Chapter 2

The Spirit of The Magician

There once was a weasel named Urbahn.

A stout hedgehog named Genesius was trying to hide from Urbahn in an immaculate cabin in the middle of Mossflower Woods. He ran to the nearest window and slammed the cover shut. "Did you see anybeast outside?" He asked an old mouse sitting on an armchair.

The mouse, a surprisingly sinewy beast named Abram, shook his head. "No, I have not. Whoever was chasing you must be gone now." He adjusted his glasses and curled his lip. "And do you mind being careful with my windows? It takes a lot of work to repair them and I don't have the time to do so nowadays."

Genesius sighed and turned away from the cover. "Sorry."

"Don't worry about it. You're on edge. Take a seat." As the hedgehog searched for an open chair not occupied by books or tools, the mouse rose from his chair and hobbled over to a set of jars on a rounded shelf. He shakily pulled one out, twisted it open, and passed Genesius a candied chestnut.

Genesius raised a brow and awkwardly took the treat. "Oh, um, thank you, sir." Does he think I'm a child? I don't look that small, do I? I'm taller than him!

Abram nodded. "Don't mention it. I have a lot of them for travelers."

"I'm not the first beast to hide out here?"

"No. Far from it, in fact." Abram hobbled back to his armchair and cleared his throat. "I get a fair bit of visitors. Well, as much as an old mouse can when he lives alone in Mossflower. 'Tis nice to have beasts around. Pity 'tis usually because they encounter some form of danger, though."

Genesius chuckled sheepishly. "Well, it's nice of you to let me stay for a bit. Glad I could keep you company. I hope I'm not intruding at a bad time, though."

Abram nodded. "Don't worry, you aren't. I don't do much other than grow food and keep this cabin tidy. That reminds me…" Genesius watched as the old mouse stood back up and walked to a hastily carved list of beasts in the east wall. Genesius noted that it mostly consisted of vermin.

"What's that?" Genesius scanned the list, curious if a certain name was on there. Nope. He sighed.

Abram picked up a stick of charcoal and twirled it between his fingers. "'Tis just a record I like to keep. A fair amount of beasts visit, so I like keeping a list of potential threats in the area. 'Tis helpful for passerbyers like you. So, do you mind describing who attacked you?"

Genesius blinked rapidly. "Oh, um, he was a large weasel with russet and white fur, dressed really nice, big-looking eyes, but not too big, like the perfect size, handsome face, and he said his name was Urbahn, or something."

Abram paused halfway through writing. "Riiiiight… I reckon a weasel can't be handsome, but everybeast has their tastes. I'm not judging, 'tis just… strange. Did he have any weapons or belongings with him?"

"Yes, a rapier."

"Hm." Abram set down the charcoal and stretched his paw. "Well, thank you for the information. I hope this may help whoever comes by next."

Genesius stood up and stretched his arms above his head. "Yeah, that would be nice. There sure are a lot of creeps roaming around Mossflower as of late, huh?"

"I wouldn't say so," Abram said as he returned to his armchair. "'Tis the same as it's ever been. We're just more aware of it, now."

"Really?" Genesius rested his paws against his sides and padded towards the wall. "Hey, that reminds me of a funny story, a few days before I came here, I heard of somebeast with those weird sleeping herbs the Flitchaye have. I didn't think anybeast would be dumb enough to have those, but surprise surprise, I found traces of some in the woods. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that beast, would you?"

Abram turned and raised a paw to his chin. "That's not a funny story. A beast with sleeping herbs, though? Well… I think may know somebeast. From what I've been told, he's a bit of a shut-in, so there he's not that dangerous."

"Ah, I thought so. Do you know where he lives?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I have a friend interested in studying that kind of stuff."

"I'd advise that he doesn't look for him."

"Why not?"

Abram sighed and hobbled over to the kitchen counter. "Because if he's leaving us alone, then we shouldn't bother him. He's just a strange beast with strange hobbies. I worry that as soon as we interfere, he will start hurting others."

Oh, believe me, that's not a problem, Genesius mused. The hedgehog scanned the wall for mention of a beast growing sleeping herbs and found an entry about a weasel living south of the cabin. He glanced at Abram to ensure he wasn't looking and studied the description closely. Meanwhile, Abram grabbed a pot and poured water into it.

