Steelfang: A Tale of Redwall Chapter 3

"Alright, everybeast quiet down now," Abbess Song said, straining to be heard over the rabble of  dozens of concerned Redwallers, their rock crystal lanterns causing the snow to appear a warm orange-yellow, "silence, please!"

Skipper of otters let out a piercing whistle, gaining the attention of all gathered. "Give yer jaws a rest an' listen to the Abbess!"

"Thanks you, Skipper. First, thank you to all the beasts who've volunteered to search for our missing little ones at such a late hour, but we must go about our search in an orderly fashion to find them as soon as possible as I'm sure they're 'ungry and 'alf frozen." Song paused, watching the gathered woodlanders nod their agreement before continuing. "Skipper and my father have decided, and I agree, that they would most likely go straight out from the gate into the East, so that's where we'll begin. I'd like you all to pair up and fan out to create a wall. If we don't find them that way, we'll try every direction there is until our babes are back safe in their beds."

Song held up her paws to stifle the roars of approval, and was just about to get everybeast filed outside, when she saw her father's ears perk up and his head snap towards the small wicker wallgate.

"What do you hear," she asked, having long ago learned his almost supernatural hearing was always to be trusted.

"Some beasts comin' up on the gate, sounds like the two Dibbuns and anot'er I don't know." He readied his sling, every other beast quickly following suit, as the unmistakable cadence and expressions of a corsair sailed into their ears.

"Well me cullies, tha gate's still open, jus' like ya said she'd be. We'll 'ave ya snug in yer liddle beds in no time!" The gate creaked open, and a barbarous-looking fox found himself with dozens of slings, javelins, and a few swords all pointed his way. He quickly recovered from his surprise and his instinct to drawn his blades, knowing even moving his paw a hairsbreadth toward the hilts would be the biggest mistake he could possibly make in this situation, and smiled a warm and toothy grin at the gathered woodlanders.

"Good evenin' mates," he said in a cheerful and warm tone, "I 'ope I finds ya all in good 'ealth. I believe I 'ave somet'ing that belongs to ya." As he spoke, both Gubb and Winny poked their heads out of their warm hiding place.

"'Ewo," they both said in unison.

Tension filled the frigid air uncomfortably, no beast making a move. The Redwallers, the wound of war with the Marlfoxes still fresh on their minds, were wary of this villainous-looking newcomer's intentions while Argo, despite his surface calm, had no idea if they'd slay him just to be on the safe side. Abbess Song could feel the unease under the icy air and took it upon herself to dispel it, walking gracefully over to the scarred fox, berating the Dibbuns the whole way.

"Do you two know much grief you've caused? You 'ad all of us worried sick looking for you, thinking you were little squirrel-and-mole-sicles by now. That easily could've happened you know, you could've frozen out there if it weren't for...I'm sorry, what was your name, sir?

The fox gave a shallow bow and extended his strong-looking paw, "Name's Argo, marm. Argo Steelfang."

"An apt name from what I see," she said, letting his larger paw infold her's, making reference to the bejeweled false fang, "I am Song, the Abbess of Redwall Abbey. Thank you for returning our little ones safely to us."

"Weren't no trouble, marm. Tales o' your Abbey reach far 'cross the seas, 'tis an 'onor to 'elp anyway I can. Yer should get the babes inside, been out'n the cold a good long while."

"Of course," she replied, smiling,  calling Skipper over to lift the two runaways from their place in the makeshift sling across Argo's chest. Winny drifted off to sleep almost the moment her head touched the otter's brawny chest, but Gubb chatted away animatedly about their adventures in the company of the fox, almost all fibs of course, as they were carried back to the Abbey.

"...an' den a who'e awmy o' fewwits attacked an Missa Awgo got 'urted but I choppa alla tails off an'..."

Abbess Song chuckled demurely, "Well 'Missa Awgo,' sound like you could use a night out of the cold after such a battle. Please, follow me, and welcome to Redwall Abbey!"

"Thank ya, marm, I'd sure 'ppreciate it," the fox replied, following the young squirrel as she turned and cut graceful tracts through the snow towards the main building.

"So, anything Gubb say actually 'appen," asked Dannflor, walking beside the tattooed fox.

