The storm battered hard against the ancient stones of Loamhedge Abbey--or, more appropriately, of what had become of it.
Inside, on the second floor, in what could only be said to be the most in-tact and clean room of the structure, sat a hunched figure over his desk, shaking paw clamped in a fist around a scrunched piece of parchment.
His scouts had returned today with a map--a map leading to Redwall, a fortress greater than his own.
Grimacing, the elderly polecat stood up, white silken robes moving soundlessly with him.
"Redwall," he murmured. The word slid like honey over his tongue. He remembered many years ago travelling near there, and his dark eyes glistened. "Me, Abbot Orzmul of
Redwall."
He rushed towards the door. "Vincor! Send for Meadow. Tell her that the Abbot needs to speak with her immediately."
@321tumbler @The Skarzs
Vincor, who had been standing outside the door, nodded and hurried away to retrieve the mouse.
He found his way to her room, and knocked once on the door. "Meadow. Come, the Abbot wants you."
Meadow was sitting on her bed, thinking about nothing in particular, when she heard the knock on the door and Vincor telling her to go to the Abbot. She jumped up in shock. "Why does he want me? He's never asked for me before. Oh, I hope I'm not in trouble." she thought. Quickly, she went to the door and opened it. Nodding at Vincor, she replied, "Yes, sir. I'll go." and followed him to the Abbot's quarters.
Vincor knocked on the abbot's door, then opened it, knowing he would be waiting.
"Meadow is here," said the ferret. "Do you want me to leave?"
"Hm," rasped the polecat, still clutching the crumpled paper in his claws. "...Yes. Off with you."
As Vincor stalked off, Orzmul's dark eyes found Meadow and lingered on her, narrow and menacing. The fur around his neck bristled.
Without another sound, he whirled around and strode into his room and beckoned to her with his claw, taking a seat on his chair again.
Warily, Meadow stepped towards the abbot. She felt his eyes on her, piercing her mind and jumbling her thoughts. With a feeble attempt to control her shaking, she was able to stammer, "Y-y-you wanted to speak to me?"
"Meadow..." he crooned, emotionless. "You are the only Woodlander in the Abbey. Do you know how special that makes you?"
Orzmul, while still nimble, had a knack for making himself appear small and withered with age. It worked especially to deceive creatures that did not know him well. Switching almost randomly from large and intimidating to the frail old creature he looked, the polecat motioned to another chair.
"Take a seat, Girl," he said.
Meadow sat down in the seat, clenching the armrest in an attempt to calm her nerves. "I, I guess I've never really looked at it as making me special, Father. To be honest, I've always felt separated from everyone else because I'm a Woodlander." she revealed.
She abruptly stopped talking, realizing that she was probably being too open with the abbot. Her face turned red and she looked down at her lap. It was so easy to feel comfortable with the weak old man he now seemed to be.
"That is a shame," murmured Orzmul manipulatively, black tail flicking slowly from side to side. "Did Vincor make you uncomfortable coming up here? Why, what kind of question is that? I am positive he did."
He scrutinized the mousemaid with his cold eyes, the only part of him save for his voice which in the moment screamed that he was not only a defenseless creature. "You must feel so alone here," the polecat continued, pokerfaced, light bouncing off of his jewelry. "If only..."
How the abbot seemed to know how she felt was unknown to her, but she felt less intimidated the longer they talked. With this new familiarity she felt, she was comfortable enough to boldly ask, "If only what, Father?"
"Nothing, my sweet," Orzmul mused, grabbing her white paw in his black one. With his free limb, he shoved the map under the table. "I just do not want anybeast feeling lonely, is all. Have you any friends?"
Meadow shook her head.
"No? What a shame...an absolute shame..."
When Orzmul grabbed Meadow's paw, she flinched back slightly. Meadow did not like to be touched. It was not something she was used to.
Although she was not as afraid of him as when Vincor had told he the abbot wanted to speak to her, she was unsure of why he was being so kind to her. She had never done anything particularly outstanding.
"It's quite alright, Father. I've gotten used to it." she said with a strained smile.
"Is it? You don't look 'quite alright'." the Abbot drew his paws in. "You know, Child, it does not have to be this way. It is about time I took an apprentice."
"A-an apprentice?" Meadow choked out after a long moment of silence, "I'm very honored that you thought of me, but I really don't know if I would be able to take on such a responsibility."
Thoughts of Redwall and an ever-extending empire blurred the polecat's vision.
He laughed gleefully.
"You see? This is why I shall take you under my wing, Young Meadow!"
Meadow gaped at the sudden change in the abbot's mannerisms. "I don't think I understand, Father. What do you mean?"
"You do not need to have any experience yet, because I'll teach you," he said, clearing his throat and sitting straighter. Enough of that childish laughter.
"The only way for any of them to respect you is for them to see that their leader does. Am I not correct? As much as Vincor is cunning and sly, the Abbot's job would be too hard for him. But I have had my eye on you since the day we found you abandoned outside our doors."
Meadow still wasn't convinced, especially after the abbot's strange outburst, but she didn't want to disrespect him by continuing to disagree.
"I really don't know what you see in me, Father, but I guess if you think I'm fit for the position. I very likely will disappoint you, though."
"Not to worry, my pet, not to worry at all." Orzmul trilled. "Why don't you go ahead and do your duties as normal, and I shall seek you later?"
Meadow nodded. "Yes, Father. Thank you." she said.
Orzmul nodded, then squinted at her, and tilted his head at the door.
A look of irritation spread across his face. "What are you waiting for, surely you can open it yourself?"
"Oh, oh, yes Father. I am very sorry." Meadow jumped up and quickly made her way out the door and down the hallway.
