Happy 4th! Please let me know what you enjoyed and what I can improve on! Enjoy!
The vermin approached the cauldron of soup cautiously at first then with more confidence as hunger rippled through their bodies. Captain Santain and the hares backed off but still stood at a moment's notice as the vermin began to loudly stuff themselves.
Seabane cracked first grabbing a bowl and filling it to the brim, he carefully shuffled back to the fire and raised the bowl to his lips, and tilted his head back. Food dribbled down his chin as he greedily slurped down the brown broth. Marrow and Crooksnout elbowed each other as they fought for the ladle. Sathe stood back a safe distance silently picking up a bowl with her right paw.
Seabane didn't like the abbey, but if they made food like that everyday he could see himself living there permanently. The other vermin must have shared the same sentiment, greedily snarfing their food without a care who watched.
Slowly the soup began to work its magic. The trails of white and bright stars that peppered his vision began to disappear. The warmth in his stomach spread to his chest, arms, and tail.
While downing his third bowl Seabane heard a beast gruffly clear its throat behind him. He turned to see the badger holding several quilted blankets. Seabane instinctively swallowed and backed his chair closer to the fire.
"Take them." She said while handing them to Seabane. He balanced them in one paw while he held his bowl in the other.
"Be sure to keep them in good condition. If you need new ones, please let me know and I can arrange for them to be brought to you."
She looked at Marrow and handed him one that would've wrapped around Seabane at least three times.
"I don't ever want to see that sickening tattoo again!" The badger continued with a hardened edge in her voice. Marrow quickly wrapped the blanket over his shoulders.
"I see you all met Sister Beryl." Abbot Micah said as he walked to the badger's side.
"She is the loving fire that keeps Redwall warm. I hope you choose to stay on her good side."
"Yarr, I don't plan on finding out what's on the other," Seabane said without thinking. He had draped the blanket around his shoulders like Marrow and tried to hide under it after receiving a glare from the badger.
"Now while we're still waiting on our healer, I hope you'll be kind enough to tell us how you ended up at our gate." The abbot said while falling into a chair across from the vermin.
Seabane swallowed another mouthful of the stew.
"Aye told ya, we were attacked. We didn't have any time tah pack up what we had before flaming javelins rained down on our 'ead."
"Flaming javelins?" The mouse raised a questionable eyebrow.
"Spears of fire! Dey came from the blizzard widout warning! Almost took me ears off dey did!" Crooksnout said through mouthfuls.
"Do you know who attacked you?" Sister Beryl asked. Her eyes demanded nothing but absolute honesty.
"Err…No." Seabane stammered. "All we saw were glowing lights and a voice that told us tah leave. Then the javelins rained down on us."
The badger stared at him unblinking for several moments as she mulled the story over. Seabane hoped she didn't suspect anything and asked questions. Abbot Micah was far ahead of her.
"Did they say anything specific? Or give some sort of war cry? And how far were you from Redwall?"
Seabane winced when he heard the abbey's name, simultaneously deciding that he didn't want to tell them that he recognized a shrew war cry when he heard it. He couldn't guess who the Redwallers had allied with, and he didn't think it would be wise to admit such things.
"All dey did was call us out ov our tent and try and slay us."
"Hmmm... and how far from the Abbey were you?" Abbot Micah pressed.
Seabane looked at the other vermin. Sathe didn't look at him while Crooksnout shrugged.
"I dunno. We were running for a while. I think we were south of here."
"South? I thought we ran east?" Sathe asked, perking her ears up.
"No, we were north! Er, south of here." Seabane said his mind frantically trying to think through their blurred journey.
"I thought we went east," Crooksnout said, scratching his head.
"No yew idjit! Why would we go east?" Sathe snapped at him.
"I don't know seer, why didn't ye lead us since you knew bettah! Or better yet, why didn't ye see what was coming like Seabane did!" Crooksnout cracked back.
