Seabane looked around; he was in a vast empty throne room. He could barely see the floor beneath his footpaws and his voice received no echo. The rat looked for a way to escape as a voice ripped through the darkness.
"He looked up to you as a hero! You failed Ruddy, you failed all of them!"
Suddenly orbs of bright white light illuminated the world around him blinding Seabane as he fell to his knees. The skull hung high in the air in front of the petrified rat as nothing more than a dark shadow amidst the blinding light. Seabane felt the floor beneath him give way as the skull began its mocking laugh. He tried to scream but was drowned out by the laughter as it increased in insanity. Seabane fell faster and faster until all he heard was a high-pitched scream. Suddenly he slammed to a stop as he jolted awake.
The rat shook like a leaf caught in an autumn wind. He was cold, but not terribly, he was wet, but not soaked. He rubbed his claws together trying to warm himself and calm his nerves. He didn't even realize he was panting until his eyes adjusted in the relative darkness so he could see his breath. He looked for a blanket or something to cover himself with before he remembered where he was. He was a prisoner. In Redwall no less. He was certain he wouldn't receive a blanket from the guards even if he asked. He had almost forgotten about Ruddy. Thinking about the fox made him feel as empty as a well in a desert. He thought he'd cry but he bit the inside of his lip until it bled to stop himself. He had done so twice already, his vermin pride wouldn't let him show weakness again.
Besides, Marrow might think even less of me. Seabane thought.
Seabane had completely forgotten about the white rat. He had been more preoccupied with the other woodlanders from earlier. Namely that vile otter Dokkur. Seabane wanted to skewer him with a pike and feed him to whatever creatures troweled the bottom of the sea. Perhaps Marrow could help him with that? He would need somebeast to keep the Long Patrol and that one-legged mouse busy while he dealt with that flea-bitten leech. He looked about for the massive rat and didn't have to look very far. Marrow sat on a splintered wooden bench. He had both his and Seabane's blanket draped around him like a cocoon. The only part of him visible was his face and furious red eyes.
Filled with rage, Seabane jumped to his footpaws.
"Yar giv' me one 'o those! I'm freezin' me tail off!"
Marrow snarled a warning but Seabane was too cold and too furious to care. He stomped over and reached for one of the blankets. Marrow's claw caught his forearm midway in a stone-crushing grasp. Seabane flailed about like a fish as the giant rat kept his grip.
"Leggo you mute brute!" Seabane balled his free claw into a fist and connected as hard as he could with Marrow's exposed pink nose.
Seabane felt as if he had punched a wet rock. Marrow roared in pain as he lost his grasp on Seabane's arm. Ignoring the pain in his fist, he landed two more blows in rapid succession to the rat's midsection as Marrow grabbed his nose. The blows didn't seem to affect the rat as he rose to his full height standing a head taller than Seabane and over twice as wide.
"Don't take my blanket ya bow-legged, toad-sucker!" Seabane shouted as he grabbed one of the blankets to rip it away. There was a loud tear as Seabane pulled. He didn't care and continued, before suddenly falling backward and landing on his rear with a torn section of the blanket. Seabane scrambled up.
"Look what ye did yew stupid club-legged, milk-drinking, cur!"
Marrow's claw wrapped around his throat cutting him off. Seabane tried to swallow, thinking he might have made a mistake. He opened his mouth to call for help but Marrow's grip tightened. Suddenly a bloody fist struck him in the face. Seabane's head snapped back as spots of white filled his vision. Before Seabane could react Marrow had grabbed his belt and lifted him above the white rat's head. Seabane's head spun as he looked down from what appeared to be a dizzying height. With a furious roar Marrow threw Seabane to the floor. Air mixed with blood and spittle rushed from his lungs as he bounced off the frozen dirt before crashing down again. Seabane lay stunned gasping for air as blood poured from his nose. His arms and legs twitched awkwardly as he tried to move them. To Seabanes horror Marrow picked him up once again. However, this time he carried the paralyzed rat to his bench and gently laid him on his stomach. Seabane had just gotten a full breath when Marrow sat on the center of his back. Another rush of wind left his lungs as his midsection crumpled under the white rat's massive weight.
