Spy Games
Rayuwil, Zen, Riverdale, Poppy (Gwennythe)
Location: RW Abbey: Main Gate
Rayuwil stands outside the gates with Zen and Rodigero, and the rest of the squirrels (a small squad of ten), and a carriage with wheels. Two are pulling the carriage, not included in the ten guarding it... "Zen, you and I will plan your first assignment inside our carriage as we must move quickly. Also, I don't want the others to hear - this is on a need to know basis only."
Zen steps out and looks around. Taking a deep breath, he takes one last look at the Abbey. He speaks softly to himself. "Farewell Redwall... I'll be seeing you again sometime." He then turns to Nidlorf and nods. "Very well. I'll ask more questions when in private..."
Riverdale has made hay of the brief thaw in the weather and, muddied robe pulled tight about his skinny frame, has ventured forth from the Abbey walls. His cane squishes pleasantly in the mud as he approaches the large gathering of squirrels, from whom he maintains a wary distance.
Rayuwil nods, "I assumed you might have them - very well." Nidlorf shoots a quick grin to Rodigero, as he climbs into the carriage and calls out from the open door, "Rodigero, set us a quick pace!" The king glances at Riverdale. "Hold! Here to bid us farewell, good sir?" He steps down and approaches the older squirrel, "I've seen you around the abbey. We must be moving - care you to go north? I offer my carriage."
Zen turns to glance at Riverdale as he waves a paw. He then follows behind Rayuwil, standing outside the carriage untill Nidlorf finished speaking with the other Squirrel.
Riverdale blanches at the unexpected salutation and seems almost to shrink bodily at the address. He works his mouth vainly for a bit before his wrinkled voice reasserts itself. "Ah, just out for a stroll, I assure you." He inclines his head, but his expression evinces puzzlement. "Might I, ah. Might I inquire where you are bound?" He notices Zen's wave belatedly. His bemusement deepens, then transitions into apology. "Your face... Your face, lad. My memory is ringing every bell. I know you!"
Rayuwil looks back at Zen at the sign of recognition, and back at Riverdale, "Yes, he is a newly sworn subject of mine. Zen Fetcher. He and I and the rest of us are bound for Hactor, in Ruingate. We are a small party, and all the better for our purposes - which I am not about to divulge to the likes of anybeast out for a stroll."
Zen nods his head and smiles softly at Riverdale. "Heh, it's been ages since I've seen you... Saddly, I'm afraid I've little to no time to talk..." He frowns softly. "I'm more than happy to see you're well though!"
"Aye, lad. A pity. Zen; I, ah, I knew that I knew your face." Riverdale's smile is faint and short-lived. "I would... I would ask why you've taken up company with this fellow... But," the old squirrel says, looking back once again at Rayuwil, "I don't imagine I would find the answer entirely to my liking." He plants his walking stick in the ground before him and places both paws atop it. "Hactor. Now that is one name that has not escaped my feeble mind."
Rayuwil looks suspiciously at the older squirrel, "I don't think I had many friends in this abbey, true enough... but you can see that Zen has settled his feelings for comradeship when it counts - surely you don't consider me a greater intolerance than Hactor? Anba Hor? I did hear about your encounter with the fox, old squirrel. I wish not to speak about him - but don't be so confidence as that Champion about the fox's fate. I wouldn't be, anyway."
Zen tilts his head a little at Riverdale, a bit confused but none the less confident. "My motives are as pure as they've always been good friend... Perhaps when we run into each other next, I can explain to you." He then bites his lip... Hactor... A name of which he hasn't heard... Once he heard Anba Hor's name though, a quick chill ran through him... Turning to Nidlorf, he squeaks softly. "There's... a chance he's alive?"
Riverdale shifts uncomfortably, rendered mute by the regal squirrel's manner as much as by his words. His eyes shift rapidly in a dance that is both fearful and indignant. Then, he looks down with a sigh. "Oh, how I pray that it is not so." He shakes his head back and forth and fixes Rayuwil with a softened stare. "Do you hunt him? Do you hunt Hactor and the fox?"
The king shrugs, "We all thought him dead plenty of times. It seems others are willing to lend themselves to his cause, if it /is/ a cause." He turns to Riverdale, "I hunt down Hactor, but of the other I know nothing. I also hunt down the sword passed along throughout the generations of my family - it was stolen from my son, by the mouse Turmal, and stolen in turn from him. I can do nothing about the mouse, unfortunately. But it must be with Hactor, I think."
Zen nods his head at Nidlorf. "I see... Very true..." He the shivers at thoughts of seeing Anba Hor in the flesh... again... He crosses his arms and bites his lower lip as he ponders... His mind full of questions, he can't help but ask at least one for the time being... "This Hactor... Is he anything like Anba Hor?"
Riverdale's shiver mirrors Zen's, but he conceals it with a bow to the king. "Your quest is a worthy one, lad. Er, my... my lord." The inflection in his voice leaves open the question of how properly to address Rayuwil, but he presses on. "Ah, I'm afraid I misjudged you." He smiles sheepishly. "I suppose I have become rather used to being treated with a certain, ah... deference, when I am within these walls." He drums his claws on the hook of his cane. "I can't myself be of much use. But... I trust your reasons are sound for pursuing Hactor north. It seems indeed that many are headed to that evil place these days..." Riverdale bites his lip.
