User blog:SaynaSLuke/The Warriors Begining



''The mighty Lord who owns the blade,

''And acquaintance of old,

''Will war long with the Lord self-made,

''Where sun turns sea to gold.

''The warrior maid with golden fur,

''Will come and help them fight.

''And even when strife is no more,

''Lingers sorrow black as night.

''Whoever hears and heeds this cry,

''To march off into war,

''The question is; Who will die?

''Whose blood will stain this shore?

Note
This is the first book in a trilogy called The Unsung Heroes

Book 1: The Warrior's Beginning (in progress, rewritten version of Martin the Warrior (book)

Book 2: Four Warriors Cometh (not started, rewritten version of Mossflower)

Book 3: The Prophesy Fulfilled (not started, rewritten version of The Legend of Luke

To my readers:
There are a few things you might want to know about this story, just so it doesn't come as a shock. This is a rewritten version of Martin the Warrior (book) It has horses in it, and a few rather fantastical things also. (not to mention, when I say this is rewritten, I mean, rewritten. I have totally disregarded BJ's plan for the story, and made my own. It does contain fragments of the original plot, but it has changed a lot. I have even gone as far as to change the geographical lay of the land somewhat.) Still, I think some of you might find this interesting. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Best wishes -Sayna

Sometimes you have to wonder how it could of happened. How it might of happened. How it should of happened. Sometimes you have to ask, Why did this happen? Should this have happened? Did this have to happen? Lend your ears to me for a time, all you creatures who dare to dream, and hear a untold tale of grand old Redwall history. A tale of a forgotten warrior, forgotten happenings, and forgotten truths. Though you have probably heard of Martin the warrior, I doubt you have heard his tale told like this -Sayna S. Luke

Main Characters
Sundew: (aka Sally) daughter of Urran Voh. Golden brown mouse maid with jet black eyes.

Laterose: Same as in Martin the Warrior (book).

Martin:Same as in Martin the Warrior (book), only now he has golden brown fur >:D

Groddil: Silver fox, same as in Lord Brocktree (book).

Raven: (aka Erwin) black ermine with one with paw and striking blue eyes.

Gruven: plain brown mouse, with the makings of a warrior.

Important Characters
Keyla: otter, same as in Martin the Warrior (book)

Wildfire: bay pinto Arabian stallion, Martin's best friend.

Badrang: Same as in Martin the Warrior (book).

Tramun Clogg: Same as in Martin the Warrior (book).

Vilu Daskar: Same as in The Legend of Luke, but older and with more injuries. (peg-leg, hook-paw, all in all rather twisted up)

Note that many of the original characters have undergone revision, some more then others, as you will see.

Prologue
A little hedgehog crouched next to his mother in a tiny, ramshackle cottage, shivering against the cold. The two creatures were a picture of dejection, skinny and dirty, obviously very poor. The young one looked up at his parent, whispering,

"Mommy isn't there anything to eat?"

The hog wife shook her head sadly. "No dear. You know I haven't hardly been able to provide for us since your father died."

The child murmured, "Tell me a story mother, please. One about how Mossflower used to be."

The hog wife got a far away look in her eyes, and began.

"Once upon a time, Mossflower was free. There were no vermin to rule us, instead there were five wise leaders. Barkstripe the badger, Lord Blacktail the squirrel king, Skipper of otters, Martin, king of Kotir, And Lady Lepus the rabbit chieftain. Our land was happy and prosperous, and no creature suffered want. One summer, King Martins Queen, Sunflower, gave birth to a son. Martin threw a grand feast to celebrate, and invited all his subjects and fellow rulers. Every creature went, from peasant to noble. Then Verdauga struck! He killed Martin, Sunflower, Barkstripe, and so many more. However, Legend says that Lepus and the young prince, who was called Luke, escaped. Now Mossflower waits, silently in oppression, for the warrior prince and princess who will defeat Verdauga, and restore peace to our land."

The little hog babe pressed closer to his mother whimpering, "When will they come mother, when?"

The hog wife stroked her babes head spikes, whispering, "someday my son, someday."

Her eyes hardened. "And when they do, those vermin will pay for your fathers life. Mark my words, they'll curse the day they took Mossflower!" The snow storm howled ruthlessly outside the dwelling, but it couldn't extinguish the small spark of hope that still burned within.

Chapter 1 Maid of Noonvale
Sundew was the eldest daughter of Urran Voh, chieftain of Noonvale. She had golden brown fur, golden head fur, and eyes like chips of jetstone. She was considered by most an unusual maid, rather quiet, very serious, and not quite right in the head. For Sundew was a dreamer, and the population of Noonvale were not. Sadly, this young mouse who had so much potential, was hard put to make use of it. She was a cripple, forever confined to the prison of her chair.

This was the way most of the creatures of Noonvale looked at her, but Sundews few friends saw a very different side portrayed. By them she was called Sally, and was always full of exciting schemes and clever ideas. To be truthful, Sally didn't smile much even for them, but her friends had learned to read her sparkling black eyes. These few playmates of Sally's were, Laterose, her sister, Brome, her brother, Gruven, a brown mouse with a taste for adventure, and Ghostdancer, a dark gray filly.

From Sally's point of view, Noonvale was a boring town full of stale, unimaginative old creatures. Sure, the location and cottages were pretty and peaceful, but Sally wanted adventure, not beauty. To her Noonvale was a dusty old gossip strewn place badly in need of excitement.

Urran Voh had never known what to do with Sundew. She was terrible at knitting, sewing, cooking, graces, and all other maidenly pursuits. The only thing she seemed to be able to do was draw, and take care of animals.

Yes, Sundew was a mystery. To her father, to her friends, and even to herself.

Chapter 2 Just a Normal Day
Sally stretched in the pre-dawn light, and opened her eyes. From her bed she could see out her window, which offered a grand view of Noonvale's town square. She sighed. She could see her fathers goat, Tulip, calmly munching grass by the fountain, the squares centerpiece. Sally sat up in bed and hurriedly got out of her night clothes, grabbed her dress of the head board, and pulled it on. Disregarding petticoats, bonnets, and shoes, Sally slid into her waiting chair and wheeled herself outside. Tulip was her responsibility, and her father would be furious to know the goat had got loose.

"Tulip! Tulip you nut! How did you get out this time?"

The goat answered Sally with a friendly

"Maa,"

before heading toward the stable, signifying it was milking time. The mouse rolled her eyes and followed Tulip as quickly as possible.

"Need some help with that?" A voice called.

Sally shook her head. "I can get there myself, Gruven."

Gruven shrugged. "OK, but I can get you there faster."

Sally relented, knowing Gruven's sturdy twelve year old arms were stronger then her already tired ten year old ones.

"OK."

Gruven seized the back of the wheel chair and pushed it toward Urran Voh's stable. "Why are you always trying to do everything yourself?"

Sally shrugged. "I'm tired of being called a failure."

Gruven snorted. "Who calls you a failure? Not me!"

Sally sighed. "Well I guess they don't say it, but I can tell they think it. You may not think I'm a failure Gruven, but you pity me. No don't say a word. I can sense it when you look at me."

She looked down. "I'm tired of being pitied and scorned, tired of this chair, tired of boring old Noonvale. I want an adventure! Something exciting!"

Gruven sighed. "Not like there's any chance of that here."

When they got to the barn, Tulip was waiting in her pen. Gruven fed the goat, and Sally begun milking. With nothing else to do, Gruven leaned against the back wall of the adjoining stall, which belonged to Urran Voh's horse, Lightingflash.

"I wonder where old Flash and Ghostdancer are this morning?"

Sally looked up. "Oh they just went to graze on the north ridge."

Gruven yawned. "Well I hope they h. . YIKES!"

Sally craned her neck to see Gruven over Tulips back. "What's wrong?"

He shrugged "Oh this wall stones loose. It just startled me."

He pulled the rock inward a little. "Hey it's hollow, and . . . WOW! Sally, come look at this!

Chapter 3 The Sword
Sally quickly wheeled her chair over to where Gruven was standing, staring into the wall stone he had pulled loose. She peeked into the hollow stone, suddenly understanding Gruven's amazement. There laid a sword of unmatched beauty, a sword kings would have fought for. It's hilt was gold plaited, with a sapphire in its pommel and one on either side of the cross tree. Its blade was mouse sized, and perfectly balanced, but strangest of all was the name engraved on the hilt.

SAYNA.

Sally picked up the sword, and it felt as though she had found a long-lost friend. She polished the blade on her skirt, admiring how it glinted in the early morning sun light. Somehow, she knew she had been born to wield a sword, and this weapon had been made for her.

"I call to order this meeting of the Warriors of Noonvale." Sally stated.

She sat in the club house she and her friends had built. Rose, Gruven, and Brome sat on the floor, while Ghostdancer stuck her head through the window.

Sally held up the sword. "This morning, me and Gruven found this in Lightingflash's stall."

Dancer piped up. "But how could you find that in my dads stall? He'd have cut himself on it!"

Sally snorted. "Not in his bedding silly, in a wall stone!"

"Oh." Dancer stated, as if it made perfect sense for a sword to be IN a wall stone.

Sally continued. "Anyway, I say we should keep it."

Before anymore could be said, however, a rustling from outside betrayed a intruder!

Gruven opened the door a crack, whispering, "There's a big snake out there! It's coming strait for us!"

Sally grabbed the sword. "Open the door."

"But Sally. . ." Gruven protested.

Sally's eyes held a wild red light. "Open that door NOW!"

Gruven had never seen his friend like this. He quickly did as he was bid.

Sally could hear a voice in the back of her mind, whispering,

 'Strike the one who would kill your friends, strike now!' 

The door was flung open, Sally LEAPED TO HER FEET, bounded across the room, and brought a swift cut down on the snakes neck.

Gruven broke the stunned silence. "Sally, you're standing!"

Sally swayed and grabbed the playhouse door for balance as Dancer sniffed the beheaded snake. She took a step back.

"This was an adder!"

Sally took one shaking step before her legs buckled and she fell. She determinedly got to her paws, but fell again. The mouse maid growled and seized a fallen limb, and using it as a walking stick, she managed to stay on her feet.

"We need to bury this thing before somebody sees it."

That night, there was much rejoicing in Urran Voh's home. The mouse frowned as he watched his daughter. While he had not heard about the adder, or the sword, something told him sally had a greater destiny then Noonvale.

Chapter 4 The Magician Returns
Sally sat alone on a ridge over looking Noonvale. She polished her glistening weapon and once again stroked the mysterious name engraved on the hilt. SAYNA. Sally scratched her ear. What did it mean? It almost seemed familiar, as if from a dream, or a dream of a dream. One thing Sally knew, however, she was made to carry this sword. The weapon felt as though it was an inseparable part of her.

Sally stood up carefully, still getting used to standing. She pretended to face an imaginary foe, swinging hard to the right. The weight of the sword caused her to spin around three times and sit down hard, making her loose her grip on the hilt. The sword flew across a short expanse and hit a tree, then fell to the ground. Sally was about to scramble up and grab it, when a evil chuckle rang from the woodland. Almost out of nowhere, a dull black fox appeared. He picked up the weapon and examined it.

"Ho Ho me pretty. This will serve me well. It's a pity you won't live to use it, but never fear, old Ferran will!"

Sally began to slide backwards, but the one called Ferran moved like lightning. One second he was forty paces away, and the next he was he was standing over her, pinning her down with a footpaw. Sally shuddered, looking into the pale eyes of one so evil. Her obvious fear delighted the fox. He threw back his head and laughed.

"Har Har! So your afraid mousy! An well you should be."

He lowered his cutlass. "Why does he think you're so special? you're just another miserable coward, like they all are. Well I ain't here to question my master, just to serve him."

He raised his weapon. "Tis Hellgates for you mousy."

Suddenly a silver fox leapt out of the bushes and brought his cutlass up to deflect Ferrans death blow. The clash was so loud it nearly deafened Sally, and both foxes lost their weapons.

Ferran snarled, "Groddil! You traitorous scum! I thought you'd long since gone to Hellgates! But still it shouldn't be to hard to make sure of that!"

The one called Groddil snarled back. "Ferran, you evil, cruel beast! Killing the defenseless! And you might be surprised how well I fight!"

Ferran sneered "Ha brother! Since when did you fight for the helpless? And besides, you're a cripple! What could you do to me?"

Groddil did not give his brother the satisfaction of an answer. He lunged at Ferran and sank is teeth into the black foxes shoulder. Both creatures went down in a jumbled heap of bristling fur and snapping fangs.

Suddenly Ferran managed to disengage himself, leaving large chunks of black fur in Groddils claws. Sally slowly got to her paws, astonished by what she had seen. She ran over to the silver fox, who was staunching the flow of blood from a gash that ran from his nose tip to just under his left eye. Sally ripped a piece of cloth from the hem of her skirt and offered it to him. The fox took it and blotted his wound, before stating,

"So you want to learn sword fighting lass?"

Sally's mouth dropped open. "How did you know that?"

Groddil shrugged. "That was the general idea I got, watching you swing your sword around."

Sally raised an eyebrow. "You were here all along?"

"Yes, I should come to your defense earlier, but ... Well I'm sorry." The fox apologized.

Sally picked up her fallen sword. "It's OK I guess."

The fox closed his eyes and leaned up against a tree, before stumbling over to some bushes and pulling a walking stick from them. Groddil heaved himself onto his paws with a groan.

"Not as young as I once was."

Sally noticed with a start that Groddil was badly deformed. His back was hunched over, one of his back legs was twisted underneath him, and his left forepaw was crabbed.

The fox smiled. "Yes I know. Not the most good looking am I?"

Sally shook her head. "I didn't mean it like that ... What happened to you?"

Groddil grimaced. "It's called 'Don't play with wildcats unless you want to get scratched' but anyway, you want to learn sword fighting?"

Sally nodded eagerly. "Then meet me here tomorrow. We'll make a swords beast of you, never fear. Just one thing. Please don't tell anyone about me."

Sally nodded. "I won't." She promised, before hurrying off.

Groddil stared after her and whispered, "Whoever would have thought I'd find her here."

Sally came the next day, and the next, and the next, until meeting Groddil became a routine. The fox taught her well, and by the time the winter wind blew, she was showing great promise in fencing, knife throwing, and archery. Sally looked up to Groddil and thought of him not only as her mentor, but her friend as well. Little did she know just how valuable the silver fox was.

Chapter 5 An Oath of Vengeance
The winter wind howled viciously around a lone traveler. She squinted her eyes against it, and kept going. While she was an ermine, she was glossy black all over, and her coat never turned to brown in summer. Her blue eyes stood out starkly against her almost iridescent black fur, as did her one white forepaw. She pressed on doggedly, but finally the storm forced her to take shelter in the many rocks on Fort Marshanks shore.

