A night at the Ferrevale Tavern

In our tale our intrepid heroes manage to avoid a fight scene...for a while at least. Players are Bandit the pudgy brown fox, Cornelius the red fox/Charles the marten, Scioto the cat, Nuria the rat, and Lee the otter, Wolf the stoat, Braen the stoat

It is getting on into the evening when Charles and Cornelius roll into town with their cart, looking slightly beaten, mildly shaken, and /very/ tired. "We...we should go find a nice tavern to relax in, eh, Charles? Get a drink? Restore our nerves?"

Charles' whiskers twitch slightly as he recalls the size of that snake, and the way it dragged off that beaver. That poor, stupid beaver. "That...sounds like a plan, Cor. I may have to take you up on that offer..."

Walking down the road towards the travelers there is a pudgy brown fox. Bandit is also in serious need for a drink, and some real food. The fox finds himself being trailed by a guard in the Ferreval standard blue armor. The cat looks just as thrilled as Bandit is to play escort to the tubby fox. Bandit grumbles to himself as he walks.

Cornelius waves Charles onward toward the tavern, after they stash the cart and cover their goods for the night. "Well, m'boy, I don't know about you, but I intend to scour this night from my memory! Bandits, highwaymen, giant snakes..." The fox shivers.

Charles nods. "Aye. I may have to join you, for once. This is just a bit too much to process...so I don't think I will." The marten holds the door open, and lets the fox in.

Bandit arrives a second later at the door. The fox blinks twice in shock at the sight of the marten, "Charles? Cornelius? Is that really you?" He says happily. The cat behind him just snorts in contempt.

Charles keeps the door held open, and stares at Bandit as though he's a ghost. "But we /saw/ you carted off!"

Cornelius is already inside, but his ears flick towards the other vulpine as he speaks, and the brightly dressed fox spins himself around. "Mr. Bandit! Hoe nice to see you again!" He strides over, and gives Bandit a rather hard - and unasked for - pat on the back. "Charles and I were just about to go drink ourselves into a stupor! Care to join us?"

Bandit yelps at the pat on the back that nearly sends him toppling over. Rubbing his arm the fox quickly recovers though and chuckles a reply, "Oh you have NO idea how much I am in need for a good mug of Grog." He gestures to the tabby cat behind him., "Meet my parole officer. I'll explain later. Right now I am just eager to eat something NOT on the jail house diet."

a Sparra arrives with a sack that says "From Flickt to bandit" inside is a lettuces sandwich.

a Note drops out "Dear Jailer, pleasekeep Bandit safe and secure till he leaoses teh weight."

Charles stares. "You were actually in /jail/ all this time? What were you arrested for?!" The marten lets the door swing shut once everyone enters, though his pireced ear twitches subconsciously. This is NOT making him less nervous.

Cornelius laughs heartily, and waves the other fox along after him to the bar. "I'm sure you'll have many tales to tell us, Mr. Bandit! And I do believe the meal we owe you was rudely interrupted..."

Cornelius sits down at the bar, the marten not far behind him. He orders several mugs of ale - two for each beast, to start. "Ah, we'd be happy to accomodate you, Mr. Bandit. I wouldn't mind a steak myself...though pigeon will surely suffice, if there is none to be had." The vulpine turns to the barkeep, and asks, "/Do/ you have any steak, chap?"

Charles still eyes Bandit warily...the fact that he didn't answer the marten's questions does not bode well....

The feline guard that follows them in answers for the tavern worker. "For their sake I hope not." The rat behind the counter gulps, "Er, yes, sorry mates, we don't have any steak. Nope, not here." The shifty eyed rat then says nervously to the fox, "What can I get for you gentle beasts this evenang?"

Cornelius nods, somewhat disappointedly. "Ah, I see. Very well! Some wood pigeon, then, if you don't mind. An order for each of us...minus that cat over there," he says, indicating the guard.

Charles blinks a few times at the odd exchange. "Allllright, then..."

Cornelius takes a seat next to Bandit, and chuckles slightly. "My, you are fond of the food here, now aren't you? Can't say I know what the food is like, in prison, though."

Charles rolls his eyes, and takes a seat next to Cor - on the side opposite Bandit. "Yes, Mr. Bandit, what /were/ you in for?" The marten slides over his mug of ale, and takes a sip.

