Packing for the journey

[carabadgermum]

Moll was very grateful to be allowed to go alone to get her things for their journey to Terramort. She had been afraid that Teague would send someone with her or worse yet that he would want to come along himself. This proved that he did have some faith in her. The thing was that now she was finally on her own she found that she really wanted someone along with her. So wondering around the fortress she eventually found Aleah and asked the ottermaid to accompany her back to the Crow's Nest to get her things. More than her stuff she really wanted to talk to Barlow and explain to him what had happened. She'd miss the old searat.

[Wolfie]

Aleah walked alongside her mistress, silently wondering where they were going and why they were going there. She knew almost nothing about the emperor's plans, and she wasn't sure she wanted to know.

[carabadgermum]

"I'm sorry for earlier," Moll told her slave. "I mean when I ordered ya t' get out. It weren't very nice o' me when you been so 'elpful t' me." Moll didn't know that this wasn't they way to treat a slave because she had never had one before. She thought of the young ottermaid as a friend more than anything. She'd never had a close female friend and was glad to have one now especially in light of what she was not becoming. "Teague, er, the Emperor 'as us leavin' tomorrow mornin' t' go to Terramort. I've never been there. Don't suppose you 'ave either. They want me to kill somebeast when we get there."

[Wolfie]

Aleah clung to the weaselmaid's paw. I've never been there either, an' I don't wanna go. I heard a bit about it before. It doesn't sound like a nice place. I'm scared.

[carabadgermum]

"We'll stay close together, right matey? An' take care of each other. I've got me dagger and we're goin' now to get my cutlass. I know a thing or two 'bout fightin'."
Moll led the way into the Tavern that had been her home for so long and called back into the kitchen, "Barlow, it's me, it's Moll."
"Molly, gel, Where'd they take ye? I thought I'd lost the best 'elp I ever 'ad." The fat old searat answered her coming out into the dining room.
"I fear ye have lost me, Messmate. They wanna make me the queen."

[Wolfie]

Aleah stood quietly and watched them talk as she thought over the weaselmaid's words. Sure it'd be nice to have someone look out for her, but she didn't know anything about fighting. What could she do to help protect her mistress if it was needed?

[carabadgermum]

“So it's finally come t' that, has it?” The fat old searat came out to the dining room from the kitchen wiping his paws on his greasy apron and nodding knowingly. “From the moment that whelp set 'imself up as emperor I been wonderin' when 'e'd notice ye.”

“You knew?” Moll was flabbergasted. “Wait, what exactly did you know?”

“I knew yur mum fer starters, an' yur dad. Number o' times I was kicked outa me own galley so's the Cap'n could spend some time wi' that pretty maid.” Barlow shook his head and smiled. “I was the first t' know when she found out she was expectin' you.”

“So Rawnwave really was my father,” Moll said seriously, chewing on one of her claws. She sat, listening intently to his story.

“'Course gel. That's what I'm tryin' t' tell ye. Cap'n luved yur mum, wouldn' let no other beast touch 'er.”

Moll thought of the other beasts who had laid paws on her mother so she could aford to feed and clothe she and her daugher. “If 'e loved 'er so much, why din't 'e marry 'er proper?” She spat angrily.

“Aww, Molly gel,” he put a comforting paw on the weaselmaid's shoulder, “'E wanted more'n anythin' t' do jus' that. But 'e was already married to another. Power hungry bitch they said she was, 'is wife. When 'e left yur mum 'ere expectin' you, 'e was 'eaded off to Terramort to get rid of 'er.”

“But 'e never made it. The ship went down in a storm,” Moll finished the story for him, sadly.

“S'right. The bitch was left to rule, an' me an' yur mum were the only beasts ever to know you existed. There were rumors o'course that he left an heir but nothin' could ever be proved.”

“Then that's why we're leavin' for Terramort tomorrow morning,” She stood and walked distractedly to the window. She could see the ship being prepared for their departure at the dock. “They want me to kill Rawnwave's widow so I can claim rule of the island.”

[jack]

Teague was not at the crows nest getting stuff like Moll. He was in his room packing stuff. He had a small haversack and he was packing it with robes. He grabbed a hat that was nearby and laughed. It was his old captain hat from when he was a searat. He stuffed it in the bag. He then looked around his room. He had packed his robes and his hat. He was not sure he wanted to bring anything else on a long journey. He then realized that he was missing something.

