Silas
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Post by Silas on Nov 18, 2007 16:34:46 GMT -5
Tying the cord off with a strong, complicated knot, the fox tried to turn Tamar in the direction of the gatehouse. It wouldn't make sense to keep her in plain view when he went away to the main building. He observed that the female's eyes were filling with tears now. He gently shoved her towards the door, and said one word in his usual emotionally detached voice, "Walk."
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carabadgermum
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the paw that rocks the cradle rules the world
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Post by carabadgermum on Nov 18, 2007 16:44:31 GMT -5
Tamar whimpered softly and walked in the direction the fox pushed her. All semblance of bravery had left her. She was now desperately wishing for somebeast, anybeast to come to her rescue. And then she couldn't stop the whispered question from escaping her lips, "What are you going to do to me?"
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Silas
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Post by Silas on Nov 18, 2007 17:03:40 GMT -5
The fox, actually, didn't laugh at her fear. instead, he muttered back, "If you think I'll kill you, you're mistaken." Here he paused, opening the door by reaching past the squirrelmaid. "I just need you to stay put."
The inside of the gatehouse was empty at present, the young mouse appointed to the task of upkeep (Tom) currently away re-shelving books in the small attic library from a dibbun 'askerdint'. The room felt dusty, which prompted a sneeze from the fox. a few small dots of phlegm flew from his nostrils to land upon the squirrel's back unintentionally. He shook his head and looked about the room. Bookshelves, a small cot, an armchair and other assorted seats, a table, two candles... Nothing of value. But what the fox didn't notice was a pen knife sittting next to the inkwell upon the table.
The fox took a wooden chair from the table, keeping Tamar in his line of sight at all times. Pulling the object across to the side farthest away from the door, he attempted to drag her over to it, having another length of cord ready to tie her to it. "Sit down." He commanded.
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carabadgermum
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Post by carabadgermum on Nov 18, 2007 17:12:10 GMT -5
Tamar did as she was told but she was breathing a little easier since he had told her he wasn't going to kill her. "Bless you," she said as a reflex when the fox sneezed. The dust in the air was tickling her nose as well and she wished she had a paw free to get her handkerchief out to blow it. She looked around the room. It had been a while since she had been in here. She and Saol had come here to look for Abbess Song's book and they had found it on the table there by the inkwell. She gave a soft gasp when she saw the pen knife. She wondered if the fox had seen it also. He didn't appear to. If he left her alone maybe she could get to it and free herself. She knew there was no way she could get it while he was here in the room.
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Silas
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Squirellking*~*Southsward[P:NaN]
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Post by Silas on Nov 18, 2007 17:23:25 GMT -5
The fox put the squirrelmaid's arms over the back of the chair, which, like the cot, was a little smaller than usual. Space was a premium in the cramped gatehouse. Tying another knot to the chair's back, the fox walked around in full view of Tamar. The only weapon he carried with him was a dirk, which was visible as his cloak was floating behind him a little, revealing it on his belt. His grey fur looked darker in the early morning light, his face hardly illuminated by the window, drawing lines across his muzzle from the shadow of the windowpanes.
He sat down in another chair next to the table, casually glancing about for something in the room. The pen knife was hidden once again from his view by the inkwell. He took out a small canteen from under his cloak, and quietly took a swig out of it as he planned his next move.
OOC: Any thoughts? Complaints? (Just checking)
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carabadgermum
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the paw that rocks the cradle rules the world
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Post by carabadgermum on Nov 18, 2007 18:13:09 GMT -5
((it's great! i have absolutely no idea where you're going with it so I'm just playing along))
Tamar watched the fox. A marlfox, she thought with a shudder. She'd read about them in that book of Abbess Song's. They were dangerous creatures somebeasts even thought they were magic. She wasn't sure about that but she was scared of him all the same. He didn't seem to have any weapon other than the dirk in his belt but she couldn't be sure. And if he was magic . . . She glanced at the desk again the pen knife was still there and he still didn't seem to have noticed it. She tested her bonds. There was no way she could go for the knife without attracting his attention. She watched him take a drink from a canteen and realized that she was also thirsty. What an odd thing to be thirsty at a time like this.
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Silas
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Post by Silas on Nov 18, 2007 18:21:00 GMT -5
However, the fox was not sympathetic enough to share his drink, and once he finished, he found what he was looking for. Moving over to the coat rack in another corner, he tore off a good length of fabric. Stepping towards the squirrel, he wrapped it around her mouth to prevent her from calling out when he left. Glancing one last time at her face, he turned about and exited the gatehouse, locking the door from the outside after a few minutes of tinkering with the lock. Then, he was lost to sight once more, off to raid the main building. He would show everyone what fools the abbeybeasts were, not by killing them, but by robbing them, stealing their valuables from out under their very snouts. It was a task of humiliation, not of slaughter.