Bandit orders the same...no, two of the same, plus rice, potatoes, and desert. The fox has some feasting to catch up on. After the rat takes the orders he gestures to a few seats at the bar, "Sit where you like gentle beasts. I'll be right with 'all shortly." The guard merely stands at attention, rolling his eyes.

Bandit snorts as the drinks arive. While picking up a mug of strong ale the fox replies, "Piracy." A scraggly looking weasel to his left snorts and laughs. He looks to be in his 16th season or 20th and is his brown over coat and trousers are both dirty and unclean. "Piracy he says! Ha! I recognized you right from the get go fox." He laughs, "Heh heh heh, why this bloke was brought in for being a slaver! heh heh heh." The weasel nudges the fox on the shoulder as he pulls himself lower to the counter, "I didn't think to see you again, not with your pelt at least. How did you manage to escape ol' Scioto? Don't tell me he's gone soft on ye slaver types?" The guard rubs at his eyes. He did NOT want to get into a fight tonight.

Charles' eyes widen in alarm, and his gaze immediately flicks between the weasel and Bandit. He knew the fox was a former pirate - he admitted as much - but a /slaver/? And Cornelius already told the fox of their...arrangement. The marten really hopes it's not true...

Cornelius, for one, has the presence of mind to be alarmed as well. "A s-slaver? That can't be true, Mr. Bandit! You seemed so upstanding when we met!"

"Cor, are you sure you're using 'upstanding' correctly?"

"I believe so, Charles. Why?"

"...Nevermind."

"I am NOT a slaver," the fox growls dangerously. The weasel though seems to have his common sense overridden by too much ale. "Heh heh heh, sure ye arn't sure ye arn't. You were just kidnappen all them beasties for purely honest reasons..." The group is starting to attrack some attention from other bar patrons. Before a bad situation turns worse the guard taps the weasel on the shoulder, "Alright, you have had enough. Time to go." He begins pulling the weasel toward the door, "Hey! Sure! Help the slaver why don'tcha? This is guard brutality!" The cat sighs, "Yes, your voice is brutally assaulting this guard, now out with you unless you want to spend the night in lock up."

Cornelius blinks, and watches the weasel get dragged out into the streets. "Well...he was an interesting fellow." The red fox seems utterly convinced by the vehemence of Bandit's response, and is ready to let the whole slaver thing go. He takes a drink of ale, and grins at the other vulpine.

Charles, being rather less simple-minded, does not let it go so easily. "What did he mean, Mr. Bandit? He may have been a drunken old codger, but they're not exactly known for their imagination, if you get my meaning."

Several emotions cross the brown fox's face as he stares deeply into his mug. First anger, then depression, and then sorrow, "I was...trying to save some beasts from slavers, and...and I got accused of helping them. That's why I was out on the road when you found me with a knife wound in my leg. I was hunting for the slavers but..." The fox takes in a gulp of air, his tears are starting to become watery, "Now all my friends back at the abbey think...they all think..." The stress of the last few weeks, fighting off the slavers, getting lost in teh woods, being assualted by a bounty hunter, and then being arrest and almost executed by the village chief for being a slaver has finely taken their toll on Bandit.

Cornelius gives the other fox a pat on the back - less painfully this time. "It's alright, Mr. Bandit. Charles meant no offense, it's just his job to look out for us."

Charles does feel pretty bad now, and he folds his ears back, ashamed. "I apologize, Mr. Bandit. I did not know..." The marten stares at the top of the bar, not knowing how to continue a conversation from here...

The fox sobs softly into his drink until the food arrives for all three beasts. Behind them a group of beasts converse with themselves. Occasionally a thumb is gestured toward the hefty vulpine. The guard has not returned after dragging the weasel outside.

Cornelius frowns a hint, and looks to the marten for support - to which he gets a shrug. "Oh, very helpful Charles," he grumbles. He gives bandit another tentative pat on the back. Maybe that will help, if done in high enough quantity. "Oh, come on. Cheer up, chap! Things will sort themselves out...probably! And sure, you'll have to patch things up with your friends, if they'll even listen to you, but......" The fox pauses for an extended period. "What was I getting at again...?" The vulpine shakes his head, and starts on his second mug of ale...only to find it empty. "Charles...?"