She reached into her satchel and removed a wooden bowl as well as some herbs. The creature mashed the leaves and mixed them with some water to create a dark substance. She plunged her white forepaw in it, smiling with satisfaction as the fur turned black.

"I am coming Badrang. I am coming and this time you can't stop me. This time I am ready. This time, you will pay."

Badrang stood on the wall top enjoying the winter sun on his sleek white fur. He was a true ermine, possessing a white coat and black tail tip in winter, and a honey brown coat in summer. Badrang hated his summer coat so much, he had his former seer Muckfur, create a mixture of herbs to keep it white permanently. Much as he hated to admit he needed anyone, Badrang was at a loss as to what to do without Muckfur, who had fallen ill and died recently.

This was the state of mind the tyrant was in as he watched the lone figure make its way to his fort. It was small, graceful, and almost familiar ... Badrang shook his head. No that was impossible.

Hisk came running up the wall steps. "Lord somebeast's approaching!"

Badrang rolled his eyes "Do you think this is news to me? Get back to your post this instant you nitwit!!"

Hisk was confused. "But sire, what about .."

Badrang shot his captain a look that would freeze the heart of a brave beast, something Hisk was not.

"Do as you're told. I'll see to our guest."

Badrang watched the traveler come toward him. The creature was wearing a hooded cloak, and her voice was soft, almost silky.

"Are you Lord Badrang, tyrant of the north coasts?"

Badrang was pleased by her flattery, but did not show it. "I am. Who are you stranger?"

She removed her hood to reveal piercing blue eyes. "I am Raven, a traveling seer."

Badrang smiled inwardly. A seer was just what he needed. "Then you will join my horde and travel no longer."

Raven held out her right forepaw. Badrang shook the paw, relieved that it was not white. Never the less, he would keep his sights on Raven. He wheeled away, his blue cape swirling behind as he motioned her to follow.

Raven narrowed her eyes. That had been easy, almost too easy. The black ermine resolved to keep a wary eye while in Fort Marshank.

Chapter 6 Raven at Work
Raven sat in the barracks, contemplating her next move. Badrang thought she was a seer, well that had been her intention, but it could get her into trouble. She had never actually had any connections or voices that allowed her to read omens or see the future. This was entirely up to her wit and slyness. She just hoped she could bluff as well as she could scheme. Still, it shouldn't be to hard, if Badrang was as stupid as she remembered.

Raven had taken a scout around Marshank the first day she got there, and it was pretty obvious to her that if she wanted to accomplish anything, she would have to get rid of Scalrag, Badrangs sniveling spy. She carefully pulled a vial from her cloak and poured its contents into a jug of ale. Raven proceeded to set the jug on Scalrags bunk before smiling grimly.

"That poison has been extremely useful to me. You'll go out like a light Scalrag."

The ermine had just made it back to her bunk, when a rat called Grimjaw walked in.

"His Mightiness wants ter see ya in 'is longhouse."

Raven stared at the speaker aloofly. "Very well rat."

As she left, Grimjaw spied the jug on Scalrag's bed. The rat grinned slyly.

"Ho ho Scalrag old matey, ya shouldn't be leaving things around."

Grimjaw snuck from the barracks with the deadly jug of ale in his paws, sniggering at his cleverness.

Chapter 7 The Story
"Once, in Mossflower, which is a great southern land, their lived a great warrior, a mouse called Martin. He was king of southwest Mossflower, and lived in a beautiful palace called Kotir. The land was peaceful, and Martin ruled his subjects well. However, he and his queen, Sunflower, were not happy, for fate had withheld from them what they longed for most. A child. Finally, one summer, Martin and Sunflowers greatest wish was fulfilled, and they were granted a son, who they named Luke. Now one night, when Prince Luke was only a week old, death struck Mossflower. A cat and his minions attacked. They plundered. They slaughtered. They burned. The woodlanders who were left alive, scattered or summited. Martin and his wife were killed, but the legend says that somehow, Luke was saved."

Groddil looked up, pausing his tale.

Sally begged, "Tell me the rest! About the warrior prince and princess."

Groddil nodded. "Fair enough. Mossflower has remained in oppression ever since. But it has been said that someday, four great warriors will defeat the cat. There is a prophesy that goes like this;

The mighty prince carries a sword,

For to defeat the self-made lord.

In the northlands, born of pain,

There he'll leave a flame.

The mighty princess carries a blade,

She is a warrior born not made,

Whose eyes are like night and head fur is gold,

Same as foretold as in days of old.

A mighty warrior from northlands came,

Danger in his very name.

Unmatched in battle, unmatched in war,

Well known from Mossflower to northern shore.

The last warrior is not without power,

Though she is called after a flower,

When hope is no more, when others will fall,

She will save them all."

Groddil smiled. "The last part of the prophesy makes little sense. It goes like this:

And the warrior princess shall live and fight for them over a thousand seasons, making sure no vermin ever rules Mossflower again."

Sally looked wistful. "I wish the warrior princess was real. I wish I was her."

Groddil scratched his scruffy gray beard. "Oh she's real Sally, mark my words."

Chapter 8 Groddils Confession
Sally sipped her steaming mint tea. It was frosty cold outside, but it was nice and warm in Groddil's snug burrow.

Sally studied her mentor as she drank her tea. The fox was on in seasons, and his fur was silver. Whether the color resulted from age, or if it was from birth, sally could not tell. Groddils eyes were fluid, piercing yellow, contrasting drastically with his shimmering coat.

In truth, Groddil was a contradiction. He was a fox, a vermin. Yet he refused his kinds evil ways. Goodbeast's wouldn't trust him, which was why he spent his days as a hermit, farming his land and teaching Sally the arts of war.

Groddil interrupted Sally's reverie.

"What's on your mind, eh lass?"

Sally asked the question that had been nagging at the back of her mind. "Groddil, are you a magician?"

Groddil shrugged. "Depends on what you think a magician is."

Sally frowned. "Well you know, can you tell fortunes, see the future, or read dreams?"

She paused, "Groddil, I know we haven't talked about your past, but let's face it, you're like family to me, and .. well .."

Groddil look down and scuffed a paw on the floor, then spoke. "Yes, you're right. You may resent me after you hear my story, but you deserve to know the truth."

The fox sighed. "It all started a long time ago, when a silver fox was born last in a litter of five. All my life I was bullied and pushed, so in an attempt to make friends, I fell to practicing paw reading.

At first I made it all up, but slowly I began to just .. well .. know. Looking back, I realize how creepy that feeling truly was, but I was young and I reveled in the power I believed I commanded.

When I was fourteen seasons old, a vicious wildcat called Ungatt Trunn captured me and my family. To save myself, I told the cat I could read omens. Being a superstitious creature, the warlord killed all my kin except my elusive brother, Ferran.

The cat crippled me so I couldn't run, and took me with him, making me his magician, or slave, to be more realistic.

When I was eighteen seasons old, Ungatt Trunn attacked the mountain of Salamandastron. He picked a good time too, for the badger and his hares were old. The fortress was in evil paws within a fortnight, but the badger and nearly a score of ancient hares were nowhere to be found.

The mighty one forced me and other vermin to search for them, and after many useless days of looking, we were forced to make a report.

My master was furious I had not fulfilled my orders, and he had a rat called Ripfang flog me."

Groddil winced at the memory, and paused for a time, as if unsure whether to continue. Then he began again.

"There were many struggles for the fire mountain, but I'll never forget the one in which I met Stargazer. That horse is one in ten million Sally. He had compassion on me, a fox, and helped me escape my evil master, throwing away everything he had to do so.

Even though I was free, I had to return. Had to see which side won. The woodlanders did. As I was leaving, I found my master's broken, but living body washed up on the shore.

He begged me to help him. My mind ran through all the things he had done, all the things he had made me do. I felt a burning anger wash over me as I remembered how I had ordered the death of the old badger lord, under his command.

I pushed him into the water, watching as he disappeared beneath the waves. I was half crazy with gilt and sorrow for my wicked deeds, so I chanted what Ungatt Trunn had taken so much pride in. His list of praises."

Groddil got a faraway look in his eyes, chanting in a singsong voice,

"These are the days of Ungatt Trunn.

The fearsome beast,

Oh mighty one.

He who makes the stars fall!

Conqueror, Earth-shaker,

Son of King Mortspear, brother to Verdauga!

Lord of all the blue hordes, who are as many as the leaves of autumn!

Oh all powerful Ungatt Trunn!

The fox looked down. "I wandered until I found this place, and hid from .."

He paused, and Sally thought she heard a hint of fear in Groddil's voice.

"Hid from my past."

Chapter 9 Slave to a Tyrant
He wasn't much to look at, but he might have been, who could tell? Maybe if his fur had been clean, instead of battered and filthy. Maybe if he had worn good clothes instead of his torn, stained rags.

A lot of things might have been different about him, if he wasn't a slave.

Badrang's slave.

His name was Martin, though not many knew that.

He had handsome brown eyes that offset the rest of him. They looked like they should have belonged to a noble prince, not a slave.

At that very moment, Martin was loading stones onto a cart with some other slaves. The young mouse winced as the heavy rock he was carrying pinned his paw to the cart as he set it down.

"Kayla!" He hissed through clenched teeth, hoping Captain Hisk did not hear.

Kayla, a young male otter, set his stone down on the cart and pried the rock off Martin's paw.

Martin nodded his thanks as he caressed the wounded paw. "Thanks Kayla."

The otter hurried his friend back to the rock pile. "Don't let em know you've been wounded mate. Can you work with that paw?"

Martin grimaced as he picked up another stone. "I'll live."

"Well you know Badrang's crew don't show favors ta wounded slaves. Don't let on you've been hurt." Kayla warned.

A shadow danced in Martin's eyes. "I know too well. Don't worry about me Kayla."

Kayla allowed himself a rare smile as his friend walked off. Martin had always been a fighter.

><><

"Raven!"

The black ermine scurried into Badrang's presence. "Yes my Lord?"

Badrang stared moodily at his seer. She was hiding something, he knew it. However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't figure out what. So he snapped bad-temperedly,

"Well, do your job! Don't just stare at me, read the future!"

Raven nodded, sitting cross-legged in front of her Lord's throne. She pulled out a pouch of shells and bones, shaking it and scattering it's contents across the floor.

The black ermine had read the suspicion in Badrangs gaze, and she knew she'd better make this good. As she was staring at the mess on the floor, trying to think of a good answer, something very odd happened.

Badrang glared at Raven as she stared at her omens, but suddenly she looked up, glassy-eyed. She began speaking in a soft, unattached voice.

''"The mighty Lord who owns the blade,

''And acquaintance of old,

''Will war with the Lord self-made,

''Where sun turns sea to gold.

''The warrior maid with golden fur,

''Will come to help them fight.

''And even when strife is no more,

''Lingers sorrow black as night.

''Who ever hears and heeds the cry,

''To march off into war,

''The question is; who will die,

Whose blood will stain this shore?" 

A silence fell across the room, terrible and foreboding. Badrang broke it.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Raven looked up, her eyes back to normal. "I know not my Lord."

She was vastly relived she had come up with something, although the rhyme made as much sense to her as to Badrang.

Badrang was not in the mood for games. "You said it! How can you not know?"

Raven cringed. "Sire, my voices said it, not I. Perhaps it will be made clear to me in later days."

Badrang stared murderously at Raven, but it occurred to him that he would never know the riddle's meaning if he killed the seer.

"It better, Raven. It better."

Chapter 10 A Few Seasons Hence
Seasons pass, as seasons do, and at Fort Marshank, tensions were high.

Raven was seated in the barracks, dyeing her paw black once more. All this time she had not allowed the fur to grow out white, lest Badrang should guess her true identity.

She had never discovered the meaning of the strange riddle, and Badrang was not pleased.

Raven shook her head as she disposed of the dye. She didn't even know how or why the riddle had come into her thoughts. It was as if some other beast had spoke through her, and so she had lied that it was her 'voices'

As if she had any. She was no seer, but she was an actor.

A good one.

><><

Martin sat beside his dear friend, a bay pinto horse called Wildfire. The two were nigh inseparable, for they were the same age and had been captured by Badrang near the same time.

The horse and the mouse made for an odd pair to look at, but never the less, there could not be two better friends.

Wildfire sighed. "Badrang's been more cantankerous then usual recently."

Martin just nodded, staring at the sun as it vanished behind the stark walls of Fort Marshank.

Wildfire could tell something was on his friends mind. "What is it?"

Martin shook his head. "All this. How long can we hold out?"

The horse tried to put a brighter side on things. "Hold out? Well we have done a good job of it so far!"

Martin looked away. "Don't lie Wildfire. What about the old ones? What about your mother? Hisk works her far to hard, and it's quite obvious."

Wildfire winced as he thought of Redcloud, and how Hisk whipped her constantly.

Martin continued. "Face it, we're dying. The old ones first, and we'll be next. What about Kayla? He pushes himself far past his limits to help the others, it's killing him!"

The mouse looked down. "Something's got to be done Wildfire. Badrang whips and starves the life out of us, then rants because we don't work harder."

Wildfire glanced at his scarred flank. "Yea, I know. All to well."

The horse looked curious. "So .. What's got to be done?"

Martin stared up at the stars coming out in the darkening sky. "I don't know. But something's got to change."

><><

Far off in Noonvale, Sally was thinking the same thing.

She was fifteen seasons old now, and skilled in the art of fighting, for Groddil had taught her well. However, no one, not even Rose or Gruven knew of her hidden skill, nor of Groddil.

Sally was tired of hiding everything that mattered to her.

But she had too.

Yes, something had to change.

Something.

Chapter 11 A Change of Scenery
Sally hitched Dancer to Urran Voh's cart while Rose and Brome loaded sacks of barley onto it.

"But why can't I come?" Brome whined.

Rose grabbed the grain sack he was dropping and placed it on the cart. "Because you're too little, that's why."

"I'm not too little!" Brome pouted. "I'm nine seasons old, almost ten!"

Rose rolled her eyes. "That's the point."

Seeing her brother's crestfallen look, she ruffled his head fur. "Cheer up Brome! We're only going to Evenglade, you've been there before."

Brome grumbled bad-temperedly, "Yes, but I want to go again! You and Sally always get to do fun stuff, and I get left out!"

Rose laughed. "Well I wouldn't call selling father's barley exactly fun. Last time we didn't have to many takers."

Sally walked around the cart to her siblings, snorting, "Yea, and you know why? It's cause his prices are to high."

Rose tried to be hopeful. "Well it's too early for barley this season, so we may have better luck."

Arreah came out of the cottage carrying a large basket.

"I've packed you two some meals, and they should hold you over for two days, with snacks in-between."

Urran smiled. "You spoil them to much dear."

