First a Possible Friend Gives Advice and Then A Fox Gives Grief!(Redemption Of Marek TP)

FV:Tavern
Outside a sign swings on a rusty creaking frame above the doorway of the tavern depicting a faded painting of what appears to be three rather rich looking skeletons slumped over a table around a black chalice, perhaps such a thing could be taken as a warning but it doesn't appear to work on the locals. The noise within on a normal day is usually heard before the door is even opened and only rises in volume when one actually steps inside.
There are the typical qualities of a tavern within, from the bar to the chairs and booths and the odd drunk who never seems to move it's the little details which encourage a patron to pay his tab if he likes his fingers. One look at some of the staff or customers might give the impression but the room is decorated to the fiercer tastes with bones, mostly skulls cropping up here and there to fill a gap on a shelf or decorating the walls above the doorways, fireplace and bar, a pair of axes joining the one over the fire with some signs that they've been yanked off to join in a fight a couple of times. Some of the comfier chairs are lined with fur and very rarely one might be found with a few pointed bits of bone to decorate the back. Despite the looks there is entertainment and fun to be had, some form of music usually played on a small stage in the corner and at least one bouncer usually tries to keep the peace while beasts gamble, drink and be merry.
A small door behind the bar leads out the back to the kitchen and cellars while one wall has been opened up in a wide arch to increase the space off into the next room where what seems to be a wooden fence with gates on either end has been set up as a fighting pit as further entertainment and something to bet over.
Exits: [UP] Stairs, [K]itchen, [F]ighting [P]it, [Out]

Marek sits writing down in a journal he has and looking over a book beside him as well as he jots down some words and closes the book as he mutters something.

Reseda walks in after a semi long day in the infirm and goes to get a drink and something to eat. “Ale please" She says "And some fish"

A mole, Zaram is the one who serves the drink and a rat cook gets some fish and veggies for Reseda.

Reseda nods her thanks for the food and looks over at Marek, she knows who he is as she has heard about him, but never really spoke to him..well till today as she walks over to him slowly after her meal.

Marek doesn’t notice her coming as he sits in his chair, still thinking of what Scioto said, how the abbot was dead and if this had been a few seasons ago the stoat would of cared less. But today he cares, he had maybe even seen the abbot as a possible friend as tears go down his face now, he had not known he be this shocked or upset over such news, but he was.

Reseda frowns and goes over to lay a paw on his shoulder, "You ok sir? You seem depressed and, not that I know you but I always see you reading or writing and always talking to that mole. You always seemed all business like."

Marek is startled and that’s a first for him as he looks at the other stoat and blinks back tears, "I..will be fine, no need it to be a concern of yours. I simply regret not speaking with someone while I had the chance. then again maybe it would of done no good"

Reseda sits down beside him "And why would something of done no good? As for looking fine you look far from being fine"

Marek watches her before he speaks" I am Marek and most know my past, a past I am now ashamed at and have now seeked forgiveness from those I can, one was the abbot of Redwall but he has died. I done a lot to have the abbey hate me, to wish me dead and from what I have heard some there do wish me dead, a couple leaders do I know. I had thought long and hard on words to say ..for forgiveness and whether they be accepted or not but fear of none keep me from it"

Reseda nods "I heard of what happen to the abbot that is sad that he was ill, he died in his sleep at least so no pain..that’s at least somewhat good I mean he could of died being in pain, I think dying in one's sleep is the best way to go"

Marek listens as she speaks, "That matters not, what does is losing a chance at forgiveness. It’s a greater pain than death. Abbot Lorimis and I spoke often when I had the Abbey in my grasp..I kept him safe, even though he may of never known this, some of my men were not totally trusted and I later learned they went with a beast called Hudson and turned on me. Luckily they left the abbey but they did manage to find the young dibbuns...another thing I was blamed for. I never had and never will harm a dibbun, they are the future and are innocent"

Reseda smiles "That is good that you would not harm a dibbun. It means you have a good heart...maybe it’s covered a little and needs help shining through but it’s there. Maybe Lorimis helped you clear off some of the black stains to let light shine through ever so slowly."

Marek listens to her words closely as they settle in, "Maybe...He spoke much of his life in the abbey, how its ways are better and how I should try to listen and repent of my ways and find a new way. I admit I listened but never fully just gave up my power at the time, I mean I finally had the abbey and didn’t want to just give it up. I treated the beasts well no chains, they had all the food they needed..yes I had curfews and had the leaders meet me twice a day but most vermin would of had them in chains, gave little food and treated them as slaves..I have slavers with a passion..always did and always will. I keep the healers safe"

Reseda says, "Yes I heard about the abbey takeover...few didn’t hear of it, course many had their own thoughts what was going on behind the gates of Redwall Abbey...some were found to be lies. Some things were true but not much. Then one would have a hard time controlling that many beasts""

" Yes" Marek says "It was as all beast were getting restless after a season as I had it over a season, a couple weeks over a season and a couple of my men did mess up a small bit of a crop, to which I punished the two rats when I found out but damage was done..luckily it was very little damage and all was well again, they were just low on onions, a minor issue when other foods they was still plenty of and fighting to get the abbey back did cause damage but all fights do that."