Charles looks at the fox over the rim of another mug. "Whaaaaat?" The marten's attempt at innocence is adorable, if entirely unbelievable.

Bandit narrows his eyes at the fox's attempt to cheer him up. Shockingly his attempts have failed. Turning to his meal Bandit says as he eats, "Even if they listen to me...yeah. I can only imagine what the Redwallers would do to me if they caught me as a slaver. For a group of pacifists they are amazingly violent when it comes to beasts they don't get along with." Images of the Redwall champion running the sword of Martin the warrior through his guts floods the fox's mind. He gulps before taking another long swig of ale.

Charles snickers. And chuckles. Then bursts into laughter. "Well, they aren't too good at picking them out, now are they! Call the fox who isn't a slaver one, never suspect the one that is! Ha, hahaha!" He leans against the counter, banging his fist as he laughs. And this...is why Charles is not allowed to get drunk.

Cornelius stares at the marten in terror. He glances around nervously, and urgently whispers to the marten, "Shut up, Charles! SHUT UP, CHARLES. You can't hold your ale, so shut your muzzle before you get us both killed! That's an order!"

Charles just snickers.

Bandit inhales the bird leg at the martens comment. He coughs and hacks it back out, drawing even more attention to themselves. He quickly joins his fellow fox in trying to quiet Charles, "Quiet you fool! They kill slave owners and slaver here. Trust me, I was /this/ close to having the village chief run me through with a blade!" The fox looks around and does a quick head count to see who is paying attention to them, yep, almost all of them.

Scioto walks towards the bar front , sword at his side and a clean uniform and cape on, "Ale" He says quickly and starts to drink it and grumbles.

The door opens and in walks a certain familiar otter. He surveys the room, and surprised to see...Bandit?

Scioto sips an ale, yeah he is a little grumpy and looks around the tavern, a guard sees Lee and walks over to Scioto and whispers to him, he nods says something back thats last in the crowd, the guard nods and heads over to Lee.."Excuse, are you Lee, if so he needs you" He points towards Scioto.

Lee blinks. "Me? Er, alright..." he makes his way to the bar near Scioto. "Ye were lookin' for me?"

Nuria enters the tavern, her bodyguards not with her for once, as they where busy teaching Wolf the basics. She spots Bandit and comes over, saying, "Last I saw you, you where being dragged off by the guards. What happened?"

Charles shakes his head at the silly foxes, but humors them. He does, however, whap Cornelius over the head with his red-cloth-tied tail, and steals Bandit's other mug of ale. But, the damage is presumably already done...

Cornelius looks like he's about to conniption as all these beasts walk in, right on the heels of Charles being an inebriated idiot. "This is bad. This is /very/ bad. Charles, why would you force /me/ to be the responsible one?!"

Charles snickers, "Maybe because you're supposed to be, /sir/." The marten continues laughing.

Scioto nods to Lee, "Yes, a beast with info on Nightfur, possibly a better idea where he is I have yet to talk to him further, I will soon,me and my seer both will speak to him oh and other news Bandit is free of the cell and I have decided he is clear of the charges of Slaver, if he has done anything else in Ferravale..well thats his problem, he is cleared of the main issue and he still has his head on his neck."

Bandit turns his attention away from the marten to the rat, "You again? Where did..." he shakes his head, "Long story. Good news is I am no longer in prison, the bad news this dolt of a marten is about to send me back...with company this time!" The fox gestures to Charles.

Nuria walks over to Charles and hits him gently on the head with her cane, "That's enough, you mudbrain. I need Bandit out of prison so I can find this Aster they've all been talking about and bring him in."

Lee nods. "I 'ave news of me own. Safana were captured, currently under 24 hour guard at the Abbey. I've been interrogatin' 'er."

Lee looks over sharply at the mention of Aster.

Charles takes the thwack solidly, and rubs the back of his head. "Ow! What was that for, you crazy old rat! I'm just trying to enjoy a drink here, with my fox friends, and have a little chat about sla--mmmfmmmmfmfff!"

Cornelius cuts Charles off by literally wrapping his paws around the other beast's muzzle. "We'll do our best to stay out of jail ma'am, I assure you!"

