knew enough about Bigring to be confident in his abilities to be a worthwhile investment. They were well on their way to accomplishing their coup, but Bigring spoke in a depressed tone. "Mink, der have been a change o' plans."

"What do you mean?"

Bigring threw his tankard at one newer vermin from Luzland who was shaking in fear of the rat. He ducked in time, but was now drenched in alcohol and looked miserable. Before she had arrived, Bigring had gotten to meet yet another vermin courier from Luzland who had been exhausted, having run all the way from the coastal fort without much in the way of provisions. He was tired, hungry, and sleepy eyed, and spoke in a terrified tone "Tis not me fault, good beast! Tis just a message from Garzlo!"

Danza looked to Bigring confused as she was informed of the new change of pace "Luzgot orders us to take Jusbrag soon, an I am goin to take it. We are marching up to the fortress alright, an we are gonna ambush Baskerclaw der! In return, Luzgot be promising reinforcement to stabalize der city."

Danza had froze, looking at Bigring as a mad beast. Planning of her nature took months if not years. She was partly dropping her jaw as she quickly came up to the courier and clawed at him angrily "Are you sure?! This order comes from Luzgot?"

The courier cried out "Yes, tis Garzlo who sent me! Says Luzgot be movin his plans ahead, says you gotta take der city before three weeks! Says he'll send a reinforcing army he will, so dat you folk will march together!"

Danza grunted in frustration as she turned to Bigring "Tis foolish, I have no plan for this! If we had waited a season, the entire city could be ours by then! However, if Luzgot is asking us to hurry up and take the city, then. . ." Danza paused and made a realization. She could see Bigring was eager to retake Jusbrag for himself, already taking out his sword in anticipation. The fool. Either a distraction or a goose chase, Kylan won't just abandon this vermin fort! Luzgot is playing an interesting game, and is already preparing for his campaign against Gholand. It also means Markem is dead, and Scarl along with him if he is so confident now.

"Bigring, what exactly is our plan to take Jusbrag then?"

"Tis simple, we'll capture dat dumb ol' fox when he returns. No doubt he be already on der way, tis why of course I was awaiten ya. Ya said ya got chillums bein yer puppets? Have em distract him, an I'll already be up in der fort. Waiting fer him." Bigring was confident in more ways than one. He had allies amongst the vermin still, and the coup and changes to Jusbrag had not gone unnoticed by older captains. Amongst his crew were older members of Jusbrag's horde, and some fellow captains. Danza and Bigring had spent days replacing the guard outside Bigring's home with loyalists who would overlook him and his new found company. Danza thought and smiled "I think I got a plan, rat. Just be sure you and your drunkard friends can follow simple instructions."
_

The good vibes Baskerclaw had early that morning was now reduced to a sudden frown as the fox was rubbing his head from a bump. As he was returning the main keep above Jusbrag, he had a rather odd encounter. A couple of children, both vermin and woodlander, were 'playing' some game with rocks above them, and occasionally dropped on Baskerclaw's head and the noggins of his vermin. When one soldier yelled for them to cut it out, one rat pup hucked a rock right into him and the children began to flee. Baskerclaw found this insulting, ordering his guard to round them up so he could punish them properly. The children then played games with him and his soldiers, disappearing into crevices only they could fit through or outpaced them. He swore one young vole had hit him right in his eye on purpose, and he marched his small group around in anger until the group had entirely dispersed. Once Baskerclaw and his vermin regrouped, they remained silent as they marched without having delivered justice on Jusbrag's younger beasts.

Baskerclaw was happy to see the keep so high up and ascended the stairs, and the gates opened for him. He said with relief "Oh! Good seasons me head! Rascal bunch!" Baskerclaw let out a sigh of relief as his vermin filed back into barracks or kept close to him. As the fox gave a gentle nudge to his bodyguard, a rat carrying a spear and shield and armored in the heavy and makeshift uniform of his home. "Wekler. Ya been silent all day, mate. Somethin the matter?"