The old mouse looked over his shoulder. "Say, on your way over here, did you happen to get a look at my garden? I haven't checked if- what are you looking for?" Abram set down the pot and walked over to Genesius. "I told you not to look for the weasel. Step away."

Genesius backed away and raised his paws defensively. "Hey, I thought you wanted to keep beasts in the area informed, what's wrong with me taking a look?"

Abram snorted and slowly crouched near the weasel's entry. "I should've removed his name once I realised he wasn't a threat, anyway. We don't need beasts like you bothering-"

Genesius kicked the old mouse to the floor with a grunt. Abram groaned and rolled onto his back to see Genesius flexing his paws. "You know what? I'm getting tired of this. Surprise!" Abram scowled at the hedgehog and pushed himself to his footpaws. Before he could say anything, Genesius grasped the sides of his face and pulled. Abram expected blood to spray everywhere and realised something was wrong when nothing happened. Genesius tore his paws away, throwing the hedgehog mask he had been wearing at the wall. Next, he dug his claws behind him, revealing that his back and spines were simply a prosthetic. Abram couldn't believe his eyes. What was a hedgehog a few seconds ago was now a weasel.

"Genesius" grinned and brushed his headfur with a paw. He pulled a rapier hidden in his back and whipped it around with a flourish. "Like what'cha see? I took a lotta time on that costume in particular. Now," the weasel spun his weapon and aimed it at Abram, "If ya enjoyed the show, 'tis only fair of ya to applaud."

Abram backed away. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"Now, that's not fair. I asked ya to applaud."

"I will not!" Abram looked around. The front door was behind the weasel. In a last-ditch attempt to survive, Abram grabbed the pot and threw it at "Genesius"' head. The weasel batted it out of the air as Abram tried to run past. He kicked the old mouse in the stomach and pounced once he landed on the ground.

"How rude of ya to try to leave the show early! Somebeast should've shown ya some manners!" Abram didn't even have time to scream before the weasel aimed his blade at the mouse's heart. Unfortunately, his aim was a bit off and he pierced Abram's stomach instead. Growling, the weasel tried again. And again. Eventually, he gave up and stabbed the mouse repeatedly until he stopped moving. The weasel watched Abram's body go limp before tearing the blade out and splattering flecks of blood onto the wall. The weasel spun on his footpaws and took a bow. "Now that's what'cha call a show! Sorry I had to mess up your house, 'tis a real nice one, but unfortunately, that's just how it goes. Now then," the weasel cracked his knuckles and sauntered to the nearest window, "You can come out, now! Didja bring my stuff?"

"Yeah, Urbahn, I got it right here," a raspy voice answered. "Were you right? Did Abram know where to find a beast with sleeping herbs?"

Urbahn giggled and clasped his paws together. "Oh, aye, he did. Unfortunately for him, he didn't want to tell me. Luckily, I found it in his records." Urbahn turned to the door as a burly wildcat ducked inside with a large backpack hanging off a shoulder. "Ooh, is that for me?" He asked in a childlike tone.

"Yup." The wildcat, Pincers, grimaced as he stepped around the blood splattered on the floor. "You made a mess in here."

Urbahn sighed dramatically. "I suppose I did, my aim's not as good as it used to be in my younger days."

Pincers set the backpack on the armchair and rolled his shoulders. "Uh-huh. Your masks and outfits are in there along with a few extra stuff I stole on the way here."

"D'aww, ya shouldn't've!" Urbahn winked at the wildcat who was boredly examining his claws. "Ya need to loosen up- in more ways than one. How about we take a stroll together before I look for this shut-in weasel?"

"The beast is a weasel? Guess that's good. You don't need a disguise. Speaking of which, is your hedgehog costume still intact? You could still use it to trick a few more beasts if it is."

Urbahn turned away, clutching his chest with a paw. "Aye, it is, but ya know what isn't intact? My heart from all the times ya ignore me."

Pincers snorted. "Don't act like you care."

"Why not? 'Tis fun. Anyway, gettin' serious for a moment, the old mouse said he's a paranoid shut-in, so I don't think it'll matter who I'm dressed up as. He'll attack me regardless if I walk up to him."

Pincers glanced at the dead mouse and Urbahn's pathetic attempt to kill him in a single blow. "Do you need me to help?"