"Gerrof me!"
Seabane gasped as Marrow quietly wrapped himself in blankets with one paw and held his nose with the other. Using the piece of blanket Seabane had torn off, Marrow dammed the bleeding as best he could. The corsair tried moving his arms and legs to no avail before focusing on forcing what little air he could into his lungs.
"I'm sorry matey! I can't breathe, git off!" Seabane tried begging. "I didn't hit ye earlier that was that blasted riverdog!"
Marrow ignored him as he sat as still as a statue atop of the wriggling vermin. Seabane fought desperately to get out from underneath him but it was pointless. The white rat moved when he wanted to move and did what he wanted. This was just another example of that. Groaning in defeat Seabane accepted his fate and hoped Marrow would release him before he suffocated.
The two sat like that for what Seabane felt was several hours but was more than likely several minutes. Seabane didn't know until then how boring Marrow could be. The brute sat motionless while the corsair tried to figure out ways to escape and when that failed, ways to pass the time.
"What are ye thinkin' about ye overgrown stone?"
The white giant gave no response.
"Not much eh? Yew stupid monster it's not my fault we're here. An I don't hear yew coming up with any brilliant ideas or havein' any premonitions. I bet ye didn't know Ruddy's dead. That damned otter chopped 'em up and tossed 'em away!"
Marrow glanced down at him with a mildly concerned expression.
"Bastards, the whole lot of them. Say ye lumbering buffoon if ye get the chance when we fight our way outta' here d'ye mind taking care of that pompous braggart Long Patrol cap'n? There'll be a crippled mouse with him as well. They shouldn't be an issue for you. I'll deal with the otter."
Marrow turned his gaze from the rat to some blank spot in space as his way of saying no.
"Well fine, we can both freeze to death while those spineless whelps stuff their face with food and drink!" Seabane wheezed. Hopefully, his mentioning of food would get Marrow back on his side. The rat remained motionless as ever. Seabane pressed his forehead against the wood planks beneath him, silently cursing his mute companion.
"Fine ye dumb oaf ye win. We kin both die here together."
Seabane was just about to give up all hope of escaping his companion's clutches when there was a jangling of keys at the door to their cell.
"What's the meaning of this? Get off him at once!" Captain Santain barked at Marrow. Marrow did as he was told. Seabane gulped down the fresh air with a groan, his legs had gone numb and he struggled to rub life back into them.
"Ye vermin are as odd as ye are dumb! Now on yer feet pirate 'afore I have yer matey sit on ye again, wot!"
Seabane begrudgingly obliged not wanting to give the hare the credit for the rescue he had made. The Captain stood at the bottom of the steps with Sergeant Danburr and another hare all of which were armed to the teeth. A portly hedgehog watched them from the top of the stairs holding a ring of keys.
"Waddaya want rabbit?"
"I don't want anything from ye vermin, but the abbot does. Now get up the stairs!"
Seabane and Marrow did what they were told before the hare decided to use his spear. The hedgehog stepped to the side of the two rats, with the faux confidence one would have knowing half a score of the Long Patrol would protect him. Seabane was surprised that the hares were wearing their armor. Each one wore a sleeveless steel breastplate with a scarlet tunic underneath. On their heads they wore a cap each with a different feather Seabane assumed was to designate their rank. Seabane knew they were all show. They spent more time dressing and stuffing their oversized mouths than fighting.
"Yarr where are we going ye long eared pondscum?"
"To the great hall, wot." Captain Santain huffed as he reached the door to the cell. "The abbot thinks it'd be smart that ye blighted belligerents attend this gathering."
By the staunchness of the hares and the frown upon the Captain's lips, Seabane assumed that it was something in his favor. He thought he might rub it in a bit.
"So the abbot order's ye about like his personal slaves, yew hare's fit the role."
"Eyes front rat. Ye can let the abbot know what ye think when we get there, wot." The captain said with a frown before starting towards the stairway at the end of the dank hall.
"Brisby, Clarry, Gorse keep yer eyes on the monster. Sergeant you and the twins can do what ye wish with the corsair if he utters another word, wot."
