How did that damn mouse know! Seabane racked his mind as he stared daggers at the grey mouse leading the procession. This day had gone from bad to worse to downright dangerous in a matter of hours. If the truth of the squirrel's cottage got out, they'd all be dead. Not even the fact that they saved the baby would be enough to protect them from the Redwallers' wrath. But how did the mouse know about the shrews! There was no doubt in his mind the mouse knew. Maybe not all the truth but enough to expose everything.
Seabane silently groaned as he watched the grey sheet of sky hover overhead. He had acted out of fear and without thinking exposed a lie to all of the Redwallers. Whether they could see the lie was another question but one the rat didn't want to be answered. Would Ruddy have told Eli? Seabane made it clear to the fox what had happened that night and the story they were to tell when asked. Although it had been shortly after Dokkur had tried to strangle him so his brains might have been a bit scrambled. Ruddy might have been a fool but he was loyal to the corsair.
Was he?
The fox wanted only one thing and that was to be a warrior. Losing his leg seemed to shatter that dream. Yet the only beast in all Mossflower who could now help him falls into his lap and usurps the rat as a role model. Eli could've promised to train Ruddy in exchange for more information about the vermin. The poor beast must've been so distraught he caved at the idea that a real warrior, even a mouse, would be willing to train him. Fool forgot he was supposed to be a vermin, and vermin didn't beg for help from woodlanders. The fox most definitely would've recognized the shrew's war cry. But why Ruddy? The fox was a fool, an impressionable one for sure. But his life's goal was to slay and enslave mice like Eli. It would've been far easier to convince Crooksnout or Silvertongue with a blade to one of their kit's throats. Something was missing, something the rat didn't know that the mouse was hiding.
Seabane realized he hadn't spoken to all the deserters in over a moon. The Redwallers had done an excellent job keeping them away from each other. Now he had to think of a way to spin his original lie into something more believable and ensure all the other vermin knew the same story. That might prove to be a bigger challenge than he expected.
"Ho burr, I know good stone when I zee it!" Foremole Grumm hummed as the dirt path widened. They could finally stand abreast as a large gash into the earth was unveiled. The group piled forward until they lined the quarry's edge.
The quarry was much larger than Seabane expected. It was wide enough that voices couldn't travel from one end to the other without being shouted and deep enough that one bad move would mean certain death. There was a small wooden hutch to the side with a table underneath. A cart, large enough for a beast Marrow's size to sit on lay dejected on its side nearby. A gently sloping ramp leading to the bottom spiraled down the stone side. The rain maintained its numbing drizzle and the snow that dusted the stone floor of the quarry was slick and icy in the near-freezing conditions. There were several levels of stone reaching to the bottom of the quarry connected by the ramp. Seabane supposed the bottom-most level was around fifty paces wide. Caves or holes bore into the walls at every level and giant cubes of stone were cut from the walls like they were made from soft butter. It was impressive but even more daunting to the rat who had never seen a quarry like this in his life.
"Alright, lads let's clear off this ice and snow before we get to some masonry, wot!" Sergeant Danburr was already shoveling snow from the ramp.
Foremole Grumm had been adamant about choosing the beasts he wanted to join him. Seabane and Marrow were obvious choices. They were nothing more than slaves to Redwall so of course they would be doing the heavy lifting. Or at least Marrow would be. Since Abbot Micah wanted Eli to go with them to act as some sort of leader, he joined along with several of the guards and stronger Redwallers. Sergeant Danburr and a few hares tagged along with him. Seabane was surprised Sathe's pet hare wasn't ordered to come along with them. He looked stronger and more useful than Eli. The mole also called a few other beasts fit and strong enough to help them including that talkative hedgehog.
"Bet 'chew never seen a quarry b'fore pirate!" The golden mouse Maslow snapped. Seabane didn't realize his mouth had dropped open and he was standing like a buffoon less than a whisker's length from the edge.
"Careful now ye old rat, that snow won't save ye if ye decides t' fall!"