The rat shook his head "Nay boss. Just, tis since ya became boss an' all, dings been a bit too different fer the likes o' me."

"Ya worry too much, mate. Besides, once Kylan be done in der south, he gonna bring all manner o' loot back to Jusbrag. Ya wait an' see." Baskerclaw strode with his guard into the hall, bragging of his accomplishments to his vermin "We getten more an' more vermin by der day! By dat time der army returns from down south, we'd be as powerful as Noonvale as bets! Even better, our flags be hoisted over dat mouse land! Ha!"

Baskerclaw and his vermin scurried about the great hall, as another group of vermin came out with mugs of grog for their chief to enjoy. Baskerclaw took the mug eagerly, and was about to sip it when he noticed something odd. He sniffed it, and the grog smelled a little weird. He swirled it in the tankard as he looked to the worried looking vermin who had given it to him.

Huh. Ain't der suppose to be slaves who got me drink?

One of Baskerclaw's vermin began to cough violently, and then another. Had the fox sipped his drink, he would likely had been doing the same as he quickly grabbed onto the vermin who had served him "Ya dink poison gonna get der likes of me, assassin!" The vermin raised his paws, asking for mercy even as some of the other vermin began to collapse. Then the all too familiar noise of sharp iron being driven out of the sheath did Baskerclaw turn to see a vermin who had accompanied him thrust his sword into the weakened Gholand vermin who he had accompanied.

Baskerclaw threw the vermin he had been holding to the side, taking out his own blade and quickly thrusting it into the back of the murderer. He was shocked, certainly, but even more shocked when he felt a sudden jab into his side. He gripped his sides, seeing a spear had scraped it and turned to see his own bodyguard trying to kill him. Baskerclaw growled in rage as he rolled to the side and avoided the rat. The only thing that saved him was when a stone flew and hit the rat upside the head from behind. Welker turned to see a bruised squirrel taking up another stone and threw it into his snout which made him tumble a bit. Taking his opportunity, Baskerclaw took his sword and impaled the traitor.

Baskerclaw collapsed back onto the ground, still gripping his wound as the familiar squirrel came over. The fox growled "The hells! Grifkan! Whats der hells happened!"

Grifkan grunted in slight amusement at the fox's pain, but did some over to stem the bleeding. The fox looked around, wondering if there were more traitors. Grifkan reassured him "Bigring and his cronies came by, and assaulted us while you were away. I think some ferret named Bluebell let them in, and beat us up. A lot of folk are down in the dungeon now, and not dead. Though they did kick me till they thought I had passed to the black forest."

"Don't care if dey kicked ya or not! Dungeon ya say? How many be down der?"

"I'd say fifty."

Baskerclaw slowly stood and gripped his wound, as the squirrel tore off fabric of fallen vermin to bandage him. The fox didn't thank the squirrel, but he did command him about "Go an grab dem, an tell em' to get up here. Bigring gonna be thrown from der walls by der end of the day!"

"I'll gladly do it for you, if you don't succeed." Grifkan tried to be friendly, but was pushed aside by the former black clad. He sighed, rushing down into Jusbrag's dungeons to free the prisoners. In a moment, vermin soldiers and several slaves who were rounded up were now filing into the great hall to see the damage done. Baskerclaw limped outward towards the great door and opened it a little. Outside he could see unfamiliar vermin, and a surprising number of peers were all watching the gate. Baskerclaw was quickly flanked by two other captains who had not gone along with Bigring's gaggle of traitors.

"Bursted right in chief, took der fort real quick. Sorry, an all, but der captains said to lay down our arms."

"Yer rations are halved fer cowardice, but restored if ya help me bring down dis traitor." Baskerclaw seethed. Once his vermin were back into their armor and taking up their weapons. The fox opened the door and could now see Bigring in his full glory. The arrogant rat was surprised to see the fox limping towards him, his paw on his wound. It was a show of strength, as the fox gritted his fangs through the pain to look down with contempt at the rat from a distance. Baskerclaw's vermin were equal to Bigring's conspirators, but amongst Bigring's vermin were captains and elders compared to Baskerclaw's younger loyalists.