"Seabane didn't see anything. All his premonition did was lead us to a dirty red prison surrounded by these disgusting, flea-ridden, hares and a filthy stripedog!" She shouted back.
"Young lady!" Sister Beryl snapped at her. "I could care less what you think of me, but you will not speak of the abbey in that tone!"
To Seabane's horror, Sathe continued.
"Why not stripedog, because yer scared of a few vermin. We might be enough to slay the whole lot of ya when yer not lookin'. I've never understood how a group of weak fools could survive in a dirty little pit like this!"
"Shuddup!" Crooksnout, Marrow, and Seabane shouted at her. But it was too late.
Sister Beryl rose from her seat like a raging fire and strode across the room. Seabane could see a look of painful regret painted on Sathe's expression before the badger's paw connected with her cheek. The slap echoed off the stone floors, momentarily drowning out all other noises.
Sathe's head snapped to the side, and she silently stumbled out of her stool. Her soup flew out of her paw and clattered to the floor. She wore a momentary expression of childlike shock before it was replaced with fury. Before Sathe could respond Sister Beryl grabbed her cloak and hauled her back into her seat. Whipping her hood off in the process.
"Look at me ferret!" The badger's voice dripped with venom.
"You will never speak of those things while in these walls! If you ever say something like that again I'll break my pin over yer head!" She was a whisker away from Sathe.
Sathe looked like she would burst into angry tears or a vicious tirade. Thankfully for Seabane, she nodded.
Sister Beryl let her go and Sathe reeled back in horror. Turning Sister Beryl straightened out her smock and raised her chin but not before shooting a warning glare to the other vermin.
Crooksnout and Seabane scooted out of her way. Seabane could hear a low chuckle from Ruddy.
"Is there something you'd like to say fox?" Sister Beryl snapped.
Thankfully the chuckling stopped. Seabane hoped it wasn't for the last time.
Captain Santain strolled up to Abbot Micah as Sister Beryl returned to her seat in angry silence.
"I think we've given them enough chances, wot. It's time we throw them out." Abbot Micah waved him off. The mouse looked far older than when the vermin arrived.
"Now your…friend mentioned a premonition. Could you tell us what that was about?"
"Seabane's a mad old rat." Sathe snapped. "He's the fool that led us to yer… home." Her eyes were filled with malice as she directed her glare toward the old corsair.
Sister Beryl whipped her head toward Sathe, but she smartly turned her glare back to the fire. Seabane opened his mouth to answer but the Abbot spoke before him.
"I'm not asking you, corsair. I'm asking your giant companion."
Marrow's red eyes widened, and he looked between Seabane and the Abbot.
"He can't speak mouse," Seabane answered after a pause.
"Why not?"
"I dunno, he must've been born that way."
"I'm sure he can say something," the Abbot continued with a haggard frown. "But it would certainly help you if he did. It might prevent Captain Santain from throwing you out of our dirty little pit."
A sickening smile wound across Captain Santain's face as the hares slowly stood from their seats. Terror flashed across the white rat's face.
"Now what's your name?"
Marrow squirmed and fidgeted in his seat. His claws dug into the side of his knees as he worked his mouth about, forming the sounds of his name. Seabane watched the mouse sit as stoically as a stone. Patiently waiting as he rested his chin on his paws.
"Ma-row." Marrow managed to force from his throat.
"Ahh well then Ma-row, tell me about your friends' premonition?"
Marrow continued to struggle. His mouth twisted and contorted as he tried to string thoughts and words together. Seabane and the others didn't know where the rat had come from or who his parents were. They had only known him as one of the many monsters from Zidar's horde, and an unwanted companion on their journey south.
