Haunted

[Kentrith Hapley]

Kentrith watched the stoat he had just struck shuffle towards the slaves? washroom. He breathed in shakily, rubbing his shorn ear in an effort to relieve the anger and despair raised by the other beast?s trapped look. She had hidden it well, but for her eyes. That trapped, frantic look was all too familiar to him.

His breath rattled in his lungs, as visions of bloodstained paws and crazed eyes overwhelmed him for a moment.

- Paws clutching to the otter?s head -
- Bloodstained bandages unwinding -
- Dead eyes -
- ?I can?t stay in this place,? she whispered -

Another body slammed into his, shocking him out of the memory. He staggered, catching himself against the wall.

?Watch yerself,? Hargorn snarled, also slightly off-balance from the collision. He sneered, and Kentrith suddenly knew it had been on purpose.

?You watch it,? he growled back, ears pinned back and eyes narrowed. His muzzle curled, showing his fangs.

?Really," The sneer slithered through the hall. "I should watch it? ?M not th? one who?s been gone. ?M not the one who left w? m?tail between m?legs.? The weasel?s own ears pinned back and his voice turned vicious. ?An? ?m not th? one who?ll have to watch m? step ?round here.? He smiled widely, with more teeth than necessary. ?I only wish it were me who?ll hand yer head to Nire to put on his wall.?

?You?re a ghoul,? Kentrith snapped, brushing off his clothes. ?You can?t fight anymore.Taking your inadequacy out on others won't change that. Learn to accept it.? He turned to leave.

?Yer big, fancy werds won?t keep y? frm lunch duty!? Hargorn called out to him.

?What?? barked Kentrith, turning. ?What about the guards??

?They?re busy,? the weasel called back, sniggering. He waved at the fox, muttering as he walked through the doorway, ?Wassa ghoul??

Kentrith fumed all the way to the mess hall. Couldn?t anybeast without collars do their actual job? No, he knew what this was. Hargorn had found something else for the guards to do, dropping the entire mess on Kentrith.

He stepped through the door and was immediately plunged into ordered chaos. Beasts with collars were in every stage of the meal, some snatching clean plates where they waited by the kitchen door, several waiting in a line to be served fish stew, with a plate of greens on the side, others shoveling food into their mouths as quickly as they could, while yet more were stacking the plates and utensils in large pans to be washed.

All activity ceased when they caught sight of him. The dead silence stretched on, and Kentrith began to feel alarmed. Suddenly, several beasts jumped up, food still on their plates, while others crashed into each other in an effort to leave the room first.

Ah, he thought, disgruntled. Everybeast hates the trainer. I had forgotten.

Heaving a sigh, he made for the kitchen door to take the traditional post by the mush pot. Somebeast grabbed his shoulder, spinning him around. A paw pushed on his chest, shoving him toward the wall.

Kentrith grabbed the shoving paw, yanking his assailant with him. He turned the backward movement into another turn. He pinned the attacker against the wall, pressing on the stoat?s throat with his right arm. His left claw hovered over the gut, ready to rake if the other beast continued his aggression. Something tickled Kentrith?s throat, and he looked down.

It was a spoon.

All movement in the room had stopped, and the slaves were all staring at the two of them. Kentrith hastily dropped his arm and stepped back, then reached to clap the shocked stoat on the shoulder. ?That?s exactly what I was talking about!? he exclaimed. ?The element of surprise! Next time, though, don?t hesitate with your jab. Slice their throat, and they?re out of the game.?

The room slowly unfroze, and Kentrith breathed a sigh of relief. He eyed the stunned beast, who in turn was staring at the spoon as if it had betrayed him. ?Hungry, are we?? he asked dryly.

The stoat, Alden, or? Aldridge, that was it, glanced up at him, then down again and sighed. ?Pretend it?s a knife??

Kentrith tilted his head at the subtle humor. ?Funny,? he replied. ?Your methods could use a little work, though. Any particular reason you?re attacking me??

The bemused glint faded from the dark eyes, and the face hardened. ?I don?t like it when my friends are mistreated.?

Kentrith crossed his arms, frowning. ?You mean the other stoat?? He shrugged. ?I didn?t hurt her badly, and I needed to speak with her. Since we were still in the training pen, her attack on me wasn?t that serious.? He raised an eyebrow and dropped his intact ear. ?Yours, on the other hand??