"Ha!" Bigring began "Now, I tells ya Baskerclaw, ya gots der strength of a elk ya does! Good ding too, don't even gotta pay yer bodyguard all dat much I takes it!"

The fox was silent, and was joined by Grifkan who had fastened a makeshift sling. He yelled out at Bigring in anger "Why don't you come over, mud sniffing vermin! Get a good taste of a rock shoved up your nose!"

"Ya will be silent, slave!" Bigring replied in anger "I had actually hoped ya didn't die, not yets anyway! Got a special punishment in minds fer ya!"

Baskerclaw spoke up next "If Kylan were to offer mercy before, now yer fate truly is sealed traitor! Ya abandon yer chief, an ya abandon Jusbrag!"

"As if! Ya folk are der real traitors, growen soft an der likes! Ya turn our farms into 'villages' an our mines into 'tributaries'? What a bunch of pointless woodlander trickery! Dis Markem an' his horde ain't our master, Kylan is! Ya really dink der chief takes kindly to his slaves worken less an' liven it up in der own homes? Dink dis ain't some ol' trick to convince us to bow an' kneel to some rat from dat Gholand place?"

Bigring smirked, but it began to fade as he looked to see some of the vermin he surrounded himself with were scratching their heads. Baskerclaw noticed this and spoke up "Ya say I am soft, eh? If I were soft, i'd be a dead beast ya grunting fool. I fought fer Kasg, an fought for Kylan. Killed plenty o' beasts, an ye will be no different. Kylan says we are apart of dis horde of Brownnose, an if ya likes it or not, ya will obey it. Kylan did rights by us, an if ya betray yer chief now, i'll make sure ya suffer."

"So, boss, are we apart of Kylan's horde or what?" One of the captains next to Bigring asked. Bigring spoke up "Aye! We still are, we just ain't bein a serf to the likes of Markem is all."

Bigring would occasionally give a glance at two of the captains on Baskerclaw's side who would give him nods. They were his plan B if the original betrayal did not work, moving closer to Baskerclaw. Yet, on his own side, Bigring was asked by other members of his horde "Boss, I know ya offeren extra vittles an all, but we really gonna go against Kylan?"

"I say we ain't goin to betray der chief, you numbskull! We only reasserting me-I mean Kylan's control over Jusbrag!"

Grifkan felt insulted, how the vermin would so quickly and willingly kill their own over just an extra bite to eat. Baskerclaw spoke up, who played it to this effect in an attempt to reason with them "Ya dink dis wannabe chief is gonna treats ya right, any better den I treats ya? Do I not bring food der city and makes der life better fer ya folk?"

"Better, ya give food to dem slaves before vermin!" One captain yelled out.

"Aye! I do! As Markem an' Kylan says. What ya gonna do, cap'n? Feed em' nails an hope dey don't break as ya waste em? Ya wanna be der one to explain to the chief ya lost his laborers cause ya wanna play a game o' rations?"

Bigring spoke up "Enough of this! Captains! Grab dat traitor and be done with it!" Baskerclaw turned to see those he had just rescued rushed him, with one holding a dagger to his throat and forcing him to surrender. Grifkan tried to rally others, but for his efforts was knocked over the head by another vermin. Bigring came closer, his victory now reassured as he seemed to gloat to Baskerclaw "Ya sees fox, softies like ya will never match to true vermin like meself! Too trusten ya are!"