"I'm not an idjit, mousie. Seems ye could use a hard rock t' clear yer 'ead." Seabane threatened.
Without flinching the mouse pushed the rat toward the edge of the quarry. Seabane spun his arms in circles to keep his balance before a strong paw grabbed him and pulled him from the edge.
"Careful pirate! Those stones aren't forgiving!" The vile mouse cackled as he turned to help Danburr clear the snow.
Kerwin caught the mouse by the arm as he strode by. "Watch yerself, mister. Iv he would've fell ye'd be a murderer!"
"He's a murderer ye daft fool! Corsairs are the biggest killers in Mossflower!" The mouse wrenched his arm free from the hedgehog.
"Then mebbe ye should think about it before ye turn yer back on me mousie!" Seabane snarled as he brandished his pickaxe.
To Maslow's credit, the small mouse didn't back down, he held his shovel out in front of him like a sword. The arrogant mouse was shorter than the rat. He had long whiskers, a squint, and an unconvincing frame. None of which seemed to be a deterrent. Forgetting that they were supposed to be allies, Seabane swung his pickax first, knocking the shovel from the mouse's paws. Maslow didn't flinch, letting go of the shovel as it clattered to the stone floor before he slammed his shoulder into Seabane's stomach. The rat wheezed as the mouse slammed rapid fists into his face. Seabane's vision was a blur as the mouse was far stronger than he thought. It was terrifying to the rat who could only helplessly scratch at his throat which seemed as far away as the sun.
"Get off eachoter yew idjits!" Eli snapped as he threw Maslow off the rat. Seabane breathlessly scrambled to his feet looking for a fight before he was wrapped up in a giant hug by Marrow. The mouse surged against Eli's arms.
"I'll kill yew rat! I wished that Ghost cut those weasels to bits yew vermin scum!"
"Maslow!" Eli snapped before slapping the mouse.
"Don't strike me, Eli! Yer gonna let those vermin live after all they've done! They're probably the beasts who slew the Brushtails! Who else would show up with a dark-furred squirrel babe in the dead of winter? Are yew too stupid t' see that?"
Seabane froze before coming up with some sort of response that wouldn't give the truth away.
"Shuddup yew stupid mouse pup! Iv yew lay a claw on those kits I'll split yer gillet!"
"Seabane take a walk!" Foremole Grumm shouted, shooing the rat off. Marrow turned with the angry corsair thrashing in his grasp.
"Leggo ov me yew stupid mute!" Seabane snapped. After a few steps, Marrow obliged, tossing the rat forward before swiftly kicking him in the rear. Seabane whirled around whiskers twitching with rage.
"Watch yer tone yew dumb brute! Iv it weren't fer me yee head would be on a pike!"
The rat cuffed Seabane so that he saw stars before grabbing him by the arm and hauling him across the snow. Seabane didn't have the energy to resist and didn't think he could do much against the angry brute. Instead, he was drug about like a corpse being hauled to a grave before being flung like a sack of wheat against a tree. Seabane rubbed the back of his head as the giant rat pressed his shovel into his chest to pin him.
"Aye got it, I won't move! Now get outta me sight!" Seabane snapped suddenly feeling drained of life. Marrow nodded and glared a warning at him for a solid minute before he stomped off leaving the corsair on his own.
Seabane cursed himself and the idiots he had deserted with. That golden mouse somehow knew! Had Sathe told them to save her tail? Could it have been Crooksnout? Ruddy maybe? Was it that obvious to the Redwallers? Whatever it was they were as good as dead beasts. Maybe Seabane should run off? He had decent clothes and boots; they even gave him a pack of food that he could stretch for a few days. He'd be free and none of the Redwallers would care to search for him. But it would leave Ruddy to whatever horrible torture the one-legged mouse could imagine. Then what would Ruddy think of him? Abandoning him to die at the paws of a mouse, or more likely that otter Dokkur would get his claws on him first. The rat closed his eyes, resigning himself to defeat. A name flashed in his mind. Muckfur.