Aldridge winced.

Kentrith sighed, surreptitiously glancing around the room. ?I won?t make an issue of it, since you haven?t been here for long, but you must be careful. Not all slaves are unhappy here, and some will look for any advantage.? He speared Aldridge?s eyes with his own, making sure the other was paying attention. ?Especially in regards to personal relationships with other slaves.? At the other?s widened eyes, he waved a paw. ?I?m not threatening you, I have no need or wish for promotion, but I would strongly advise caution.?

He glanced at the spoon held loosely in the stoat?s paw, then smirked. ?You should get food, if you haven?t already. You?re armed for it!?

Aldridge ruffled his head fur sheepishly. ?This isn?t even my spoon. I thought I saw somebeast holding a knife, twisted it out of their paw on the way over here to threaten you.? He away, his gaze slightly unfocused as if he saw something at a distance. ?Well, as long as Komi is alright??

Kentrith hesitated, then nodded jerkily. Nobeast is really safe in this place.

As the slightly humbled stoat shuffled away to get a plate, Kentrith wondered why the name he had uttered seemed familiar.

********

Kentrith stood at the back of the staff section, wishing he were anywhere but here. All of Northvale (at least the parts of Northvale that could afford it) were trickling into the stands. The slaves had gotten a week of training at Kentrith?s paws, and after a pair of matches to rile the crowd up, they would be tested to see if they had what they needed to survive here.

It would either be a bloodbath, or completely humiliating, and Kentrith wanted nothing of either.

The name Komi still tickled the back of his mind, and he had scanned the female?s face over and over again in his mind, trying to bring up any memory of it. More and more, he was believing he had never met her, but perhaps her name had been mentioned somewhere. He sighed, and leaned against the wall, resting his head against it as he poked and prodded mentally at the lock box he kept his memories in.

Instead, one surfaced without his permission.

Watching roses be dead-headed would not have been at the top of Kentrith?s list of ?fun things to do,? but somehow watching the old mouse remove the wilted blossoms was extremely satisfying. The mouse, catching Kentrith?s stare, chuckled.

?I?ve always been fascinated with this process,? he supplied, continuing with his task. ?The idea of removing something dead to make room for the living is invigorating.?

Kentrith nodded, still watching the flowers being snipped from the stems. ?It?s just like cutting away dead flesh to allow new growth.? After a moment, he winced, realizing how horrific his description would be to this gentle beast.

After a long moment, there was a quiet chuckle. ?An accurate, if somewhat graphic, description.?

?Forgive me,? Kentrith blurted, turning to the mouse, ?I am? or was? a healer. That is how my mind works.?

A few more moments of silence built while more stems lost their heads. Then the mouse asked, ?You speak as if you are no longer a healer. I have never pressed you about your past, but? is there any reason you could not be a healer again?? He looked up into Kentrith?s troubled face. ?Your heart is tender to otherbeasts in trouble. I know you?ve lent a paw here and there, but always stopped short of committing yourself to the role of healer. I should like to ask you why. It is clear to me, and I think that if you were to ask any other beast here, they would agree - that your purpose lies somewhere along that path. If you continue to deny yourself the journey? then you cannot hope to reach it.?

Kentrith said nothing.

The mouse stopped, turning his full attention to the fox. ?What dead flesh needs to be cut away, Kentrith??

A face immediately popped into his head. One he had tried to expunge, one which refused to be forgotten. Rage and loathing pounded through him, and he mentally stamped it down into the lock-box it had burst from.

Just as quickly, another face replaced the first, just as distressing, but for an entirely different reason.

?I assume that you don?t mean removing other beasts,? he mumbled, trying to keep calm.

The mouse paused again, and Kentrith could almost feel his dismay. ?It is hard,? he finally said, ?to be strong when faced with evil. But just because somebeast has treated you harshly, doesn?t mean that you can take their death lightly. Every life is precious, and should be handled accordingly.? He looked up, his eyes teary. ?Always remember that.?

?But what if the evil cannot be eliminated elsewise?? Kentrith asked desperately. The second face was like a thorn in his side, goading him on.

?Motivation is always of great import when doing any task,? was the reluctant reply. A wrinkled paw was laid on Kentrith?s arm. ?Just realize that once you start down that path, it is difficult to veer from it, and impossible to go back.?

Kentrith laughed bitterly. ?Then my fate is already sealed, Father Abbot.?