Baskerclaw spat as Bigring wiped the spit from his face. He punched the fox in the jaw, forcing him to the ground as he turned to the vermin loyalists who had not moved. He grinned, seeing as they passively surrendered to him as he stood triumphantly in the courtyard of Jusbrag's keep. "Tell der captains below dat Bigring be back, an any who don't swear onto me will be dead beasts!"
_

Baskerclaw had only spent one day in the dungeon below Jusbrag's keep, joined only by the squirrel Grifkan. Both languished in chains, and kept silent to one another. Grifkan could only guess his fate would be to be thrown from the high cliffs to be splattered onto the city below, but did not complain nor blame the fox who was not so kind. "If ya hit dem captains before dey even touched me, I'd not be in dis situation! Serves me right!" Grifkan was not angry with Baskerclaw, for a reason he had come to realize. Bigring would kill them, that was obvious enough to him, but the fox who angrily spat had been truth scared of his coming fate. All they awaited was a turn of a lock key and to be dragged out of their cells to a gruesome execution. The fox calmed himself and hugged the wall, muttering loudly "Bloody rat, shoulda killed em when I gots der chance. Shoulda seen dis comin, yet didn't."

"You looked like you were about to turn that crowd."

Baskerclaw frowned at this and shrugged "Aye. Bigring ain't much different from anuder rat I knew. Pelg dey called him, der armorer of me former chief Kasg. Ya knew him from what dar mouse told me."

Grifkan nodded "Aye, his vermin murdered me kin when we didn't swear onto him."

The fox held no sympathy, but held in any joke or cruel jest he had thought up to his fellow prisoner "Creatures like Bigring are all talk an' no bite at der end of the day. He'll run dis place into der ground, an I fears der day when he does. Kylan built somethin fer us here, much like how Kasg built somethin fer us in der north. Now? Just feels like a wasted dream." The fox relaxed his head on the stone wall, regretting a number of things. The door's lock clinked and came open, and some vermin filed inside.

Unlocked from their bonds, and then beaten for good measure to keep them docile, Baskerclaw and Grifkan were dragged from their cells. No slowing pace of their feet kept them from their coming fates as the vermin began to drag them at first to the courtyard, but then towards the gates. Baskerclaw cursed himself, wondering if Bigring was going to throw him off the walls, but instead the gates opened and were pushed to march into the common areas below.

As both marched, both expected to be pelted with mud or worse from the vermin who gathered to watch, to perhaps curry some favor with their returned regent. Instead, the vermin and their families watched, confused and concerned as Baskerclaw and Grifkan were marched through the streets. Their guards who had at first been triumphant and cruel became far less so as angry eyes came upon them. The vermin didn't jeer as they usually would for would be traitors, as the entire city seemingly felt sour over Bigring returning to power. It became a bit clear why as the two were forced towards the front gates where Bigring was, lording over vermin as they brought in stone blocks.

"Put yer paws into it, scum!" He yelped as he cracked his favorite whip in the air. The other captains of Jusbrag looked proud, but some were now having doubts of their new fealty. Several vermin soldiers were lined up at the gates, getting ready to go out to return the once free communities of woodlanders bound to Jusbrag into slavery once more. Vermin who had once been eager to get into Jusbrag now longingly looked to the gates, with fresh beatings from Bigring's captains now visible on them. Bigring had returned his order to the vermin settlement, but his people were not happy about it at all.

"Ah! Der ya two are. Bring der fox forward." Baskerclaw was led forward and forced to kneel at Bigring. Grifkan wondered why he wasn't as two stones were placed in the courtyard which quickly had become surrounded by vermin. Yet, they forced him to kneel with a jab to his back by his guard. The next victim of Bigring's cruelty became more known as another group of guards came forward, pushing a mouse to the front. Bigring sneered as Bluster was forced forward. Baskerclaw was at first confused, and then mortified at why they had captured his personal servant.

Bigring came close, pushing the mouse's head up with the end of his whip handle "Tell me slave, where be dem brood an I might spare ye."

Bluster responded with a defiant spit to his face, which prompted the rat to harshly hit him. Dragged to the stone, both had their heads forced down upon it, and two other vermin took their places at their side. Bluster gave a reassuring look to Baskerclaw, who in silence now knew his family had been whisked away somewhere safe for now.