Lee nods, still looking over at the commotion. "Benar is never better, don't ye worry..." He's staring hard at Charles, the shifts his gaze to Cornelius and Bandit. "I'll let ye know that Safana did say a lot about yer daughter..." he trails off, focusing on the rat, now.

Bandit feels his heart begin to race. Why, WHY must every crisis happen before he can finish dinner? The fox would like to enjoy his meal before being sent to jail...or killed. "A chat about sla...slanick the first fighter! Never has there been a hare fist fighter so good!" The fox quickly says.

Scioto nods as he listens to Lee

Nuria explains to all beasts present, "I would imagine there would be a good-sized bounty on this Actar beast, or at least a free meal in exchange for his capture. I plan on taking advantage of this, and if anybeast objects, I say, "Get there first, then."

Lee replies first, "Capture Aster for me, an' I'll pay ye with Gold! But I want 'er alive! Ye got that?"

Charles mumbles something else through his shut muzzle, and begins regularly hitting Cor in the head with his tail, glaring at the fox slightly.

Cornelius looks to Nuria, and states, "Well, ma'am *thwap* you see, we're not *thwap* really what you'd call bounty hunters, per se, and *thwap* WILL YOU CUT IT OUT CHARLES?!"

Bandit tilts his head to the side. The fox takes a step away from the bounty hunting rat. He has had bad experiences with bounty hunters lately. "Thats...wonderfull and...Lee? Is that really you?"

Lee nods to Bandit. "Yes, it is me. An' ye might wanna tell yer Fox an' marten friends 'ere that I'm no fool, I know the truth..."

Nuria raises an eybrow under her cloth mask and asks everybeast, "What truth?"

Cornelius stares at Lee in abject terror, while Charles' red ribboned tail continues to lightly collide with the side of his head. "I...don't know what you're talking about, good gentlebeast. My frined Charles here has simply had too much to drink. That's all, chap..."

Lee backpedals quickly. "The truth that...ah...Roses be red, ye know! An' that there marten be....er...me best friend in tha whole wide world!!!" He tries to act nonchalant. He hadn't been aware how loud he had spoken.

Nuria has had enough of this whole situation, "All I want is a straight answer!"

Bandit facepaws. "No Lee you dolt! Charles is Cornelius's slave!" The fox's eyes go wide and he claps his own mouth shut. Then rubs his eyes, "Oh blast...I did not just say that outloud...." the fox did. and out loud enough to gather the attention of all the beasts in the bar. All. Of. Them.

Lee says, "An yer gonna get one, marm. Bring me Aster onna silver platter, an' I'll give a nice amount o' gold that once belonged to a weasel that...died...""

If it were possible, all the color would drain from Cornelius' fur to relfect the absolute dread that now fills him. Even Charles has stopped his mumbling and tail-thwapping, his eyes wide with alarm. The /worst/ possible scenario either of them could imagine has just occured. And it's Bandit's fault...

Thinking quickly Lee suddenly draws his sword, pretending to look shocked. "Yer SLAVE, SIR! BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME BY THE ABBEY O' REDWALL, I NOW PLACE YE UNDER ARREST!" he says loud enough for all to hear. He leans close to Cornelius, whispering, "Do exactly as I tell ye, an' ye might just get outta this alive..."

Nuria is not like the other beasts here. She instead tells Bandit, "I never would have thought that. I appreciate your honesty." She suspects Lee, but does not interfere. Not her business.

There is some hoots and hollors from the tavern goers as lee draws his sword. "That's right! Arrest the slaver trash." "Nah, stab him! STAB HIM!" "Hey, ain't that other fox a slaver as well?" "By joel, I think yer right!" Bandit gulps. He says in a not so fake terrified voice, "Easy now lad, easy..."

Cornelius shivers in terror. He doesn't know what Lee is planning, but having a sword drawn on you and being threatened by random bar partons will do that anyway.

Charles is far too inebriated to fully understand what's going on, but he's not going to simply let it happen. The marten stumbles to Cornelius' defense, standing between the fox and the otter's blade. "I'll not let you harm Cor," the marten growls.

Lee sighs in exasperation. "Kindly tell yer slave ta stand down, sir, an' ye better come wi' me, unless ye want the bar patrons ta arrest ye..."