"Nah, I got an idea. Ya can just take it easy."

Pincers scratched his claws together and glanced at the moonlight seeping in through the cracks in the doorway. "So, I'm assuming you're going to do the thing to them?"

"Aye. I just need to learn a bit more about him, first, and then I'll be one step closer to takin' down that lllllegendary abbey!"

"Right, about that…" Pincers sheathed his claws and prodded Urbahn in the chest. "… I still think you should reconsider all of this. I don't care who or what you think you have on your side, this isn't going to go well."

The glare Urbahn gave Pincers could've melted a glacier. "You're lucky that I find ya handsome, otherwise I would've sliced your face open. Don't underestimate me, I know what I'm doing."

"But do you-"

"Pincers, I'd find it a real shame if ya went to sleep one night and never woke up. I like bein' able to hear your voice, y'know?"

The wildcat grimaced and backed off. "Fine, but don't blame me if something goes wrong."

"You're stressin' too much, Pincers, just relax! I know what I'm doin', and more importantly, I can't fail wit' him on my side." Urbahn waited for Pincers to argue, but disappointingly, he didn't. Urbahn clicked his tongue. "Nothin'? Really? Alright."

"If you want to try to take down that abbey on your own, that's no fur off my back."

Urbahn smiled with the gaze of a stuffed toy. "Well, if you're not stopping me, then I guess I have no choice but to go! I'll depart by tomorrow. I want to get some rest." The weasel yawned and headed towards Abram's bedroom. "Do ya mind doin' somethin' 'bout the body on the floor? Ya can eat it if ya want, just get rid of it."

Pincers scowled. "Who do you think I am?" He rolled his eyes and dragged Abram's body outside the cabin. Once Pincers was out of sight, Urbahn kicked the bedroom door open, trudged to the bed, and lay down. It will be midnight soon. Urbahn chuckled humourlessly as moonlight seeped into the room like fog. Beasts all over Mossflower Woods would be asleep, and unbeknownst to all of them, Urbahn possessed an intoxicatingly powerful ability. The weasel giggled and rolled to face the bedroom door. If he really wanted to, he could screw with Pincers so badly when the wildcat went to sleep

Dreams were a funny thing, weren't they? Both when referring to wishes and the things beasts see at night. Dreams led Urbahn here, dreams would guide Urbahn to his goal, and dreams would be how he would take Redwall Abbey down. Urbahn rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling, thinking about the fateful dream he had a long time ago…

Urbahn gasped for air as he surfaced from a sea of thick black sludge, flailing his arms as he searched for something to keep himself afloat.

"H- help! Where am-?!" A wave crashed down on his spine, dragging him deeper into the thick liquid. His chest tightened, trembling with a muted scream as the sludge oozed down his throat. His limbs dug past the muck only for it to return twice as hard. His eyes burned, movements growing more desperate as all light vanished from his vision. Instead of panic, rage tore through his body, wracking his arms and pushing them towards freedom.

Urbahn let loose a ragged howl as his head broke the surface of the sludge, tearing his arms away from the murk. His eyes opened to see a plank of wood rise along with him. He buried his claws in its surface and hoisted himself up. The weasel coughed and gagged, throwing up what seemed like an endless amount of sludge back into the sea. Spite-filled eyes started at the clouds swirling through the sky. Urbahn scowled and rested his head on the plank, quickly drawing away when he felt the cold chains fastened around the wood. Urbahn raised a brow as something rumbled beneath him. He glanced at the ocean and screamed.

Something large wrapped in chains tore through the sludge with a savage roar, hoisting the wood plank as it flew towards the sky. Urbahn screamed as he swung side to side, catching a glimpse of the creature dragging him through the air. It had a long snake-like body and the head of a fox, with a wretched howl despite the wire tied around its wrists and muzzle. Even with the black seaweed, glasses, and patchwork cloak covering its face, Urbahn could still sense the pure malice emanating from its features. The fox creature howled and flew in a circle, coiling the weasel tightly in its body. Urbahn choked and spat as the monster lowered its head, coming face-to-face with the weasel. Lightning set fire to the sky, providing enough light for him to see his battered reflection in the creature's glasses.

"What do you want from me, huh?" Urbahn snarled. "What's goin' on here?! Let me go!"