Seabane thought back to when he first heard of the rat in passing. It was his first season under Zidars banner and the leaves on the largest of trees had begun to wither and die. There was a mink called Kirtag who used to be one of Seabane's companions. He was a drunk and arrogant beast always roaring for a brawl or a mug of ale, often at the same time. He had a nasty habit of getting into fights with some of the more threatening vermin in the horde and had the scars to prove it. One evening he returned to camp covered in mud with tears in his clothes. He had the stare of a poor beast who had just been plucked from a raging sea. When questioned by Seabane and others the mink said that he had been ambushed by a savage band of foxes. Most of those with him had been slain before they could unsheathe their weapons. The only reason Kirtag survived was that a giant white rat called Marrow happened to travel with them. The rat managed to fight back with enough ferocity to scatter the attackers. Kirtag told them that before retreating to camp he saw Marrow putting a poor fox in a headlock before popping his head clean off. He said the noise was like cracking a hazelnut with a hammer. The mink didn't look back after that. He counted at least six foxes lying in crumpled bloody heaps, with most likely several more soon to share their comrades' fate. The boastful mink never got too drunk after that, never wanting to cross claws with the massive rat who had inadvertently saved his life.
Seabane sadly smiled to himself, he would've loved to have brought Kirtag along with him. If only a dagger hadn't found its way between the mink's ribs. But now the great Marrow, who had never shown fear in battle and had brutally slain scores of beasts, trembled like a leaf at the old mouses questioning. Cold and hunger would do that to any beast, but Seabane was worried because his life also appeared to hang in the balance.
Captain Santain whistled and paced in circles behind the Abbot.
"It's getting mighty late, wot. Bettah start talking soon."
Marrow tried to ignore him, but his mouth worked at a faster pace. Seabane looked at the other vermin, Sathe stared daggers at the fire and Crooksnout seemed more focused on forcing soup down Fenril's throat. Albeit his teal eyes flickered over to Marrow with a worrisome expression. Herrik and Silvertongue lay covered in blankets and Ruddy sat slumped over on a table with his injured leg stretched out. A small pool of blood had formed beneath him.
Seabane looked back at the Abbot.
"Sah," He tried to put on his best Woodlander impression. "Aye don't think it's fair tah force the lad tah work like that. If ye want me tah tell ye the truth about me premonitions I'll do that, no trouble. But please don't humiliate the beast just 'cause ye feel like it."
Much like at the squirrel's cottage, Seabane received confused glares from the woodlanders. He hoped it didn't come off as insulting.
"Don't try and buy him time rat!" Captain Santain snapped.
Seabane clenched his jaw shut, wishing he had his cutlass to slit the captain's throat. Seabane thought hares had to be the worst beasts in Mossflower. Loud, arrogant, and all-around annoying. Seabane had seen them laughing over a poor stoat as he desperately struggled to pull his guts back into his body. He gave no quarter when fighting those devils.
"I'm not buying anybeasts time rabbit! I'm j-"
"Leave horde. Go south. Fire, light." Marrow managed to blurt out. Seabane almost jumped out of his seat in surprise.
"So, our 'friends' are horde beasts!" Captain Santain announced as the Long Patrol edged closer.
"Whose horde?" Abbot Micah snapped at them.
Seabane began to feel a cold sweat trickle down the back of his neck.
"Zidar," Marrow responded.
"Where are they now?" Captain Santain demanded as the circle around the vermin grew tighter and tighter.
"Dead," Marrow answered.
"There north! Far to the north! We deserted them long ago!" Seabane couldn't control himself. His strained voice echoed off the ceiling high above them.
"We left but were chased-"
"And you led your enemies to our gate!" Captain Santain shouted, pulling his rapier free. Sister Beryl rose to her footpaws and grabbed her rolling pin. In the distance, Seabane could see a crowd of beasts gathering around the kitchen's entrance. Only Abbot Micah remained unmoving. His brow knitted in questionable thought.
"No yew idjit!" Seabane snapped back garnering the ire of the badger and hares. "We fled them and have been on the run for almost a moon!"
"And how do you know they didn't follow?" Sister Beryl asked, tightening her grip on the pin.