"'ad a small dustup wit a gang o' four ferrets,  true enough, but I ain't 'urt. Barely got a scratch from the robbers."

"Really, mate," asked Janglur, who was walking behind Argo and could see the moist bloodstain on the back of his jerkin glinting in the moonlight, "'cause it looks to be more than a scratch from where I am."

"Looks worse than 'tis, no cause for alarm, cully."

"Well I'd like you to visit  Sister Sloey in our infirmary just in case," Song said as they all filed through the main door into Great Hall, the massive, main dining hall with it's long tables, high ceiling, and beautiful stained glass windows. "Let me show you the way."

The small group, led by the Abbess, were just about at the stairs when Argo was stopped by Rusval, still brandishing his javelin. "'old on a moment, fox. Surrender your weapons before ya go any further."

The fox laughed cheerfully, thinking he was jesting, "I'd rather 'old onto 'um if'n its all the same to ya, mate."

Rus lowered the tip of javelin until it was pointing at the fox's broad chest, "I'm not joking."

"Rusval Reguba," Song exclaimed, "lower your weapon! He is a guest of our Abbey and will be treated as such!"

"Listen to 'er, Rus," Janglur chimed in, "that ain't the way we do things 'ere."

Argo, his paw resting on the hilt of one of the daggers on his broad belt, spoke in a low dangerous voice, "Listen to 'em, cully. I don't wanna have ta use this blade, 'specially in a place what's shown me a kin'ness, but I'll defend meself if'n I gotta."

"STOP THIS FOOLISHNESS IMMEDIATELY!" Everybeast had been so absorbed with what was happening between Argo and Rusval, none of them noticed the lumbering Cregga approaching them from Cavern Hole until her voice boomed from the red sandstones, freezing them all in their tracks.

The massive badgermum stood in front of them, her sightless eyes fixed on the large fox, "You are the one who returned our missing babes?"

"Yes marm."

"May I feel your face?"

Argo, recognizing her blindness with just one quick glance at the milky whiteness of her eyes, said yes.

The wide, almost sheild-sized, blunt clawed paws descended on his face with surprising gentleness. "You are a heavily experienced warrior," she said, her voice almost dreamy, "the scars of battles won and loves lost line your face. But you have kind eyes and a good heart underneath it all. He may keep his weapons, I believe no harm will come to anybeast by this one's paw."

She removed her paws and straightened her back, saying nothing more as she made her way up the stone staircase to the dormitories. Rus, meanwhile, stomped off moodily towards Cavern Hole.

"Well," Song said, continuing to lead the small group up the stairs to the infirmary, "guess that settles that. Come along."

Sister Sloey, the old mouse Infirmary-Keeper, turned in surprise as the group comprised of Abbess Song, Janglur, Rimrose, Gawjo, Dann, and the strange fox entered through the door.

"Sister," the young female squirrel said, "our guest Argo has a stab wound on his back, would you take a look at it."

Sloey looked at the fox in question, disgust and distrust clear on her face, said, " As you say, Mother Abbess. You, set your things down on the first cot and remove your jerkin."

"O' course, marm," he said, unslinging the knapsack and sword from over his shoulder and setting them down on the floor by the cot. The broad belt with it's multiple daggers and throwing knives quickly followed it. A sudden gasp of shock was dragged forth from the assembled onlookers as he unlaced and removed the dark green jerkin, revealing a criss-crossing latticework of ghastly white scars covering his back.

"L..lay down please," Sloey said, stuttering in shock at the sight.

The fox did as he was told, laying flat on his belly longways across the cot, and the usually severe Sister began gingerly washing out the wound with warm water.

"Ya seem like you 'ave quite the story to tell, mate," Gawjo said, "may'aps you'd indulge us."

"Aye, per'aps if'n I get back 'ere some day I will, but after a couple 'ours rest I'm 'eading back out. I'm trackin' some beasts."

"You're kiddin'," Dann said, "after all this snow, any tracks will be long gone."

"Dann's right," Song said, nodding, "why don't you just stay here, at least 'til you can see the ground again."

Argo looked down and nodded, "Yer right. If'n yer sure it ain't gonna be a problem..."

"No problem at all, all are welcome here."

And so Argo Steelfang first came to Redwall Abbey.