The Visitors...

[Hans Vermeer (Cole)]

The ferret looked at his paws. Turning them over and than back. "My paws are not too bad. Just shows my constant training and dedication to practice. When im not practicing with blades or throwing weapons. Im boxing. Kinda bruses and cuts my paws up a little but hey. It's just a bunch of scratches." He looked at the Cavern Hole. "So this is where ye have your dinners? Nice place."

[carabadgermum]

The talk of 'constant training' with blades and throwing weapons, made the molemaid quite nervous but she chose to ignore the comment and focus on his compliment of her abbey. "Hurr, thank-ee, zurr. Et bees gurtly cumfurtable an' Oi 'ope you'm feel at home 'ere durin' yur stay, burr aye."

Lois followed along behind the abbess and her guest watching closely ready to act a a moment's notice should it be necessary.

[Hans Vermeer (Cole)]

The ferret smiled kindly. "I am feeling at home Abbess. Reminds me of the time my Mother and Father were still alive. We used to come to Abbeys for trade or a place to rest up after battles. They would throw feasts and the such. Abbey Creatures and Soldiers cheering and drinking and eating. The funniest thing was some of the soldiers drunk so much alcohol that they passed out and fell asleep on the ground and whatever Abbey creature and soldiers were still up had to carry or drag them to bed. Laughing the whole time! Abbey creatures never overdrank. Lest it seemed like that to me. But when you have a bunch of happy soldiers that had won a good battle. They drink till they flop over and pass out! Feasts were always hapy and fun. When everyone was not talking, drinking or eating. They would be dancing, Singing songs, showing off. All kinds of things!"

[carabadgermum]

Saol tried to keep smiling but his speech made her even more uneasy. She was still very uncomfortable with the idea of letting this beast's soldiers into the abbey. Regardless of the idea that they had been invited into other abbeys, Redwall was not accustom to opening it's gates to ferrets or other traditional vermin creatures. She did not want to offend him by any means but judging by the reaction of just one otter she was fairly certain that her own creatures would not be fond of the idea of welcoming in a large number of beasts who for all seasons in memory been thought of as enemies.
She tried to change the subject. "Tell Oi 'bout yur family, zurr."

[Hans Vermeer (Cole)]

The Pure Ferret seemed to lighten up even more. This Mole wanted to know more about his Royal Family? Fine by him. Would be nice to pass a tale to another creature.

"Well..... Where to start. My mother was born of royalty in the kingdom i came from. Though she was a Princess at the time. My father on the other paw was not. Sadly whatever horrible place he had came. They did not see Pure Ferrets as wonderful and just creatures. Mainly just another creature to give a daily attempt to stab in the ribs for fun. He wore rags and wielded no more than some long kitchen knife and a small hatchet. When he had stumbled upon my Grandfather's kingdom. He was finally treated with some kind of respect. They put him in better clothing and even started giving him lessons on wielding blades and javelins and the such. Now the minute he showed up. My Grandfather had decided to make my mother and father a couple so when he passed away. There would be a King and Queen to take his place. Though that itself was hard. Ye see? My father was not a very talkable beast. Let alone one that would trust someone right away. Even with the kind treatment given to him. He was always looking over his shoulders and trying to avoid others...... I'm not talking to fast am I? Im sorry if i am."

[carabadgermum]

"Hurr no, zurr. Oi understand ee jus' foine. Oi was 'fraid you'm moight not bee understandin' Oi." She was listening intently to the tale. It was much more comfortable to listen to than his talk about soldiers and weapons. "So did ee fother warm oop to ee oidea 'o bein' king?"

[Hans Vermeer (Cole)]

The ferret smiled and continued with his tale. "Well...... Not at the time. He only find out he was to be king and Marry my mother after her father died. Though she did have a interest in him. He sure didn't. More likely thought she'd jam a sabre in his neck. It was not when they were alone, in a room or even in a abbey that they had suddenly loved each other. It was on a battlefield! Forced to fight for not victory. But their lives!" The ferret's tale of his parent suddenly turn interesting. A pair falling in love on a battledfield? That was indeed interesting.