Seabane swallowed knowing that they wouldn't like his answer.
"We slayed them." The Long Patrol took another step toward them as the kitchen erupted in noise. Captain Santain and the other hares were claiming that the vermin had brought a horde to the gates of Redwall. While Sathe and Crooksnout called them idiots with their much more colorful vocabularies.
Seabane couldn't tell them the truth, he regretted telling them all that he already had. They would slay them if they knew about the squirrel's cottage. He despised all these pathetic beasts, the tempered hare captain, the terrifying badger, the curious Abbot, and the timid squirrel chef. Worst of all he had to think for these cowardly, egg-headed, flea-bitten horde rejects!
The red walls around Seabane blended into the glowing window reflecting the cascades of orange and yellow from the fire. Seabane whipped his head about trying to clear his thoughts and calm his mind. Unfortunately, the shouting clogged his ears increasing the pressure building in his head. Seabane's head spun, his vision filled with warm colors. The spinning stopped when he saw Ruddy's limp figure. Blood dripped from his wound. Drop after drop growing the pool of red beneath him. His eyes closed and mouth half open in a mournful yawn, his chest made no rising and falling motion.
"Ruddy?" Seabane asked amidst the noise. There was no response.
Like a kettle whose top had been on for too long, Seabane exploded at the beasts around him.
"Shuddup! Shuddup yew filthy curs!" Seabane screamed. Spittle flew from his mouth. He let go of his bowl and it flew out of his paw, almost striking Crooksnout. Soup splattered about the kitchen.
The other beasts fell silent at the sudden outburst, except for Captain Santain who pointed his rapier at Seabane's chest.
"Watch your tongue vermin before I cut it off!" Seabane ignored him and strode to the Abbot before any beast could stop him.
"Yew promised us a healer, now where is he!" Seabane demanded as he grabbed the Abbot's cloak. The mouse opened his mouth in a surprised 'O' and raised his paws in defense.
"Ruddy's dead because of yew scum!" Seabane howled in agony.
Before Seabane could say any more he spotted a flash of blue silver. Seabane released his grip and staggered back. He felt a burning tear from the outside of his lip to his ear and fell crying out in pain. When he opened his eyes, he saw Captain Santain standing over top of him, the tip of his rapier covered in blood.
Sister Beryl moved in front of the Abbot wielding her pin. Marrow stepped up to drag Seabane away but quickly had half a score of spearheads pointed at him. Crooksnout and Sathe made no effort to move.
"Good job idjit!" Crooksnout hissed as he pulled his kits closer to him.
Seabane instinctively raised a claw to his face and found it covered in blood. That seemed to shock him back to his senses. His gut twisted about as he realized what he had done.
Seabane opened his mouth to apologize but Captain Santain stomped on his stomach. Seabane gasped in agony.
"I don't think yer healer's coming vermin!"
"But I just got here." A disappointed voice said from behind the badger.
From his place on the ground, Seabane couldn't see the source of the voice, but he saw a gnarled bulb poking over Sister Beryl's shoulder.
"Your services aren't needed anymore, Miss Mildred. I apologize for bothering you." Captain Santain said over his shoulder. The bloody point of the rapier pressed against Seabane's throat.
Seabane wanted to scream at this vapid Mildred, because of her laziness they all were to die.
"Oh, poppycock! I'm wide awake now and it would be wrong to let any visitor go unattended. It would disappoint Martin and all that he stood for!" The voice came from an old squirrel who hobbled into view.
She wore a dark green cloak with several pockets sewn into the side. The pockets were overflowing with leaves and roots and other things one would expect a healer to carry. She slung a large bag over her shoulder. It was made from tree bark and weaved plant fibers sewn together with twine. She hobbled past Sister Beryl leaning heavily on her tall staff.
"Mildred, don't go any closer!" Sister Beryl demanded.
