Office Chat

Scioto walks down the hallway, an abbey guard follows them as the cat rolls his eyes, "Its fine..." The guard gives him one of those yeah right looks, the cat just knocks on the door.

Marek walks up behind Scioto. "Been a while since I've been here'” He sits down. "Would you like a scone, Mr. Benar?"

Benar looks between Marek and Scioto as they are shown in, the Elder buried behind a load of papers and lists and various other bits and pieces. "Scioto, Marek, this is a surprise what brings you to Redwall?"

Scioto glares, it's clear he has been having a bad day, bad week and is not in the mood, he sighs slowly stress shows on his face, he waits on a response, "Yeah, one reason not to good, then..what is.." He sits down.

Marek ignores Scioto, and has placed scones on the table anyway. "You don't seem to be phased by my presence, Mr. Benar. I have come to ask Redwall's aid in my crusade against the slaver known as Nightfur"

Benar stares at Marek for a moment then turns to Scioto and leans back, "I have guards in the room with me Marek, though quite what you think you are doing here I do not know." He folds his hands on the table and looks at Scioto. "Why is he here? Redwall is neither a Militant order nor a society that goes on Crusades. Our guards are few but well trained but I will not sanction having them go to war. We did that once..." He looks back at Marek, "We took the fight to the vermin when the southern wall collapsed and that is the only time we have done so since the abbey was founded."

Scioto listens as Benar and Marek speaks, "Not asking Redwall to..go to war, just saying if Nightfur does come to try and attack, there will be aid, Marek does hate slavers and he may have an idea where the base is."

Marek nods. "Perhaps I worded myself in the incorrect way, but nevertheless, I will not have Mossflower overrun by slavers, and Redwall is the greatest settlement in Mossflower, if it falls into the hands of Nightfur, then all of Mossflower will be his...AND I WILL NOT HAVE IT!" He pauses. "Forgive my tone, Mr. Benar. I have a certain hatred for this slaver in particular, or I would not have returned to Mossflower so suddenly"

Benar says, "I have to admit Marek your presence here is... disturbing, and what are your plans once the slaver is dead? Will you be trying to take Redwall next? Or impose your will on Mossflower again?"

Marek shakes his head. "No...well, not right away I assure you"

Scioto is curious of this as well, heck he has a guard on Marek at all times around Ferravale, he folds his paws on his lap and waits. He lets a low growl form.

Benar asks, "Really? And why should I trust your words? What is to stop you turning on the Abbey guard and Champion in the aftermath of the battle when they are tired and exhausted? The Abbey's best warriors would fall and our walls would be vulnerable.... this would be an unpleasant circumstance. What word of honor and guarantee can you give to me that if I allow the Champion and his guards to work with you and yours that you won't turn on us?"

Marek laughs. "You amuse me, Mr. Benar really" He munches on a scone. "Would I attack Redwall on my own? Without any beasts? That wouldn't be very militarily wise now would it?"

Scioto ears are flat, it’s clear he doesn’t fully trust the stoat either and he speaks "Marek is alone..oddly enough and I myself is taking him back to Ferravale after this, and I do believe he will help against the slavers, that part I believe"

Benar drums his fingers on the table for a moment, staring at the papers all around him then nods, "Very well... I will talk to FLicktail and tell him Scioto has given working with Marek his backing. It will then be up to the Champion whether or not to work with you. But I'll allow it as long as Scioto gives it his blessing."

Marek nods. "Very well, I will go for now, and return if I have any information about Nightfur, or if Scioto sees it best to come back around" He walks off, but quickly comes back to the room. "But not before taking a few of my scones with me....mmm, Blueberry"

Scioto glares, "One moment Marek.." He nods to a guard of his own, to follow Marek and make sure he goes straight back to his room at the Inn in Ferravale.

Marek leaves the office, guard trailing behind.

Benar sighs as Marek leaves and looks toward Scioto, "I dislike that stoat being back... are you sure you can keep him under control?"