That lying, no-good, mud-brained fool was the reason the cottage burned down! He was the reason they had nothing and were attacked by the shrews and ran to Redwall! He was the source of all their problems! He slew that squirrel family, along with Herrick, Ruddy, and Marrow! He was probably the Ghost that's been attacking Sathe! If anybeast could've pulled it off, it would've been him. The dark-furred slink would've been able to steal food and rack chaos onto the vermin and Redwallers. The rat couldn't even warn the Redwallers about him since his existence would damn them, to tell the truth about the baby squirrel. The evil weasel should be ripped apart, boiled alive, skinned, drowned, skewered with pikes, driven-
"Oi rat show me yer paws unless ye want steel in yer throat!"
Seabane opened his eyes. Three weasels pointed makeshift spears at his chest.
"What?" Seabane blinked.
"Yew heard me rat!" The oldest-looking weasel snapped. He was missing half of his whiskers and looked like he hadn't slept or had a decent meal in a fortnight. "Show me yer paws an yer vikkles!"
Seabane slowly pulled his paws free. He was in a bit of disbelief. "I don't 'ave any vikkles ya idjits!"
"Don't lie ye spoiled grape. We could smell 'em on ye from a mile away!"
"I don't have any!" Seabane snapped, the three weasels had spears, but they were nothing but sharpened sticks. Their ribs could also be seen from beneath their thin coats. "Now run off before ye find somebeast who wouldn't ask before loppin' yer heads off."
The oldest wasn't perturbed. The other two looked a bit frightened.
"Whaddif that big ratter comes back? I don' think me spear 'll even scratch 'im!"
"Shuddup Scraff! This is real vittles we're about t' get our paws on!" The oldest weasel barked. "T' thinks I 'ave a cowardly vole fer a son!"
Scraff shrunk back as if hurt for a moment before he snarled and marched up to Seabane and grabbed him by his cloak.
"Where's the vikkles rat! Or I'll cut yer diggers and fry 'em up!"
A malicious grin slid onto the face of the older vermin as he placed a paw on Scraffs shoulder. "That's me, boy. Now rat, iv yer smart enough t' value yer life then show us yer vittles."
"Take 'is coat too! An his boots!" The haggard, ghoulish-looking female snapped. She trembled like a leaf, Seabane couldn't decide if it was from anticipation or the cold.
"Alright, alright, there's a pouch inside the breast pocket." Seabane hated caving to their demands, but a spearhead was pointed at his throat and these vermin didn't look like they asked more than once. Scraff quickly ripped off the rat's cloak while his father pulled off Seabane's boots. The weaslemaid scrambled to the older weasel and wrestled for control over the footwear. After a short fight, the older weasel got the left foot while the weaselmaid got the right.
"Hihihihi looks like we've got enough fer a whole meal!" The younger weasel cackled as he pulled Seabanes food out and held it above his head.
"Giv' it here boy! I caught him first!" The mangled older weasel snapped as he pulled a boot over his exposed foot. Scraff thrust his pointed stick at his father's throat.
"Hold on ye old crow I stole it from 'im first. Oi should get the first bite."
A shaft of a spear landed between the ears of both male weasels. "I haven't eaten in three days! Iv ye don't giv me the vikkles first I'll-" The female weasel reached for the bundle of food as Eli's voice echoed through the woods.
"Stupid vermin scum!" The grey mouse barreled into the three weasels knocking the food out of their paws and sending them spiraling to the snow. Two more blurs rushed into the fray as a loud scrap began. It didn't last very long. Seabane watched as Eli pinned the father weasel to the ground with a knee to his throat. He repeatedly rained blows on the haggard beast's head.
"Ow, ow, ow! Please stop! Mercy please!" The older weasel blubbered.
"How many more of you are there?" Eli shouted as he paused his attack.
"It's just the three o' us I swears!"
Eli looked at the two other Redwallers. "That's enough lads they've been beat."
The red squirrel Alaric pressed the shaft of a spear against the female weasel's throat. Maslow continued to bounce Scraffs head against the trunk of a tree like it were a rubber ball.
