Redwall Isn't Safe Anymore! (Is Redwall as Safe as they Say it is? Part Two)

[Hickory]

"My mother would run you right through," said Fardan maliciously. "Now, did I hear that you murdered a squirrel? He didn't happen to be missing a paw, did he?"

[Ashleg]

Roscoe fell trembling against the table.
"Y-y-y-yessir, yes 'e did, that's him alright! Ran him right through like yer mother would do to me...."

[Hickory]

"You probably don't have any proof, right?" asked Fardan. "I thought so. You look like you've never killed in your life. That's enough of you, however."

Fardan turned to face Alfhild. "I wanted to see Rapshade, d'you have any idea where he is?"

[Ashleg]

"H-h-he's a one-pawed Dibbun!" Roscoe snapped, losing his temper again now that Fardan was seeing through his ploy. "T'was easy, got him in his sleep and then took his vittles."
Alfhild dealt him a kick that sent him falling flat.
"Why do you need my precious little nephew, Fardan? Finally going to put him in his place?"

[Hickory]

"Er, right," said Fardan skeptically at Roscoe. "We'll see. Your nephew, Alfhild, needs a better weapon. I happen to have one," he said, folding back the cloth to reveal a razor sharp sabré blade. "An old relic from my time elsewhere. I thought he'd like it."

[Ashleg]

Alfhild felt her blood boil, but then she dismissed it.
Maybe he would cut himself on that blade. She smirked just thinking about it.
"Oh sure, go find him. I'm sure he's around here somewhere--and there's nothing like welcoming in the third Chief with a new weapon, eh?"

[Hickory]

"Quite right," said Fardan, patting his own rapier. "He's probably upstairs with that rabbit. Behave yourself," he said to Roscoe. "You might have a shred of value in you."

He started back upstairs.

[Ashleg]

"Value? Hah, what's the value in a runt?" Alfhild sneered, watching Fardan depart.
"...Well, except as a servant..."

[Hickory]

"There's a small chance he's not lying," called Fardan. "Pretty small, though. Kill him if you want."

The wildcat listened for a second at each door until h found the right one. Flipping the cloth over the sword back over, he rapped against the door quickly.

[Ashleg]

"Oh my grief," Rapshade muttered, grabbing a lit candle from the bedside.
He slunk over to the door, brandishing it, and looked out to see Fardan. Shock flashed in his eyes.
"Aargh, what, you trying t' kill me?!"

[Hickory]

Fardan narrowed his eyes. "Unfortunately, no. I wanted to give you something, actually. Mind if I come in?"

[Ashleg]

"Uh," Rapshade positioned himself in the doorway so that nobody could get in.
He frowned and waved the candle under Fardan's nose. "I'd rather y' didn't. It backfired last time I let that happen. What do you..."

[Hickory]

Distracted by the candle moving, Fardan blinked a few times as his gaze returned to Rapshade. "Well, I heard you lost your sabré a season ago in the battle, correct?"

[Ashleg]

Rapshade's fur began to stand up.
"Savvy?" He muttered uneasily, eyes narrow.
"Where is this going? I have things t' do."
Like sleep, he thought, glancing tiredly back inside.
He hoped Petu hadn't taken it upon himself to claim the bed.
Darn rabbit...

[Hickory]

"Of course," said Fardan sarcastically. "On a serious note, I thought you might like this."

He pulled the sword out from underneath the cloth. The keen blade caught the candlelight perfectly, and the steel had a slight curve expertly forged. The cord bound grip was protected by a gilded paw-guard into which strange characters were carved. The matching sheath was made from fine brown material, held together by shiny brass bands. "This is from one of my previous... associations," said the wildcat. "Since you haven't really had a proper sword fitting your rank, I thought this would do quite well. What do you think?"