Scioto nods "Since it is just him, without his men I will truly try Benar, I have a guard on him all the time and so far he has done nothing ageist me, he even helped clear a beasts name all thought was a slaver a fox named Bandit" He takes a deep breath "I am sorry I am a little stressed, as I am guessing the abbey is as well with what’s been going on"

Benar says, "Well besides NIghtfur kidnapping beasts and generally causing trouble things have been going ok. We are nearly ready to start rebuilding our bell tower/.""

Scioto nods, "That’s good news Benar, good news among bad news"

Benar says, "We need some good news out of everything that is going on right now." He shakes his head and sighs, "So I am trying to keep the Abbey morale up as best I can. We also have a new Friar."

Scioto seems a little upset over some news he got recently, he shakes his head to clear it, "Oh? That’s good news as well. Your most likely have one of those feasts again soon enough, not that I have ever been to any, well the one time and that was all"

Benar is sat behind his desk talking quietly to Scioto, "It will be nice to have the use of the forest again though... it is such a pain to be trapped inside all the time"

Scioto nods slowly, "Yes, also I have Nightbreath and my own guards looking for this base. A guard of mine did stumble upon one interesting thing though"

Scioto says, "A clearing in the woods..of 12 dead vermin.."

There is a knock at the door.

Benar looks over and calls out, "Come in, my door is always open at this time of day." He glances at Scioto then, "What did they find?"

Scioto speaks again" 12 dead vermin, in a clearing maybe couple hours walk of your abbey"

Scioto says, "Maybe Nightfur's beasts..no clue, no way of knowing"

Lee steps in quietly, nodding to Scioto.

Benar nods his head, drumming his fingers on the table, "Or poor unfortunate souls who refused to follow him...." He smiles at the otter, "Lee good day."

Lee says, "Good day sir....I don’t 'ave good news, though..."

Scioto frowns, "Yes perhaps...and if it’s of my sister, I...I know, others give it"

Benar looks at Lee and sighs and slumps back in his chair, "Well you might as well get it out Lee.... it seems there is little good happening right now"

Lee frowns. "I am sorry, Scioto, but this particular bit of news does not concern Safana, actually, it’s about...er, Zork...'e's been taken by Nightfur...

Scioto arches an eyebrow, he hmmms, maybe the clearing makes sense now, "In a clearing by chance?"

Benar stares at Lee, dropping his quill pen, "HOW!" He all but screams, rearing out of his chair, "He's a Badger! What was he even doing outside the abbey!"

Lee shrugs. "Sir, I do not know why 'e went out. It were against me orders, but ye know Badgers can't be forced ta obey orders..."

Scioto has nothing to say on this matter, abbey business is up to Lorimis ort Benar, not himself, he is curious though.

Benar sighs and presses his paws to his temples then stands up and sighs, "Thanks you for bringing this to me Lee, please co-ordinate with Scioto and... Marek on finding Nightfur's base and getting everyone back! I need to go tell Lorimis what has happened. If you will excuse me?"

Scioto frowns “Will you be ok Benar?"

Lee nods. "Yes sir."

Benar says, "Yes I'll be ok... just a bit stressed out by all of this, thank you for your time Scioto, you take care and Lee... thank you for all your hard work." He nods and heads out.

Scioto watches Benar leave and looks at Lee.

Lee sighs, looking very stressed.

Scioto says, "I am sure this will be over soon, it has to be for every beasts sake"

Lee says, "It better...I can't 'andle anymore."

Scioto frowns and then looks at the otter serious "You of all beasts had better handle it, you are needed here Lee, by everyone, if you fall the abbey may fall"

Lee says, "I know that, believe me, I do..."

Scioto nods "Then don’t even think of giving up, there has to be something..a clue, a beast who knows"

Lee shrugs. "Most beasts who knew are dead now."

Scioto hmms and sighs "Wait..most, then maybe still hope if one is still around"

Lee says, "Flamefur, Nightfur's mate, but she be rather uncooperative."

Scioto says, "I see..guess find way to make her talk"

Lee frowns. "But wot way is there?"

Scioto shrugs, "I am unsure...threaten her mate, or say you will kill him maybe if she don’t answer"

Lee says, "I could try that..."

Scioto nods, "I may stay at Redwall for the night, then head home"

--Heads home the next day, with Safana’s body, and makes sure Marek is in his Inn room, guard at the door before he goes home to try and think.—