Seabane stirred on the dirt floor of his cell. His eyes flickered open for a moment before shutting them for several long minutes. He didn't know how long he'd been asleep. Asleep or knocked unconscious, he couldn't remember which and didn't think it mattered. The abbey's great bells rang in his ears as a hammer repeatedly struck his skull. After another several long, agonizing minutes he was able to silence the ringing and lessen the hammering before memories flooded him. He pressed his cheek into the dirt as he began to cry, a mournful howl escaping his lips and resonating off the walls of stone. The only beast he had ever seen as kin was dead. For the second time that day Seabane wept until he fell asleep.
Samuel raced down the abbey's stone corridors as fast as his injured paw could take him. He clutched Brin's paw in his own as he dragged her along. His panting and the pattering of paw steps were all he heard. The pain was manageable, not that running on a broken toe was anything easy. But he supposed others who had come before him had endured far worse. The otter Denya had managed to scare off a horde of vermin warriors even after being struck by several arrows. Or that's how the story was told. Nevertheless, he should be considered a warrior for enduring all this hassle. Informing the abbot of his mistake would ease any fears of an impending attack. It also might prevent the vermin stragglers from being thrown out. He wondered if other heroes from the old tales would praise him. Would Matthias or Grath Longfletch would call him brave or stupid? He certainly didn't see himself as being a fool, but that was his ego talking. Eli on the other paw might not agree.
Samuel slid to a halt as he rushed into the great hall. Brin, not expecting the sudden stop slammed into the mouse. The two tumbled to the floor in a jumbled mess. Thankfully his injured toe avoided any damage.
"Samuel what in Martin's name are you doing!" The mouse lost his grasp on her paw as she pulled herself off of him. "You're leaving a trail of blood through the whole abbey!"
"Do you think Eli will listen to me?" Samuel asked, ignoring her as he slowly got to his footpaws. A few beasts scattered about the hall curiously glanced in their direction. Surprised by the clatter that tore through the uneasy veil of silence.
"Listen to what? I don't know what's possessed you to run about like a madbeast but I deserve to know!"
"I mean I can't be wrong, and I'm trying to help so there's no harm in me telling him is there?"
"Tell him what Samuel!" Brin roared. "Tell me or I'll find Sister Beryl and she'll knock it out of ya! Or I'll get Mildred and she'll straighten you out!"
"The vermin!" Samuel snapped in response, before quieting himself. Ashamed for uttering such a horrid word in a hallowed place.
"The vermin!" Samuel said again, leaning in close so as not to be heard by prying ears. "We ambushed them last night! The cloaked ferret, the corsair, the giant white rat we are the reason they're in the abbey!"
Hearing the words come from his mouth terrified Samuel more than he anticipated. Momentary dread cascaded across Brin's face.
"What vermin? We didn't see any yesterday."
"What? We attacked them and drove them here! They weren't part of a horde, they were just starving bandits! I can't believe how stupid we were!" Samuel's voice began to rise before Brin put a livid paw to his mouth to silence him.
Samuel realized Brin must have recognized the vermin as well. He looked at the few beasts milling about in the long hall. None were close enough to hear them, but one could never be too careful. Eli would be furious if word got out. It would be even worse if his own loose-tongued brother let everybeast know. Samuel looked back towards the tapestry of Martin the Warrior. The formidable mouse clad in armor. Flames curled about his footpaws from the tip of his fearsome sword. Each thread meticulously capturing the heroism and valor of Martin's legendary deeds. The grand tapestry is more than a work of art, but a living testament to the indomitable spirit of Redwall. Redwall, the unwavering light of all that is good in Mossflower! What would he do? Samuel felt Martin cast his stare down to him, with a frown upon his lips.
Brin began to pull him out of the great hall, toward the hallway they had just run from. Samuel quickly snapped out of his trance. He opened his mouth to protest, but Brin's resolute expression curtailed any resistance he wished to offer. The grand tapestry disappeared behind the doorframe before Samuel built the courage to speak.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Back to the infirmary to get you off your paw, and to apologize to Mildred." She snapped without looking at him.
Samuel tried to pull back to no avail.
"It doesn't even hurt that much."
"You're lying! It's all across your face."
"But this is more important! Besides I'm the recorder the abbot-"
"Enough about your stupid job!" Brin whipped about her tail slapping Samuel in the face.
"I don't care if you think you're the abbot's voice of wisdom! You're not and everybeast knows it!" Brin snarled with a strained scorn.
"You're hurt and not using yer head! Abbot Micah, Eli, Captain Santain, and Sister Beryl can all handle these guests better than you or I, or even Mildred can. These vermin could slay you without a broken paw in a heartbeat if they wanted! They're evil and it runs in their blood. I know you think you can but you can't change them!"
"I'm not trying to change them! They were going to starve!"
"So we should've given them food so that they can attack Dane's holt? Or so that they can slay some unsuspecting travelers? Our mistake was that we let them escape last night!"
Samuel shrunk against her fury.
"Brin they were helpless and-"
"Helpless! They're not helpless! They kidnapped a baby squirrel!"
"What?" Samuel stammered.
"The ferret, she's caring for a squirrel babe like it's her own! An Mildred want's me to help the evil wench take care of it!"
"That's not a bad thing ... I think."
"Not bad? They orphaned the poor thing, how is that not bad! The ferret probably murdered its family and now has the gall to come here and ask for help!"
"How do you know they did that? And why would Mildr-"
"How do you know they didn't! You're the historian, Castle Floret fell to a band of vermin they took pity on. Slagar the Cruel kidnapped Redwall's dibbuns. Those are stories you should know!"
Samuel opened his mouth but Brin ran overtop him.
"When have vermin done something out of the kindness of their heart? Never! When have they changed, truly changed to good? Never! When have they shown mercy? Never! They're all evil, rotten to their core! Even Esther knew that but she didn't care and it got her killed!"
Samuel instinctively pulled away at his sister's name. Brin snapped her mouth shut her eyes wide with regret. She loosened her grip on his paw.
"Samuel," She stammered. "I'm sorry. I'm just… the baby squirrel… I don't want you to get hurt."
Samuel had already turned from her. He wanted to curl up into a ball in his library and vanish from the eyes of vermin and woodlanders. He wished he never went on that trip to Dane's holt, that they never had lain eyes on the vermin. More than anything he wished his sister was still here.
"Samuel?" He felt Brin's paw on his shoulder but with a ragged breath, shrugged it off.
"Esther tried to do the right thing. I should try as well. "
"Samuel I'm so sorry." Brin began. But he couldn't hear her as the mouse was already in the great hall. His paw continued to make a bloody trail as Martin's determined eyes watched him from afar.
Sorry for the long delay, classes, and life have taken priority the past few months. This chapter is one of my shortest, but I am glad it's done as it has been a thorn in my side for quite some time.
As always please let me know what you think and what I can improve on. Any and all feedback is appreciated!