Bigring spoke up loudly to his fellow vermin who had gathered for the execution before them "Vermin of Jusbrag, I Bigring was deposed by a bloody tyrant an' murderer, a traitor most foul to der likes of us! I was given orders by der chief himself to rule Jusbrag in his absence, an for dat the tyrant Markem send his hordebeasts to depose me! No more softness from der likes of them Mossflower folk, an no treason from The Craven's soldiers will be tolerated in Jusbrag! I will restore ya to proper vermin life, one of strength an pride!"

Baskerclaw spoke out in anger, in defiance knowing he was a dead beast anyway "Pride?! Pride in what! Pride in deposin der orders from yer own chief?! Listen ya wretched folk, dis rat is gonna starve ya an' ruin ya! Our chief's only mistake was putten dis beast in charge to start wit! Now he is gonna betray yer chief, an der Great Warlord he swore to!"

Bigring smirked, but he did not notice a meek looking Jusbrag weasel come up behind him who was watching the whole affair. He was not known to most, except Baskerclaw who noticed him. It was a courier for the army, and he held back to watch the affair unfold. Bigring continued "For yer crimes, I sentence ya to dea-"

Bluster spoke up next "What crimes? The crime of being deposed by a usurper like you?!"

"Ya see, vermin! See how da softness of dis captain allows der slaves to speak freely! See what Markem an his cronies want to turn us into, to usurp der chief!" Bigring was confident he was turning the crowd. He was not, as the vermin didn't seemingly care. Baskerclaw chuckled, mocking the rat captain "Ya dink de folk of Jusbrag care how der laborers speak to der likes of ya? Dey care about food, shelter, an water. Dey care about bein entertained an' good lives fer der young. Kylan cares, tis why we swear onto him. He built us Jusbrag an continues to build! Ya couldn't care less, ya big ol fool!"

"Shut up!" Bigring cracked his whip in the air for silence, and received silence and murmurs in turn.

"Umm. Excuse me, sirs?" The weasel tried to speak up, but was ignored.

Grifkan gave a rare smile as his restored friend Bluster spoke up once again, in pride and defiance of the oppressor "You command only by what that chief gives you, and these folk only obey because the chief obeys you. What happens when Kylan returns, rat? If he doesn't throw you from the walls himself, what do you think the others will do?"

Bigring looked angrily at Bluster, smirking at him as he enjoyed his remaining time in the world, enjoying the rat's misery as Baskerclaw against spoke up in a louder voice so many could hear "The mouse be right, ya bloodless leech! Ya can't even capture me missus an brood? Ya were gonna kill em too? Wonder how der chief would react to such dings. Ya won't last till der end of the seasons I bets. If ya lets me go, i'd even give ya a head start to run north! Ha!"

There were some chuckles from from the crowd as Bigring stammered back in humiliation. He was about to angrily order their death and silence the crowd once and for all, but the weasel behind him spoke up. "Sirs! A minute of yer time!"

"What?!" Bigring shouted in frustration. The weasel, a bit more confident, came forward to the middle, introducing himself as a courier from Kylan Bignose. He showed a patch on his armor indicating as such as he unfurled a scroll. Although in a broken and stammered voice, he spoke up with limited authority as all listened to him.

"Dis comes from Kylan Bignose, Warlord of Jusbrag. 'I bring der news from der front, of victory in Mossflower an' our continued march to Redwall Abbey! Tis also come to note, dat Tussock has been felled, an dat I, yer warlord an chief, have sworn Jusbrag fully to Markem Brownnose of Gholand. As yer chief, tis come to me attention dat me good an' favored captain Bigring has misinterpreted me orders from me captain Baskerclaw, an is forgiven of previous charges provided dey make up an fer Bigring to relinquish his command to der fox till me return. I'd send me brother Loc, but he busy wit prisoners, so it falls to Baskerclaw to have me full authority till our war in Mossflower be done. Loot an' silver will flow like a river into Jusbrag, and yer homes will grow higher den any other, with loving embrace Kylan. An PS, if any beast do harm to me slave beasts while away, as we are now all apart of der Great Vermin Band, will be thrown from der walls fer treachery against me an Markem.'"