Seabane snapped his mouth shut and followed the hare wishing that he could send his boot up his pompous rear.
Seabane and Marrow followed Captain Santain through the maze of hallways and cellars that led to the abbey's great hall. Seabane thought it strange how silent the abbey was; he was sure that plenty of beasts lived here, but even the candles and torches that illuminated the halls looked alone and unkempt. Perhaps the vermin were a bigger threat than he thought. The Long Patrol's presence could confirm that but it didn't seem likely. They turned down another hall and the sound of scores of voices and light echoed into his ears.
"C'mon lads we shan't keep them waiting, wot!"
"Aye, sir!" The hares responded in union.
They charged forth into the light driving the vermin forward until they burst into the great hall with a loud crack.
Seabane squinted as his eyes adjusted, the sound of voices vanished as he and Marrow were led in.
"Keep moving vermin." A spear tip said from behind.
Seabane blindly walked forward like a beast being led to his execution. It was a common enough occurrence in the horde that he felt numb to it. But when his eyes adjusted he could see the grandeur of Redwall that lay before him. The grand hall was overflowing with Woodlanders. Mice, squirrels, hedgehogs, otters, moles, hares, and the occasional shrew sat in rows and rows of chairs and tables. Some squirrels hung along the ornate molding of the columns on either side of the hall and from sconce that jutted from the walls. Seabane assumed they had the best view of the show. Each pair of eyes trained on the vermin. Everybeast wore a different expression of horror, disgust, anger, bewilderment, and intrigue. Fathers clutched the hilts and handles of hidden knives and mothers held their children tightly as their small eyes watched Seabane and Marrow with naïve curiosity. At the front of the crowd sat a blue table about two tail lengths long and about waist high. Behind the table sat the abbot on a tall wooden chair that looked far too big and far too uncomfortable. Behind him hung a massive tapestry where the fire appeared to chase after scores of fleeing vermin, the figure in the middle of the flames obscured by the abbot's throne. To the right of the abbot stood the one-legged warrior mouse from earlier with a long sword as tall as he was. To his left stood the old badger with her paws held neatly behind her back. The two wore stern faces as they watched the vermin walk down the aisle while led by the obnoxious hare and his patrol.
"Salute, Abbot!" Captain Santain bellowed and the hares saluted the abbot in stride. The abbot seemed surprised as the hall erupted in cheer. Seabane thought it was stupid beyond belief.
The old mouse had to wait for the cheering to stop before he could get a word in. By that time the vermin had been paraded in front of the whole abbey like a sailor showing off his prized catch.
"Thank you, captain, please take a seat."
The hare dropped his salute and bowed in front of the abbot with a flourish that made Seabane want to puke. Marrow and Seabane were led to a set of chairs in the front of the crowd, Sathe and Crooksnout were already seated. Seabane squeezed himself to sit next to Crooksnout. He couldn't stand to be near Captain Santain who sat on the opposite side of Marrow.
"Took ye long enough rat!" Crooksnout snapped. He held Fenril in his good arm while Ripeye and Twinetail sat quietly to his right. The kits were wrapped in blankets and watched everything with a deviously curious interest.
"Did they parade you in front of everybeast, like a conquered foe?"
"Naw I suppose we weren't very important to 'em."
"It's because that fat hare didn't bring ya here!" Seabane hissed.
The mouse rose from his seat and the general silence in the room that followed ended their conversation.
"Good evening my friends and good beasts of Redwall Abbey." Abbot Micah began.
"I thank you for being strong in these unprecedented times and allowing myself as well as our many wonderful friends and allies to do what they can to the best of their abilities." A hearty cheer and round of applause went up from the crowd.
"We all know why we're here." The older mouse said once the cheering stopped. His tone made Seabane's tail shiver.
"Last night several vermin showed up on our doorstep searching for our hospitality. We let them in, fed them, tended to their wounds, and gave them a place to sleep for the night. It came as a shock to all of us and unfortunately, words were shared which led to blows."
Seabane felt the ire of every beast in the abbey as scores of eyes bored into the back of his head. He kept his mouth shut, now more than ever he needed the fools aside from him to do the same.
