Seabane huffed as he put a pawful of snow into his mouth to calm his breathing. The rational side of the rat chastised him for sealing his doom. Even if he managed to beat the mouse, Dokkur, Maslow, Bushby and the rest of the furious crowd wouldn't let him leave. They wanted him dead, and Eli wanted Ruddy dead. Seabane supposed the least he could do was stop Eli from slaying the fox; he figured he'd be at peace when his time came.
What was it that the mole had said? 'fate had marked 'ee for a slayin', whether 'ee stayed or skedaddled.' I suppose the blind beast was right.
Seabane scanned the sea of vengeful faces but couldn't find either Grumm or Marrow. The mole was probably far too old for this kind of thing, and if Marrow was smart he would've disappeared to avoid the woodlander's wrath. Seabane spotted Dokkur slinking through the crowd with a javelin in his paw and a steel sword tied to his hip. He broke into the ring and tossed Seabane's cutlass to the snow in front of the rat. Seabane greedily snatched it.
"Arr once aye slay yer hero I'm gonna slit yer throat otter!"
Dokkur snarled at the rat. "I doubt I need to worry about ye. I'll just make sure that fox is resting in pieces at the bottom of the pond along with the ferret and the rest of yew vermin!"
"Shuddup riverdog!" Seabane snapped as the otter fell into the blend of beasts a vile smile stretched across his face.
Seabane noted that once he slew Eli, he would have to cut Dokkur down as well.
"Prepare to die, vermin!" Eli shouted as he stepped into the ring. The mouse wore a dark purple vest which seemed far too thin for the weather. He also wore breeches that were tied just above the stump of wood that protruded from his leg. Eli carried the massive sword in his gloved paw with ease, swishing it around as Conrad had done prior to fighting Ruddy. The mouse's gold eyes burned hot for a fight and between his torn ear and stump leg Seabane could understand how a young mouse had been given a title as lofty as 'Champion of Redwall.'
"Yarr gonna regret not stopping the hare mousie!"
Eli ignored him and turned to the crowd. "Now pay close attention as I show ye how to crush yer vermin foes tha best."
"Shuddup mouse. Yer just another knobheaded woodland whelp!"
"Yer kind is best as worm feed!"
"Yarr, and ye knows what we call yer kind on tha seas? Slaves!"
"Shut yer ugly mug rat! Yer mother was the tavern tart and fathers a slug!"
"If yew two are done yapping like a bunch of ol' nannies can we get started? I don't wanna miss lunch so make it quick, Eli!" Dokkur shouted.
"Yarr stay out o' this riverdog! I'll gut yew like a fish if ye dare tah step b'tween us!"
"Then fight!" Dokkur shouted and the two beasts charged at each other.
Seabane swung his cutlass like a mad beast as he tried to force the mouse back. Eli held his ground and parried each of Seabane's strokes with a flick of his wrists. He wielded his longsword like it was half its size. Seabane didn't care or notice how effortlessly his opponent was moving as he continued to try and break Eli's guard. He expected the mouse to move about with a visible limp like Ferris had but that wasn't the case. Roaring the rat brought down the smaller blade onto the mouse but was blocked at the last moment as his cutlass slid along the sword's edge with a deadly hiss. With a grunt, Eli locked Seabane's blade against his hilt and pushed the rat back with a hidden strength. The corsair bumbled for his footing as the mouse pressed forward slashing about in a slow yet thunderous manner. Seabane managed to dodge a blow from the mouse that would have cut him in two at the waist. There was an opening for the rat but before he could seize it Eli slashed again with tremendous speed. Seabane could only just get his cutlass in front of him to parry the blow with a clang or he would've been slain. Noticing the opening once more, Seabane closed the distance and struck out with his cutlass. Using the momentum from his previous strike Eli threw himself into the frigid snow rolling away from the rat before slashing after him. Seabane yelped and jumped back as the blade whizzed past his navel, slicing through his cloak. The rat steadied himself and pointed his cutlass at the mouse keeping several paces of snow between the two of them.
Seabane panted heavily, each breath another blinding puff of white obscuring his vision. Eli slowly rose to his footpaws his mouth closed in a cold grimace, steam puffing from his nose. In a flash, Eli drove toward the rat, his sword aimed for the vermin's heart. Seabane bolted back, parrying away each jab and cut. The cold twang of steel rose above the abbey's high walls. Seabane found it was becoming more difficult to block the mouse's heavy blows. Each one was like a hammer numbing his arm little by little. There was hardly any time for him to outthink his opponent either. There was no rock, tree, or obstacle he could put between himself and the mouse: only the trampled slick snow and the ring of beasts that surrounded him. Beasts Eli wouldn't dare try and hit.