Bigring dropped his jaw as his conspirators became a lot less confidant, and yet stood their ground. They had come this far, as Grifkan couldn't help but smile to see the cruel taskmaster nearly drop his whip in horror. Bigring did wonder why Danza had left the city so quickly once he assumed power, but now he wondered if this was all some weird setup. Then he began to hear laughing.

Red in the face, Baskerclaw and Bluster began to laugh till tears streamed down their faces, and were laughing at the humor of Bigring's up and coming demise. Their only regret is that they would not personally get to see it as Bigring ordered his vermin to bring down their swords on their heads. With a final couple swings, silence overcame the center square as Bigring made a most fateful choice. Then something hit him.

It was mud, and a mixture of other foul things which hit his face. Then another pie of dirt, and then some rotten food. The vermin were booing him, angrily throwing stones at Bigring and his guard. Although well armed and armored, the crowd was angrily trying to overtake him, but being unarmed meant they had little in the way of doing anything. Bigring grabbed the courier next to him, dragging him as he and his guards were stoned and booed as they pushed and fought their way back to their keep. Grifkan was carried with them. He at first thought it was sad to see his friend die, but to know he died laughing and a smile on his face was perhaps the only thing he could have ever wished for in a miserable land like Jusbrag.
_

Bigring's retreat back into the keep was a difficult slog as the crowd only dispersed when the guards turned to ram spears into them. Blood ran through the streets as the crowd turned to throwing more rocks than mud at the guards. By the time Bigring had returned to his fort, five of his vermin were dead including a captain. He ordered his guard to rally the garrison and bring order to the city, and cancelled the raids on Jusbrag's new free communities. The first thing he wanted to do was claim Jusbrag, and realized he was now its sole ruler. As Grifkan was being dragged back down into the dungeon basement, he could see the rat was in distress. It would not take long for word to spread of this deception, and if Markem came for him he would not even have the support of his own horde. Captains argued with him over their loyalties, none were all too sure if they were traitors or loyalists. Bigring had dragged them into this mess, and now they had to fight through their own city to regain control.

Grifkan was chained up in his cell once again, time passed before he was greeted by another creature. Bigring himself came into his cell, looking down with anger at the squirrel, grinding his teeth. Grifkan only stared back, giving the rat a sarcastic smile.

"You." He said, getting a bit closer to him "Ya always been a thorn in me side, an now ya gave me all der excuse in der world to put ya down. I'd hang ya in front of yer fellow slaves in der pens, but I gots a better idea. Tomorrow, I'm goin to watch ya fly squirrel. Fly all der way down an see if I can't hit der pens."

"Why not in front of the others, Bigring? Fearful they will revolt as well?"

The rat angrily slammed the cell door, awaiting the day after to slay the squirrel. In the darkness Grifkan figured it was perhaps a bit ironic that his long years of slavery would finally end with a climatic end. He hoped his friends and comrades would be fine without him, even if he doubted it. His mind wandered towards sleep, and began to dream. He was confused at first, as the very ground beneath him became like grass, and before him laid a black and foreboding land of gray trees. Mists covered this land as he was no longer in his cell. He wandered into the dark land, till he found a strange camp. Like all the land before him, it was gray, lacking all colors. Its silence disturbed him, even with a campfire which bore a cold flame which did not sizzle. He approached, and from the tent of the camp emerged another beast he was not too familiar with.

It was a mouse, a strange one in strange armor. He looked both elder and young in some way, carrying a beautiful looking sword. He motioned him over to him and then motioned him to sit. Grifkan did as the mouse said nothing. In silence, the mouse broke apart a piece of bread which he gave to him. Grifkan ate it greedily, and felt filled. Energy and youth he had not experienced in years returned to him, as the mouse then offered a canteen to him. Again the squirrel drank of it, and the pains of old lashes on his back seemed to flow from him. He felt energized, returned to the world.

"Who are you? What is this place?"

The mouse said nothing, only opening his mouth and spoke in a voice he was not expecting "Hey der squirrel, ya alive in der?"