"Although one side might share more responsibility than the other, we must all do our best to keep our senses and sensibilities when life surprises us. That being said we now have a choice to make. The vermin who have been brought before us today are the only beasts with the strength to stand. They are an odd group led by a "Captain" Seabane. They are former horde members who claim to have fled to live better lives in the South. They came to us starving and injured from an ambush by an unknown assailant. There are eleven beasts in total, three of which are injured, and four of whom are only dibbuns. Among others, they consist of a small family of weasels and a healer who has taken the obligation of caring for an orphaned squirrel."
A gasp rose from the crowd. The abbot lifted his paw above his head as a call to silence.
"I have both Miss Mildred's and Sister Lilac's word that the babe has not been harmed in any way. In fact, the vermin appeared to have been taking better care of it than their own." Seabane saw Crooksnout shoot a glare towards Sathe who ignored the weasel.
"Some of you may be concerned about a horde in the surrounding area. Presumably, these vermin are merely a scouting party. I can assure you that there is no such horde. In addition to winter being a terrible time for a horde to plan a siege and our vermin guests' word, we sent out several scouting parties today searching for any sign of a horde. They thankfully found nothing of the sort, they found very little if any sign of vermin at all."
Seabane felt the collective of Redwall breathe a sigh of relief though the tension in the room still remained. He wondered if it was wrong that he did as well. The abbot took a moment to sip from a small cup of what Seabane could only assume to be tea.
"This brings us to the purpose of this meeting and the reason I have brought you all here." Seabane swallowed.
"There is a decision to be made about what to do with our guests. They are vermin, and they have most certainly done things that would make even the most gentle beasts take up arms in a noble fury. But they came to us in their time of need, and by their own account, they are trying to become good beasts. Separate vermin than the ones that we have come to know as our enemy. In addition, several of them are still horribly wounded and all have dealt with some form of starvation over the past moon."
The abbot paused as he took another sip from his tea. Seabane could see Crooksnout gripping his son's paw with palpable fear.
"We must remember that Redwall is a home for the good beasts of the Mossflower. We are a haven for those who need protection and protectors of all that is good. These beasts would die if we forced them to leave now. In addition, their actions protecting and caring for the squirrel were admirable given the circumstances and proved in my eyes their commitment to becoming 'good' beasts. It is for that reason I will allow Captain Seabane's band to stay with us for the winter."
The great hall was immediately in uproar over the decision. Seabane could hardly think over the noise. He looked to Crooksnout to say something but the weasel rubbed at his face with his paw with a sense of overwhelming relief. Sathe stuck her tongue out at the otter Dokkur who stood at the far end of the aisle voicing his displeasure. Even Captain Santain, who was the star of the meeting, had hopped out of his seat to argue. Seabane couldn't help but laugh at the hopeless irony of it all.
These woodlanders are no different than vermin when things don't go their way!
Abbot Micah tried to silence the crowd but even his booming voice couldn't shout down the opposition. Sister Beryl stepped forward and pulled the rolling pin she had been hiding from behind her back and slammed it on the light blue table. The pin broke in half with a resounding crack as the hall fell to silence.
"The abbot's decision is final! I don't agree with it entirely but the abbot makes a fine point. We must help those in need no matter who they are." Sister Beryl's voice boomed through the crowded hall.
"I have spoken with both Sister Beryl and Eli Greyfur on this matter, and they are both in agreement with my decision. However, I wish to hear what you all may think, and whatever concerns you may have."
"There are still rules that we expect them to follow." The grey-furred warrior said as he stepped forward before any beast could speak.
"First, if any vermin threaten or harm any beast within this abbey they will be cast out or slain. Our generosity should not be seen as cowardice and they are dancing on a knife's edge until they prove our trust. Second, the vermin will earn their keep like the rest of us. We have been discussing potential tasks that their skills could be used for and we plan to open that discussion to all of you. Third, there will be a curfew. They must be inside the abbey's walls at dusk unless expressly given permission by myself, Sister Beryl, or Abbot Micah. Fourth, they are to be accompanied by a guide or guard unless they're in their quarters. And finally, if any vermin horde or band threatens the abbey they will provide any and all knowledge and information to help us vanquish our foe."