She went back to her room and sat on the bed, trying to take in what had happened.
OOC: *Cough.*
OOC:
THE END!!! ;D
Great story, guys, there was so much depth in this that we definitely need a part two!
I joke. I just forgot.
IC-
Down in the courtyard, a brown rat approached Vincor.
"Wot're we doing t'day, boss? There's been an awrful chill in th' air lately...an' not much o' th' Abbot neither. Say, yew see 'im a ton, is he sick?"
This rat was either very bold or surely stupid, for that sort of question was brash and could get one reprimanded. You did not talk about the Abbot like that.
"I heard...I 'eard 'e's taken a fancy t' dat mousey over yew..."
Vincor suddenly grabbed the rat and slammed him against a pillar, dark eyes boring into his victim's. "Great Father Abbot will do as he please. And if it pleases him to take to the mouse, then we must obey his wish."
He released the rat. "Or have you forgotten that he sees and hears all, and that his wisdom is unquestionable?"
"R-Right!" the rat gasped, quivering. "Th' Superior shall do as 'e wishes ter, I don't ferget nothin'! I was just wonderin' why...why he'd choose a mouse an' all, 'tain't like she's proved t' be worth anythin'..."
Despite his jealousy, Vincor held himself back from speaking against the abbot's decision.
"It doesn't matter. She has been chosen."
"Chosen 'r not, I think it's bogus." The rat, whose name was Sniklaw, tucked a brown paw into his robe and produced a small dagger with a thin point. "I'd like ta talk ter her, methinks. Make sure th' liddle mousey knows she ain't better'n me an' none of us--than you, Vincor."
He must have been stupid to run his tongue, or his confidence was as tall as a pillar. Perhaps a mix of both could be found in the cocky rodent--nevertheless, he wore a horrible grin on his nasty features.
"The Superior don't respect yew no more...'ow soon will it be 'till he takes ye outta the picture fer good?"
Vincor reached out and took the dagger, looking at it. The black handle led to a dark steel guard, curling on the sides like two ram horns. From there, the blade protruded, wickedly sharp and glinting in the light. It would be so easy. . .Meadow was inferior, unworthy. What made her so much more. . . special?
Had Vincor not been zealous enough? Had he not followed the Laws since before he could read through the guidance of his parents? Or was Abbot Orzmul going senile. . . and insane?
"No."
Vincor grabbed Sniklaw by the wrist and pressed his paw against the pillar, thrusting the dagger into it. "I will not betray the abbot!"
Sniklaw's scream sliced through the air, and he turned his head in horror to see the trails of blood that trickled down his arm--and the pillar. Skewered with his own dagger, the rat started to squirm and plead.
"Take it out!" he cried, babbling desperately. "I di'n't do nothin', Grace t' 'is Abbot, 'ave mercy...!"
Vincor looked at Sniklaw with merciless eyes, but pulled out the dagger. He watched as the rat clutched his paw, still holding the dripping blade. He hauled Sniklaw upright, and held the dagger under his chin.
"Never doubt him again. Now go, and reflect on your mistakes."
Sniklaw ran, sobbing, from the scene. His tears betrayed him, but as soon as he was out of sight, he turned around and stared in the direction he had come from with blazing, furious eyes.
I'll make you pay, Vincor. I'll show you that nobeast can cripple my paw and get away with it!
With that, he slunk inside, and shut the door behind him, such agony searing through his arm that he could not withstand it.
They'll all pay.
The rat slunk into the darkness, and started up the steps.
Meadow sat on her bed reading the most recent book she had found in the library. After at least an hour of reading, she had only gotten through one short chapter. Her mind kept on wandering to the conversation with the Abbot. "Why me?" she continuously asked herself.
Soon, a knock sounded from Meadow's door, and a gruff voice; "'Ellur?"
"Coming." Meadow asked while walking to the door. She opened it to see Sinkclaw standing in front of her. "Uh, hi." she said confused, "What do you need?"
"'Ello, young'in." Holding his bleeding paw behind his back and out of sight, Sniklaw grinned feebly.
"Vincor found out 'bout yer promotion," he announced, "An 'e got real mad. Says 'e's gonna kill you, Vincor does..." gritting his teeth for a moment, the rat flicked his gaze around, then lowered his voice to a secretive whisper.
"Says 'e's gonna kill th' Abbot, too."
Meadow stood there for a moment taking in what she had just heard. Someone was thinking about killing her, but she had no clue what to do about it. There was no way she would be able to defend herself from Vincor if he did attack her. And the Abbot? What of him? Should she warn him? She didn't know Sniklaw very well, but he probably had a better idea of how to handle this kind of situation than she did.
"Well thank you for telling me, Sniklaw." she said, "I'll make sure to keep a watch out. Do you have any advice on what I should do about this? I must confess I really don't know what to do about it."
"I would tell th' Abbot lickity split if'n I was you," the vermin whispered. "An' I'd do it meself, 'cept 'is Mightiness won't listen to me! 'Tis all I knows, gotta run an' do me duties."
With an exaggerated glance behind him, the rat ducked out of the room.
"Like taking candy from a baby," he snickered.
Flopping down on her bed Meadow exclaimed, "Oh why is this happening to me?" So much had happened today and she wasn't quite sure how to handle it all. Sure she felt some pride being chosen by the Abbot, but she didn't want to be his apprentice with this kind of trouble. Vincor had already scared her enough, but now she was absolutely terrified of him. Yes, she would go to the Abbot. She would go to the Abbot and ask that he choose someone else as his apprentice. She got up and hurried out the door towards the Abbot's room.