The vision became a blackness, as the squirrel was shaken awake. He looked up, wondering if it was his time for death, but instead, he was looking up into the face of a disappointed looking ferret of Jusbrag who looked around as if he was lost. Taking out a key, he began to unlock Grifkan's shackles and stood him up.

Grifkan could barely remember his vision, as it flowed from him like a leaking memory, yet he felt strong, like he never had before. He felt awake, his paws had which had once been trembling with long years of abuse seemingly filled with a new life. Grifkan was confused, as the ferret shook him "Ya Grifkan, right?"

"Aye, I am? Aren't you here to throw me off the wall."

"I mean. Well. Kind of." The ferret shrugged. He guided the squirrel out, and into the darkness, only illuminated by a barely lit torch. The ferret shook the torch and both were plunged into total darkness at first as the ferret expertly brought Grifkan up to the upper levels of keep. Grifkan now knew what was happening, the ferret was helping him to escape, but for what reason he did not know. He didn't ask, even as the ferret got pushy "Come on slavebeast, keep up! We don't gots a lot of time!"

Grifkan didn't ask questions as the two were soon outside. Bigring's guards were limited, mostly resting from an exhausting day of restoring order to Jusbrag. Bigring himself was likely sleeping, and his guards were demoralized. Grifkan could notice the torch-bearing vermin were not at their posts, and instead were either sleeping themselves or angrily muttering to one another in some corner. The guards were fractured, as the two snuck their way towards the gates to the keep with ease. It was there, another vermin slowly began to open the doors, motioning them through. The ferret tipped his helm to him, who hurried them along with a snarl. Once outside, the two were then rushing down the stairs and into the commons.

Grifkan was tempted to separate from his would-be rescuer, but continued to follow out of curiosity. Grifkan and the ferret began to go towards the southern wall, avoiding patrols as the ferret continued to try to command him around "Not too far, bush tail!" He said in a hushed voice "We almost der."

"Okay, but why though? Why rescue me at all?"

The ferret sighed "Tis not me who wished it, but another. Now no more questions, we ain't der yet!" Their journey was uneventful, even as they passed guard after guard who kept up a new curfew. The ferret was climbing the walls, and so was Grifkan and both were now on the walls of southern Jusbrag, looking down at a dry moat below. The ferret tapped on a barrel and another group of figures were soon on the walls with them. Grifkan was surprised to see Baskerclaw's missus and her cubs. She snarled at the squirrel "Ya Grifkan den?"

"Aye?"

She sighed "I need yer help squirrel, an I need ya to not ask too many questions. Me poor mate, an injustice it was dat me an me young'uns would have shared had not me mate's camp slave spirited us out an towards some yer friends."

"His name was Bluster." The squirrel was quick to remind her. She sighed, correcting herself in respect of her would be savior "Bluster. Tis not a name I'll ferget, or try not to. Now. I need yer help."

The ferret began to take out a long rope he had stored nearby and looked around. He grunted "Dem sentries will be here soon, missus. Lets hurry dis up."

"I need ya to help me. I need ya to get to dis Markem an find our chief Kylan. He needs to know what happened here, squirrel. More importantly, me pups. . ." The youngsters hugged their mother's legs, and she bent down to try to get them to stop. Grifkan was reminded of his own lost young ones, as he understood her intentions. "Promise me ya will get'em out, to safety. An to get to Kylan. I can't trust most vermin, an yer der only one who came up as skilled enough to heads out on yer own."

Grifkan nodded "There will be an attempt, that is all I can promise."

She nodded and began held her oldest close to her, giving her sleeping youngest to Grifkan who harnessed the youngster onto his back. With a little help, the three beasts were lowered down into the moat below. The elder fox child waved wearily to his mother, before Grifkan grabbed his paw and rushed out of Jusbrag and into the night. The two vermin gave one last look to the group as they disappeared into the darkness before returning to the common quarters of Jusbrag itself. As Grifkan sped into the darkness, an unnatural speed and strength pushed him forward, ever further southward and into Mossflower.