He handed Sally a small bag of coins. "Now, Sundew, you, Rose, and Ghostdancer stay at the inn at Evenglade tonight, and I'll expect you back by sunset tomorrow."

Sally and Rose climbed into the drivers seat, calling, "Goodbye Father! Bye Mother! Bye Brome!"

"Be back by sunset tomorrow!" Urran ordered once more.

"Get enough sleep!" Arreah advised.

Brome just stuck his lip out in a pout.

><><

As soon as Noonvale was out of sight, Sally promptly leaned over and shoved a barley sack off her three knives, bow, arrows, and sword.

Rose rolled her eyes. "Really Sally? All those weapons? We're only going to Evenglade!"

Dancer laughed. "Try telling Sally to go anywhere without her weapons. I think they're an inseparable part of her."

Sally smiled as she stuck a knife in her belt, pulled the sack back over her armory, and leaned back in the seat.

"You're right about that Dancer."

Chapter 12 The Tyrant and his Slave
It was early morning at Fort Marshank, and as usual, the slaves were already hard at work.

Badrang was inspecting them and their labor, something they hated.

The ermine was atop Wildfire, loftily observing the work. The horse plodded through the slave yards, casting sorrowful glances around him.

Now he understood why Martin said they were dying. As Badrang's personal horse, it was not his duty to work with the other slaves.

He had it relatively easy, compared to this.

At that second, things went awry.

A young squirrel tripped over a rock on the ground, sprawling directly between Wildfire's front hooves. In an effort not to trample the poor creature, the horse jerked back, nearly throwing Badrang in the proses.

The squirrel picked himself up and scurried away, unhurt. However Badrang began thrashing Wildfire, furious.

><><

Martin was carrying stone when he heard the commotion. He got in sight of Badrang and Wildfire just as the ermine dug his spurs deep into his horses sides. Wildfire instinctively shied away from the pain, causing Badrang's spurs to tear a long rip in his hide, almost to his back.

Wildfire gave an anguished whinny as this new injury was added to his collection of cuts and bruises.

Martin couldn't stand it anymore. He flung himself at Badrang, seizing the ermine's leg and hauling him off the horse.

The young mouse grabbed Badrang's whip and begin trashing him with no mercy. The tyrant reacted by kicking out and managed to catch Martin in the jaw with a spur. This resulted in Martin going head over heels backwards, but the mouse flung himself back into the fray, only to be hauled off by Hisk and Scalrag.

Badrang got up, pure hatred on his features. His voice was cold as ice.

"Hisk, Scalrag, tie this insolent slave on the stakes. We'll see how hard he can fight seagulls!"

Martin managed to get his muzzle free of Hisk's paw. "Brave thing to do, letting a bunch of gulls do the dirty work you're afraid to carry out!"

Badrang slapped a paw across Martin's face. "Shut your mouth slave, or I'll do it for you!"

Martin sneered back, "Strike me when I can not fight coward! Because if I ever get loose, I'll show you how a coward dies!"

Badrang stiffened momentarily, remembering the sound lashing this defiant slave had succeeded in giving him just moments ago. The tyrant winced as his wounds began to sting in earnest.

"Get this idiot out of my sight so I don't kill him. I'll enjoy watching him suffer later."

As Hisk and Scalrag drug Martin off, two beautiful blue eyes watched them. Their owner smiled.

This could be useful.

Chapter 13 Call of Fate
Rose, Sally, and Dancer were not having much luck. They had reached Evenglade, only to discover someone else selling barley, and cheaper.

"This is hopeless." Sally sighed.

Rose had to agree. "Yea."

"Wasn't there another town, a smaller one, near here?" She asked.

Sally nodded. "Yes, it's called Winterdell. But it's a good distance from here."

Dancer looked quizzical. "Can we make it before dark?"

Sally shrugged. "I think so. I've never been there, but I've seen it on father's map. We can make it there before dark, but we can't get back here."

"Is there an inn?" Rose asked.

Sally laughed, "How should I know? I haven't been there, and maps don't say such things."

"Oh." Rose sighed.

Sally looked at the barley and thought of her father's disapproval. "Still, I think we'd better."

As Dancer started out, Rose asked, "But what will we do if there isn't an inn?"

Sally shrugged. "We'll live."

Rose wasn't so sure.

><><

Badrang stared at the form of Martin, tied between two ropes on Marshank's wall. The tyrant rubbed his stinging shoulder where his slave had managed to lash him heavily. Suddenly he whirled around, yelling,

"Hisk!"

Hisk came running. "Yes my Lord?"

Badrang's eyes glittered cruelly. "Take that mouse down to Gurrad, but tell him to go easy. Make sure he knows he is not to kill him. I still want a good show, but I think that slave needs a little .. more then seagulls."

Hisk bowed. "Your wish is my command."

><><

Raven frowned as Martin was drug into the bowls of Fort Marshank.

This posed a serious difficulty.

Gurrad was Badrang's torturer, his hangman. The black ermine knew that the slave would be helpless and possibly dead when Gurrad got through with him.

Raven twitched her lip. Hopefully the slave would survive.

He looked as though he could be very useful.

><><

Wildfire choked down a sob as Martin was drug away. He knew that Gurrad would do a good job of torturing his friend.

The horse closed his eyes. His best friend was to be tortured, and he couldn't do a thing. He felt so helpless.

"I'm sorry son." A soft voice murmured.

Wildfire just shook his head miserably.

Redcloud nuzzled her child's shoulder. "Be brave for Martin. He would want it."

><><

"We're lost, that's obvious." Sally moaned.

Rose sniffed. "Now what?"

Dancer had lost the road, and apart from the soft glow of the coach lamp, all was black.

"We make camp." Sally sighed.

She unhitched Dancer, and made a bed of barley sacks in the back of the cart.

Rose snuggled down in the bed remarking, "It's a good thing we didn't sell the barley, because it's pretty comfortable."

"That's nice." Sally remarked before blowing out the lamp.

Rose sat bolt upright. "Don't do that!"

"Why ever not?" Sally asked.

"Because I can't see!" Rose wailed.

Sally was unsympathetic. "You're not supposed to. You're supposed to go to sleep."

Long after her sister had fallen asleep, Rose sat up, staring into the darkness. Every sound was unfamiliar and scary. She desperately wished they were safe at home.

But she wasn't the only one to wish they were somewhere else that night.

Chapter 14 Crossroads
Martin hung limply from his bonds, half-conscious. The lashes Gurrad had given him stung painfully, and Scalrag had tied him so tightly his paws had gone numb.

He weakly looked up, murmuring, "Is it true the only way a goodbeast leaves this place is through death?"

He slumped down, his strength gone.

Suddenly a voice whispered, "Hold still mouse, I'm going to get you out of this."

Martin stared at his rescuer through blurry eyes. "R .. Raven?"

The black ermine cut through the ropes, then helped rub the life back into Martin's numbed limbs. He muttered, "But .. but I don't understand .."

Raven handed him a flask of water and some bread. "Now get out of here mouse, before Badrang catches you."

Martin took a drink, murmuring, "Thank you!"

Raven flicked her long black hair over her shoulder. "I have my reasons. Now get out."

><><

Raven slunk back into Fort Marshank unnoticed.

She sighed. It was a pity Gurrad had lashed the mouse so much, for he was too weak to be of any use.

Still, it was better to have him die outside the fortress then at Badrang's paw. At least the tyrant would not have the enjoyment of watching the gulls tear him apart.

><><

Sally slowly awoke to realize she was sleeping in the back of the cart, far away from home. She yawned, poking the lumpy bundle beside her.

"Wake up Rose! Time to get going."

Rose's head was thrust from under the blanket.

"Wake up??? I've been awake all night! There was something crashing around out there! It was big, loud, and scary and I was sure we were going to be eaten alive!!"

Dancer came trotting up. "It was me."

"It was not you!" Rose argued.

Sally left her friends to their ridicules argument and went to survey the traces. When she reached them, she groaned. She had left them on the ground, and now they were wet with dew. The mouse maid sighed, grabbed a rag, and began drying the harness.

When she was finally done, Dancer backed into the shafts and Sally harnessed her.

The mouse proceeded to climb into the drivers seat with Rose, and look up at the sun. Only, the sun wasn't there to look at. In it's place was a large, dark cloud bank.

"Which way?" Dancer asked.

"Ummmm .." Sally gulped.

Rose looked shocked. "You mean you don't know???"

"I can't do it with out the sun to guide me." Sally admitted.

"Oh no!" Rose gasped, the beginnings of hysteria on her voice.

Sally sighed. If her sister got hysterical, nothing would get done.

Thankfully, Rose didn't have time too.

A giant flash of lighting rent the sky, followed by a deafening clap of thunder.

Dancer reared up until she almost fell backwards. Rose tumbled into the back of the cart as the front wheels were lifted from the ground, and Sally hung on with all her might.

Dancer came down and took off running as fast as her legs could take her. The momentum catapulted Sally off the drivers seat and into the back of the cart with Rose.

"Dancer stop!" Sally cried, but the horse was oblivious to anything besides her fear and her instinct to run.

Sally looked over at Rose, who was laying flat on the floor.

"It's ok!" She tried to reassure her sister. "Dancer will wear out and have to stop!"

><><

However, Dancer was not lacking in speed or stamina, and it took a long while for her to slow down.

When she finally did, she was apologetic. "I'm sorry guys, I don't know what came over me."

Rose was not paying attention. "What's that?"

Sally followed her sister's line of vision, until she saw the cause of Rose's interest. Several large black birds were circling in the sky some distance away.

"I don't know." Sally remarked, adding, "Let's find out."

><><

It took longer then Sally had thought to come even remotely close to the place the birds were, for they were far off.

As they neared the spot, Sally could smell salt on the breeze, and it puzzled her. She had never been to an ocean before, or she would have recognized the salt smell and the screeching of gulls.

The woods were thinning out, and Rose yelled, "Hey look at that!"

Sally saw the bundle of fur and rags as well, and her heart sank. She kicked the barley sack off her sword, grabbed it, and ran toward the creature.

She reached the prone unfortunate at the same time the vultures did. Sally drew her sword and lashed out at the nearest bird, cutting it's wing. The bird let out a loud squawk, frightening it's companions.

Sally seized the sword in her teeth, and grabbed the unconscious creature's tunic. She begin to drag the mouse across the distance between her and the cart, which was far to long.

Dancer saw the danger first, and broke into a gallop, trying to reach her friend before the vultures did, something that seemed impossible.

Rose grabbed Sally's bow, which was little more then a toy. She didn't know how to aim, how to hold a bow, or even how to notch an arrow, but somehow she managed to put the arrow on right and fire!

The arrow flew dangerously near to Sally and the mouse she was dragging, but miraculously took down a vulture instead of them!

This gave Sally enough time to get herself and the mouse into the cart.

The mouse maid collapsed on a sack of barley, gasping, "Get us out of here Dancer!"

Chapter 15 Complications
"Well, now what?" Rose ventured to ask after they had left the sea shore behind. Sally had unhitched Dancer, and they were all resting after their harrowing experience.

The mouse they had rescued was faring poorly. He had never awoke, and although she didn't like to say so she didn't think he ever would. At least not without proper care, something Sally couldn't give him.

The mouse shook her head in answer to her sister's question. "I don't know Rose. I just don't know."

Rose looked hopeful, "Well if we could take him back to Noonvale, I'm sure mother could .."

Sally looked away. "Rose I've got to tell you this. The fact is, I've got no idea where we are, or where Noonvale is. We can't get home. Face it Rose, We're really lost. Really and truly."

"Oh." Was all Rose could think to say.

They sat silent for a bit, each thinking their own thoughts.

Suddenly a soft, unfamiliar voice rang from the woodlands. "I do not know where Noonvale is good travelers, but it may be that my mother does."

All three whirled around to see a short yet beautiful mare. She looked about fifteen seasons, but her manner was far older. She was the strangest horse Sally had ever seen. She was pure white with crystal blue eyes, but oddest of all, her pupils were deep, sparkling indigo, not black as they should have been.

The horse smiled. "My name is Luna. Now waste no time, for I know thou have an injured friend, who is in need of help. My mother is a healer."

She watched Sally struggling to lift the mouse onto Dancer for a minute, before laughing softly. "Thou must put him on me, one who is not so tall."

Sally managed to accomplish this, and Luna smiled down at her. "Thou will ride me too friend, to see he does not fall off."

Sally nodded, climbing onto Luna's back and steadying the mouse there.

"Now leave the cart, for no harm shall befall it." Luna ordered, before heading off into the woods.

><><

Sally could feel that Luna walked very oddly. Every step had a tiny pause before the hoof touched the ground, and this puzzled Sally greatly. Still she didn't have much time to contemplate this, for they came in sight of a quaint little cottage made in the hollow trunk of a very large tree.

Dancer looked at Luna, puzzled. "I thought you said you were taking us to your mother."

Luna stared blankly at Dancer for a minute, before laughing her pretty laugh. "Oh I see! You think my mother is a horse. Well I suppose my real one must have been, but I have no memory of her."

She looked sad for a minute, before smiling again. "No, my mother's name is Polleekin. She is a mole."

Sally wasn't sure what to think of a mole adopting a horse, but she didn't really have time to think about it. A homely old mole wife trundled from the cottage.

"Luna the next time thy be a runnen off thy moit tell me first! Oi've been a worryin about thou young horse!"

Luna sighed. "Mother, I'm not a baby anymore. I didn't go far, but I did manage to find these travelers. They have a friend who's in need of some urgent help."

She looked worriedly at the mouse as Sally gently drug him off the horse's back.

Polleekin instantly flew into action, helping Sally carry the mouse indoors, ordering, "Now Luna, thy keep the gray horse company, whoile Oi see what's to be done with this here young'un."

Chapter 16 New Friends
"A most strange tale young'un, but then Oi've seen apleny of strange things in moi days." Polleekin declared after hearing Sally's story.

She sat by the bed she had laid the mouse on, carefully bandaging his wounds. Rose sat beside the mole wife, looking worried.

"Oh will he be alright Polleekin?"

The mole patted Rose's paw. "Now there, there missy Rose. He'll be foine. This uns a strong creature, an that's for sure."

Sally smiled nervously. "I'm going down to see Dancer and Luna if you don't mind."

As she left, Polleekin observed, "Missy Sally ain't for sitten around sick rooms Oi'm a guessin."

Rose sighed. "Yes, my sister likes to be outside under the sky and not in a house."

She paused, adding, "And she doesn't like anything to do with healing. I have the feeling she feels pretty useless, and that's something she really hates. Mother tried to teach her healing, but it was no good. Sally just couldn't figure it out."

She walked over to the window, smiling down at Sally telling Luna about their adventures.

"She likes telling stories though."