With a renewed energy Seabane hacked at the mouse, momentarily ceasing his powerful forward assault. With the mouse having paused, Seabane turned and bolted towards the ring of beasts behind him praying that he didn't mistake his opponent's gentleness for weakness. The muscular red-furred squirrel, along with a lithe she-otter and a stout shrew stared blankly at the rat who charged at them. The otter was the first to react, leveling a staff at Seabane and commanding him to stop. Seabane responded by chopping the staff in two. Their expressions quickly turned to terror thinking that the vermin intended to slay them.
"Stop vermin!" Eli screamed, his voice dripping in horror.
Seabane drove his shoulder into the otter, sending her flying to her back as the shrew leaped out of the way. The squirrel grabbed Seabane but was trampled by the mouse on the rat's tail.
"Don't run from me scum!" Eli barked in his ear, far closer than Seabane would have liked.
Seabane spun around just in time to parry a blow that sent him tumbling into the snow with a shout. The rat rolled around avoiding a jab that pined his cloak to the ground. Reacting swiftly, he slashed at Eli but was stopped as his wrist was caught in midair by the mouse. The old Corsair's arm felt like it was made of seaweed as the two beasts struggled for control of the weapon.
"Die mouse!" Seabane shouted as he threw a fist into Eli's jaw with his free claw. Redwall's champion lurched to the left driving Seabane's sword to the ground as he pulled his own free from the earth. Terrified, the searat kicked the mouse away, scrambling back on all fours to distance himself from Eli. Seabane sprung upright as the mouse struggled to regain his senses. The rat desperately threw himself onto the mouse. Hacking and slashing he couldn't land any significant blows although he kept the mouse on his knees. However, Redwall's champion was a foe who refused to be beaten and parried each strike with relative ease, although the look on his face appeared to show his exertion and discomfort. Finally, Seabane managed to break the mouse's guard by kicking him in the chest. Eli slumped forward grimacing as he held his stomach. As Seabane raised his cutlass for a killing blow, he spotted a blur whirring toward his head. The rat bolted back as a javelin screamed past his nose, singing his whiskers.
Dokkur barreled into the rat knocking him away from Eli with a torrent of curses.
"I told yew to stay outta this riverdog!" Seabane snapped as he threw the otter off him.
Dokkur slid to a stop before charging straight at the rat. The otter had a wild look Seabane had seen before in the more troubled members of the horde like Herrik.
"Die yew vermin scum!" Dokkur screamed as he swung at the rat's head. Seabane dodged and jabbed at his stomach which Dokkur parried before slashing at the corsair's chest. The two beasts hacked at each other, cursing their ancestors as their blades clashed and boomed like thunder. Seabane noted that Dokkur was trying to bash his way through the rat's guard but didn't have the skill beyond his strength to do so. He also noted that the otter had lost his initial wave of strength after the first several strikes, and his swipes were becoming sloppy and weak. Knowing that he could use that to his advantage he purposefully lowered his guard for a moment. There was a momentary flash of acknowledgment in Dokkur's eyes. He had taken the bait.
The otter raised the sword with two paws and brought it down toward Seabane's head. In a fluid motion, Seabane met Dokkur's blade with his own twisting his wrist so that he could step aside the blade as it caught the cutlass's pommel. Seabane closed the distance, forcing himself between the otter and his blade. With his free arm, he wrapped it around Dokkur's two extended arms as he pressed himself into the otter. Now he was close enough that he could smell the brutes most recent meal. Dokkur cursed in the rat's ear when he realized he couldn't move his sword. Seabane tightened his grip on the young otter's arms and twisted, jerking the beast around as his sword fell from his paws. Seabane spun him about until he heard a pop and the otter cried out in pain before tossing the beast over his leg. Seabane raised his cutlass above his head and brought it down for the killing blow. With a twang and a grunt, it was caught a whisker length from the otter's throat by Eli's sword.
Eli roared as he quickly threw Seabane's blade to the side and slashed. Seabane parried and blocked and parried again. Each clash of steel loosened his grip little by little. Eli was as ferocious as a wildcat and Seabane was finding it more and more difficult to keep up. The mouse's eyes were bloody red and bore into the rat as if he hoped to tear out his still-beating heart. With impending dread Seabane dove towards the South wall to avoid a savage swipe. Scrambling to his footpaws he continued to block attack after attack quickly losing ground until his tail brushed against the wall. With a savage yell, Eli brought the sword down on Seabane who held his cutlass above his head with both paws. The mouse struck the cutlass over and over and over again. Seabane's arms slowly fell towards his head.
"For Redwall!" Eli cried as he brought the sword thundering down one final time. There was a terrible crack and to Seabane's horror, the blade of his cutlass splintered into three parts.