"That's enough Maslow!" Eli snapped and finally, the golden mouse stopped. He was covered in droplets of blood.
The quiet didn't last long as the female weasel burst into hysterics. "Yew kilt him! Yew kilt him!" Maslow surged toward her and landed a devastating blow to her stomach causing her to sputter and gasp for air. Maslow grabbed her ear and forced the weasel to look him in the face.
"He's not dead yew stupid wench but you'll be if ye don't shuddup!" The golden mouse had a maddened look in his brown eyes.
"Were quiet! We're quiet!" The weasel coughed out before Maslow cuffed her across the face.
"Fur n' whiskers Maslow! Whaddya do that for?" Alaric asked as he relinquished his hold on the vermin, letting her slump to the ground.
"They would've slain our rat!" Maslow hissed. "I've shut two of them up, but I think we should make it permanent."
"They surrendered. Now you're being cruel!"
"They're vermin." Maslow laughed. "I can be as cruel as I want. As long as they learn never to rob beasts again."
"We won't I promise!" The weasel father desperately cried.
"It's wrong. Redwall wouldn't stand for it." Alaric responded as he knelt next to the gasping vermin and attempted to render some aid.
"What does the rat think?" Maslow gestured toward Seabane. "I bet he didn't think they were gonna spare him."
Seabane scrambled to put on his cloak. He didn't think he'd agree with the golden mouse on anything anytime soon, but he was quite furious to have been robbed. Most vermin wouldn't have spared him even a breath. These weasels had probably heard the commotion from earlier and figured they could rob him in silence and make their escape without drawing too much ire from the rest of the group. They couldn't have struck a worse caravan of beasts unless the Badgerlord of Salamandastron was present.
"Yarr he's right we should slit their throats and leave 'em fer the scavengers!" Seabane added a kick to the father weasel for good measure. They might not have killed him, but they might have if he were alone. The rat wasn't going to take this opportunity to take some revenge for granted.
"No!" The weasel father grunted before Eli put more pressure on his throat.
"Look at 'em," Alaric bargained. "They're so hungry they can't even think!"
Maslow snorted. "Just like those deserters aye. Look at how well that's worked out. These three could've slain the Brushtails."
"We didn't slay no beasts! Honest!" The weasel sputtered. He was nothing but a coward. Real vermin would've threatened the Redwallers, proudly proclaiming they killed that miserable family and that they'd do it again given the opportunity. Of course, a real vermin would probably be dead by now.
Eli grabbed the weasel and hauled him out of the snow. He pulled a knife from his waist. "Listen to me scum! What were yew doin' with the rat!"
"He said he had food and was gonna share them wid us." Seabane furiously stomped on the weasel's tail to silence him.
"That's a lie! He robbed me of me vittles!"
"Nuh-uh!" The weasel cried. "We were hungry, and yew had vikkles fer us!"
Eli's fist slammed into the weasel's face. "Don't lie scum! Lest I slit yer throat!"
"Alright, we were robbin' 'im! We haven't eaten in three days or had a proper meal in even longer." The vermin blubbered.
"What about the squirrel's cottage!"
"We don't know about any squirrel's cottage I swears!" Eli looked at the terrified beast for a moment before he tossed the weasel back into the snow.
"Grab yer son and stay silent! If I even think you're gonna attack or flee and you're all dead beasts!"
The weasel scampered to his son and cradled him in his arms. His mate crawled over to him. Maslow picked up a homemade spear and snapped it over his knee.
"If you have a weapon, toss it to me now!" Maslow ordered. The father weasel pulled a small fork from his belt and tossed it to him. The golden rat laughed.
"Yer hungry as a baby bird yet ye've got a fork? Somethin' smells quite odd." The weasels didn't respond. Eli put away his knife and sighed.
"Alright, who wants to share some food?" Eli asked, turning toward the Redwallers.
Seabane was incensed. "Food what food? We should tie 'em up and leave them to their fates, not feed the vile robbers!"
"They're starving, and a bigger threat to themselves than anyone else."