OOC: Once someone else posts I will make the post about what he forgot

[carabadgermum]

Back at the Crow's Nest:

Moll continued to stare out the window. She pulled her dagger out of her boot and ran her paw over the symbol etched into the handle, her father's family crest. She was part of his family. It was her family crest, too. Then she spoke to no one in particular, "That's the only reason 'e wants t' marry me. Once I'm named heir to Terramort, 'e'll be the emperor of two islands."

Barlow interuped her, "Don' you dare take such a low opinion of yourself, gurlly! You're yur father's daughter. I knew it when ye gutted that whelp fer knockin' out yur teeth. And I know it by the way ye treat yur servant there. Yur father was the same, brutal to 'is enemies and kind to 'is friends. You got Rawnwave's blood flowin' through ye and when ye need to step up to a challenge you'll know what t' do. The corsairs don' want some no name whelp to lead 'em they want Rawnwave's heir. An' Molly, yur it."

Molly looked at the old searat, she was slightly encouraged but still not entirely convinced and tears had begun to form in her eyes as he told her about her father. "You really think so?" she asked him.

"I know so."

[jack]

Back with Teague:

Teague had realized that he had forgotten some of the most important stuff for the journey. He ran quickly to the library that was just a floor up. When he got there he looked around. He saw what he wanted on a high shelf. He got up on one of the chairs and found the book he took it down. It was the history book from when Ublaz Madeyes was emperor of Sampetra. He grabbed it and stepped down off the chair. This little book contained the best way and things to watch out plus weakness' of all the mossflower dwellers and abbey dwerlers.

[carabadgermum]

Crow's Nest:

Suddenly Moll's smile was back. "Well, Teague told me I could bring anything I want on the trip, so I'm bringin' you Barlow. 'Ow d' ya feel 'bout bein' back in a ship's galley again?"

He winked at her, "Yur wish is my command, oh queen. It'll be jus like ol' times wi' yur mum an' dad." It had been that long since he had been on a ship but he had always felt more comfortable on the sea than on land. The only reason he hadn't shipped off before this point was the promise he made to Moll's parents to look after her. Now he could go to sea and keep track of his charge. And he would be able to see her reach her destiny. He was thrilled with her offer.

"Good," Moll nodded and started back toward the kitchen and her old bedroom beyond. She called back over her shoulder, "I jus' 'ave t' get a few things and then we can all 'ead back up to the fortress."

[jack]

Library:

Teague was looking through the book. He sighed the page with the most direct root was ruined by water. He went over to his pile of maps on the table and flipped through them. He found the one he wanted it had Terramort and Mossflower on it. He saw a line on it that he did not remember. Then he realized this was not the map he was looking for but a stolen one. It must have been stolen from Redwall since it had a redwallers name on it. He looked at the course. It was a course from redwall to salamandstron from someone named Mariel. He was shocked this very good.

[carabadgermum]

Moll slipped into her room and shut the door behind her. This had been her sanctuary for so many years. And now she would leave it behind for a palace. She sat on her bed with the straw ticked mattress and the itchy wool blanket. How different it was from the down comforter and satin sheets on her new bed. But one thing was for certain she never had to share this bed. She wondered how long it would be until Teague would . . . but she pushed this thought back out of her mind for the time being.
She found a small cloth bag and began shoving clothing items into it. It seemed a rather useless pursuit if she was to be given more dresses like this one she was wearing. Surely Teague would rather creatures see her in silk and satin than in her old homespun wool and linen. But they would be going on a long sea voyage and he couldn't expect her to go about on board a ship in all this finery.
Moll didn't have many posessions so it didn't take long to pack them. Then she headed back out to the kitchen. She saw her cutlass still hanging on the pegs on the wall. She took it down carefully and was about to thrust it through her belt when she realized that she wasn't wearing it. Yet another reason to wear her own clothing on the voyage. She would want to have her weapons close at paw.

[Wolfie]

Aleah stod quietly and watched as her mistress packed her belongings. She didn't have much to pack herself. What she owned she could carry in her arms or wear.

[jack]

Teague was puzzling over the map. He was shocked a map from redwall. He had no clue that their were any. He quickly looked around him to see of there were any other redwall related stuff. He saw a letherbound book that was not Sampetrian. He was shocked. He took it down. The title was record of rollo the recorder. He knew at once it had to be redwall.