The venerated mouse solemnly placed his basket on the ground, then took Kentrith?s scarred paws. ?Never give up on yourself, my son,? he chided gently. ?It is never too late to change things for the better, for you, or for other beasts.? He gave Kentrith?s paws a squeeze, then released him, reaching down to pick up his basket. ?If you decide that your path to releasing yourself from your past leads away from here, just remember that the doors to Redwall Abbey will always be open to you.?

?Hap??

Kentrith turned with a start. Nix was standing at the entrance to the stands, arms crossed with a stunned look on her face.

Kentrith smiled slightly. ?Nix, it?s good to see you.?

She marched stiffly to a seat and sat down, her back to him. ?I hadn?t expected to see you again,? she declared, not looking at him. ?What brings you back?

Kentrith carefully took a seat next to her, unsure of his welcome. When she didn?t snarl at him or take a jab at his nose, he settled into the hard chair and stared down at the sands below. ?It was harder, out there, than I had thought,? he told her. It was partially the truth. After a long moment, he added, ?There were some things about this place that I couldn?t leave behind.?

Nix glanced sideways at him. ?Marik??

Kentrith bowed his head, staring at his footpaws. ?Yes.?

Several moments passed as the spectators flowed in, chattering excitedly about the fight to come. Nix finally broke the silence. ?He missed you, too. I?m sure he would like a visit from you.?

Kentrith shook his head. ?I?m not allowed in that area.?

She glanced at him again, this time bemused. ?It?s never stopped you before,? she reprimanded.

?I?? Kentrith shook his head, trying to keep a quaver out of his voice. ?I thought he might be angry with me. I?m not sure I can face him.?

She snorted. ?Would facing him be worse than fighting down there?? She waved at the arena.

?Of course it is,? he muttered grimly. ?I actually care what he thinks.?

A moment?s hesitation, then, ?He might be upset briefly, but he?s rather forgiving. He would be less so if you delayed any longer.? She eyed him. ?How long have you been here, again??

Kentrith coughed, but didn?t answer. She shrugged, then continued, ?Nire is going to send me out again soon. Many of the slaves I brought back this time were craftsbeasts, which are needed, but he wants fighters. The new batch always goes through a culling in the first month, anyway.? Her voice lowered, until he almost couldn?t hear her. ?It would take a weight off of my mind to know he has someone else to look after him.?

Kentrith turned to her, meeting her eyes. He gave one nod, and she nodded back. They turned their attention back to the announcer who was climbing to his platform.

When the first roar rose around them, Kentrith casually rose and took his former position near the doorway. When the first sound of ringing metal sang from the sands, he slipped out.

*******

Kentrith had to duck down a few side passages to avoid guards. Most of the staff would be watching the fights, especially when the new slaves would be thrown in, but some were ordered to stay at their posts, come Hellgates or flooding water. Usually, those who drew the duty were rather bitter about it, so any trespassers caught during a match were dealt with more severely than not. Kentrith?s paws followed the old route. In places he couldn?t avoid coming in the open, he would stop for a moment, commiserating with the disgruntled guards, and passing them a sweet bun from the tray he carried. There were fewer guards than there used to be, so the tray was rather full when he stood in front of the nursery door.

It wasn?t until he raised a paw to open it that it occurred to him that Marik wouldn?t even be here anymore. He had been only ten years old when Kentrith had shaken the sands from his coat and made for friendlier climes. He would be fifteen now, near grown. Surely, they wouldn?t keep him in the nursery. Kentrith turned, unsure where to look for the young beast.

High pitched cheers resounded from behind the door, pausing Kentrith in his steps. Curious, he inched the door open, poking his head in.

The long room was lined with several beds, with windows on the far end letting in light and a table near the door. The beds looked as though the rascals had recently been jumping on them, and several of the bedclothes lay pitifully on the floor. In the back, two of the beds had been shoved close together, with spear hafts inserted into the space between footboard and backboard. A sheet had been tied to the hafts, creating a tent.

Under this tent sat several small beasts, bunched close together and staring up with open mouths at the creature standing before them.