Rayuwil shakes his head, "I don't know much of Hactor, unfortunately. I have only reports to go on, mostly from a former lieutenant of mine. And those are limited. I know he is older, and what I have heard doesn't seem to be as savage as the stories about the other fox. Come, we must go, Zen... Riverdale, then - good luck with things here. I hope we meet again." He's about to step into his carriage...
Something small is climbing down the many pocks and rivulets of the gates. She's about a quarter of the way down from the top and identifiable, possibly, as a very small bat. A happy little song of random notes comes from the winged dibbun as she makes slow progress, sometimes loud, sometimes probably too quiet to be heard.
Rayuwil's ears twitch, as he hears the songs. He watches, staring upward for what seems like forever. It's possibly... the weirdest thing he's seen. He keeps staring, dumbly. Singing bat? Climbing down a wall? Something in his brain twitches too, possibly.
Zen nods his head in relief, then he waves to Riverdale as he turns to follow Nidlorf. "I see... It was good seeeing you Riverdale. Do take care!" He then turns as he hears something... Glancing around, of course he finds nothing.... then he spots the bat..
Riverdale waves fondly to Zen. "And you, Zen." His attention flickers up to the crawling shadow only for a jot. "I think I'd best be going. My, ah, Lord. I wish you all success. I must return to my inn before nightfall." He turns to go.
Rayuwil nods after Riverdale, and hails the small creature climbing down. "Hey there! Creature with wings! Why do you not fly down?" He can't tell if the bat is a dibbun or not; but it seems small for a bat.
Poppy cranes her head and looks down. "Issa climbin' game, silly!" She giggles. "Why I fly down when play climbin'?" The bat then, continues said climbing. "Climbin', climbin', climbin'!" Makes its way into her song.
Zen half chuckles. "That's I sight I've rarely seen.... Though, I myself have been to the top of the Abbey... The view is amazing... looking down is quite frightening though.." He then turns to Nidlorf and smiles. "Anyways, shall we be off?"
"Say, Zen... I was hoping for such an opportunity! She's perfect for us - as a supplement to your scouting, she could offer us an eagle-eyed view around the fortress. I wonder..." Rayuwil calls up, "Little bat - are you alone? Do you have family nearby?"
Poppy shakes her head so vigorously that she's loosened from her hold and has to flutter quickly away a little to avoid falling. "Nono! A gone!" She singsongs, apparently not too upset by the fact.
Zen blinks. "Oh, I never thought of that... You're very right though, as long as the young one was obediant.." He taps his chin a bit at the thought, but frowns. "We wouldn't want to put her in harms way though..."
Rayuwil almost ignores the concern Zen has, and brushes past him, "Of course she wouldn't be in harm's way... little bat, what is your name? And, would you like to play a game with us? We're going on an adventure, playing a grand game! We think it would be awfully fun to have you along!"
Meanwhile, Rodigero is sighing and tapping his foot. He whispers over to a comrade, "Jeez, mate, when the king's got somethin' in his head, he puts everythin' down, don't he? For a little bat? Must be awfully important, don'tcha think?" The other soldier nods, "Rayuwil, he's no fool - I don't think he's got games in mind for 'at liddle un, hehe. Just like Zen, I bet." They look over at the mouse and snicker.
Poppy exclaims, "Game! Yay, game!" If it weren't for the wings, she might be clapping joyously. She's certainly fluttering eratically, the perfect aerial mimic of a hyperactive ground dibbun's inability to be still. "Am a Poppy! Whassa you?""
Zen watches Nidlorf brush past, somewhat not surprized. That's when he picks up on the whispering and snickering. He turns towards Rodigero and the soldier, his eyes narrowing a little curiously.. Turning back to the young dibbun and Nidlorf, he nods his head.
Rayuwil points to himself, "I am King Nidlorf, and this is Master Zen - he will train you how to play this game. You must do exactly as he says, and he'll make sure you understand, won't you Zen?" The king looks expectantly at Zen, folding his arms in his coat.
The king picks up on the insubordinance of the soldiers and snaps at them, "Rodigero! Do I need to teach you the rules of the game, as well? For you, they say 'be quiet, turn around, and wait for your king to tell you when to move out."
Poppy squeaks happily and spirals down. Deciding to land right on Zen's head. "Kingly Dwarf anda Massiven!" She.. hops up and down a little. Lucky she's lightweight. "I play! I play!"
Zen finds it a little uncomforting.... In fact, almost a little too familiar... He nods his head though, "Of course. We wouldn't want our new little friend here to be confused now, would we?" He then squeeks softly as Poppy lands on his head, a soft chuckle escaping him at the little dibbun. "Alright then..." He then turns to Nidlorf, waiting for his next set of instructions..
Rayuwil finally steps inside the carriage and parts the curtain behind the door for Zen to follow, "Poppy, we'll call you inside with us soon - but would you like to perch on top for the time being? Zen and I have to talk, adult things... boring things, just for a moment."
Poppy makes a face. She just got this ride on the head of a mouse and she already as to give it up? She looks down at Zen's headfur, then at the carriage as if weighing up her options. Then puffs herself up. "Am old 'nuff!" She insists.
Rayuwil sighs. "Fine, alright. Zen, come along... Rodigero, give the command - we've already lost considerable time, so make sure it is made up for in speed!" He closes the door behind Zen, as they sit down in comfort. The cart rolls quickly forward...
Zen glances up at the young dibbun on top of his head... He knew he shouldn't try to get too attached, though the dibbun seemed to be clinging to him! Either way, he knew where they were headed wasn't a nice place...
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