Nuria nods her head to both Cornelius and Charles, "Follow him, you did not know you where breaking the law." She goes and sits at a nearby table, hoping that it will help the situation settle.

Bandit holds his paws up defensively, "Easy Charles, Lee is a friend." He tries to whisper to the marten. A patron from the bar laughs, "I bet 10 Ferrin the otter guts em." Another replies, "Nah, I'm putting my money on the marten!"

Cornelius chuckles nervously to the otter, "Uh...it does not quite work that way, M-mr. Lee. Charles isn't...he doesn't...I can't /make/ him..."

Charles growls, "He could order me to run out that door to save myself, and I'd still be here by his side. Some things mean more than orders." The marten sways drunkenly, but there's a fierceness in his eyes.

Lee frowns. "Sir, I must order ye ta desist, or I will be forced ta take deadly action!" He lowers his voice, "Charles, you idiot, I'm tryin' ta save yer skin! Will ye cooperate? Me brother were a slave, ye hear?" He raises his voice again, to Bandit, "Bandit, I'm gonna 'ave ta arrest ye, too!"

Nuria says, "But wait a moment...he's the only one who knows where to find whom I'm looking for here? Or are you going to arrest all three of us?" She stands up and approaches Lee, saying ,"I can assume you really think you can arrest all of us?"

Bandit sighs and rubs his eyes. Looks like he is going to need to take drastic measures to make sure this situation does not get too drastic. "Charles...I want to apologize in advance for this." The fox says as he takes his mug and goes to bash it over the back of Charles head. Better a head ache and some harsh words later on than having to watch the drunk beast get cut down by his friend...or visa versa.

Charles stares straight at the otter. "I'm not leaving, otter," he snarls. "You can--" And then, the mug collides with the back of the marten's head, and he goes down, dropping onto the hard floor. It wasn't the worst possible hit, but having caught the rim, the spot starts to bleed a little.

Cornelius may see it coming, but that doesn't prepare him for seeing his companion go down. "Charles!" He leans down, and checks to see if the marten is OK...and that's when he sees the blood. Blood. One of the few things in the world that the nearly colorblind fox /can/ see. And it turns his stomach..

Lee doesn't drop his tough facade. "Alright, 'elp the fool to 'is fee, quick as ye like, now! An' both o' ye, outside, NOW!"

Nuria does not have any idea what to do, so she sort of just returns to her seat and wonders what the heck is going on.

Bandit cringes. He hates applying brute force but he must admit it solved the problem nicely. "I'll grab one shoulder, Cor, grab his legs. Hey rat, want to lend us a hand?" The tavern patrons begin to hoot an holler again. They were hoping for a fight, maybe even a little blood. For the fox to intervene is down right anti climatic! Bandit does his best to ignor them as he bends down to pick up the fallen marten

Nuria quickly grabs one of the Marten's legs, trying to ignore the racket.

Cornelius glares at Bandit for a moment, then uses a handkercheif he removes from his bright red coat to wipr off Charles' wound. "Fine..." The fox grudgingly picks up the marten's legs looking at his friend with concern the whole time. "Well, I guess that's in then, chaps. Arrested..."

Lee forces them all out at sword point.

It is full on night fall by the time the party leaves the tavern. The road is empty save for the winter chill with some snow flakes blowing from the wind. Once out side the fox takes in the winter air and savors it, happy to be out of the confined jail. "Now last time I checked, Redwall didn't have juristiction in Ferrevale Lee." The fat fox says with a smile.

Lee drops his bluff. "An' ye'd be right, Bandit, but I 'ad ta avert a danged bar fight." He turns to Cornelius. "Lissen, sir, ye'd be safe ta not show yer faces in Ferravale for a long while...unnerstand?" He stares at the rat in surprise, having forgot her. "Marm, I were preventin' a barroom brawl..."

Cornelius maintains an uncharacteristic silence on the way out of Ferravale. "Our cart is still back there, you know. All our merchandise, our belongings..." The normally chipper fox scowls. And we were doing just fine! No one had ever found us out, until you had to cause a stir, /Mr. Lee/! And you, Bandit! You told everyone! We trusted you!" The fox folds his ears back. "All because we let our guard down for a drink..."