"They had spears t' me throat!" Seabane shouted as he stormed up to the mouse. "An we were starvin' and destitute! You empty-headed, pond scum ye tried t' kill us, an' butcher us, and yer still lookin' fer ways to cut us tah ribbuns!"
The gray mouse remained calm. "Ye gave us reasons to not trust you, these vermin haven't."
"They were gonna kill me!" Seabane shouted. "They'd slit yer throat if they had the chance! We had dibbuns that yew vile wretches were gonna let freeze t' death just because Ruddy looked at ye the wrong way!"
"Settle down rat." Eli hissed.
"So, are ye gonna feed 'em and have 'em run off so they can ambush ye again?" The rat spat into the mouse's face. "Ye should kill 'em here! Save some other beast the trouble or save them from a slow death!"
"We're not vile monsters like yourself!" Eli snapped his whiskers quivering in rage. "We don't want to slay beasts unless we have to."
Seabane wished he could throttle the mouse. The lying two-faced snakes! There was a reason nothing had been done about this Ghost of Martin and it was his fault!
"Are ye daft! Puttin' the lot o' them out of their misery is the greatest kindness we kin offer their wretched souls." Maslow marched over brandishing his sword. "That younger one's just about dead anyways."
"Cus of yew, yew murderer!" The weaslemaid snapped before spitting on the golden mouse. Maslow's face twisted into a rage before he raised his sword and swung it toward the vermin. With a clang, it was stopped by Alaric who muscled the mouse back a few steps.
"What are ye doin' idiot?" Maslow barked as he regained his footing.
"I'm stopping you from killing an innocent beast!" The red-furred squirrel shot back before handing the weasel maid a checkered bit of cloth filled with food. "Share it amongst yourselves, it's all you're guaranteed to get."
"Thank yee! Thank 'ee, thank 'ee, thank 'ee!" The weasel chattered as she snatched the vittles and immediately began to stuff the food into her mouth.
"You're a fool Alaric! I know you've taken to that weasel kit like a rotten cretin, but this is too much." Maslow snapped, sheathing his sword. It seemed the mouse had no interest in crossing swords with the burly squirrel.
"There's nothing wrong with being kind. Just like Eli said they're a bigger threat to themselves than anyone else."
"They are until they don't get what they want." Seabane corrected with a snarl. "Vermin like them don't accept 'no' without a fight. Braining that young one was what calmed them down and if ye keep beatin' them they might learn somethin'!"
"It's still wrong." Alaric snapped. "We don't treat them like good beasts because we expect them to do the same to us. We do it because it's the right thing to do."
"We're good beasties we are!" The father weasel sputtered. "We were just run out of our home and had no food. We promise!"
Seabane sneered. "Seems yer Abbey didn't care enough t' give us any vikkles! Why should you give these robbers anything less than a beating?"
"Thee squirrels roight Seabane." The Foremole sounded as he approached from the bushes. Sergeant Danburr flanked him on one side and Marrow on the other. "Burr, jus' 'cos us' failed ye, don't mean we got t'do th' same wi' 'em."
Seabane rolled his eyes. He didn't need another lecture on the goodness of Redwall. He's been trying to come up with ways the abbey wouldn't have him flogged.
"They tried to rob the rat. They deserve some kind of punishment. But I won't have them slain." Eli said watching the vermin squirm uncomfortably in front of the Long Patrol hare and giant red-eyed rat.
"Oi thinks 'ee beatin' 'em were a good 'nuff punishmunts. Burr now, t'question be wot t'do wi' 'em." The mole mused stroking the fur beneath his chin. The mole paced towards them.
"No more, please! We've surrendered." The weaselmaid pleaded.
"Oi bain't gonna 'urt ye, jus' gonna get a good look at ye." Grumm said as he tottled toward the vermin. "Oi can't see too well, which be why oi got moi sp'ctacles, but oi kin get a good feel o' ye wi' moi diggers"
Why is he being gentle with these vermin? The mole didn't act as kind to Seabane or Marrow. All these Redwallers were rotten lying scum.