"What if they were a part of the horde?" A voice from the crowd called out.
"Then they will be the first to die."
Seabane swallowed hard. He didn't know of any other hordes aside from Zidar's. But Sathe might as she seemed to know a lot of beasts he didn't know about.
"This goes for the rest of Redwall. I ask you not to take your frustration or fears out against our new friends. I will not tolerate any unwarranted animosity toward vermin or woodlanders. They are now denizens of Redwall Abbey and I ask that you treat them with the same love and grace that you would show your fellow Redwaller." The abbots' kind gesture was lost on the crowd and the vermin as well.
"Can we voice our complaints now?" A brash voice complained.
The abbot took an exaggerated sigh.
"You may, but only one voice at a time."
Against the abbot's wishes, several voices began to speak at once. Each one drowning out the other and vocalizing some important detail the abbot in his mighty wisdom had missed. An angry older mouse from the rear complained about food, and another youthful squirrelmaid brought up the nursery and the baby squirrel. Dokkur could be heard shouting about defending the abbey and letting their mortal enemy into their home. Seabane thought all these woodlanders fighting with each other amusing, arrogant whelps deserved as much. It was just another reason he and his fellow vermin were vastly superior. But it wasn't as amusing knowing that they held his life in their paws.
"I think what everybeast is concerned with," The obtuse hare captain bellowed like a giant toad. "Is that we cannot trust them, wot. They show up in the middle of the night, during a blighted storm, with several injured from a surprise attack and a little baby squirrel! Not a single one of them can tell us a blasted thing about where they came from or how they got their bloody clutches on the babe without stumbling over their own paws or threatening to kill us an our kin!"
"What would you have us to do last night Captain Santain?" The abbot asked. "Leave them to freeze on our doorstep?"
"Well sah, I have very little say in what should have been done. But I would've warned them once to shut their flippin mouths or I'd throw them out. If one of them decided to test our patience he'd be lying in under the snow outside of the gates stiff as a stone! The rest might listen or they might've joined 'em, wot."
"What would we have done about the babe if we threw the ferret out first?" Abbot Micah remained poised as he sipped his tea. "We didn't know about her until later that night, and it was handled quite poorly by every beast involved."
"If we perceived them as more of a threat, and gathered as much information as we could while they remained outside Redwall's gates, we could've been in less of a tizzle than we were, wot."
"I will take full responsibility for our lack of preparedness." The grey warrior mouse addressed the Abbey.
"I didn't recognize that we were that underprepared. We didn't have the right people in the right places and it was only worsened by my presence being missing."
"It's not your fault you were away Eli, you of all beasts here deserve a break." The hare captain responded raising his paws in defence.
"No it's not your fault that you were gone, nor is it their fault that they came here." The abbot said gesturing toward Seabane and the rest of the vermin.
"My worry is the fact that the abbey seemed to be completely unprepared for vermin! Let's hope nothing happens to you Eli, but if something does we can't lose our heading like a rudderless boat in a gale! If our defenders had been more attentive or more composed when handling our guests we might have been able to see they were injured, or at least seen that they were as terrified as we were. Not every job requires a hammer, and it is up to our protectors, our leaders to see that even in the worst of conditions."
Seabane held back a snicker. The hare captain was caught in a storm without a sail and Seabane loved to watch him squirm. Dokkur's dark eyes showed his fury although his mouth remained shut.
"I am not trying to disparage any of you. You are needed more than any of us realize and we are thankful for your tireless efforts. However, last night exposed several flaws in our defenses and in ourselves. Eli works hard to protect us but when I see beasts slacking off in training, and ignoring the work that he puts in. Well, my concerns had been planted. And when we respond with an absurd panic when a group of bedraggled vermin present themselves at our doorstep. The fruits of my worry had been brought to bear."
The abbot took another long sip of his tea and thoughtfully adjusted his glasses.
"Part of my hope in letting them stay is that perhaps we can learn something from Seabane and his band which will help us if vermin ever do decide to try and take Redwall for themselves."
"Uhh Abbot Micah." A gruff older voice from the rear of the hall called out.