Nuria tells off everyone, "Why the heck did everyone have to cause a fight? I haven't even had dinner yet. And what do we do with the beast lying on the ground?" She calls her rat goons over from the inn, "Please find Cornelius his cart?"

They leave to do so.

Bandit rubs his eyes, "Yeah, my bad there. I'm sorry Cor. I didn't mean to expose you as a slave owner." He shakes his head saddly, "and where did that blasted guard run off too? If he was there he could have averted this whole mess!" The fox takes a step forward and pauses as the weasel from before makes a sudden appearnce in front of them. "I'm afraid the cat will not be joining us tonight." He chuckles as a ferret and mouse appear from the side alleys to the left and right behind the group.

Lee frowns. "Lissen up, sir. I could tell it within minutes o' walkin' in. Ye gotta be more careful in this town, meanin' stay outta public! The town be paranoid 'bout such things." He now scowls. "I swear ta Martin, if just ONE. MORE. BEAST. bothers me night, I'm gonna kill 'em!" He glares at the strangers, pointing his sword threateningly.

Nuria twists the head of her cane to reveal the hidden dagger inside, which she points at both beasts, "Indeed, go away and leave us alone, I have had enough annoyance for one day."

The weasel pats his knee and laughs, "Well I'll be! They all have pointy knives and swords!" He lets a bladed weapon slide out of his coat into his open paw. The ferret pulls out a short sword and the mouse an ax. The weasel says again, this time with a calm but serious, "Hand over the fox and you can free." he doesn't specify which one though.

Cornelius starts to stammer, "That's because Charles was blabbering like a drunken idiot! We're not normally--" And then, the fox nearly has a heart attack. Too many things have happened today, too many things the vulpine couldn't hope to protect himself against, that he just kind of...cracks. The fox pats at his unconscious companion's sleeves as Charles lays on the ground. "Come on, I know it's in here..." Eventually, Cornelius finds it - Charles' dagger. Holding it in his paw, blade protruding from between his knuckles, the fox sourly states, "My turn to protect /you/, m'boy..."

Lee replies with an angry tone, "An' wot makes ye think I'm gonna comply, /mate/? I warn ye, yer makin' a grave mistake threatenin' *this* otter!"

Nuria shakes her dagger and wields her cane in her other hand, "Indeed, I don't care which fox you want, I want both more."

She calls out, "Wolf, come here, go help my older brothers get the cart."

A long moment passes before a lanky stoat makes an appearence from the ally behind the weasel. Wolf is wolfing down a bag of nuts when he appears, "Sorry what did you want me to..." He pauses when he sees the scene before him. "Oh..." the stoat pulls out his trusty battle axe and drops the bag. The weasel snears, "Take them! No one is coming between us and that bounty!" The weasel launches himself forward. With a galliant war cry the ferret and mouse attack as well.

Cornelius looks around at the attackers...and decides those that can actually fight are better left to the front lines. He does not leave Charles' side, watching for anyone who comes too close, but not actively engaging the brigands.

Lee raises his sword to block the mouse's axe from possibly braining him in the head. "The heck? 'Ow did I wind up in /this/?"

Nuria rushes at the weasel, making it clear that her need for a cane was very much an act. She tries to stab him with her dagger while feinting with her walking stick.

Which leaves the ferret with the short sword to the unarmed Bandit. Lovely. The fox steps back once, twice, three times, as the blade narrowly dodges his snout. and a steps to the side to avoid a thrust to the belly. As the mouse tries to kick lee in the gut the weasel blocks the feint with the stick and dodges to the side, his coat tearing as the knife grazes his side. He raises his small rapier like weapon to strike back and must instead knock Wolf's blow with an axe to the side before elbowing him in the snout, "Blasted nuisance!"

Cornelius cringes at all the fighting, and stays near Charles, hoping that these beasts will all just go away... The fox is no fighter, and can't stand the sight of blood.

Lee sees the kick coming but is unable to dodge it. He staggers backwards a little, trying to regain his breath as he again raises his sword to block the axe. Axes clearly aren't his forte...

The two burly rat goons appear, pulling along the cart. They stop and take defensive positions with their bows.

Braen narrows his eyes and joins in the fight, he calls some other guards to help, a couple ferrets, "This fighting will stop on order of the head guard of Ferravale!"