Foremole Grumm grabbed the older weasel's head with both claws. The mole jutted his face into the weasels which elicited a scared squeak.
"Wots yer name?"
"Wermwood."
"Well, Wermwood." The mole let go of the weasel's face and started to squeeze his limbs. "Oi reckon ye'm sick'n' turr'd o' bein' sick'n' turr'd, be that roight?"
"Err- Yes, yes, yes, we've been starving and cold for almost a moon now. We'd do anythin' fer a meal and a warm place to lay our 'ead." Grumm nodded as he moved to the unconscious and bleeding Scraff. Seabane thought the weasel was around the same age as Ruddy which infuriated him even more.
"Who's that?"
"That's me son."
"Ooh arr, 'ee looks strong 'nuff, starved t'bits but strong all t'same. Alaric, would ye see t'his 'ead?" The mole said without laying his claws on the weasel.
"Aye sir." The squirrel responded. He nodded to Sergeant Danburr for help.
Sergeant Danburr marched over to the weasel and hauled him to a seating position by his collar. Seabane laughed at the hare roughing the unconscious vermin up as he did so. It was nice to see someone else get the Long Patrol treatment for once. The weasel maid scowled as Grumm held her head in her paws and peered at her through his spectacles.
"Who arr 'ee m' dear?"
"Why d' yew care mole?"
"Oi want t'see if oi kin find a place fer ye 'n yer family in me 'ome." Grumm said without pause. An audible groan of disapproval was heard from Maslow and Seabane.
"Why would we want t' live wid yew?" The weasel snapped as Grumm let go of her face.
"Well, 'tis better than livin' out 'ere," Grumm gestured to the snow and trees surrounding them. "An' if ye be good an' like it, ye won't 'ave t'worry 'bout findin' a new 'ome."
"We're good! We are!" The weasel maid responded breathlessly.
"Good! Well, 'cept fer ye needin' a bit o' food, ye be all well 'nuff t'start work."
"What?" The weasel sputtered.
"Ye 'eard me roight! We'll feed ye fer t'day if ye help us clear t'snow an' cut t'stone. Why, ye might even learn somethin' that'll turn ye from wretched vermin robbers t' t'kindred souls ye be deep inside."
The female weasel's mouth was agape before she angrily snapped it shut. "Wait now yew stupid dirt dweller! We asked that rat fer his vittles and he gave them to us!"
"Yew had a spear in 'is face." Eli interrupted rather plainly.
"An would've stuck me wid it if I didn't giv ya the vikkles yew lying mongrel pike!" Seabane growled as he struck her with the blunted end of a spear. The weasel howled in pain as she grasped her arm. Foremole Grumm whipped about in a rage. A murderous look filled his dark eyes as he ripped the spear from the rat's grasp.
"Wot makes ye think ye've got t'right t'harm an unarmed beastie?" The mole snapped as he swatted at the rat's backside. Seabane scampered away with a yelp before swinging a kick at the mole that sailed clear of landing.
"Yarr she'd 'ave been a dead beast in a horde fer robbin' me!"
"Ye's not in a horde fool!" Grumm cracked back as he continued to use the spear as a paddle against the rat.
"Yea well we're not in yer rotten Abbey either!" Seabane snapped kicking back at the mole. "Yer squirrel friends found out what happens beyond yer walls!"
Seabane's response warranted a hard smack on the nose by the mole.
"Watch yer foul tongue rat! It's their choice, not yers. Remember ye're free t' run off whenever ye please!" Foremole Grumm snapped rather unkindly.
"Yer all lying, vile curs!" Seabane grumbled under his breath as he rubbed his nose. He knew he couldn't survive in the forest, not alone and not in this weather. The mole glared at him for a few seconds more before turning to the weasels.
"Ho, lads, d' we 'ave a deal?"
The weasels shared a glance. Seabane bit his tongue as he struggled not to bark insults at the vermin or the mole. Eli watched him as he carefully placed a paw on the hilt of his sword.