"Oh, don't worry about this lot. They're as bad as spoiled meadow cream puddin'." the old squirrel said as she slowly wound her way through the bowls and chairs that littered the stone floor. The badger didn't attempt to stop the squirrel which scared Seabane the more he pondered it.
"Now lovelies, which one of ye needs me magic the most!" the squirrel said, triumphantly thrusting her staff into the floor with a crack. Her eyes passed over the vermin with a mothering interest. When she saw Sathe her eyes widened, and she broke into a wide toothy grin.
"Good evening lovely! Fancy, seeing you here!"
Sathe looked back at her in abject horror.
For a moment no beast said a word. The Redwaller's were as perplexed at this odd creature as the vermin were.
"The fox!" Seabane managed to croak before Captain Santain stomped on his chest. Seabane wheezed and coughed violently. He could feel blood trickling into his ear.
"Oh goodness, what happened to him?" Mildred said as she started with a huff.
"Poor dearie looks like he's a tad younger than you, Egbert."
"Ma'am he could be dangerous, wot." The young hare who had asked earlier about Ruddy joined the old squirrel as she reached the fox. He tried stepping in front of the squirrel and pointed his spear at Ruddy. Seabane wanted to club him to death.
"Not dangerous, just unconscious." She quipped as she stepped past the hare, tossing her bag on the table next to him. The hare stayed close but raised the tip of his spear to allow the squirrel to inspect the vermin.
"Miss Mildred I'd kindly ask that you leave that bloody beast to his fate. We were just about tah throw this scum out." Captain Santain said with a bit of a flourish.
"On whose orders?"
"Why the Abbots of course."
"Don't lie to me, Captain!" She snapped about and gave the hare a deadly glare.
"You know I despise liars and we both know that the Abbot gave you no such authority or order to expel our guests! These beasts are more scared than they wish to admit, and I would hope you have the wisdom and patience to see that." The squirrel held her stern glare before returning to address Ruddy's wound. Captain Santain snapped his mouth shut.
"Would you be a dearie and pour me a cup of water, Egbert." She said turning to the young hare.
Egbert looked between Captain Santain and the squirrel before putting his spear aside and searching for a cup and a pitcher of water.
Seabane watched the squirrel as she gingerly raised Ruddy's leg onto the table. In a single fluid motion, she removed the old bandages before cleaning the wound with moss. Digging into her satchel she removed a long strand of thick chord. Rapidly she wrapped it several times around the fox's upper thigh before having the hare, who returned with a small wooden goblet, pull it tight and tie it off. Reaching into a pocket she pulled out a few sprigs of yarrow, what appeared to be hazel, and an odd berry Seabane didn't recognize. To Seabane's surprise, she stuck the plants into her mouth and chewed before spitting the mixture onto a small square cloth. Taking the cloth, she applied it to the wound before pulling a large wrap out from one of her many pockets and tightly wrapping it around his leg. With nimble claws, she pulled a small fur pouch that held a fine white powder and carefully sprinkled a pinch of it into the goblet. She pulled the unconscious fox's head back and poured the concoction down his throat. This was all done at such a rapid pace that Seabane could barely process it all. This squirrel was a real healer, not a frog-mouthed fool they had been stuck with for the past fortnight.
Captain Santain looked down at Seabane and shook his head with a disappointed smile. The hares lowered their spears murmuring quietly amongst themselves as they wondered what to do next.
"Miss Mildred," Captain Santain's voice was oily. "These vermin have done nothing to repay our kindness. Threatening to slay us while we sleep and attacking the Abbot when we have done nothing but ask them questions. Why do ye want tah waste your skills helping such horrid beasts?"
Mildred sighed as she hobbled over to Silvertongue and Herrik. She knelt and placed her paw on their foreheads.
"Tell me, Captain, what would you do if you found a gull chick who had fallen out of its mother's nest? Would you try and return it or leave it to die?" She said as she placed her large ear on Herrik's chest.