The weasel curses in ways best not repeated. He gives one last kick to Wolf's gut before dashing off to the alley to the left leaving his companions to their fate surrounded by enemies and guards. The mouse raises his axe then stops as the guards arrive. The ferret does the same with his blade. THey may be hooligans but they are not stupid. The only difference between the two is the fact that the ferret gets his lights knocked out by bandit as he is distracted. "Try to run me through with a sword will ye?" Bandit proceeds to kick the ferret while he is on the ground.

Nuria explains to Braen, "These three beasts, the weasel who just left, the ferret and the mouse, they must be drunk. They started a fight with us for almost no reason."

The instantly puts her dagger back in the small chamber inside her cane and leans on it again.

Lee keeps his sword raised defensively. He raises his voice, "Head guard of Ferravale! I be the 'ead guard of Redwall Abbey!" He gestures to the acorn pin on his cloak. "I were escortin' this fox, Cornelius, an' 'is...friend, Charles, that marten there, ta the Abbey for safety! Those foul beasts wot attacked us knocked poor Charles out cold, I'm afraid!"

Cornelius breathes a sigh of relief, and quickly hides Charles' knife in his blatantly red coat. "Indeed, officers! Bandits, they were!" He's utterly terrified to speak to the guards after what just happened in Ferravale, but perhaps they don't know...

The guards need not hunt far for the mouse. He manages to flee two steps before being tackled by a guard. The other is pummled by Bandit until a guard approaches, only then does the fox leave his attacker alone but not before kicking his blade away. "Jerk!" He shouts at the ferret. The fox must admit he is perplexed as to how to get out of this with out going back to jail. He really doens't want to send his friends there...it is a small jail...

Lee searches for a believable reason. "Because, sir, this marten, Charles, be the new recorder for the Abbey...'e be from the north, an' we got word by Sparra 'e an' 'is friend were attacked by bandits on the road near 'ere..."

It seems as if the situation has taken care of itself, Braen heads off to go get some rest, and see how the situation turns out later. "I'm going to report to Scioto, and I'll talk to tomorrow"

Nuria offers Cornelius the wagon, "Here is your supply wagon." She calls to her three goons and heads back into the tavern, "Maybe now I can eat supper in peace."

Cornelius waves to the departing rat, calling out thanks...before turning to Lee and Bandit. "Well, I have my cart now...and we are no longer in danger..." The fox looks down at the unconscious marten, and sighs. "I suppose I should thank you, chaps. Or, at least forgive you..."

The stoat named Wolf picks himself up then puts his axe away. "H-hey! wait up!" the stoat brushes past the familiar looking fox and otter but pays them no mind. Bandit only watches the ferret and mouse carted away by the guards, "We'll get you yet fox! And the bounty on yer head!" the mouse spits as his dragged off, "I swear! I'm going to hunt you down and GRK!" The guard conks the mouse on the head with his fist, "Shud up ye darn fool." Bandit shakes his head again as the would be assassins are dragged off. "I'm sorry Cor. I didn't want to see Charles get hurt..." The fox pauses, realizing the irony. "Please tell him I said so."

Lee puts his sword away. "Lissen, sir, I'm sorry for ev'rythin. Also, ye probally should get outta town, ta Redwall, per'aps. Ye'll be safe there." He kneels besides Charles and checks his head. "Besides, this bump of 'is needs ta be tended to, an' the infirm 'ere ain't exactly safe if ye catch me drift..."

Cornelius nods, "I will let him know. But you can't let your tongue slip like that, Bandit. We nearly got mauled by those tavern-beasts!" The fox frowns, and begins trying to carry Charles back to his cart. "And without travel to Ferravale, I don't know how we'll sell these goods, frankly..."

Bandit feels his tail droop, "I'm...sorry about that..." there isn't much here for the fox to do now. The threat is gone, at least for the moment. That weasel has gotten away. He can't even leave Ferrevale on pain of death to help his friends to Redwall. He sighs, "Good night Cornelius, good night Lee, do tell the beasts in Redwall hello...especially Elena. Please tell her I'm ok." The fox looks like he is about to add something then stops. He turns away, his eyes being drawn to the ferrets fallen short sword. He picks it up and stuffs it in the side of his belt before heading off to the inn in a sour mood.