Come Live At The Abbey

Brockhall: Study

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Brockhall Study *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

This room is easily the warmest. A fire is almost always ablaze in the

stone hearth, drawing beasts to the armchairs that face the flames. The

floors are carpeted with thick moss and the walls are lines with massive

bookcases, the shelves crammed with volumes upon volumes of badger lore,

regional histories, and accounts of distant lands. At the far end of the

chamber is a great, oak desk. A small lamp sits on the desktop, casting a

soft glow on the ancient, well-worn manuscripts scattered over the surface.

                       *-*-* Entrances/Exits *-*-*

                        [B]adger Lord's [C]hamber

                        [A]nnex

                        [W]ar [R]oom

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Brockhall Study *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Zee has rested a lot since they have been here, waking up once but not staying up too long and it’s not till now when he finally decides to stay awake and look around the place some.

Benar has allowed Zee time to rest, the abbot has been wandering around the ancient Hall of Mossflower badgers and smiles as he meets Zee, "Zee my dear fellow, how are you feeling? Recovered from your cold I hope?"

Zee nods "I do feel a lot better, thank ya Benar. So you and Boaz find something useful or still looking? I have yet to really look around this place, tis large that’s fer sure." He chuckles a little,"May have ta come back here sometime"

Benar says, "Yes we found what we needed, Boaz has been copying it down so we may take it back to the abbey. I hope you will not think I am ungrateful if I ask him not to share. I do not want anyone running off half-cocked to try and be a hero with the information."

Zee shakes his head" No, most likely a good idea to show it to only those who need it and trust me I am not interested in tunnels and such...moles can be underground, not me, the only time I will be underground is when I am dead and I don’t think that’s fer seasons from now."

Benar inclines his head and pats the large badger on the arm, "I do wish you would consider living at the Abbey though, Ferravale is such a rough place, unforgiving"

Zee shrugs, "I might think about it, not sure what I be helpful with....I mean thar is family there still."

Benar says, "You really do not need to be helpful with anything Master Zee," He smiles softly, "You can live in the abbey with your family and do what so ever you feel you wish to."

Zee folds his arms over his chest, " I am not one ta...be totally peaceful, I am still a fighter and one day I might even be helping someone learn to use the family sword." He seems unsure of that totally, "Or...if understood right that is and no, not ta worry..Not Zinnia"

Benar smiles softly and walks, "Maybe whoever is returning with Zinnia will be worthy of learning, but you will not know if you are not at Redwall. I'll certainly not have you poach my Recorder and Sister to go live in |Ferravale."

Zee speaks "I wouldn’t ask anyone to live there, it is..rough place, I have gotten by there mostly. I have had some trouble here and there. But it does get....lonely sometimes"

Benar shakes his head, "Then you simply must come and live with us, I know Oz and Zinnia would be glad to have you. I can even find a room for you outside the abbey if it would help. I mean lord knows the Gatehouse is supposed to be the recorders cottage. I'd not want to ask DoraRose and Leon to move but I can find someplace."

Zee says, "No Leon and Dorarose stay in de gatehouse, tis their home....a simple room not in use is fine. I even think of staying here...well maybe, tis large but could be lonely as well."

Benar says, "This is much too far away from the Abbey, you'd need a staff too to run this place, you'd be knocking around in dark rooms on your own." He shakes his head, "I simply would not hear of it Zee, you can still be a fighter and live at Redwall. I just ask the fighting be kept outside."

Zee nods as he thinks, "Then..Perhaps I could....live at the abbey after all. I would keep the sword in a chest most likely."

Benar says, "You can keep it there or in the training yards weapon store behind the Champions cottage""

Zee listens as the abbot speaks "I would need to get some stuff from me hut, not that I have much."

Benar says, "Well that can take time no need to rush Zee, we need to wait for Boaz to finish then we can all head back to the Abbey together."

Zee smiles, "Thanks fer the offer of living at the abbey. I believe it is a good idea after all and with winter travel is not the best thing ta do really, cold sort of gets to me lately now."

Benar says, "Cold gets to all of us sooner or later," He sways his tail from side to side, "But the abbey is a warm place to stay."

Zee nods and grins "And much better food also lad. I be sure Zinnia will like to see me living at de abbey when she gets back. And thar is some things I can help with at the abbey I am sure."

Benar says, "The abbey always needs beasts who can help Zee, that is just a fact of Abbey life, there is always something that needs doing."

Zee nods "Of course...of course..." He does frown a little at a thought "I am sorry on one thing, I had been looking for that mouse maid Cynthia and wasn't able to find her and I've not been ta Ferravale for over a week...hmms maybe longer"

Benar says, "We've all been looking for Cynthia I can only hope that we will be able to track her down and soon."

Zee says, "Not good to be out in winter, found that out the hard well...but I found me way here...and was led to Caleb also." He pauses before going on " Please don’t think me crazy but I think a ghost helped me""

Benar chuckles softly, "Zee... a ghost speaks in my dreams almost all the time right now, especially with the abbey endangered. I can hardly think you are crazy for thinking the same thing."

Zee nods "Most likely that Martin fellow, this wasn't Martin. It was another badger, a female one and she was old and had this light colored robe on and a wreath of flowers on her head, she didn’t mention her name, then I was...well not thinking on asking at the time, she disappeared when I got inside."

Benar shakes his head and smile, "Well Zee I am glad you are blessed by help that guided you and Caleb to safety during that blizzard."

Zee nods "Not had good luck with Blizzards...they are a lot worse up north lad..lot worse. One seasons ago claimed the life of me brother and his mate...luckily the young ones found me friend Silverfangs and was safe till I could get to them." He looks at the abbot, "Me nephews were the two young ones...and you know both very well"

Benar shakes his head, "I know about the north Zee, I was born in the north, my mother went missing in a blizzard and my father went looking for her. After that it was just me on my own."

Zee frowns, "That must of be scary, can't say I miss de northlands and much too old to go back there and rather not. Mossflower is me home now"

Benar says, "Well I have never been back, not in a long long time, Southsward was my home for a long while and now Redwall is home."

Zee smiles "I am glad...and you have done very well for ya self. The northlands can be lonely...and I like Mossflower a lot better and when me, you and Boaz leave here I will go to Redwall Abbey and live"

Benar says, "Well Zee then I shall be glad to have you and I am sure Oz will be as well though the dibbuns may be confused by all you giant looming badgers."

Zee chuckles" I am sure they will be fine...well maybe one of us should check on Brother Boaz, my guess is maybe leave tomorrow morning..all 3 of us..well if all is ready that is"

Benar says, "Boaz will be done when he is done Zee, there is no need to rush, if there is an emergency someone will send for me." He shakes his head and smiles, "All will be well I am sure."

Zee nods, "Well if ya need to go out Benar I will go out with you, no need for the abbot to go out alone and Boaz can stay here and wait on us."

Benar says, "Well I'm not going out on my own Zee, I have no reason to leave without Boaz as I said if there is an emergency someone will send for me."

Zee nods, "Sounds good..let’s hope all is well and if you are needed its good news not bad lad"