The young marten was balanced on one footpaw, the other stretched out to the side as he endeavored to strike a gallant pose with an ax handle. His back, twisted and bent, prevented him from straightening all the way, but he still raised one paw in the air. The second face from Kentrith?s memory, the one that had stabbed him with guilt, was contorted in over-exaggerated triumph. ?The Great Martellan, with his bloody cloak flapping in tatters behind him, planted his spear in the sand. ?Today,? he told his followers, ?we will begin a new life. No longer will we fear the lizards that swarmed this island, for today!?? The marten raised his paw still higher. ??Today, I have vanquished the last beast!??

Another cheer rang from the seated Dibbuns, who clapped at the end of the tale. Marik, relaxing from his noble pose, shuffled a bit, regaining his balance on his footpaws. One still did not reach the floor, and the twist in his spine caused him to lean slightly to the left. As the chattering babes swarmed him, grabbing at his simple clothes and dark fur, he smiled down at them, answering their lisped questions.

A gasp rose from one of them, a small otter. She stared at Kentrith with horror, her tiny paws clapped to her mouth. The other Dibbuns huddled together and stared at him while Marik turned clumsily to see what they were staring at.

Awkwardly, Kentrith entered the room, wishing he had brought something else, wishing he were somewhere else. He couldn?t meet the eyes of the creature who had been like a son to him.

?Happy!?

The exclamation brought Kentrith?s head up, and he stared in confusion at the widening smile on the young marten?s face. Marik clapped his paws. ?Alright, you ratten rots, get these beds cleaned and neat, and maybe Happy will share the treat he brought with him!? He eyed them sternly. ?And they must be neat! No wrinkles, pillows must be at the head of the bed, and Helix!? A small hedgehog froze. ?Get all the food out of your bed and onto the table! You?ll attract insects!?

A flurry of small creatures scattered around the room. A rat maid and a stoat maid, being older, untied the sheet from the spear hafts and stowed the staves under one of the beds as Marik limped over to Kentrith. ?I?m so glad to see you!? he exclaimed, actually hugging the fox in a rare show of affection.

After a moment, Kentrith slipped the tray of sweets onto the table and hugged him back to the sounds of beds being dragged back into place.

?Marik,? Kentrith mumbled, pulling away when it became awkward, ?I? I?m sorry, that I??

?Don?t apologize,? Marik told him, suddenly serious. ?I?m not in the ring, or amongst the other beasts who work here, but I know that most beasts would leave if they had the chance.?

?No,? Kentrith said suddenly. ?I?m sorry that I left you here. It isn?t fair, that I am allowed to leave, and you are not.? He looked down, swallowed, and continued, ?And your mother refuses to leave you here.? He looked up. ?I came back to get you out.?

Marik?s smile vanished. ?You can?t,? he said, dispirited. ?I?m a slave remember?? He pulled at the collar that had grown with him. ?A slave can only be freed if they fight in the arena, and no one can free another slave.?

?That isn?t the only way to free the slaves,? Kentrith replied grimly. He lowered his voice to a whisper, looking Marik dead in the eyes. ?What if there is no slave system? What if the arena emptied, and all beasts could go where they wished??

He paused, took a deep breath, unable to believe that he would actually divulge his plans to another beast, then mouthed, ?What if Nire were dead??

*******

Kentrith didn?t stay for much longer. Many of the Dibbuns wouldn?t touch the sweet buns while he was there. He thought that they were the new ones, still in shock from their transfer to the Crater. After waving to them all, promising to return with more treats and other things, and patting Marik on the shoulder, he checked that nobeast was about, and slipped out.

A distant roar told him that the matches were still running, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He ghosted his way through the hallway, pausing at the end. The empty tray would be no help in excusing him in the forbidden areas. He turned left, then heard a shuffling. He darted into a convenient doorway, quieting his panicked breathing to keep from being detected by the guards. Placing his back against the wall beside the doorway, he perked his ears, trying to catch every sound.

A shadow passed by the doorway, one that was oddly proportioned. He ducked his head out, looking for the beast that had continued on.

It wasn?t a guard. It was Adeen.

What is she doing here?

Frowning, Kentrith silently put down the tray, and slipped after her, placing his footpaws carefully to prevent scuffing sounds. She turned down the hallway to the nursery, and Kentrith?s heart was suddenly in his throat. He didn?t believe all the rumors about the Black Widow of Bastion, but she had confirmed some?

He hurried to the end of the hallway, and just caught sight of the closing nursery door.

A flick of his wrist dropped his scalpel into his paw, and breathing deeply, he reached for the door handle.