Unperturbed, the hare didn't take long to respond.
"Why I'd climb the tree to return it, of course. Or take it back to Salamandastron to give it a home."
"You would do that even if its mother took you as a threat and tore you from the tree? If it thrashed about and struck you in fear? Even if it grew up and left the mountain without a word never to be seen again?"
"Yes ma'am. It's helpless and in need. I don't know what it'll do after, but I can't let it suffer, wot." Captain Santain said while puffing his chest.
"Ha! Captain Santain you are a hypocrite and a liar! How is the gull different from these beasts?" She gestured to Herrik and Silvertongue.
"They're vermin! Vermin who have killed and will kill once they're given an opportunity." Captain Santain spat back.
"I don't know if you saw, but this one was about to harm the abbot!" Captain Santain pointed an accusing claw at Seabane. "The same beast who had taken him and his merry crew in!"
"He's concerned about his friend. I'm sure you'd feel the same if you were in his place."
"I'm not comparing myself to this rotten scum!"
Mildred quickly removed Silvertongue's bandages and replaced them with clean ones. "Why wouldn't you? These kind beasts saved the life of a squirrel babe while their own starved and suffered."
Captain Santain laughed aloud. "Aye, an Sister Beryl's a giant pike, wot! Vermin don't care about squirrels!"
"The ferret's hiding a squirrel babe under her cloak," Mildred continued. "Why don't ye check." The hare's laughter died down as the Redwaller's appeared to consider it.
Seabane looked at Sathe, she had gone pale. The baby squirrel had completely slipped his mind. But how could this old squirrel know? Seabane let out a low groan furious that Sathe had somehow managed to find another way to put them in imminent danger.
"Miss Mildred, how in Martin's name would you know?" Abbot Micah asked, finally regaining his voice.
"It seemed fit to go forage before the weather got worse. I found this sweetie about half a day's walk south of the Abbey, past old Braddok's home. The dearie was scared of her own shadow but was trying to nurse the poor thing."
Sister Beryl strode up to Sathe. Rolling pin still in her paw. "Where's the babe?"
Sathe wore a worried face before cracking a wicked smile for the faintest moment.
"Shhhhhh!" Sathe snapped back. "She's sleeping."
"Show me." Abbot Micah peered around the badger.
Slowly Sathe ruffled her arms under her cloak for a tense moment, before producing a small bundle of swaddling wrapped around a dark-furred, sleeping, squirrel. The badger's stern expression quickly softened. Seabane saw the old mouse's shoulders drop.
Sathe turned from the abbeybeasts and sauntered towards the soup.
"We stumbled upon this poor wretch several days ago. We searched but couldn't find its mother. Seabane and the others wanted to leave it. But I couldn't let the poor thing die, couldn't I?" Sathe's self-aggrandizing tone grated off the stone floors.
She poured herself a bowl of the warm soup and tried to spoon-feed the squirrel.
"I met… Mildred before we were attacked. She helped me find vittles for the lettle thing." Sathe put on a sickening air of motherhood. Seabane was as surprised as he was disgusted that the abbeybeasts believed her.
"Please give me the squirrel?" Sister Beryl reached out. "We can take far better care of it than you can."
Sathe scowled and turned away. "Why? So yew can hit me over the head with that pin? Or throw me out tah freeze while yew kin claim to be the 'loving flame of Redwall?' I don't think so badger!"
"She's lying!" Captain Santain called out. "The beast threatened tah slay all o' us! Don't fall for her tricks!"
"Shuddup rabbit!" Sathe barked back at him.
Captain Santain and Sathe began to yell at each other before a resounding crack filled the room.
Sister Beryl had broken the rolling pin from its handle as she slammed it against the kitchen's heavy ash tables. She looked back at Sathe with motherly eyes.
"Please," Sister Beryl started.
"No! I've grown attached to it and I'm not gonna-!"