Reseda says, "Maybe you could still talk to someone, and get this forgiveness one never knows till they ask and I don’t think the abbey would seek your death if you showed you didn’t mean them harm."

Marek chuckles dryly "Their own head guard wishes me dead. I could slip in one day disguised. You only need to give up a weapon and I have lost my weapons from before as now I have a simple longsword fancy in no way what so ever"

Reseda says simple words "Beasts can change their ways and you seem to have and still seem to be learning and changing. Change is not over night , true change takes time"

Marek smiles faintly, very rare for him, "Your words are wise..miss ummm I don’t know your name"

Reseda smiles "Reseda, Master healer in Ferravale. And I know your Marek"

Marek nods "Nice to meet you then Reseda, hopefully I will not need your services any time soon, or at all"

Reseda says, "Well hopefully not but if you do I am good at what I do, my healing skills and knowledge of healing is a good deal""

Marek says, "I do trust that or Scioto would not of hired you"

Reseda nods "I have not been here too long, but I do my best to keep things in order and the infirm well run and clean as well.

Marek says, "Still all places need a healer, healers are just as important as fighters as without healers the ill and injured risk dying, sometimes painful deaths. Healers save lives...yes they can’t always save a life, but without them no lives would be saved at all. Yes a warrior saves a life in his or her own way but healers do as well.""

Reseda says, "You have wise words, you know you could still maybe talk to whomever the new abbot will be. Let them know you have changed your ways and ask for their forgiveness. It can’t hurt to try..have you spoken to any beast or showed any beast you have changed?"

Marek says, "I have spoken to Scioto, chieftain here and I do believe Brother Leon and their recorder Sister Zinnia trusts me now...but..others I am unsure of, I have been back nearly a season and most should know by now.""

Reseda lays a paw on his should "Then go talk to them Marek, show them you’re an ally now, let them see you have changed, I will be your friend if that helps you any"

Marek moves her paw, oddly gently, "I will think on your words Reseda and thanks for the offer of friendship that is one thing I do lack...friends. Zaram may truly be my only true friend"

An hour later

The tavern doors swing wide to accommodate the fox that walks in. Too be fair Bandit is not nearly the size he once was. The brown furred fox tends to slim down when he is away from Red wall but a noticeable pot gut still lingers under his mouse hide vest. The fox is covered in dust and stumbles into the tavern with his tail dragging behind him.

Marek is reading a book, he has reading glasses on and is not wearing his normal look from before. He has a plain tunic and pants and a simple, not fancy, long sword with him. Usually a mole is with him but the mole is elsewhere..asleep maybe in the guest room upstairs where he and Marek has been staying here a few weeks.

The fox drags the rapier at his belt like he drags his tail. The beastly bar keeper behind the bar waves to Bandit and the fox in turn waves back. He walks past the stoat in a tired gait and waves to Marek as he passes. "Hello Marek." Bandit walks a whole two steps before he stops and turns, twisting his body around to stare, jaw open at Marek. "MAREK?!"

Marek looks up, he knows that voice and looks Bandit up and down as he takes off his reading glasses "You seem to have lost some pounds Mr. Bandit." He places the glasses in his vest pocket as remains calm, "Not seen you in a while."

"Why. Are. you. HeeEEEeeere." The fox doesn't waste any time with pleasantries. he hisses towards the stoat with his grip tightening on the hilt of the rapier. Bandit always was one to get to the point...perhaps the point of a blade in some places.

Marek takes a calming breath, "Well I was reading but I can't now can I Mr. Bandit. Now DO relax I have not had the best past couple days."

Still gripping the hilt of his blade the fox slams his free paw onto the table causing other patrons to take notice. "Last time I saw you, you were trying to take over the city." Well, that's not quite true, Bandit and Marek were caught by slavers together. The memory causes the fox to ease his tone, but not by much, "So how in the blazes are you HERE. In this town...and not being led to the gallows?"