"Wait no! Please!" Seabane began as he backed away in a panic raising his paws for mercy. Eli's eyes were blood red as he charged forward jabbing at the rat. Seabane had the sense to sidestep the thrust at the last moment as Eli drove his sword into the stone wall.
In a final desperate move, Seabane struck out with all his might, landing a blow on Eli's nose. The mouse didn't flinch as blood squeezed through the rat's claws. Eli pulled the sword from the wall as a massive shadow overtook the two of them.
Before either beast knew it they were face down in the snow with a paw on the back of their necks and a knee digging into their spines. Seabane groaned in pain between blubbering pleas for mercy. Eli swore oaths and threatened death if Marrow didn't release them. When Seabane looked up, Abbot Micah's sandals were a whisker's length from his face.
"Why are you two fighting?" Abbot Micah asked, his voice was hollow as if he were inspecting the aftermath of a battle.
Seabane swallowed hard, as he tried to remember to breathe. Eli thrashed about striking Seabane by accident as if he were completely oblivious to the Abbot.
"Leggo of me yew vermin scum!"
"Eli, you need to calm yourself. You're making this far more embarrassing the more you struggle." Abbot Micah spoke as if he were trying to calm a furious child rather than Redwall's champion.
Hearing some reason in the Abbot's words Eli stopped trying to break free of the white rat's grasp. His face was still flushed, and a steady stream of blood trickled from his nose.
"Now are either one of you two going to tell me why in Martin's name you were trying to kill each other!" Abbot Micah demanded. His tired eyes filled with a momentary blast of fury.
"We were dueling," Seabane grunted under the weight of the white rat. "That's all."
"I thought Conrad and the fox were fighting?" Abbot Micah asked turning to Foremole Grumm who peaked out from behind the old mouse.
"They were but then the searat tried to kill Conrad!" Maslow barked before the mole could speak.
"The rat knocked 'em out before Eli ended the fight!" The otter Seabane had barreled into earlier added.
"Then 'e threatened tah slay us!" Shouted a hedgehog.
"Now Dokkur's hurt an Eli was about tah slay the rat!" Came from another angry voice. There was a general furious murmur from the crowd of beasts, yet none dared raise his or her voice at the abbot.
"Eli, I need you to calm down." The abbot said without any malice.
"I'm completely calm!" The mouse shouted.
"No, you're not. I can see the bloodwrath still has a bit of control over you. You need to pull yourself together."
The mouse huffed and puffed, his breath coming out of him in great white clouds of steam. The old abbot turned to Seabane with a serious look in his eyes.
"Why did you strike Conrad and why did you agree to a duel?"
"The hare was gonna kill Ruddy!"
"No, he wasn't, I had it under control!" Eli snapped.
"He raised his paws for mercy!"
"He didn't-"
"He did!"
"Why were those two allowed to fight?" Abbot Micah interjected motioning for Marrow to haul the two beasts upright. "Conrad's a seasoned warrior and the fox, well… isn't."
"The fox wanted one!" Eli barked before being gruffly pulled upright by the giant white rat. Seabane felt like a wet rag as Marrow hauled him up likewise. Marrow held them both by the scruff of their necks like they were freshly caught fish. Seabane thought he looked like a coat hung on a nail.
"Why did you let him? You of everybeast in this abbey should know how much of a foolish decision that was!"
"It was best they squashed any anger between them before the fox decided to act like Veil Sixclaw and murder Conrad without anybeast knowing."
"I swear on Martin's grave Eli, when I expect you to be wise about things you somehow manage to let me down." Abbot Micah's words looked as if they struck a chord with the mouse.
"He's a fox! He struck Bushby and threatened to kill Conrad and Bramble-"
"And why did he do that Eli?" The Abbot shouted, Seabane could see several beasts jump when the old mouse raised his voice.
"It's in his blood to cause trouble! He's the one who escalated things."
The abbot shook his head. "That's not what happened, and you know it."
"Why does it matter who did what, eh?" Maslow snapped. "The fox struck first. There're no pulling punches or taking back words. He should be slain!"
"He's still a lad!" Seabane interjected. "He's barely old enough to find a mate, and jus' had everything 'e ever wanted ripped from his claws!"
"He'll lose more than his leg if he keeps acting like a vermin!" Eli cracked.
"Eli," Abbot Micah snapped. "That's enough. You're acting like a dibbun caught with his paw in a bowl of skilly 'n' duff."
"Abbot-"
"I said that's enough!" Abbot Micah boomed. Seabane suspected that the old Abbot's patience had been pushed to its limit as he launched into a tirade.
"I've asked you all multiple times to treat them with respect and kindness. I can't fathom that's such a difficult task, especially for a group of Redwallers, but this is ridiculous!"