"Sergeant take that squirrel-!" Captain Santain barked at one of his hares, spittle flying from his mouth.
"That's enough!" Abbot Micah erupted from his relative silence. His voice echoed throughout the room.
"There's been far too much excitement for one night." He said, rubbing his eyes. "Take the injured to the infirmary and the others to the dungeon. You may hold on to the babe for now. We'll figure this all out in the morning."
"But we haven't done anything!" Crooksnout snapped.
"We don't know that!" Abbot Micah responded. "A band of vermin shows up at our gate in the middle of the night after being attacked by an unknown enemy! Caring for a squirrel they found in the middle of the forest! We've all had quite enough unsettling events for a season, much less a night! A clear conscience will help us make sense of this tomorrow."
Crooksnout went silent, hopefully seeing the mouse's reasoning and realizing he was lucky enough just to be inside. While the other hares lowered their weapons Captain Santain didn't move.
"That's an order, Captain."
Captain Santain looked furious but stepped away from the rat barking at him to get up. Seabane scrambled to his footpaws while the hare sheathed his rapier.
"Don't let him out of yer sight." He ordered two of the hares as he stormed from the kitchen.
Seabane searched for a rag or bandage to stop his bleeding as the hares moved to make a makeshift stretcher for Silvertongue, Ruddy, and Herrik. Mildred bounced between the Redwallers and the injured vermin. Cheerfully chatting with the beasts before handing Seabane a clump of moss and a clean rag for his cut. Shortly thereafter the three unconscious vermin were carried off.
"Now abbot I would like to take this lovely with me to the infirmary for the night," Mildred said, gesturing towards Sathe.
"And why is that?"
"She's been their healer. I need her to best help these beasts."
Abbot Micah rubbed his eyes as he nodded his approval. "I want you to have a guard or two. I'm sure you can handle our friends, but for the sake of others who'll inevitably get involved we should make certain to appear to be in control."
"Whatever you insist." The squirrel did a small curtsey and spun back to the other beasts calling for Egbert.
Seabane didn't know how this peculiar squirrel seemed to know everything about the deserters, and he still didn't know how she and Sathe knew each other. Could it be because they're both seers? She certainly didn't seem like an entitled brat like Sathe. Seabane decided that Marrow and he could squeeze the information from her later.
Crooksnout staggered to his footpaws his kits clung tightly to his legs.
"I'm injured, can I go wid yew too?"
"Of course, dearie! I wouldn't want to separate such a lovely family!"
Crooksnout looked slightly abashed by the compliment.
Abbot Micah looked at the hare who stood guard next to Marrow.
"Sergeant, once you've locked them away, see to it there's no trouble in the infirmary."
"Yes, Abbot." The hare responded flatly.
Crooksnout jeered at Seabane as he and Sathe were led off to the infirmary by Mildred, Sister Beryl, and a pawful of hares. Seabane and Marrow followed them out led by the hare Sergeant and Abbot Micah before turning right and dropping out of sight of the others. The halls were empty but the moaning wind blasting the glass windows echoed down the long stone building.
Abbot Micah stopped and turned to the vermin after a few steps.
"I hope you beasts can excuse me. I haven't slept all night and I know there will be much work to be done in the morning. Sergeant Danburr will see you to your chamber."
"Ye mean our prison." Seabane shot back.
"It's better than out there, wot." Sergeant Danburr nodded toward the deadly cold that fought bitterly to get inside.
"I certainly hope you're telling us the truth," The Abbot said as he looked up at the two rats. "There seems to be a reason you're here, and I hope to find out why sooner rather than later." The Abbot didn't sound accusatory, but his voice held a slight twinge of terror.
"We couldn't let the poor thing die." Seabane felt the bile build in his stomach as he spoke. Abbot Micah looked at him with unbelieving eyes.
"Neither could I." The abbot said as he turned around and bid them goodnight.