The fox creature curled its lips into a snarl as it spoke. "You'd best keep quiet while you're speaking to me."

"Who the heck are ya anyway?!"

Urbahn hacked as the creature tightened its hold, releasing an ear-piercing howl. "I am Groddil, the High Magician! A Master of Dreams, yet disgraced by those around me. You have beasts who hurt you, correct? I can see it in your eyes."

The weasel bared his fangs at the fox creature's declaration. Not too long ago, he was kicked out of a horde for misinterpreting a dream even though he was one of the best seers there. He was real, unlike some imposters who just told the captain what he wanted to hear. Sure, he made a mistake, but why was he the one punished when he actually had value? More importantly, however… "How do ya know any of this?!"

The fox monster- Groddil, brought Urbahn in front of the other lens. The weasel in the reflection was feral, spittle frothing at the mouth as he thrashed in Groddil's grip. Urbahn shivered, but couldn't look away. "What do you think? Surely as a fellow seer you realise how a being such as I would know about you. Listen closely, weasel, nothing can be done unless you put in the work. From one seer to another, I know a way for you to bend the world to your will. All you must do is accept my help."

Urbahn didn't know why the fox monster wanted to help him, but he agreed, anyway. Putting aside how uncomfortably real the dream felt, Urbahn was initially sceptical that a spirit could help him at all. He had been working as a seer for more than a few seasons and never heard of anything like this happening unless you counted the ghost mouse from Redwall Abbey.

After he got banished from his horde, Urbahn joined a caravan of performers to keep himself fed while he pondered what to do next in his free time (he also met Pincers there. The wildcat wasn't a performer, his job was to carry stuff). As much as he didn't want to admit it, Groddil was right. He was hurt and needed to do something to satiate the ocean of rage flooding through him. That's when he realised something amazing. With Groddil's help, he could do something big, something no one has ever done before. He could conquer Redwall Abbey. He could already picture his former captain's face when news of his victory reached the entirety of Mossflower.

Urbahn pulled a necklace from his pocket: a crescent moon with an arrow. In the caravan, he was told that this symbol meant good luck and represented the caravan's founder. Of course, Urbahn didn't believe in all that stuff, but they did, and that's all that mattered. The weasel turned as Pincers returned inside, wiping his paws against his pants. An intoxicating twinge of power trickled up his spine as he watched Pincers collapse on a sofa. Ya know, it wouldn't hurt to practice the powers that fox thing gave me. 'Tis not like he can do anything about it, anyway. Sorry, Pincers, but ya would understand if ya had the powers I did. Urbahn chuckled softly and rolled so he faced away from the wildcat.

First, he needed the necklace, which he was already holding. Check.

Second, Pincers needed to be asleep. Urbahn glanced over his shoulder and grumbled once he saw the wildcat playing with a wooden ball he brought. Guess he had to wait a bit longer.

Third, learn about Pincers. That was easy enough considering the two left the caravan together and spent most of their free time talking. He already knew as much as a somewhat cagey wildcat could've said about himself.

Finally, Urbahn also needed to be asleep. The weasel sighed as he raised a paw to the wisps of moonlight. It was only a matter of time, but he still found it hard to force himself to sleep. Excitement tinged with a healthy dose of anger still plagued his thoughts, especially since he was getting ever so close to his goal.

But eventually, Pincers stopped playing and fell asleep. Soon after, Urbahn followed him.

Pincers wasn't in a cabin in the middle of Mossflower Woods anymore, but in a large stone lighthouse atop a rocky cliff. Foam sprayed up from the ocean below as waves crashed into the side at a constant rate, like a heartbeat. The wildcat idly leaned out the window and saw luminescent wisps of blue reflecting off the clouds in the otherwise dark sky. A black striped tail waved lazily behind Pincers, a soft melody bouncing off the stone brick walls as he hummed a song somebeast in the caravan taught him.