Polleekin nodded. "Oi know this missy Rose. Now mioght you help me?"

><><

The day passed slowly and peacefully. Sally stayed outside until Polleekin asked her to help with dinner, and then she obliged the mole wife.

Rose watched over the mouse, who was sleeping quietly, while Sally helped set the table.

She carried a glass of warm milk over to her sister. "Here Rose. Polleekin wants you to see if he'll drink that."

Rose smiled. "Alright. How's Dancer?"

Sally grinned. "Fine. She's getting along with Luna really well. They're friends already."

Polleekin's voice came from the kitchen. "Oi'm pleased with that. Luna's been a needin some friends."

The conversation was interrupted by the mouse, who blinked his eyes open as Polleekin entered the room.

"Oi see our young sleeper awakes." The mole wife commented.

"Where am I? Who are you?" The mouse groaned. "I thought I was as good as dead."

Rose handed him the milk, explaining, "I'm Laterose, but just call me Rose. This is my sister Sally, and our friend Polleekin. You're in her house."

The mouse looked confused. "But how .. I don't understand ..."

Sally was about to begin telling the story of the rescue, but Rose kicked her footpaw. "Never mind all that right now, you need to sleep. We'll tell you in the morning."

She took the empty glass. "What's your name?"

The mouse closed his eyes murmuring, "My name is Martin."

Chapter 18 Meanwhile ...
Urran stood at his front door, staring into the growing dusk, watching for his daughters and Ghostdancer. However, no cart appeared.

Night fell, and with it, Urran's hope. It took him a while to realize that his children wouldn't get back that night.

Arreah came out of the house, looking worried. "Dear, you must come to bed. Sundew's a responsible young mouse, and she won't let anything happen to Rose or Dancer. You'll see."

Urran nodded, stiffly shutting the door against the cool night air. Brome fiddled with the crotched covering on a chair, asking, "Aren't they back yet?"

Urran shook his head. "They'll be back in the morning Brome. Now run along to bed."

Brome scowled and began climbing the stairs to his room, before asking, "But what if they aren't back in the morning? What if they got captured, or lost, or ate up or something?"

Urran pointed a stern paw at his son's room. "Bed!"

Brome stuck his lip out and drug his feet all the way to his room.

As he pulled on his bed clothes, he imagined what it would be like to get lost, captured, or ate up.

None off these things seemed like calamities to his young mind. They seemed like magnificent, wonderful adventures, and he was very jealous to think that his sisters could have got captured or ate up without him.

He could envision Sally coming home and telling about getting ate up or something as equally exciting.

Then he, Brome, would have to sit and listen to that, and not have anything to tell.

As the young mouse crawled into bed, he made up his mind, that before Sally, Rose, and Dancer returned, he would have had an adventure just as exciting as theirs.

><><

Urran made himself a cup of tea to drink before bed, and his wife did the supper dishes. She looked at him, mild concern on her face.

"Dear, do you think .. Brome may have something? About the fact they may be lost?"

Urran took a sip of his tea. "Hmm I don't know. I doubt it though. They most likely didn't sell the barely until it was to late to get home tonight, and they stayed at the inn."

Arreah rung her paws. "Oh I do hope they didn't get caught in that dreadful storm early today."

Urran shook his head. "I'm sure they were snug and warm in the Evenglade inn dear. Sundew would never sell barley in a storm like that."

Arreah still looked worried, so Urran smiled, "I'll tell you what dear. If they aren't back by next morning, I'll ride down to Evenglade and inquire about them."

Arreah looked relieved, but she still fussed. "Well what if they aren't there?"

Urran put his empty tea cup in the sink, laughing, "Then I'll ride all the way to Winterdell if necessary. However, I'll most likely meet them on the rode before I even get to Evenglade."

Arreah smiled half-heartedly, before looking out the window one last time. "I do hope they're safe, wherever they are."

And they were. At least for time being.

Chapter 19 Moving On
Sally awoke slowly as the gray light of dawn spilled through her window. She stretched, got up and pulled on her dress. It was good to be away from home for awhile, although Sally had no idea where Noonvale was.

She slipped downstairs and began helping Polleekin get breakfast. She nodded to Martin, sleeping on the mole wife's couch. "So how's our new friend this morning?"

"Burr he'm be a lookin much better now. Oi'm a thinken he'll be on his paws afor long." Polleekin answered, setting some dishes on the table.

Sally bit her lip. "Polleekin, do you know where Noonvale is?"

The mole wife shook her head. "Oi'm afeared not missy."

Sally sighed. Polleekin's small black eyes searched Sally's face intently. "Oi do know something that moight be a helpin you though."

Sally looked hopeful. "What?"

Polleekin motioned to some birch-bark paper on a nearby shelf. "Now you'm roight down what Oi say, cause Oi'm a thinken you'll be needen it later."

Sally wrote down Polleekin's strange words carefully, making sure she understood the mole wife's rustic speech. She then read the riddle back to Polleekin, to make sure she was correct.

"Set out from the place of peace,

For to find the place of war.

If thou seek the ruthless lord,

You must reach the eastern shore.

The path you tread is fearful,

Still, don't be afraid,

Beware of deceitful paths,

Seek light oh warrior maid!

From mountain top to valleys deep,

Never stop, only keep,

Sight of two headed slope,

And always hold onto hope.

Even when you reach your goal,

Your path will not end.

For reaching peace may take it's toll,

And you'll start over again.

Just like waves pound on the shore,

Ever changing, still the same.

Sometimes things happen,

And you're not to blame."

Sally looked up. "Is that right?"

Polleekin placed a caldron of porridge on the table. "Oi spect so missy. Don't ask Oi what it means, for Oi don't know. That be for you to foind out."

"Find out what?" Rose yawned as she sat down at the table.

"A riddle, and our only hope of getting home." Sally explained cheerfully.

She stood, handing Rose the parchment. "I'll go and see what Luna and Dancer are up to."

Rose scrutinized the writing carefully, complaining, "Sally, how do you expect me to read this?"

She hurriedly grabbed another piece of paper and copied Sally's handwriting off so other beasts could read it.

Sally shrugged. "Sorry."

She sat down at the table just as Polleekin came in with Martin, sitting him down next to Rose.

Rose sat up strait, handing Sally the parchment. "There. Now we can read it."

Sally scanned the writing. "Oh." She absently stuffed it in her satchel, before starting to eat Polleekin's porridge.

Martin ate like he had been through a ten season famine, and this seemed to please Polleekin greatly.

"Oi do say now, you'm have a gurt appetite zurr. What you'm been eating before you came here?"

"Almost nothing." Martin managed to say around a mouthful of porridge.

Rose looked shocked. "Didn't your mother feed you?"

Martin stopped eating for a moment. "I don't have a mother."

Sally cocked her head. "Where did you live before we found you then?"

Martin snorted. "Live? More like living death! I was Badrang's slave."

Polleekin interrupted. "You'm came from that vermin fort?"

Martin nodded. "Aye. and I've got to go back and help my friends!"

Sally looked at him oddly. "Without an army? If this Badrang is very powerful, you won't stand a chance."

Martin looked down. "I know. But I've got to try. Thank you for helping me, though."

Rose refilled his bowl, stating, "Well I guess you could come with us. I could have my father help you get an army."

Sally was about to say something about how Urran would never let himself get caught up in a war, but Martin was already replying. "Do you really think so?"

Rose smiled prettily. "I'm sure of it."

Sally opened her mouth to contradict this statement, but Polleekin was motioning to her. With a sigh, the mouse left her unfinished breakfast and followed Polleekin outside.

The mole wife looked a little sad as she handed Sally some provisions. "Oi know you'm be a leavin today, and moi Luna going with you."

Sally was not expecting this. "Uhh .."

It seemed that Martin would be traveling with them, and now Luna would as well.

Polleekin smiled. "Oi can't keep the choild with me forever. She needs to get out and see the world."

She looked over to where Luna and Dancer were grazing side by side. "An besoides, Luna'd be moighty sad when Dancer leaves, Oi can see that. Best she goes with you."

Sally nodded. "Ok. She can come but I don't see .."

Polleekin patted Sally's shoulder. "You'm look out for moi Luna missy, see that she comes home to Oi."

Sally felt the weight of this new responsibility rest on her shoulders, and she nodded. "I will Polleekin. I will. Although I'm sure Luna can look after herself."

Polleekin looked away. "Burr, she'm can do many things missy. But there are some things when she'll be needin help."

Before Sally could ask what she meant, the mole wife was trundling off to tell Luna her decision.

><><

Luna was overjoyed with Polleekin's consent that she go. She and Sally retrieved the cart, while Polleekin packed more provisions for the journey, and Martin, Rose, and Dancer muddled over the riddle.

The goodbye with Polleekin was sad, but they promised to return again.

The old mole wife shook her head sadly as the five travelers disappeared into the woods.

"Oi do hope Oi made the roight choice, but Oi'm a thinkin they'll be a needen Luna. Oi just hope she comes home."

Chapter 20 Brome Sees an Opportunity
The next morning, Brome was in a foul mood. He was trying to think of how he could have an adventure, and not discovering a way.

Brome hated not being able to do something, because he usually succeeded in getting whatever he wanted. The young mouse was rather spoilt, although he did not see himself as being such.

He played in the fountain in the town square, seeing how far he could skip pebbles. Brome was just about to skip a flat stone, when someone snatched it from his paw. Brome turned about to see Roderick, his sister's mortal enemy. The young mouse set up a howl as Roderick threw his nice, flat rock into the fountain, sneering,

"Ha, Sundew can't save you now! Not that she could anyway."

"M .. My sister is .. isn't a coward like .. you! If she w .. was here .. you .. you'd be .. be .. shredded!" Brome sobbed viciously.

Roderick laughed meanly. "But she isn't here is she?"

"No, but I am!" Gruven's voice rang from behind the bully.

"And I'll see that no one is mean to my best friend's little brother. You got that Roderick?"

The bullying mouse slunk off sullenly, as Gruven retrieved Brome's rock from the fountain. "there you are Brome."

Brome grinned happily, wiping the tears from his eyes. "Thanks Gruven!"

Gruven looked away. "You're welcome Brome."

Brome crawled across to Gruven. "You're worried about Sally?"

Gruven shrugged. "I suppose."

Brome laughed. "Oh you are! You are!!"

Gruven was spared more of this conversation by the arrival of a cart. Both mice looked on curiously as the wagon, pulled by a short black mare headed toward them.

Gruven shooed Brome off. "Well don't just sit there, go tell your mother!"

Brome hurried off as the badger driving the cart pulled her horse to a halt in front of Gruven.

She dismounted from her cart, followed by a hare. "Is this Noonvale young sir?"

Gruven nodded. "Aye, it is. Who are you?"

The badger smiled. "I'm Rowanoak, co-founder of The Rambling Rosehip Players. This is my accomplice Ballaw De Quincewold. Just Ballaw."

Gruven raised an eyebrow. "Rambling Rosehip players?"

Ballaw bowed. "Traveling performers doncha know me lad. Roving circus, wandering actors, call us what ya will."

By this time Arreah had come out of her house. She dipped her head to Ballaw and Rowanoak. "I am pleased to meet you good beast's."

Rowanoak returned her gesture. "You are Arreah I presume? Your husband met us one the road to Evenglade earlier, and directed us here. He said his town might like to see our performances."

Arreah smiled. "Yes, I am Arreah. And I'm sure our townsfolk would enjoy a circus very much."

Ballaw took the black mares reins. "Where can we set up our jolly old tents and such?"

Arreah motioned to where they stood. "Right here in the square."

As the Rambling Rosehip Players began setting up their camp, Brome hurried up to Gruven. "Oh a circus! What fun!"

But even as he contemplated the enjoyment of a show, his fertile young mind was cooking up a plot ...

Chapter 21 The First Obstacle
Sally and her companions pitched camp as the sun set. They lit a fire and sat around it, talking about the next day.

"Sally, where is that riddle I copied for you?" Rose asked as she settled down between Martin and Luna.

Sally retrieved the crumpled paper from her satchel, handing it to Rose.

The mouse maid began reading.

"Set out from the place of peace,

For to find the place of war.

If thou seek the ruthless lord,

You must reach the eastern shore."

Rose frowned. "But who's the ruthless lord anyway?"

"I have the feeling," Martin stated as he poked the fire, "That his name is Badrang."

Rose shook her head. "We're seeking him?"

Sally peered around Luna's forelegs. "I guess."

Martin scratched his head. "Badrang does live on the eastern sea, but I know where his fort is. Why do we need these strange .. directions?"

Rose held up a paw. "Let's try and decipher the rest before jumping to conclusions."

She began reading again.

"The path you tread is fearful,

Still, don't be afraid.

Beware of deceitful paths,

Seek light oh warrior maid!"

She nodded. "I think this stanza is what we must do first. The riddle says not be afraid. Afraid of what?"

"Deceitful paths probably." Sally chipped in, peeking around Luna's legs once more.

"How can a path be deceitful?" Rose asked, puzzled.

Martin shook his head. "I don't know. But what about the part that says; 'Seek light oh warrior maid.' Who's the warrior maid?"

"Sally!" Rose and Dancer exclaimed at the same time.

Sally shrugged, slightly embarrassed. "I guess."

Martin shook his head. "But how is that possible? I've never heard of a maid being a warrior."

Sally got up, and walked over to the cart. "I can show you."

She pulled out one slim knife. "Watch."

Martin never saw the knife leave Sally's paw. One second it was laying loosely in her palm, the next there was a whistle followed by a thump. The knife stood quivering in a tree trunk twenty paces away.

Sally retrieved her weapon thoughtfully, hesitating a moment, before handing it to Martin. "Here, you might as well have this. I've got others, and we might get into some scrapes were we'll need more then one warrior."

><><

The quiet crackling of the fire filled the air as the travelers slowly dropped off to sleep.

Sally looked at Rose, expecting her to be wide awake and terrified like the last time they had to camp out, but to her surprise, her sister was sleeping peacefully. Sally didn't know what to think of this, but she dropped off before she could give the matter serious thought.

><><

The next morning, bright and early, the travelers were on their way again. It was midmorning before Sally noticed that the ground was growing damp and soft. She looked up into the tree tops to see fungus coated trunks and moss covered branches.

Sally had never been in a swamp before, so she did not know what to make of the odd plants and soil. As they kept going, the ground got damper and damper until Sally's bare footpaws were sinking in mud with every step.

Dancer was a little behind the others, pulling the cart, when the wheels sunk deep in a particularly deep spot of mud. The horse tried to pull her load out, but to her horror she realized it was sinking deeper!

Sally whirled around as Dancer yelped, "Help, get me off this thing! It's sinking!"