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carabadgermum
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the paw that rocks the cradle rules the world
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Post by carabadgermum on Nov 18, 2007 19:19:48 GMT -5
When he came to the point of gagging her, Tamar forgot to be frightened. Now she was just angry. He's just a big bully, that's all, she thought. And as soon as he left her alone she stood up awkwardly and dragged the chair over toward the desk. She couldn't get at the knife with her bonds attached to the back of the chair. "Hazelnuts!" she said to herself even thought it was muffled through the gag. Then she mumbled, "Sorry Pisgah," to the abbey's recorder who lived in this gatehouse but was for some reason missing today, as she twisted around and slammed the chair into the wall effectively braking the back of the chair away from the seat. She could now back herself up to the desk and grab the pen knife. Cutting the cord that bound her paws was harder than she would have ever thought possible. She even dropped the knife once and had to get down on her knees and bend over backward to pick it up. After a few tries however she was successful in freeing her paws and pulling the gag out of her mouth. Now she had freedom of movement but she knew the fox had locked the door. Her next great challenge was getting out of the gatehouse.
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Silas
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Post by Silas on Nov 18, 2007 19:44:28 GMT -5
In mere minutes the fox had swept the main building, most of the abbeydwellers dozing off, the ones that weren't he gave a wide berth. A pewter bowl here, a silver spoon there, some gold paw-rings, all disappeared into the fox's cloak, the items too big to fit were placed in a mid-sized bag. He even took the time to steal a bite of breakfast before putting up the final touch, a note affixed to the main doors as he left. It read thus, scribbled:
Dear Redwallers,
Know that you have had the honor of a special visitor today. I made sure personally that all of your treasures will be deposited in the safest place I could think of. But also know that I could have taken much more, just as easily. I hope this at least humbles you all, to think your 'Martin' could protect you from everything is a lost faith. Now you know the might of my breed. You are at our mercy.
And at the bottom, a symbol was sketched, a triangle within a circle, the points touching the curved line and a dot in the center of it all.
Now the thief slunk back towards the gatehouse, in no rush. He was invisible. The bag he bore under his cloak was fit to burst with trinkets, treasures and the like. Going around the south wall, he neared the main gate, not knowing that his single captive had broken her bonds so quickly. But he himself was not visible to the maid, the windows in the gatehouse faced east instead of south.
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carabadgermum
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the paw that rocks the cradle rules the world
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Post by carabadgermum on Nov 18, 2007 19:54:59 GMT -5
Tamar tried the door but knew at once it would be impossible for her to open from the inside so she went over to investigate the windows. They faced east and the morning sun was just beginning to stream through them. The problem was however that they were far to small for her to climb out of them. She might be able to get one open or break it and shout a warning to somebeast though.
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Silas
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Post by Silas on Nov 18, 2007 20:14:16 GMT -5
The windows, while being capable of opening, were held in place by an iron spike inserted directly into the window ledge, which could be removed at leisure.
As the fox was slowly making his way over to the gate, he waited, watching for anybeast in the area. A few guards were chatting as they walked across the walltops, a shrew and a mouse, by the look of them. The Marlfox stood still as a statue as they neared the gatehouse, their voices reaching his ears.
"By the fur, it's gettin' cold!" "Huh, I'll say... Tomorrow it'll prob'ly be snowin'." "Snowin'?" The mouse, the younger of the two, shivered as a breeze came from the plains, the grasses covered in a light frost. The shrew smirked as his partner wore an expression of shock. He knew the creature hated the cold. The mouse came from Southsward.
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carabadgermum
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Post by carabadgermum on Nov 18, 2007 23:03:44 GMT -5
When Tamar got a closer look at the window she found that it was not dificult at all to open. She was relieved that she didn't have to break the glass. She opened it as wide as it would go and heard the guards talking up on the wall. "Hey!" she shouted. "Somebeast help me!! THERE'S A MARLFOX IN THE ABBEY!!!"
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Silas
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Post by Silas on Nov 18, 2007 23:23:42 GMT -5
The fox dashed over along the wall, surprised that Tamar broke free this quickly. Silencing her would be necessary, but somehow the fox feels a sort of regret about it. Sliding along the gatehouse wall, he mutters, "What did I say about shouting?"
The shrew and mouse stop in their tracks, rushing down the wallstairs. "We're comin', miss!" The shrew called out drawing his rapier, the mouse holding his staff behind him.
The fox hissed a curse and retreated into the shadows of the main gate, pushing it open to allow him through. It was heavier than expected, and the vulpine creature struggled to open it. By now the shrew and mouse were closing in on the open window.
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carabadgermum
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the paw that rocks the cradle rules the world
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Post by carabadgermum on Nov 18, 2007 23:29:12 GMT -5
Tamar saw the guards and heard them say they were coming "No, leave me!" She called to them and waved wildly with her arms. "I'm fine! Find the Marlfox! There's a Marlfox somewhere in the Abbey or in the grounds!"
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Silas
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Post by Silas on Nov 19, 2007 7:30:49 GMT -5
The shrew glanced around the grounds while the mouse looked towards the main gate. 'There 'e is! I see him!" He shouted. The shrew turned around and also saw the Marlfox opening the gate. They rushed in as the fox went through the gate, running from the abbey at a breakneck pace. The guards ran after him, but soon realized that they were too late. The fabled Marlfox had vanished again.
Heading back inside and locking the gate, they noticed that Tamar didn't come out of the gatehouse. The mouse attempted to open the door without much success. "Miss," He called out into the window, "Could you unlock the door? He's gone now."
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