"We'll get food fer t'day and let Scraff rest 'is head" Wermwood said as if he were in any position to make demands. "Iv we help ye this afternoon."
"That's the offer," Grumm responded with a tired sigh. "Now decide. We've been delayed 'nough as it stands."
"Fine but I wanna see th' vittles first!" The weasel snapped.
"Ye'll see 'em when we get t'the camp, now get up." Foremole Grumm responded as he turned about on his heel. Sergeant Danburr followed the mole warily eyeing the vermin as his paw hovered over the hilt of his sword.
Wermwood hopped to his feet with an uncanny amount of energy, and his mate followed with a bit more caution. The two started after the mole happily chattering amongst themselves.
"Vittles, Jemmina free vittles all t' follow this stupid mole!"
"Shuddup idjit we're still surrounded by these woodland scourges! What they did t' Scraff they'll do t' ye!" The grotesque weaselmaid responded.
"Hold on aren't you forgetting about your son?" Alaric asked tugging on Wermwood's shoulder. The weasel spun about with a ferocious snarl.
"What about 'im he's a useless coward! Ye brained 'im anyway if he wakes up, he'll just be a drooling dribbling idjit like yer mother! HA!"
"Watch your voice vermin." Eli stomped up to stand aside the red-furred squirrel. The Redwallers were about the same size as the weasels and were far more intimidating, it was obvious who'd win in any scrap. Wermwood and Jemmina didn't look smart enough to figure that out.
"Who are ye mousie? Watch yer back and yer tongue when talking to me before I-!"
Wermwood was interrupted by Eli's cuff to the face. Before the weasel could strike back Eli pushed him and he staggered backward.
"Yarr yer a deadbeast! Yer gonna see yer innards if ye-!" Wermwood fell silent as Eli pulled his broadsword from the scabbard strung to his back with a single paw. In a single deft motion, he pointed the tip of the great sword at the weasel's nose.
"I am Eli Greyfur, warrior and Champion of Redwall Abbey!" Eli's voice was low but deadly like a poisoned whip. "We are trying to help you but if you threaten another beast in my presence then I will show you how I earned my title."
Wermwood opened and quickly closed his mouth. Seabane smirked. Arrogant fools! It serves them right to act like idiots.
"Oi! Eli please don't dally," Foremole called from ahead. "Ye know t' urgency o' our mission as much as oi do!"
"Yes, Foremole. I just wanted to set a few rules with these vermin." The mouse said as he lowered his sword.
"Now hurry up, don't keep the kind mole waiting," Eli ordered as he rapped the two weasels with the flat of his blade.
The two weasels scampered toward the mole with Marrow following closely behind. Seabane was certain the two vermin were cursing the grey mouse under their breath. The red-furred squirrel sagged like a wet bag.
"Don't try an' be a hero wid these kinds o' beasts. They don't care about their son, why would they care about you?" The rat advised.
Alaric shrugged. "It's right? I dunno it feels wrong if I don't at least try to remind them of their unconscious child."
"Why bother?" Seabane snorted. "Vermin don't care about ye if you're weak, yer just a burden then."
"Figures why your kind has remained nothing but filthy savages," Maslow responded as he kicked the unconscious weasel with his toe. "What should we do with this one? I say we leave him."
"I'm fine wid that!" Seabane spat, kicking Scraff for emphasis.
"It's your decision, Alaric," Eli stated sheathing his sword. "They don't want him and neither do I. But I want the two of ye to leave him alone, we've got work to do."
Seabane sneered and spat on the unconscious beast before following the mole's trail back to the quarry. Maslow did the same. Alaric hurried to the weasel's side and gently hoisted him to his shoulder. He hobbled behind them with Eli who watched but did not help.
"More vermin filth," Maslow muttered. "This can't possibly go wrong!"
Yayyy a new chapter. We made it to the big 50! We also hit 10,000 reads of this fic! Thank you so much for your tremendous support! I'm gonna try and get some sort of art page going to showcase some of the stuff that's been made of Shadow. Yall have been wonderful readers throughout the fic and I thank you for all of your feedback!