Sally ran to her friend as the cart settled down even deeper in the muck. The mouse pulled on Dancer's harness, but her efforts were futile. Mud splattered in her face as Dancer struggled against the sinking cart, and amazingly she managed to pull it out a fractional amount. But the next second it settled back down, sinking even deeper.

Dancer's eyes were pleading. "Sally, please! Just leave the cart! Get me off!"

Martin, Rose, and Luna had come running at the commotion, and Sally instructed, "Help me get the harness off!"

"But what about father's cart?" Rose asked, shocked.

"Oh blast father's cart!" Sally exclaimed as she tried to undo a harness buckle. "Would you rather lose Dancer?"

"I can't get it undone!" Martin exclaimed. "The harness is to taunt to unbuckle!"

Sally looked around for a split second before leaping on to the doomed cart.

Dancer struggled as this added weight made the cart sink deeper. Sally threw her bow and quiver at Rose. "Here, catch!"

Rose awkwardly did so as Sally grabbed her other knife, and drew her magnificent broadsword from beneath a barley sack.

She leapt from the rapidly sinking cart, yelling, "Get out of the way!"

Her friends leaped backwards as she brought a two pawed cut at where the harness connected to the cart, instantly severing Dancer's bonds.

Dancer jolted forward as the cart sank from view.

Chapter 22 Brome's Adventure Begins
Brome sat in his room, looking out at the Rambling Rosehip Player's camp. He grinned cheekily, satisfied that he had come up with a decent plan for an adventure. It had occurred to him what a stir he would cause when it was discovered he was gone, but that didn't really bother him. In fact it made the whole thing even better.

Brome's mother spoiled him. She was always willing to do almost anything for any one of her children, but Brome especially. He was her baby, and no matter how big he got, she would always view him as such.

Rose was Urran's pet, not Brome or Sally. Still, he seemed to favor Sally over his son. He never cut Brome any slack, never really cared to have any real interaction with him.

Rose petted Brome terribly. She played with him, did his chores for him, adored him with her entire being.

So being, Brome was indeed, badly spoiled. But even though Rose and Arreah loved him dearly, they never gave him what he really wanted. Excitement.

This was where Sally came in. Compared to the rest of her family she was incredibly strange. Still, she was Brome's favorite sister. She never petted him, never doted on him. She let him learn things the hard way, let him feel the consequences of his actions. However, she let him come with her when she explored the forest around Noonvale. These times were the happiest of Brome's life.

Brome scribbled some writing on a peace of parchment. He snuck into Sally's room and stuffed it under her pillow. Arreah had made the bed already, so nobody but Sally would know where he'd gone. When she got home, she would understand why Brome wasn't there to greet her.

But more then that, she would understand his need for adventure.

><><

The show commenced at midday, and Brome enjoyed every minute. This made him even more determined to carry out his plan.

While his mother thanked Rowanoak for putting on such a splendid performance, Brome crawled into the cart, and hid under some burlap sacks in a corner.

After the excitement of the show and the prospect of running away, Brome was tired out. He fell asleep almost instantly.

Chapter 23 Raven's Memory
Raven sat under the shadow of Marshank's wall, thinking.

Ever since she had helped the mouse escape, Badrang had his eyes on everyone, including her.

Especially her.

Raven buried her head in her paws, choking back a sob. She had to do this! She had to kill Badrang! For her family! For her husband, her children!

Raven tried to hold back the memories that flooded into her mind, threatening to swamp her. She sobbed as those hated memories drowned out the real world and threw her into that of yesteryear.

Once, Raven had been a kindbeast; before Badrang. She had a husband and children; before Badrang. She had a home, a place to call her own; before Badrang.

Smoke.

Heat.

Raven cried out as it all came back.

''Running from the burning house only to realize that her baby son was still inside, Seeing her husband murdered before her very eyes. Grabbing her young daughter's paw and running, agonizing pain as a knife sunk into her back. The feeling of falling, and then total darkness ...''

Raven trembled as she saw and felt those terrible memories as if the were happing again.

She sniffed. A kind otter had found her and brought her back from the brink of death, but Raven almost wished he had left her.

She drew a dagger from her belt, her only weapon, and held it in her paw, admiring it's deadly beauty. It was the selfsame knife Badrang had almost killed her with.

She stroked it's sharp blade, whispering,

"Just as this knife drew my blood at your paw Badrang, so shall it draw yours at mine."

Burning revenge smoldered in her blue eyes as she swore, "You will pay for this Badrang. You will pay."

Chapter 24 Luna to the Rescue!
The five travelers stared at the place the cart had been just moments ago.

"Well that went well. Thanks Sally." Dancer panted.

Rose took a few steps backwards, shocked at how the cart had vanished. Suddenly she felt a foreboding pull on her footpaws. She tried to pull them out, but they sunk deeper.

Her four friends jumped at her scream, wheeling around to see Rose up to her knees in mud. Martin ran to her, grabbing her paws and trying to pull her out, but almost falling in the swamp himself.

Rose almost pulled Martin in, with her frantic efforts to escape.

"Stop it you two! Hold still!" The two mice went completely still as Luna's voice rang out sharply.

The white horse took a fractional step towards them, feeling the ground as she did. She inched forward, ordering,

"Martin try to keep her from sinking any deeper. Sally, Dancer, stay where you are, and don't distract me!"

Sally and Dancer didn't dare move, or even hardly breath. They had no idea if the next move they made would send them into a mud hole too, so they stood frozen, watching helplessly as Luna slowly made her way across to Martin and Rose.

Rose whimpered as she sunk in up to her waist. Martin tried to pull her out, but his paws just slipped, resulting in Rose sinking deeper.

Luna had just about reached them when she stopped abruptly. "Martin, I can't go any farther, this is where the swamp begins."

Martin was frantic. "Well can you reach her, she's not that far away!"

Luna swiveled her ears nervously, and looked like she was about to say something, but Rose begged, "Please Luna! Please try!"

Luna carefully reached out with her muzzle, almost as if she was trying to feel Rose. Her nose brushed up against the back of the mouse maids dress, and she seized this in her teeth, pulling cautiously. This resulted in Rose being pulled out a little ways. Luna quickly grabbed her friends belt and yanked.

Rose sighed with relief as Luna set her down beside Sally, who, despite how muddy her sister was, hugged her. Martin stumbled over to them, gasping,

"That was a brave thing to do Luna."

The white horse sighed. "I only did what any other would have done."

Sally shook her head. "No, you didn't. We couldn't have felt our way to Rose like that."

Luna hung her head, self-concise. "Thank you, but it really was nothing."

Rose tried to shake the mud from her dress, to no avail. "Well, now what?"

Martin looked worried. "I don't know. We can't go back, I mean what about the riddle?"

Rose gasped. "That's it! The riddle! This swamp must be the deceitful paths!"

"Though the path you tread is fearful, still don't be afraid." Dancer quoted.

Luna looked thoughtful. "Beware of deceitful paths ..."

"Seek light oh warrior maid!" Rose exclaimed, looking at Sally.

Sally shrank back. "Don't look at me, I don't know what to do!"

Rose put her paws on her hips. "Well you need to. You're supposed to seek light!"

Dancer sighed. "Not like there's much of that in here, the trees block out most of it."

"The trees!" Sally exclaimed, before feeling her way to the tallest one in the vicinity.

"What's she doing?" Martin asked.

"Climbing." Rose stated as if this was completely normal. And for Sally, it was.

The mouse climbed up the twisting tree she had chosen, carefully feeling her way around lest she step on a rotten branch. As she got higher and higher, she could see more light. When she had finally got above the other trees, she could see the lay of the land. Not too far off, was a treeless patch of ground that looked higher then the surrounding swamp. She sighed with relief. That was a safe place to spend the night.

Chapter 25 Captured!
Luna looked at Martin. "Me and Dancer are going to scout ahead. You two stay here."

Rose gulped. "Be careful!"

Luna smiled. "You too."

The two mice watched until the horses were out of sight, which didn't take long. A silence fell over the swamp. Rose broke it.

"Hey, Martin, thanks for saving me back there."

Martin looked down. "Oh, well it was Luna who saved you."

Rose touched Martin's paw. "Well if you hadn't held onto me, I would have sunk before she got to us."

Martin wasn't sure what to say. "Uhh .. well, you're welcome."

Rose was about to say more, but all of a sudden there was unearthly hiss from the undergrowth, accompanied by foreboding rustling.

She grabbed Martin's paw. "What's that?"

Martin drew Sally's dagger. "I don't know."

He handed Rose Sally's bow and quiver. "Here, you'd better take these, just in case."

Rose put an arrow on the string, hoping she wouldn't have to use it.

"I sure wish Sally was down here with that sword of hers." Martin muttered.

"Me too." Rose sympathized as a large lizard slipped from the undergrowth, followed by over two score others.

"What do you want?" Martin addressed the large lizard.

The creature just hissed menacingly, and his cohorts started forward.

Martin whispered in Rose's ear. "Shoot the ringleader! Hurry!"

Rose drew the bow back tremblingly. "I .. I'll try."

The mouse maid was shaking so badly she could not have aimed even if she knew how, which she didn't. She let the arrow fly poorly, and it flew wide of the leader. However it took another lizard in the throat, instantly felling him.

"Good shot Rose!" Martin encouraged as Rose struggled to reload the bow. She had just pulled it back when a little lizard ran strait at her. The mouse maid instinctively let the arrow fly, and it took the creature through the foot. Martin leapt forward to kill the wounded adversary, but Rose gasped,

"Oh don't Martin! Please don't!"

The next second, the lizards had surrounded them and bound their forepaws behind their backs with vine.

"Why wouldn't you let me kill him?" Martin asked as their captors tied them together.

A tear trickled down Rose's cheek. "He wasn't any older then my little brother! And I killed the other one .."

At this point she broke down. Martin felt bad. "Don't cry Rose, it was just my warrior instincts. You're right you know, he isn't much older then a babe."

There was no more time for talking, for their captors shoved them to their paws and forced them deeper into the swamp, leaving the wounded lizard behind.

><><

Sally did not know of her friends capture, because she was high up in the tree, working her way down.

When she was nearing the ground, she called, "Hey guess what I saw!"

Nobody answered.

Sally hurried down the rest of the way, to see the clearing deserted, except for a little lizard with an arrow through his foot, pinning it to the ground.

But Sally wasn't concerned with that, she was concerned with the arrow. It was hers.

She ran over to the creature. "What happened? Where are my friends?"

The lizard cowered, hissing pitifully.

Sally was not as compassionate as Rose. She drew her knife, growling, "You tell me where they are, or else!"

The lizard whimpered, pointing to his mouth and shaking his head.

Sally did not understand. "You're mute?"

The creature she was interrogating shook his head again.

Suddenly it dawned on Sally. "You can't speak my language?"

The lizard nodded.

Sally was surprised, asking, "But you can understand it?"

The lizard nodded once more.

Sally tied a vine around her prisoners neck before pulling the arrow from his foot. She drew her knife again.

"Ok lizard, you're going to show me what happened to my friends!"

However before either could take a step, the undergrowth rustled, betraying an intruder!

Chapter 26 The Runaway's Misfortune
Brome snuggled deeper into his bed, wondering at how his soft sheets had become scratchy. He blinked his eyes open to see he was not in his room, but the Rambling Rosehip Player's cart!

The young mouse yawned. Of course! He was running away!

He peeked from under the burlap sacks to see no one about. He didn't dare sit up, so he snuggled down again and closed his eyes.

><><

Brome awoke to realize he was hungry and thirsty. The sounds of laughter rang from somewhere nearby, and he recognized Ballaw's voice.

"Now don't start a blubbin Celandine me gel, I'm sure it's around here somewhere."

A theatrical voice that sounded like a young maid's whined,

"Oh Ballaw I must find my nice dress before the performance! I should never be able to show my face in honest company again if I don't!"

Brome crouched farther down in his corner as he heard the hare's pawsteps approach.

"Now, now, me gel if you turn those faucets on you certainly won't be .. I say!"

Ballaw exclaimed as he whipped the sacks away to see Brome.

As the hare drug him rather unceremoniously from the cart and into the firelight, Brome noticed night had fallen.

Rowanoak stood up. "What's this Ballaw?"

The hare thrust Brome forward. "A bally stowaway Rowanoak me gel!"

Rowanoak surveyed Brome carefully. "Now where do you come from young feller? Summerglen? Silentdell?"

Brome had never heard of such places, and it seemed as though the Rambling Rosehip Players had covered considerable ground since leaving Noonvale.

The badger looked at him for a second. "Evenglade?"

She paused. "Noonvale?"

Brome stood still, hoping his face didn't betray him.

By now all the Rambling Rosehip Players had gathered around to see the stowaway.

Rowanoak dismissed them. "You all go back to your duties. Me and Ballaw will deal with this."

As the assembly dispersed, Rowanoak glared at Brome. "Now you tell me where you came from young'un."

Brome just obstinately shook his head.

Rowanoak sighed. "Now look young feller, I know circus life is tantalizing to young'uns, but your parents will be a worried about you. I don't want them to blame me if anything should happen to you."

"I don't have parents." Brome lied.

Rowanoak snorted. "Don't try to pull that on me young'un, I've lived a few seasons. If you were an orphan, where would you get those nice clothes?"

She held Brome's chin, forcing him to look into her brown eyes. "Now enough of this nonsense young feller. Where do you come from? Out with it!"

Brome could be terribly stubborn when he wanted to be. He simply refused to answer.

Rowanoak was getting frustrated. "Now do you here me young mouse? I said out with it, and I mean it!"

Ballaw grabbed Brome's paw. "Leave this to me Rowanoak me gel. I think I can loose this wee villain's tongue, eh wot?"

Rowanoak muttered something like, "A good spanking might do the trick .."

Ballaw ignored her. He set Brome down on a log by the campfire. "Now young chap, you want ta join our troop eh?"

Brome nodded.

Ballaw grinned. "Well request bally well granted! We've been needing a new member for a while haven't we Rowanoak me gel?"

"Ballaw .." Rowanoak began, flustered, but the irrepressible hare cut her off.

"Let me deal with this eh wot?"

He led Brome away from the campfire. "Come on you lucky young rip, as your first duty ..."

The hare pointed to a large tub of sudsy water. "You can wash all the supper dishes!"

The silly grin Brome had been wearing was instantly wiped off his face. Had he heard Ballaw right? Was he, the only son of Noonvale's chieftain, to wash dishes?

But the hare was quite serious. Brome got to work begrudgingly as Ballaw walked over to Rowanoak, laughing quietly.

"A few days of hard work'll change his mind me gel, you just watch, wot, wot?"

Brome had overheard this remark. He scowled. So that was it. Well, he'd show them. Nobody was going to make him back down.