[carabadgermum]

Saol found herself on the edge of her chair, figuratively. They were actually just now entering the line for the food. She had even forgotten to notice that several of the creatures around her were looking at she and the ferret with utter confusion or with outright dislike (for the ferret not for their abbess who some of them thought must have lost her mind to be conversing so easily with such a beast)
"Wot 'appened then, 'Einrik Zurr?" she asked him.

[Hans Vermeer (Cole)]

"They were in the Great Wars in the desert areas. With about two hundred and fifty at their command. But they were forced into a deadly battle against about four hundred enemy soldiers. So they decided that they could not beat their foe in a head on charge. But if they pulled off the "Scorpion" tactic. A little trick they came up with. Than the tides would turn to their favor."

[carabadgermum]

Lois stepped behind the two in the line and also listened to the ferret's story while she filled a plate with food. It made her curious because she had heard a little of the Great Wars from her father. So she had to ask, "You'll have to excuse me, but who was the enemy they were fighting against?"

Saol was still enjoying the story even though the idea of the actual battle was a little frightening. She looked at the badger mother with a little annoyance at the interruption.

[Hans Vermeer (Cole)]

The ferret looked at the badger and answered her question. "Well Because there are kingdoms and abbeys and other areas ruled by Kings or Chieftains or Dictators. It makes sense that they have allies to trade with or call for help in times of war and hardship. So the Great Wars started when a Ruling Dictator in the Desert areas and a King in the more greener Northern Areas declared war against each other. They each called their allies. Who joined in and called their allies and so on. Never stretched to the Far West or East though. Mainly because we were fighting in desert territory. More likely the Western and Eastern civilizations like yours had never even heard of it. Let alone witnessed any battles there. Which is good. Because if we all lost. The Beasts of the deserts would have came here with thousands at their command."

[carabadgermum]

Lois nodded and backed out of the conversation.

Saol looked from badger to ferret shaking her head. "Hurr, please continue, zurr. Wot 'appened tur ee Mum an' Dad?"

((really short terrible post I know, my bad))

[Hans Vermeer (Cole)]

The ferret continued to tell his story. "Well. The Scorpion Tactic was a risky move. Especially if your enemy knows what your planning too soon. But it involved spitting the army into three groups. Two groups attacking the sides and than starting to attack the back and than when the enemy is focusing all it's forces on it's back and side. The third group was sent charging forward with spears upfront and arrows and javelins thrown. Now if this Tactic worked. It would cause devastation and trap the remainders for capture. But they used it against the larger enemy force and surprisingly. They won. They lost a good number. But won. Taking forty captive and killing the rest. From than on. They had fought beside each other and plotted war tactics together."

[carabadgermum]

Saol nodded a little in wonder at it all. The idea of fighting bringing two creatures together was completely beyond her realm of experience. But she supposed it was good that Heinrich's parents found something that they both enjoyed. She remembered as the story ended however that they were going to have to get to the discussion of the present. She frowned at the thought and looked up to make sure that Lois was still close enough to help if she was needed.

Lois nodded to Saol indicating that she was exactly that.

[Hans Vermeer (Cole)]

"So after the Great Wars. They got married and ruled. Though they often had conflicts with Barbarians and the such. But......... Some creatures chased them off..... I do not even know how to describe them." The ferret's tone had changed. As if he was telling some horror story.


About Fifty Corsairs had spotted the shiny armored vermin and goodbeasts. They looked tired and starved. Herrick decided he would ambush them and take their weapons and armor. Than send the survivors to that abbey. Seeing if the Redwalled Abbey would surrender. Because his life was on the sea and islands. He had never heard of Redwall Abbey. Though it was risky. There were eighty in all. He had eighty corsairs but he left thirty to defend the ship. But with rested and well fed Corsairs. He knew he could not lose....

The woods suddenly came alive with pained screams, Blades clashing, orders being yelled, and the Corsair's evil battle cries.....