Marek moves a paw to his own blade but he doesn't touch it yet, he just keeps a paw near the blade, "I assure you I am not here to cause trouble, I live here now or least have this past few weeks. I came after my village was destroyed by a beast seen as my enemy and one who may be coming to Mossflower, whom may already be in Mossflower even though it’s been quiet lately. I already had some trouble with poison but luckily that has cleared now. I am looking to take over NOTHING ..Mr. Bandit" He manages to just barely contain his anger that’s building up.

Bandit is many things. Gluttonous, short tempered, and prone to stabbing people first and asking questions later. No one could ever call him stupid though...well, except Cheshire. But he calls everyone stupid. Ferravales worst enemy is standing here in the full view of public but there are no guards to watch him and no bandits to protect him. Something didn't add up, "My heart bleeds for your loss." He says in a flat and unconvinced voice. "Forgive me if I don't take your word for it though. I take it Scioto knows your here?"

Marek narrows his eyes, he then speaks "Yes Scioto knows I am here and no worries he didn't leave me in charge when he left" He frowns now remembering why Scioto left, "Now what do you want Mr. Bandit? I assure you, you are not the only one whom doesn’t trust me..others do as well but some do trust me"

"Seriously? Scioto just let you walk into town?" Truth be told Bandit feels slighted. He remembers the cat not trusting him at all when Bandit was accused of being a slaver. The fox also remembers the first time he heard of the name Marek, and the bloody fighting against his troops on Redwalls walls. With a growl the fox takes a seat across from the stoat. "Well I didn't come all the way back to this mud hole to cross blades with YOU if that is what you are worried about..."

Marek shakes his head "You would have already Mr. Bandit and at first Scioto did not trust me but as time went by...he has. I only wish I had went to Redwall and spoken with.." He looks down as he says the name "Abbot Lorimis before....to seek forgiveness and now I never will be able to"

The fox raises an eyebrow. "The abbot? What happened at Redwall?" The fox lets loose a loud whine and bangs his fore head on the table. he pulls at his ears and whimpers, "Please tell me the abbey didn't get overrun with horde beasts...again!"

Marek shakes his head slowly, " The abbey was not taken over....all is well..not well..." Yeah Bandit is about to see a rare side of Marek, this former evil beast who maybe has some evil thinking but is far from what he use to be as his plain clothing and sword prove, he has changed and it’s clear he had unknowingly seen Lorimis as a friend maybe or like to of thought of him as one, the abbot maybe had helped change the stoat's ways even if it took a while. There are tears as he looks at Bandit "A..Abbot Loirmis died in his sleep a couple days ago, he's..he’s dead"

The fox stares at the stoat with a blank expression. A long moment passes. Leaning back in his chair the fox rubs at his chin, "And you claim...that you had nothing to do with that, right?" Clearly the specialness of this moment is lost on Bandit, but such is life. Holding his paws up defensively he asks, "Sorry but I think you can see why I would have to ask these things!"

Marek growls now “Why would I be involved in something like that! How DARE you even think such things!" Tears still are under his eyes and now he is peeved off at the fox as a paw stays by the blade he has and seems he is resisting an urge to slice at the fox. "I would never do such a thing, when I had the abbey that season I protected Lorimis from others, I walked and talked with him a number of times" Then again the abbot was rarely out of the stoat’s sights.

"Are you...are you crying?" Bandit peers closely at the stoat as asks. "Oh blazes you are really crying!" The fox leans back in his chair and holds his pudgy sides as he begins laughing. If other beasts haven’t been listening in yet they most surely are now. After a short moment Bandit realizes that he is making a tremendous jerk of himself.The laughter dies down and the fox leans forward again, paws on his legs, "Blazes...you...you are serious aren’t you? No faking it this time?" Bandit looks astonished.

Marek has tears pouring down his face now, his anger replaced with sadness, he coughs back a sob. It would be seriously hard to fake these tears as he even finds it hard to speak and finally does "I...tell the truth."

The fox only stairs at the stoat for a long moment, perhaps to the point of uncomfortableness. For the longest while Bandit has always wanted to see the stoat pay for his crimes, to suffer and feel the pain he has caused others. Perhaps he even imagined that happening at his own paw. He certainly didn't enjoy the beast when fighting his thugs, and his time in captivity with Marek only served further his dislike for him. But now, seeing him squirm with feelings of loss...it brought Bandit no pleasure.

Then, without saying a word Bandit picks himself up out of his seat and simply walks away. He pauses before heading out the door as if he wants to say something else, but instead he just shakes his head and leaves. There is still too much bad blood for the fox to completely bury the hatchet. But at least he isn't going to try and burry it in Marek's back...

Marek doesn't watch the fox leave, he doesn't care if the fox stays or not as he lays his paws on the table and lays his head down and oddly sobs as beasts stare at him...no one seems to want to go near him as they are unsure what to do