Chapter 27 Friends and Foes
The lizard whimpered as it tried to hide behind Sally, but the mouse maid shoved him in front of her, yelling,

"Show yourself, or your pal here dies!"

Luna stepped from behind a tree. "He's not my pal, and I couldn't care less if he dies. But I'd save him to use as a hostage if I were you."

"Luna!" Sally gasped, immensely relieved.

A female rabbit on a small gray pony stepped out from behind the white horse. The hare dismounted remarking,

"That won't be of any use Luna, they eat their own kind."

The rabbit shook Sally's paw. "I'm Rosepetal, and this is my friend Grayspark. I understand your name is Sally?"

The mouse nodded. "Yes, it is. But how did you meet Luna? And where's Dancer, Rose and Martin?"

Luna shook her head. "Sally, it was a nightmare! Me and Dancer went ahead to scout for a good camping place, and the next thing you know she got tangled in this big vine net! And the lizards came ... " The horse looked away.

"I had to go for help, and I found Rosepetal and Grayspark."

Rosepetal broke in. "We'd better get to my place, the lizards won't go there. If we stay here we're liable to get captured."

Grayspark spoke for the first time. "What about him?"

The pony asked, indicating the lizard.

Sally looked at her prisoner as if just noticing him. "Uhh I don't know."

Rosepetal drew one of the identical rapiers in her belt. "I say we finish him off, here and now. Those things can't talk, and they certainly aren't friendly."

Sally was about to agree, but then something occurred to her. "Wait, no! He may be able to lead us to Martin, Rose, and Dancer!"

Rosepetal curled her lip. "Alright. Follow me."

With the rabbit leading them, it didn't take long to reach her home, a small dwelling built on the patch of high ground Sally had seen earlier.

She sighed with relief as the moonlight flooded through the thin trees here, but the lizard seemed terrified by it. He whimpered, trying to hide in Sally's shadow.

Rosepetal noticed the mouse's confusion at her prisoner's manner.

"The lizards are frightened of light, because the thinness of the trees allows birds of prey to reach them easier."

The rabbit motioned for Sally to bring the prisoner with her before leading them to a small cage made of reeds.

"Put him in here for now."

Sally did so, before following Rosepetal into the cottage.

><><

"So here's the picture. The lizards have your friends, and will probably eat them by morning. So your only hope is to strike now, get them out, and get back here before the lizards catch you."

Rosepetal explained.

Sally and Luna looked at each other.

"That doesn't give us much time." Sally stated.

Rosepetal shook her head. "No, it doesn't. So we've got to move fast. Here's the plan ..."

><><

Martin and Rose were tied back to back, so tightly they could barely move. Dancer lay still, burdened down by the net that entrapped her.

The lizards consorted amongst themselves some forty paces away, much closer to Dancer then the two mice.

Rose sniffed, whispering, "What are they going to do with us?"

Martin wished he could reassure her, but he could not. "I don't know."

A dreary silence passed over them, before Rose whimpered, "My paws are going numb, they're tied so tight."

Martin reached out as best he could and held one of her paws. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you back there."

Rose was about to say something, when a voice whispered, "Hang on you two. We'll save you!"

"Sally?" Rose whispered.

Martin could barely make out Sally, crouching a few feet from them in the undergrowth. She whispered,

"We've got to throw the lizard's net over them, in order to buy enough time to get to Rosepetal's place. Rosepetal wants you to help her with the net."

Martin was about to ask who Rosepetal was, but he thought better of it. "What about you?"

Sally carefully cut Martin's bonds. "I have to pretend to be you of course! It's dark, and the lizards may not notice."

Martin slipped off into the undergrowth as he and Sally changed places.

Rose looked over at Sally. "Why can't you help with the net?"

Sally carefully cut Rose's bonds before wrapping some severed ropes around her paws to hide the fact she was not bound.

"I don't know. I'm not going to argue though."

The next second screeches broke out as Rosepetal and Martin threw the net onto the lizard's heads. Dancer jumped to her hooves, freed of her bonds.

"Come on!" Sally gasped as she and Rose leapt to their paws. She failed to look back, so as she reached her other friends, Sally realized Rose was not with her. She spun around to see her sister laying on the ground twenty paces away.

"It's my legs! They're numb!" She called out.

Martin began running toward her, but Sally could see a lizard coming at Rose from the other direction. For one second Sally thought of running to her sister herself, but she realized she'd never make it in time.

"Martin catch!" Sally yelled, throwing her broadsword at him.

Martin managed to do so, and brought a swift cut at the lizard, cutting it down the same moment it would have got Rose.

For one second, everyone stood completely frozen. Then Rosepetal cried out, "Don't just stand there, come on!"

Chapter 28 Honest Work
Brome was up to his neck in dishwater, and he was getting tired of it. In fact, he was getting tired of this whole situation.

He cast a rueful glance at the Rambling Rosehip Players who were gathered around their campfire, talking and laughing.

It had been a day since Ballaw had appointed him head dish-washer, and he was not enjoying his new job at all.

The Rambling Rosehip Players had not been standing still all this time, they had been on the move. Brome had seen more towns and villages in one day then he normally would in a year.

The whole escapade would have been a marvelous adventure, except ... Brome looked down at his sudsy paws and the mountain of dirty dishes still to be washed. Except for dishwashing.

He scowled. No, except for uncooperative hares and badgers.

Brome sighed, throwing the next stack of dishes into his tub as Ballaw walked over, carrying a plate.

The hare handed Brome a towel. "Dry those paws you young rip, so you can eat this bally tucker. Better hurry, before I get hungry and scoff it meself!"

The young mouse dried his paws and took the food quickly, for he knew Ballaw would make good his threat.

As he ate, Ballaw surveyed his charge with an approving eye. "So ya positively won't tell me where ya come from young rip?"

Brome shook his head.

Ballaw sighed. "I know you want an adventure me lad, but I can't help that. You belong with your parents, not with me. If something was ta happen to you .."

Brome looked down, mumbling, "Not like they'd care. Mum might, but dad wouldn't."

Ballaw stood slowly. "I see. But still, you will have to go home."

Brome picked up his washrag. "Not if I won't tell you where I live."

Chapter 29 Plotting
Raven stood on the fringes of woodland, gathering herbs. She had managed to get Badrang's permission to leave the fort, and that was a miracle in itself.

She stuffed a plant into her satchel, sighing. She needed a diversion. A good one. She was so angry with Badrang, she didn't care how he died, as long as he did.

Raven pulled a few berries from her satchel, admiring their beauty. She chuckled. They looked so harmless. But they were nightshade, a deadly poison. And they would take care a Badrang.

She stuffed them back into her bag with a sigh. Only if she could create a diversion long enough to poison Badrang's food.

The black ermine looked back at Marshank, a foreboding lump in the distance. She curled her lip. She wasn't going back until she absolutely had to.

><><

The afternoon sun was bright overhead as Raven wandered about the forest, enjoying their freedom and wild beauty. She sat down beside a small brook to rest, when she caught the scent of wood smoke.

The black ermine was instantly alert. She snuck silently through the woods, closer, ever closer to the place the smoke scent was coming from. As she crested a small ridge, she saw the source of the fire.

A badger, hare, some squirrels, a mouse, and a few others. They were gathered around a campfire, and a horse and cart stood nearby.

Raven's sharp mind began working franticly. How could she use these travelers to her benefit?

She slipped from behind a tree, a smile in her innocent, almost mesmerizing blue eyes. "Hello goodbeasts. How are you this fine day?"

The badger surveyed Raven with deep suspicion, but the hare held up a paw. "We're doin fine me gel. Wot about you?"

Raven shrugged. "As well as I can be. What are you doing around here?"

The hare held out a paw. "We're The Rambling Rosehip players. The names Ballaw by the way."

Raven shook Ballaw's paw, almost exploding with relief. A traveling circus was the perfect diversion she needed!

She smiled disarmingly. "Ah circus eh? How'd you like to make some good money?""

Rowanoak stepped in. "That we would. But how?"

Raven pointed to the form of Fort Marshank in the distance. "If you would preform at yonder fort, I would pay you well. As would my companions."

Rowanoak shook her head. "Let's see the money first, and we'll think about it."

Raven pulled out a satchel, emptying it's contents on a flat rock. Rowanoak gasped as a shower of gold pieces clattered onto the stone.

Raven smiled. "Take that, and you will be paid the same after you preform."

Rowanoak nodded. "It's a deal. When shall we come?"

Raven handed the coins to the badger. "Arrive at dusk. I will meet you at the gate."

Chapter 30 Onward and Upward
The morning sun shone down on the travelers as they rested in the shade of some large pines. They had left Rosepetal and Grayspark with many goodbyes and much regret. The reclusive pair had given them some supplies, and also information about the road ahead.

"What was the next thing on that riddle Rose?" Sally asked as she drank some water.

Rose pulled out the battered parchment, rubbing some dried mud from it.

"From mountain top to valleys deep,

Never stop, only keep,

Sight of two headed slope,

And always hold onto hope."

Martin sighed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Luna looked up from the grass she was eating. "The last time it gave us directions, they were hard to understand."

"But they were accurate." Dancer pointed out. "Although maybe not quite in the way we thought they might be."

"That's true." Sally agreed.

"Well, let's get moving." Martin stated as he heaved himself to his paws.

><><

By midday, the trees had thinned out, and were replaced by hot, dry sand and an occasional bush. Large rocks peppered the landscape, and the air was humid. Not to far in the distance, a mountain range reached majestically for the sky.

"This must be the great desert Rosepetal was talking about." Martin remarked ruefully.

Sally nodded. "Aye. And those must be the mountains she spoke of."

Luna sniffed the breeze. "I smell something odd."

The travelers were quickly becoming dependent on their white friend's uncanny sense of smell and her sharp hearing.

"What is it Luna?" Rose asked.

Luna flicked her ears, listening carefully. "I'm not sure. I can smell the scent of a living creature .. or more like a group of living creatures .. but I have never smelled it before."

Martin sniffed the air. "I smell nothing but dust and sand."

Luna shook her head. "Just trust me Martin. There is something out there."

She widened her nostrils warily. "And one of them is trying to sneak up on us right now."

Martin slipped from Luna's back, slowly drawing Sally's knife. He jumped as a creature scurried into the open.

Martin raised the knife. "It's a stoat!"

The stoat held out his paws. "I mean you no harm mouse."

Martin glared at the newcomer as Rose dismounted. "What's your name?"

The stoat looked at her oddly. "It's been a long while since anybeast asked that. My name's Rupert."

Sally joined the conversation. "Where do you come from?"

Rupert looked nervous. "I am running from my old master, and he is sure to have creatures after me."

Martin had been glaring at the stoat for a few minutes, and he suddenly exclaimed, "I know you! You're from Marshank!"

Rupert shook his head. "Don't even say that name mate. Tis a curse!"

He inspected the warrior mouse closer, before nodding. "You're the one that escaped. I remember you, the slave who defied Badrang."

Martin was about to say more, but Rose interrupted. "If you're running from that dreadful creature Martin has told me about, the you'd best come with us. It would be terrible if Badrang ever caught up with you!"

Rupert shook Rose's paw. "Thank'ee little missy, but I wouldn't hear of you puttin you an your friends in danger."

Rose shook her head. "No you must. If there are creatures pursuing you, they will undoubtedly see our tracks and follow us too. If we are to be chased, let us be chased together."

Martin held up a paw. "Now wait one second! This is a vermin! Why are you talking to him like an old friend?"

Sally stepped in. "Now look Martin, the fact that he is a vermin does not make him evil."

Rose nodded. "That's right."

Luna interrupted. "There is nothing to fear from this one. I can tell."

Rose smiled. "I think so too. He can come with us."

Martin sighed as Dancer introduced herself and Luna. Why did these Noonvale creatures treat vermin like friends? He'd thought for sure Sally would not like the stoat, but she seemed to have no problem with him.

Her words rang in his head. "Just because he's a vermin doesn't make him evil."

Martin shook himself. Was that true? Could that be true?

><><

They made the foot of the mountains by nightfall, and camped in a grove of spruce. Martin sat a little ways away from the others, deep in thought.

Rose crept over to him. "Martin, are you mad about Rupert?"

The mouse shook his head. "No, just thinking. And I sure hope Sally's right."

Rose frowned. "I guess it's hard for us to understand why you hate vermin so much. They've never done anything to us."

She sat down beside him. "I'm sure some vermin are bad. But they all aren't. It's cruel to think badly of them just because they come from a certain linage. How would you like it if everyone thought you couldn't be a warrior just cause most mice are peaceful?"

Martin sighed. "You're always right aren't you?"

Rose looked down. "Not always, but sometimes."

Martin allowed himself a smile. "I hope you're right this time, or we could be in a real mess."

Chapter 31 The Play
Brome was sullenly sitting on the back of The Rambling Rosehip Players cart, swinging his footpaws. Ballaw and Rowanoak were discussing what to do with him.

The young mouse stuck his lip out. He couldn't go home yet, he hadn't had a real adventure! Sure, he had traveled around and washed mounds of dirty dishes, but he wanted something more dangerous.

Little did he know, his wish was about to be fulfilled.

Ballaw walked up to him, his normal, jovial expression replaced by a disgusted one.

"All right you young rip, I'll make you a deal. If I let you act in this show, you will tell me where you live. Otherwise, you can simply wash our dishes until you turn gray. What's it going to be?"

Brome contemplated this. He could go home to tell everyone he had washed dishes, or he could go home sooner, with an exciting story about acting in a circus.

He nodded. "Deal."

><><

Badrang glared at Raven. "A circus? Why would I want a circus?"

Raven smiled winningly. "Think about this Lord. You can give your horde some entertainment, and after the show's over, you've got yourself some free slaves."

Badrang was beginning to see her point as she continued, "Besides, they've got a horse, as well as a badger, a hare, and some other strong creatures."

Badrang couldn't hold in a smile. "You've done well Raven. You've done well."

She bowed, exiting the longhouse. "My only wish is to serve you Lord."

As she walked across the courtyard, Raven felt a twinge of regret. What was she doing? Betraying innocent creatures just to fulfill her desire for revenge?

She closed her eyes. She couldn't weaken now. This had to be done.

><><

Brome peaked out of the cart as Nightshade pulled it toward Marshank. This was going to be fun!

As they entered the fort, Brome saw many kinds of creatures he had never seen before. However The Rambling Rosehip Players seemed disturbed by the inhabitants of this place.

Brome leaned over to Ballaw. "What's wrong?"

Ballaw stared at him. "Don't you know what a bally vermin looks like?"

Brome didn't have time to answer, because a white ermine wearing a blue cape shouted, "Welcome to Marshank friends! We are looking forward to your performance tonight!"