"The fox-" Eli started.
"The fox did what? Respond to your goading? Lash out from your taunts! You're Redwall's champion! You must set an example for the rest of us to follow."
"I didn't say anything to him!" Eli tried to defend himself.
"You didn't say anything and that's the problem!" Abbot Micah snapped back. "You failed the fox which is why you've decided to lash out at Seabane."
"He attacked Conrad. He interfered-"
"He interfered because you didn't!" Abbot Micah boomed. The crowd remained silent for several moments as the abbot let the weight of his words sink into the mouse.
"Eli, you've grown up in Redwall. You've walked these halls since you were a dibbun. You've laughed, cried, fought, sung, and experienced all life has to offer within these walls, and I have seen you grow into the beast that we all love and respect. Believe me, when I tell you that your anger isn't toward the rat or the fox, it's toward yourself! You're mad because Seabane had the heart to try and stop things before they got out of control. He risked his life to stop a fight that you never should've let happen!"
Seabane glanced at the mouse. The red tint in his eyes was gone and he looked at the abbot's footpaws as he was scolded.
"You're angry because you're guilty of letting the fox fight a battle you knew he couldn't win. You know the pain he's feeling better than any beast in Mossflower!" An embarrassed and anguished tone had crept into his voice. "What were you thinking?
"What were any of you thinking?" Abbot Micah turned and asked the fighting beasts behind him after Eli's silence. "You're here to protect those who can't protect themselves. To shield the vulnerable from evil that threatens to harm them. Well, what did any of you do to protect the fox? Nothing! You did worse than nothing! You searched for any way to take out your anger on him! You egged him on, goaded him, and forced him into a corner until he lashed out and acted exactly like you. You're disgraceful and nothing more than bullies!"
"But what of the rules?" Dokkur asked, his putrid voice breaking through the silence followed by the Abbot's charge. "The fox asked to duel, even after Eli had the two apologize. Everybeast agreed to the fight, save the rat. Then he struck Conrad, and threatened to kill the rest of us!"
"The fox never should've been allowed to fight. But let me ask you this Dokkur. Why was the corsair the only beast who seemed to care about doing what's right?"
"Doing right? How? He broke the rules!" Dokkur snapped. "The rules that you and Eli set!"
"The rules were made to prevent any vermin who wished to take advantage of our kindness from harming someone." Abbot Micah responded. "Seabane and his crew have done everything we've asked of them and more, yet this is how we treat them?"
Dokkur didn't say anything but shuffled in place cringing under the withering glare of Abbot Micah.
"Why do I need to make a rule for you to be kind? Doing what's right is done regardless of who it's toward or the circumstances. I'm ashamed I'm forced to remind you of that."
The crowd remained silent as the abbot motioned to Marrow to put Eli and Seabane down.
"Today's training is over. I hope you all can think about what you've done wrong today and vow to never do it again." Abbot Micah lectured the crowd.
"But we haven't-" Dokkur began to protest.
"Listen to the Abbot, Dokkur." Eli cut his pupil off before he could finish. With disappointed faces all about the crowd, the beasts slowly began to disburse.
"As for you Eli. I think you should spend some time with your brother." Abbot Micah said as he grabbed the mouse's arm and pulled him toward the Great Hall like a naughty dibbun.
Seabane watched the two walk off as the other beasts around him averted their eyes. Foremole Grumm walked up to the rat wiping his claws on his vest.
"Burr aye, oi haven't seen Abb't Micah that angry in seasons!"
"Where'd yew two go? I had to fight that mouse all by meself!" Seabane snapped.
A sharp pain ripped through his heart. "I lost me cutlass! That mouse shattered it!" Seabane gawked in disbelief.
"Marrow an moiself grabbed Abbot Micah while ye 'cided tah make things wurse." Foremole Grumm said as he flicked at the rat's ear. "'cides yer weppin ain't as important as yer throat!"
"Aye saved Ruddy. Dats what mattahs." Seabane said, trying to convince himself more than anyone else.
"Burr aye, an ye almost got yerself slain too iv Marrow didn't stop 'ee." Foremole Grumm retorted. "'Member what oi warned 'ee about doin' earlier?"
"Don't think like a hordebeast."
"Yep. That's tha wun."
"Yarr, then what would ye hav' done ye brilliant mole!" Seabane snapped.
"Snag Abbot Micah fer ye." Foremole Grumm chuckled, "Woi yes oi are a genius aren't oi."
Seabane rolled his eyes at the mole, which the mole noted and ushered him toward the log.
"But oi be glad tah see 'ee in one piece lad, oi couldn't carve this whole canoe by meself!"
As always please let me know what you think and what I can improve on. Any and all feedback is appreciated!