Pincers didn't know many songs. The only ones he knew were the couple that the caravan performers taught him. A thin smile crept on his muzzle as he went through every single one. He wasn't a good singer, often running out of breath on the fast-paced ones or wavering on the higher notes, but it didn't matter to him. The wildcat gazed at the clouds, his heartbeat slowing as he reached his favourite song. The light reflecting off the clouds twinkled and shifted like fireflies until he could see the cart he pulled while working for the caravan. Pincers let out a chuckle. The sky warped multiple times, displaying a rocky beach, a dense forest, a few beasts from the caravan, a tiny wildcat, Urbahn-

"What the heck?" Pincers scowled and shook his head. The lights stopped displaying anything, instead shining randomly off the clouds. The wildcat grumbled and crossed his arms. Out of everything the sky could have conjured up, it had to be him? Pincers snorted and padded to a comfy armchair in the corner of the room when he heard a door open on the floor below him. Pincers sighed. "You could've knocked," he yelled at the unknown visitor.

"Sorry!" A voice replied cheerfully.

Pincers froze. "That better not be who I think it is." Unfortunately, his guess was right. The wildcat grimaced as Urbahn walked up the steps into the sitting room. The weasel winked and posed theatrically against the wall, so Pincers trudged towards him and punched Urbahn in the snout.

"Ow! What the hell?!" Urbahn snarled and leaned against the wall for support. "Why wouldja do that?!"

Pincers chuckled softly and raised his fist again. "Who cares? This isn't real."

"Wait, stop stop stop stop!" Urbahn flicked his tail, and in the next moment, the lighthouse was gone and replaced with an endless void of stars. Pincers cursed and stepped back, wincing as the crystal-like floor thumped beneath him like a heartbeat.

"What did you do?"

Urbahn chuckled wryly and got back on his footpaws, raising a paw to his chin. "What? Disappointed?"

"I mean, yes! I liked the lighthouse better. Never mind that, what's going on here?"

The weasel laughed and moved towards Pincers to pat him on the shoulder, but the wildcat backed away. Urbahn bared his fangs in a grin. "Aww, is the big kitty scared? 'Tis just a dream, there's nothing for ya to worry about."

"Yes, there is!" Pincers' head whipped around as he searched for somewhere to hide, but this world was utterly empty. "What do you want?"

"Relax! I was just testin' things out before I go out and use this on beasts that could kill me. I like ya, Pincers, I ain't gonna do anythin' to ya."

"So… is this the real Urbahn I'm talking to, because this sure doesn't feel like a dream anymore."

Urbahn snickered. "'Tis whatever ya want it to be."

"Can you take anything seriously for once in your life?!" Pincers snarled.

"That's not very nice. I assure ya I'm takin' this very seriously. To answer your question, aye, 'tis the real Urbahn. Do ya remember how I kept tellin' ya that I have somebeast on my side? This is what I meant."

Pincers looked at the vast expanse of stars and dancing lights surrounding the pair. It felt uncomfortable having Urbahn here with him as if every single glow represented a thought or memory he once had. "That's… why would anyone let you do this? How did you even learn how to do this?"

Urbahn shrugged. "Does that matter? I can, and all ya need to know." Pincers nervously stroked his arm as he eyed the weasel standing a few tail-lengths away from him. If Urbahn really wanted to do something, he'd do it, right? Then again, he did just punch Urbahn in the face and was about to do it again before the lighthouse vanished. "So," Urbahn began cheerfully, "I'm gonna be leavin' in the mornin'. I don't think you're gonna want to see me, but I'll be in the area. What about you? What're ya doin' after this?"

"I… I don't know, find somewhere to stay, I think. You're going straight to Redwall Abbey after this?"

"Not yet. There are a few things I must do, first. Y'know, Pincers, it really was nice workin' wit' ya. Thanks for carryin' my stuff. You're pretty nice on top of bein' real good lookin'. Oh, and just one more thing." The wildcat sighed as Urbahn walked towards him as if he were going in for a hug. Pincers rolled his eyes and reluctantly held out his arms only for stars to explode in his vision when Urbahn socked him in the eye.

Pincers hacked and sat up, finding himself back on the sofa he fell asleep on. He blinked rapidly, trying to recover his vision only to find his left eye swollen shut. Pincers froze and nervously raised a paw to his face. "Urbahn? You there?" Pincers turned to the bedroom where Urbahn spent the night, but the door was wide open. Urbahn was already gone. The wildcat grimaced, heart pounding like rolling thunder in his chest as he replayed the dream in vivid detail. He didn't even care for Redwall Abbey, but the idea of Urbahn coming at them with this kind of power terrified him.

"Dear god," Pincers grumbled, "Somebeast out there, please don't let Urbahn go too far with this."