Ballaw exchanged a look with Rowanoak, before leaping from the cart. "Top of the evening to ya goodbeasts! I'm Tibbar the magic rabbit, and these are my accomplices, The Rambling Rosehip Players!"

Rowanoak brought Brome back to reality by shoving some props into his arms. "Well don't stand there, help us set up the stage!"

><><

As he helped, Brome had the feeling something was wrong. Celandine fell to helping him, so he asked,

"What's wrong Celandine?"

The squirrel maid looked worried. "Ballaw wouldn't use his 'Tibbar the magic rabbit act' unless something was really wrong."

><><

As the show began, Rowanoak took Brome aside. "Look young feller, we've been duped. This is a vermin fort, and I doubt they'll let us out after the show."

Brome was about to ask what she meant, but Ballaw had began his act. Rowanoak shoved Brome forward. "Well go on, he needs your help!"

><><

Raven had slipped into the longhouse, and was surveying Badrang's supper carefully. The tyrant himself was watching the show, planning to eat his dinner afterward.

Raven smiled as she sprinkled poison on all the food, making sure each course got a generous amount.

All of a sudden, a shout rang across Fort Marshank. A shout that was heard by all.

"A ship! A ship's approaching!"

><><

Badrang leapt up and ran for the wall top. He reached Bluehide, who had done the shouting, and exclaimed,

"Where? What ship?"

Bluehide pointed. "There my Lord!"

Badrang glared at the approaching ship with fury. "The Seascarab. It's me brother, Tramun Daskar!"

Chapter 32 Clogg's Return
Clogg stood on the deck of the Seascarab, looking at the impressive form of Fort Marshank. He grinned, delivering the ferret beside him a hearty clap on the back.

"Wull now what do ya know Boggs! I'll wager all me grog if that ain't me old brother Badrang's doing!"

Boggs could only nod, he was recovering his air after the pat on the back his captain had given him.

Clogg continued. "Now I suppose me ol' brother was a hindin from Lord Verdauga up here. Wull we found im, and the cat'll be mighty pleased ta git im back. There'll be a new skull on Verdauga's standard afore long, eh Boggs?"

Boggs grinned. "Yea, de fool shoulda never run from Verdauga. Trust me, our Lord alus finds a deserter."

><><

Badrang stood in his longhouse, donning battle armor. He snarled at his reflection in a polished shield on the wall.

"He'll never get me. I ran from him to start my own empire, and one day, Verdauga will pay for my years of servitude. I do not work for free."

The ermine sheathed his sword, the selfsame blade he had stolen from Martin seasons ago.

"My old master owes a debt to me."

Badrang grinned at Scalrag, who was standing behind him. "Verdauga owes me his power, his land, but most of all, his head."

Scalrag gulped. "Uhh .. Yes Sire."

Badrang nodded. "Of course, if you don't get out there and make sure my new slaves are secure, I might just have myself some practice."

Scalrag backed out of the longhouse, terrified. "Oh yes Lord! I'll do that right away!"

><><

As soon as he left the longhouse, Scalrag hurried over to the slave compound, where Raven was tied next to the wall.

The fox looked about carefully to see that no one was watching, before dragging the bound ermine deeper into the shadows.

"Alright seer, I know your little scheme. Don't play with me, I found you poisoning Badrang's food."

Raven glowered at him, but said nothing.

Scalrag continued, "However, the tyrant's been getting a little big for his britches recently, and I have a .. proposition for you."

The ermine snarled, "And what might that be?"

Scalrag smiled. "Apparently, for one reason or another, you want Badrang dead."

Raven nodded. "Yes, what is it to you?"

The fox blinked slowly. "So do I."

><><

Brome huddled in the back of the slave compound. He had finally got an adventure. Now he wished he hadn't.

Ballaw patted his headfur. "Now, now young'un, all's not as lost as it seems."

Brome sniffed. "But .. but now we're slaves! All of us! What are we going to do?"

Celandine whined, "Yes Ballaw! What ever will we do? I can't be a slave, it'll ruin my beautiful tail!"

A sturdy male otter stepped forward. "You'll work, that's what you'll do. Just like that rest of us. Badrang spares nobeast. You work until you die. It's that simple."

Celandine stared at him in horror. "Die? I can't die! What would happen to my headfur?"

The otter looked at her with contempt. "Badrang doesn't care. And he doesn't like complainers. I suggest you work in silence."

Ballaw smiled at him. "Ignore Celandine young'un. My name is Ballaw, what's yours eh wot?"

The otter shook the hare's paw. "I'm Keyla mate."

He motioned to a ragged squirrel behind him. "An this is me matey Felldoh."

Ballaw introduced his troupe, as more slaves crept out from behind Keyla and Felldoh. After introductions had been made, Rowenoak spoke up.

"You all look as though you haven't eaten in months."

Felldoh spoke for the first time. "It feels like we haven't."

Rowanoak nodded. "Well with some effort, that might change. We Rosehip Players will not be held slaves for long."

Brome looked up. "You mean we'll escape?"

Rowanoak nodded. "That's exactly what I mean. And when we do, all these poor creatures are coming with us!"

Chapter 33 A Truth Revealed
Sally was dreaming. She was in a quiet, mist shrouded forest that she had never seen in the waking world.

Her paws made no noise as they sank into the soft grass that covered the ground.

All of a sudden, the mouse maid sensed she was not alone. She turned to see a regale mouse dressed in a red tunic behind her.

Sally spoke first. "Who .. who are you?"

The mouse's voice was a soft, spectral sound. "My name is Martin. I was once a king of Mossflower."

"Mossflower .." Sally echoed, recalling the name from Groddil's stories.

Martin nodded. "Mossflower. My land has remained in oppression ever since my death. But it will be delivered."

"Verdauga .. Verdauga Greeneyes conquered Mossflower." Sally stated, as she remembered what Groddil had taught her.

The mouse smiled at Sally. "Groddil has taught you well young one. Be ready, for your destiny lies in a place far from Noonvale."

He laid a paw on her shoulder. "Be strong. There are many changes ahead of you."

><><

"Sally! Sally! Wake up!"

Sally moaned as her sister's voice cut through her dreams and shattered them.

"Rose will you stop? This dream is interesting!"

Dancer's voice was added to Rose's. "Yea but this is more interesting. There's a bunch of vermin after us! Martin saw em coming."

Sally leapt to her paws. "Alright! I'm up!"

Rupert was standing nearby. "This is all my fault! You should never have helped me!"

"No we shouldn't of .." Martin began, but Rose kicked him.

"That's enough of that!"

"No it's not! He's a vermin .."

"Stop it now!" Luna neighed sharply.

Martin and Rose glared at each other for a minute, before Sally shoved between the two. "All right, all right, this isn't going to help any of us!"

Dancer agreed. "Yea, those vermin are getting closer! We've got a mountain to climb!"

><><

The travelers began their ascent slowly, far to slowly for Sally's liking. She looked back to see the dust cloud their pursuers were making. They were not terribly close, but Sally could tell they were moving fast.

The mountain was steep and rocky, and it hurt Sally's bare paws. She looked behind her, to see Luna straggling badly. The mouse maid hurried back to the horse.

"Luna hurry! You need to move faster!"

The horse shook her head. "I can't Sally, I'm sorry."

Sally blinked, dumbfounded. "Why?"

Luna looked reluctant. "Well .. the thing is .. I'm .. I'm blind."

"You're WHAT!?" Sally stared at her. "But .. but how is that even possible?"

The mouse maid shook her head. "No .. Luna .. you're not blind ok?"

Luna flicked one ear back. "Well I certainly can't see you, or anything else. I think that would make me blind."

Martin had come running back when he saw Sally and Luna were not moving. "What's wrong?"

Sally shook her head dumbly.

Luna sighed. "I simply told her the truth. I'm blind. I can't climb this mountain as fast as we need to."

Chapter 34 The Daskar Family Reunion
Badrang sat on Wildfire, in full battle armor, watching his brother ride a small black horse toward Marshank, followed by his horde.

The tyrant looked at Scalrag, who was mounted on the circus player's horse.

"I want you ta keep a wary eye on me dear brother Clogg. He's bound to be up to no good."

Scalrag nodded. "Of course Sire."

Badrang turned to Hisk, sitting on Redcloud. "Get inside and bring me three score able-bodied soldiers. Go!"

Hisk wheeled Redcloud around, kicking her into a gallop. "Yes my Lord."

><><

"Wull if it isn't me favorite brother Badrang!" Clogg drawled as he halted his mount in front of Wildfire.

Badrang sneered, "Cut out the fancy words Truman. What are ya here for?"

Clogg twirled his long, braided beard. "I'm here for one purpose. I serve the Mighty Lord Verdauga Greeneyes, and he wants your head. So I plan ta bring it to im."

Badrang smiled as Hisk led his troops out of Marshank. "And just how do you plan to that?"

Clogg snarled as he realized Badrang's horde were to many to conquer easily.

Badrang smiled. "How about you and I go into me fortress and have a little talk eh?"

Clogg sneered. "And why should I?"

His brother snapped his fingers. The next second, a score of archers were aiming straight at Clogg.

"That's why, my dear old messmate." Badrang explained.

><><

Raven slunk in the shadows near the main gate, watching all that went on. Her blue eyes flashed angrily as she saw Scalrag consorting with Badrang. She could just imagine what he was telling the tyrant.

All of a sudden, a strong paw grabbed her arm. "Now just what do you think you is doing?"

Raven tried to wrench her paw away, but Fleabane was as strong as he was stupid.

"Let me go you idiot! I'm trying to see if I can help Lord Badrang!"

Fleabane was not sure how to respond. "Wull now, didn't his mightiness order ya to stay away from da gates?"

Rotnose, Fleabane's ever present companion, came hurrying up. "Hoi that he did Fleabane! Don't listen to any of her lies, I heard im meself!"

Bluehide had come running, and Rotnose and Fleabane explained the situation to him. The weasel glared at Raven.

"His majesty'll wanta hear about this. Fleabane, go put er in the slave compound so she can't run off."

><><

As he followed Badrang into the fort, Clogg took Boggs aside. "Now look me old messmate, ya see that fox?"

Boggs looked to Scalrag, who was riding Nightshade proudly. "Yea, sure."

"Wull I wants you and Growch ta capture im, and git im outside dis here fort any way you can. I'm thinken Badrang plans ta use me as a hostage, and I need a hostage ta barter with. Dat fox there seems pretty important to me brother, so we'll take im."

><><

Raven yelped as Fleabane hurled her into the slave compound. She hit the ground hard, and a tiny scream of dismay escaped her as she skidded across the floor and hit the wall.

"Wull now let that be a lesson to you! Don't disobey Badrang again!" Fleabane ordered as he stalked off, slamming the door behind him.

Raven huddled down next to the wall. She could not see anything in the shadows, and she wasn't sure she wanted to.

A quiet, but dangerous voice growled, "So Raven, we meet again."

The next thing she knew, Rowanoak had her pinned against the wall. "Well vermin, what do you have to say for yourself?"

Raven just shook her head in terror as she stared into the badger furious eyes. Rowanoak snarled in anger, and was about to hurl Raven against the next wall, but the ermine yelped,

"No, wait! I can help you and your friends escape!"

><><

As Clogg's horde entered Marshank, Badrang surveyed them carefully, for soon they would be his.

Suddenly, his sharp eyes caught an all to familiar figure. The creature was hunched over, with a peg-leg and a hook-paw, but he was unmistakably a beast Badrang had thought was dead for seasons.

The tyrant motioned Hisk over. "Hisk, you see that ermine there?"

Hisk nodded.

Badrang smiled. "Get Bluehide and capture that one. Take him down to Gurrad, but make sure he does nothing until I arrive."

Hisk did not argue. "Yes Sire."

><><

Scalrag was in search of Raven, for he wanted to inform her of the new development. However, the black ermine was nowhere to be seen.

The fox slunk silently through the shadows of Marshank's wall, grumbling to himself. If that creature had played him false ...

The next second, there was an explosion of pain in his head, and Scalrag's vision went black.

><><

"A job well done, eh Growch?"

Boggs asked as he bound the unconscious Scalrag's paws and tied him into a large gunnysack.

Growch nodded, deep admiration in his voice. "Aye Boggs, a job very well done."

The two corsairs drug the sack up the west wall steps, watching carefully for a guard. They reached the outer wall, and Boggs handed their victim to Growch. The ferret pulled a grappling hook and rope from his belt, intending to hook it onto the stonework, but Growch grabbed his arm.

"Look mate! Their comin!"

Boggs looked up to see three of Badrang's guards patrolling near the end of the north wall. As of yet, they had not noticed the escapers. Still, they were enough to frighten Boggs.

"Growch! Wot we gonna do?"

Growch thought for a minute, before promptly throwing the sack over the wall, with Scalrag still inside.

"Yu idgit! wot you do that for?" Boggs exclaimed as Growch drug him down the wall stairs to avoid detection.

"Gettin rid of the evidence mate, dat's wot I did!"

><><

Badrang entered Gurrad's torture chambers to see Hisk holding the rope that bound the ermine's paws.

The tyrant shooed his captain away. "Go about your duties Hisk. Oh and make sure Clogg and his horde are properly .. accommodated until I can deal with them."

Hisk exited rapidly, only to happy to go. "Yes Sire. I'll see to it Sire."

Badrang nodded to Gurrad. "Take this creature's gag off."

The rat emotionlessly did so, and the old ermine gasped, "Let me go! I have had nothing to do with you!"

Badrang smiled slowly. "I'm afraid I must contradict that statement ... father."

Chapter 35 Up the Mountain
Luna looked down as Martin and Sally stared at her in disbelief.

"So .. I guess .. you're going to leave me?"

Both mice looked horrified, and Martin exclaimed, "NO! We would never do that!"

He paused. "But how are we going to get you up the mountain?"

Luna shrugged as Rupert came back. The fox exclaimed, "How? We make her a bridle so someone can be her eyes!"

Sally clapped her paws together. "Of course! But what will we make it out of?"

Rose had hurried back to them. "I know!" She exclaimed.

"What?" Martin asked.

Rose pointed to the turquoise ribbon Dancer always wore around her neck. "Dancer's ribbon!"

Dancer backed away. "Not this! It's really special!"

She looked to Luna, and suddenly realized how selfish she was being. The gray horse slipped the ribbon off with a sigh.

"Alright."

Sally grabbed the ribbon and carefully put it in Luna's mouth. "Is that alright?"

"It's fine." Luna snorted. "We need to move! I may have already made us too late!"

Sally climbed onto Luna's back, keeping a tight grip on the makeshift reins. "I'll help Luna. Let's go!"

><><

It was a strange procession that made it's way up the mountain. Dancer first, ridden by Martin, Rose, and Rupert, and then Luna, with Sally carefully steering the horse around sharp rocks and the steep mountain side.