Seabane turned to see an older, bearded mouse step into the aisle.
"Many including me are worried about the state of our food stores. We can't be taking in over half a score of new beasts when we don't have enough to feed ourselves."
The abbot smiled and nodded. "Thank you for reminding me Berchan, it's something that should be addressed. I understand that there has been talk of potential starvation this winter. I can tell you with absolute certainty that we have plenty of food and we will not starve. Friar Willard has assured me that there isn't a thing we have to worry about. Wherever this rumor came from let it end here and now, we will not starve."
Seabane felt the woodlanders breathe an uneasy sigh of relief. Again he couldn't help but join them. Although it looked as if some beasts could go without a meal or two.
A recognizable voice grated on Seabane's senses as a quiet murmur rose from the crowd.
"Eli, I know this isn't something you would agree to without a good reason," Dokkur asked from the edge of the hall. "So why did you agree to allow this scum to stay in our abbey?"
Once more the greyfurred mouse stepped forward to speak.
"Both Abbot Micah and Sister Beryl were adamant about letting them stay. You know as well as I that they would never do something with the intent to harm anybeast in Redwall. Considering they were present last night when I wasn't, I have no ground to stand on to disagree with their decision. As the champion of this abbey, I am honor-bound to agree with them. As I expect you all to be as well."
There was a general murmur amongst the crowd, it was hushed again as the old badger began to speak.
"Like it or not Abbot Micah is right. We are here to protect the innocent and aid those in need. These vermin need our help and it would be wrong for us to turn them away."
"However, there will be no more threats to any beast within Redwall!" Eli's voice boomed against the stone walls. "If you even think of touching a hair on anybeasts head I will personally rid Redwall of all you filth. Peaceful or not we will be trifled with and by Martin's sword you will find your way to the Dark Forest by my paw!"
The mouse's threats meant something, Seabane realized. His eyes reminded him of a beast he had been ill-fated to run into when he was on The Damnation. He had the demeanor of a ruthless vermin-slaying warrior who had scourged his kind for generations. A true champion of Redwall. Seabane realized how lucky he was that Eli had not been present when the vermin first showed up.
"I want you all to swear to follow our rules and the guidelines Abbot Micah provided." The mouse continued taking his time to glare at each of the vermin.
"If you want us to even begin to trust you, you will give us your word."
Marrow looked at the row of vermin to his right, then stood up.
"Aye agree." The rat belted out with more confidence than Seabane had seen in him before.
Seabane quickly stood up after him.
"Aye sah, glad yar kin see things our ways!"
"Keep me kits and me mate safe and ye'll hear no complaints from me kin." Crooksnout added after fussing with Fenril.
Sathe paused for a moment with a disgusted look on her face. Seabane would have wrung her neck if Redwall's champion didn't speak first.
"Is there an issue, ferret?"
"Naw, I'll follow yer rules mousie."
Seabane felt the rage coursing through every beast in the room. He didn't notice Marrow reach around both himself and Crooksnout and cuff her ear. She whipped toward him in fury, but Marrow's expression must have been the stuff of nightmares as she quickly shrank away.
"Aye, I swear to it as well." Her voice was barely audible but it was enough for the Abbot who clasped his paws together in delight.
"Splendid! Now before we close. I need some volunteers who are willing to show our new friends around the abbey for the next fortnight."
The hall was silent as Seabane suspected that most beasts were still unhappy with the decision. Then a small paw raised in the air.
"I'll do it, abbot!"
"Ahh Samuel… splendid."
"Absolutely not!" The grey-furred warrior snapped as he swung his face toward the abbot.
"Why not?" Abbot Micah asked with a raised brow. "I don't see any other beast answering the call?"
"He's too busy, and he's not up to it!"
"No, I'm not!" The mouse squeaked from where he sat amidst the crowd. "The dibbuns will be done with their lessons in less than a week. An I could use an extra paw or two to re-organize the library."
Seabane groaned, he supposed that he was going to be that extra paw. Several other beasts in the crowd watched the small mouse in disbelief. One that especially made the corsair chuckle was a dark-furred squirrel who sat next to the mouse. She held her head in her paws with embarrassed anguish.
"I don't see any problem." The badger leaned over and said loud enough to be heard. "Samuel can handle himself and he would be able to best report how everything is going."
"Exactly!" The mouse exclaimed. "I know Redwall and its history better than anybeast alive! Besides, I've spent the past season teaching the dibbuns. Vermin can't be as bad as them."
If the mouse was expecting a laugh he didn't get it. In the drawn-out silence, the warrior rubbed his temples, muttering a few choice words under his breath.
"No! I won't allow it. I don't trust them enough as they are, they'll just find a way to take advantage of him!" The usually stoic warrior's veneer had dropped for the whole abbey to see.
"Then why 'ave any o' us follow 'em if you don't trust yer brother wid 'em!" A voice rang from the crowd followed by angry voices of agreement.
Seabane stared daggers at the small mouse who had started this. His goodness was just a ploy to get the vermin thrown out of the abbey! Besides he was too simple-minded for his own good, the warrior was right he would only be taken a fool by Seabane or one of the other clever vermin.
"Quiet!" The badger roared silencing the concerned beasts.
"Eli and Samuel share the same blood. I can't believe I must remind you that Samuel was the one who slew two score vermin with just his sling and his wit on the coast just south of Castle Floret. If anybeast can handle our new guests it'd be him."
Seabane snapped his glare back to the small mouse who seemed to shrink away from the badger's praise.
That tiny fool killed two scores of vermin? With just a sling?
Him! He looks like he'd fade away like sea foam at the slightest sense of danger. These beasts are lying or Seabane and his crew dodged certain death by the hair on their tails.
"Eli is just as concerned about his brother as any of you would be about your son or daughter." The badger continued. "Samuel will be an excellent guide for our new… friends."
"I have nothing to fear from these vermin, I'll have them whipped into shape by the midwinter feast!" The mouse promised with his footpaw resting on the top of his chair like he was climbing a rocky outcropping.
"Wonderful! But we need another guide as well."
"Brin can help me!" Samuel blurted, grabbing the squirrel next to him before anybeast could react.
"She'll be helping Miss Mildred and the ferret care for the squirrel. I recommend her as my aid."
The squirrel's eyes were wide in terror, as she looked between the vermin and the abbot. Seabane heard Sathe mutter something vile under her breath. Her pride had already been damaged enough tonight.
"Excellent that will do for now. As far as work, I have already spoken to Foremole Grumm and he has some tasks that can begin tomorrow. It is far too late to continue with anything productive. I say this meeting is adjourned! Have a wonderful rest of your night!"
The great hall was filled with noise as beasts rose to go to their beds and discuss the subject of their meetings. Several beasts shot up the center aisle wishing to speak privately to the old mouse about their concerns with the vermin. The abbot began to head toward them before the warrior mouse Eli stepped in his path and began to furiously shout something. Seabane couldn't tell what he was saying but assumed that it was quite unpleasant as the badger had to step between the two. Seabane stood and stretched his legs before addressing Crooksnout who had his kits draped all over him.
"Yarr looks like we're staying here for the winter matey's."
"Iv the vikkles keep coming, I'll keep quiet." The weasel wrangled Twinetail who had tried to put one of his paws in his father's mouth as he juggled the three kits in a single arm.
"How's yer mate?"
"Sleeping. But better in no thanks to our mud-brained healer!"
"Shuddup Crooksnout! 'Afore I slit yer gullet."
"Slit whose gullet, ferret?" Dokkur said as he slithered up from behind her.
Sathe bit her tongue and looked away from him.
"Nobodies, rudderbutt."
"That's what I thought scum. You lot better be on yer best behavior, we're not giving second chances." He hissed as he walked past them. Swiping at and hitting Sathe with his oarlike tail. Seabane caught her as she fell. Sathe bit her tongue as did the other vermin.
"I might just strangle that otter," Crooksnout whispered when he was out of earshot.
"Aye, I'll help ye once I find that healer!"
Happy Thanksgiving! Huge chapter I hope you enjoy it!
As always please let me know what you think and what I can improve on. Any and all feedback is appreciated!