Sally rubbed Luna's neck. "You ok?"

Luna nodded. "Yea. and thanks for taking me with you, even if I am blind."

Sally pulled gently on one rein, steering Luna around a rock. "We wouldn't of left you, how could we? Especially after you saved Rose in the swamp."

The mouse maid paused. "Luna, how could you do that, if you were blind?"

Luna sighed. "I've always been blind. I have learned to feel the ground as I walk on it, so I could easily tell the unstable ground from the safe ground in the swamp. I can also hear and smell things much more acutely then the normal creature."

She flicked an ear backward. "By the way, how close are those vermin?"

Sally looked behind them. Their pursuers were gaining rapidly, they were already beginning to scale the mountain side.

Sally nodded. "They're gaining! Can you go a little faster?"

Luna increased her pace and caught up to Dancer. "Martin, they're gaining on us fast!"

Rose looked up, gasping with shock. "Look!"

Her friends did, and they realized the same thing she had. Dancer broke the silence. "This is the two headed slope from the riddle!"

Sally stared at the strange mountain top, which separated into two peaks, forming a valley between them.

Martin looked back at their rapidly gaining pursuers. "There's only about ten of them! If we make it to that valley, we may be able to hold them off!"

><><

Both horses picked up the pace, but so did the vermin. By now they had nearly reached the summit. Dancer scrambled from the steep mountain trail onto the flat ground at the front of the valley. Luna followed her, a little slower. Rupert dismounted and pulled the crossbow he wore from were it was mounted on his back. The stoat drew it back and loaded an arrow, running to the edge of the precipice.

Martin followed him, his fist clenched around the hilt of Sally's dagger.

Sally drew her broadsword and joined them, as Rose uncertainly loaded her sister's bow.

Martin stared at the approaching vermin, before looking at Rupert. "You think you can hit em from here?"

The stoat aimed his weapon, firing with deadly accuracy. This resulted in the first vermin, a rat, falling transfixed.

"Yes."

As Rupert struggled to reload his bow, Rose pulled hers back. She missed the vermin entirely. Sally handed her sister a knife and took back her bow.

"Let me try Rose."

The mouse maid drew her bow back, aiming just as Groddil had taught her. His voice rang in her mind.

"Breath in as you draw back, breath out as you fire. Wait until your arrow hits it's target to drop your bow arm."

Sally exhaled, releasing her bowstring. She held the bow up until she was rewarded by a strangled scream as her arrow found it's mark.

She whipped out another arrow, as Rupert fired once again. This time Sally's arrow did not fly so well, it missed the vermin she aimed it at, but managed to hit another. By this time, the attackers had reached the summit, and there was no more time for shooting. Sally threw her bow down, drawing her sword as the first vermin crested the ridge top. She trust out viciously before he had time to raise his weapon, and he fell instantly.

Martin found himself faced with two enemies at once, and he readied himself. The next second, Dancer had trampled one to death, and Martin proceeded to finish the other off.

Rupert was fighting a evil looking fox, and Martin was battling a weasel, when Rose screamed. Sally wheeled around to see a rat advance on her sister. Rose stumbled and fell, as the rat raised his cutlass.

Sally felt a burning rage sweep over her, and her vision went red. All she could see was that rat, and all she could think was,

He will not hurt my sister!

The mouse maid leapt toward her sister's attacker with strength she hadn't known she possessed. She brought a swift cut at his torso, and he fell without a sound.

As soon as the rat was dead, Sally's vision swam, and the red color vanished. The mouse maid gasped as she leaned on her sword. Only one thought rang in her mind.

What just happened?

Chapter 36 The Word of a Liar
Rowanoak dropped Raven, and the ermine hit the ground with a thump. "And how can you help us vermin?"

Raven reached into her satchel, pulling out a piece of parchment. "Because I have this."

Ballaw stepped from the shadows. "What is it?"

Raven gulped. "It's the layout of fort Marshank. I found the original on Badrang's desk one day and copied it. It'll tell you all the possible ways of getting out of here!"

Rowanoak snatched the parchment from Raven. "I could just kill you anyway, and I ought to after what you did to us!"

Raven whimpered, "No .. Please! I'm sorry! I wish there had been some other way!"

Ballaw looked baffled. "Did I just hear the rotter say she was sorry?"

Fire flashed in Raven's eyes. "You did! And if I didn't need to avenge a wrong, I would beg you to kill me! I only ask you spare my life so I may kill Badrang, and have revenge for my family's blood!"

She buried her face in her paws. "For my husband, my daughter, my son. They were goodbeasts, all of em, even if I ain't no more. Spare me for them, so they may rest in peace once their murderer is dead!"

Rowanoak and Ballaw stared at each other, shocked that a vermin could have so much feeling for their kin.

Rowanoak's voice was gruff as she replied, "We will spare you, provided you help us, and if you are telling the truth, we have the same purpose. But!"

The badger warned sharply, "If you play us false again, you will regret it."

><><

Father and son stared at each other menacingly as Badrang snarled.

"You were master of the oceans Vilu! The mighty lord of the sea! Second only to Verdauga, you ruled near half the world! What are you doing here, and crippled on top of it?"

Vilu Daskar glared at his son. "My ship was destroyed by a mighty warrior, Luke by name. And I'll tell you, even if he's dead now, he's got brats to carry on his line. Listen close son. I am almost positive the mouse that sunk my ship and gave me these wounds, was the son of King Martin. If Verdauga knew the Luke line still existed, we'd all be no better then fish bait!"

Badrang scoffed at his father. "Do you think this matters to me? I serve Verdauga no longer."

Vilu sneered. "You weak fool! Don't you realize the prophesy clearly states, that if the Lukes come to power once again, our entire empire crumbles?"

For one second, Badrang stood frozen, as if he realized this new threat for what it truly was. But the next moment, he was back to his normal self.

"Gurrad!"

The emotionless rat bowed. "Yes my Lord?"

Badrang smiled at his father. "Make sure my daddy here has the proper accommodations."

The tyrant chuckled. "You must meet my dear pet, Vilu. After all, you must get to know him if you are to be in my family again."

"Take him to Deepfin!" Badrang ordered.

Gurrad obeyed, emotionlessly as ever.

><><

"So it looks like the only way out of here, is either the main gate, or the inlet beneath the torture chambers." Rowanoak observed.

Keyla shook his head. "You don't want to go that way!"

Ballaw looked at him oddly. "Why ever not me lad?"

Felldoh spoke for his friend. "Gurrad lives down there. Gurrad is Badrang's torturer, and you'll never get passed him! And even if you did ..."

The squirrel paused, hesitant.

Tullgrew, a young otter maid, continued for Felldoh. "They say Badrang keeps a terrible beast down there, the Deepfin. Nobeast knows what manner of creature it is, but I'm guessing it's some kind of large fish. Also, there is a sluicegate to keep the creature and it's victims from leaving Fort Marshank."

"Could the gate be opened?" Ballaw asked.

Tullgrew shrugged.

Rowanoak nodded. "It looks as though we can not leave that way. But it seems like there is no other way out."

Raven raised a timid paw. "If I may?"

Rowanoak glared at her, but Keyla nodded.

"Go ahead."

The ermine pointed to the map of Marshank. "If you look here, it shows exactly how deep the foundation goes. If we calculated it, we might be able to dig our way out!"

Chapter 37 Homeward Bound
Sally helped Rose up as Martin and Rupert finished the last two vermin off. Luna came over to the sisters, sighing,

"Thank you Sally. And here."

She returned the ribbon. "I'm sure Dancer wants this back."

Sally took it, asking, "Will you need it anymore?"

Luna smiled shakily. "Not unless we have to climb a mountain that fast again. Please don't treat me like I'm different, now you know the truth. Treat me like you did before you found out. I'll be fine, and it will make me feel more useful."

Sally patted Luna's shoulder. "I won't pity or look down on you for the fact you are blind. Believe me, I know what that's like. Now, we need to move."

Martin walked back to them, limping slightly. Rose started forward, concerned.

"Are you ok?"

The warrior mouse winced as he sat down, revealing a gash that ran down his right leg. "Not really."

Rose grabbed the knife Sally had given her earlier, cutting some fabric from the hem of her skirt. She proceeded to bind up the injury, remarking,

"I hope this works, cause it's all I've got right now. I don't even have any herbs .."

Luna broke in with her usual good sense. "Well we can't do a thing about that now. The best thing to do, would be to get through that valley and down the mountain."

She nudged Martin to his paws. "Can you get on me? It may be easier for you then if you tried to mount Dancer."

The mouse winced as he scrambled onto the horses back. Rose looked at Luna. "Can I ride you too? Dancer doesn't like to carry three."

Dancer laughed. "Don't use me as an excuse just because you like Martin!"

Rose glared at the horse. "That has nothing to do with it!"

Luna rolled her eyes. "Oh stop it you two. Yes Rose, you can ride me."

The mouse maid climbed on, and Luna started forward. "Well come on! We haven't got all day!"

><><

The journey through the valley was uneventful, and they reached it's end as the sun began it's descent in the western sky. Sally ran to the edge of the mountain trail, looking down to the landscape far bellow.

"Look! Oh look!"

Her friends came running, and as soon as she saw what had got her sister's attention, Rose gave a little scream of joy.

"Oh it's Evenglade! And Noonvale! I can see Noonvale!"

"Aye." Dancer agreed. "We should reach home round midday tomorrow."

Suddenly Sally thought of something. "Rose! What's the next thing on that riddle?"

Rose obligingly pulled out the ratted parchment, reading,

"Even when you reach you goal,

Your path will not end.

For reaching peace may take it's toll,

And you'll start over again."

"Huh." Sally sighed. "It sounds like a warning."

Martin looked confused. "But if what Rose says about your home is true, what would we need to be wary of? There could be no evil in such a peaceful place."

Sally rolled her eyes as she remounted Dancer. "You might be surprised."

Martin turned to Rose. "What's she mean by that?"

The mouse maid sighed. "My sister has a lifelong enemy in Noonvale, whom she has hated since she was very young. I must admit he's not the nicest mouse, but I think Sally reacts too fiercely when he is nasty. She's even fought him before."

Martin shook his head. "I'm sorry, but Sally is the strangest maid I've ever met."

Rose smiled as he helped her onto Luna. "You are not the only one who thinks that."

Chapter 38 Homecoming
Urran Voh sat on his front step, staring down the road that led into Noonvale. He shook his head. Sundew had been gone too long. Why had she not come home long before this?

The mouse put his head in his paws. What was he going to do about his wild, adventurous daughter? She was around sixteen seasons now, and was far to old to be running about. She really needed to settle down ..

He looked up. Of course! That was it!

><><

Sally sat on Dancer, trying to block out Martin and Rose's irritating chatter. The two were riding Luna, who patiently plodded along behind Dancer. Sally shook her head. Rose was making their home sound so perfect!

Sally buried her nose in Dancer's glossy black mane. Her home was far from perfect, and she did not greatly relish their return. Urran Voh would instantly forgive Rose, the favorite. However, his dealings with Sally would be much harsher.

The mouse maid sighed. When she was younger, she had dreamed that someday, maybe, her father would love her for what she was, instead of trying to change her. Now she understood, that was not to be. Urran cared only about how his family looked in the eyes of others. He would never love her when she would not conform to his rules.

><><

As they passed Evenglade, Rose became more and more elated with the prospect of getting home. However, Sally said nothing, her black eyes a little stormy.

Martin looked at her oddly as she took her cloak off and wrapped her sword in it. The mouse maid held up a paw.

"We are very near Noonvale. I must do something, and you go on ahead. I will meet you at my father's house."

She nodded to Rose as she dismounted. "Take them to father, and tell him not to worry about me. I'll be home soon."

Rose nodded silently, not asking what her sister wished to do. As Sally slipped into the undergrowth, Martin asked,

"What's up with her?"

Rose shrugged.

Dancer whickered, "When Sally gets like that, it's best not to ask questions."

><><

Urran Voh and Lightingflash were sitting outside the cottage, and neither were in a very good mood.

Lightingflash stamped a hoof, shaking his flaxen mane. "We have been friends for many a long season. But I do not approve of this decision."

Urran crossed his arms. "It's for her own good! I can't think of any other way to fix her!"

The palomino horse looked at his old friend with a mixture of anger and sorrow in his eyes. "Has it occurred to you, that Sundew may not need 'fixed'? Maybe you should learn to love her the way she is, instead of discarding her because she is not what you wanted her to be."

The mouse glared defiantly at Flash. "I'm trying to solve the problem."

Flash shook his head sadly. "Are you sure you did not create it?"

The mouse and horse might have exchanged more heated words if the clopping of hooves on cobblestone had not caused them to look up.

Ghostdancer was walking across the town square, followed by a small white mare. three creatures accompanied them, a weasel-like animal, a golden furred mouse, and Rose.

Rose slipped off the white horse and ran to her father. Urran was immensely relived to see his dear daughter alive and well, but he tried to appear stern.

"Where have you been? Where's Sundew?" He looked at the travelers in surprise. "And where on earth is my cart?!"

Rose hugged her father. "It's a long, long story. Sall .. Sundew is on her way, she just needed to do .. something. As for the cart .. well .."

Urran shook his head. "You must tell me later. First, who are your companions?"

Rose smiled. "The white horse is called Luna. The stoat is Rupert, and the mouse is Martin. They're all good friends."

Urran Voh nodded, although he eyed Martin and Rupert with distaste. "Well take them to your mother dear, and she'll get them fixed up. I'll have a little talk with Sundew when she gets home."

><><

Sally knocked on the door of Groddil's den. It took a few minutes, but the silver fox opened the door slowly. As soon as he saw who it was, he smiled.

"Sally lass! Where've you been?"

Sally shook her head. "It's a long story Groddil. A long, long story."

Groddil motioned for her to come in. "Well then, you must tell me child."

It took a while to tell the tale. Groddil listened intently, smiling when she described how well she had shot on the mountain, but instantly frowning when she told him of the strange fury and power she had experienced when the rat had attacked Rose.

Sally looked worried as she saw the frown in Groddil's eyes. "Did I do something wrong?"

Groddil jerked his head up, quickly stating, "No! No not at all. You did well to protect your sister, and I'm glad nothing happened to you. I also would like to meet this Martin you speak of. He sounds like a worthy warrior."

Sally sat her sword and bow on a table. "He is, although he is somewhat hasty and judgmental, especially of creature's considered vermin. I must go now, but I'll come back as soon as I can."

As the mouse slipped away into the woods, Groddil sighed.

"I knew she had it all along. Should I have told her?"

Chapter 39 Fire Unleashed
TBC~ Sayna the Warrior  Vengeance is M I N E  03:19, October 7, 2014 (UTC)