The stillness of the plateau was broken by the persistent, melodic chiming of the compound's bells. Almost immediately, the gates to the converted mill swung open and numerous small groups of monks began their migration toward the Deev fortress for evening devotion.

Concurrent to the parade of Scarlet brothers, Ozab led his detail in single file up to the flatland of the plateau in the direction of the compound. Their cowls were pulled over their heads and they walked in a steady, methodical manner as Ozab had instructed them, neither too slow, nor overly anxious.

Three brothers stood watch at the exterior of the monastery's locked entrance. It was their charge to challenge all comer's. When satisfied with a visitor's identity, they would signal the interior guards, who then unlocked the large wooden doors and admitted the returning monks.

The protocol of this exercise was very precise. A wooden rod, painted bright red lay partially buried about ten yards in front of the gates. All monks seeking admittance would walk up to this red line and stop, awaiting the challenges of the guards. Questions would be asked and answered and only then could the monks return to the confines of the compound.

Ozab was very nervous as he approached. He feared that one of his squad, Winky especially, would panic or forget the correct replies. He was uncertain how many brothers remained in the compound. He feared they could not complete their mission before the devotions ended and the main body of brothers returned to the monastery. There was much to be concerned about, but he was determined and had convinced himself that it was too late to turn back in any case. There was no undue concern on the part of the guards as Ozab and his beasts approached. He had trained them well, they appeared as any other foraging party or group of monks would, in fact, if anything, they seemed a bit too disciplined, but this went unnoticed by the guards.

Ozab stopped at the red line and awaited the catechism. His comrades stopped behind him, heads hung. Salto was first in line, then Ritter, Cat, Trey, Groggs, and bringing up the rear, Winky.

The ranking brother on watch approached Ozab, noting his rank. He gave the first challenge.
"Who goes there?"

"The brothers of the martyred holies." Ozab responded.

"And thou art?" the guard continued.

Ozab pulled back his cowl and replied.
"A lonely warrior for a new world."

The guard looked at Ozab with curiosity.
"You are a mongoose?"

Ozab paused, then answered with a hint of anger.
"Is this a new challenge? One that has been added since this morning? Do you have a problem with mongooses?"

The guard was taken aback. Azmeritus was a mongoose, his questioning might be taken as an insult to the High Priest.

"Of course not, Abbot... I...I just don't recall seeing you before," he sputtered.

"Do you make it a point to know all the brothers?" Ozab snapped, playing the part of injured party.

"No, abbot, I apologize. With all the new brothers arriving...I..."

Ozab interrupted.
"I do not care about your problems. My brethren and I are tired and anxious to change our raiments in the hope of attending devotions, do you intend to keep us out here all day? What is your name, brother?"

The guard lost all pretense of his position. He did not want this angry mongoose to know his name, for all he knew, this abbot could be a relative of the High Priest and that would not bode well. He composed himself and looked Ozab in the eye. He bowed at the waist.
"Please accept my apologies, Abbot. Since the new brothers began arriving it has been extremely hectic. I understand your desire to change and attend devotions. They have only just begun, if you hurry, it should be no problem. I will forgo challenging your flock."    

The guard motioned the brother nearest the gate who then knocked on the large wooden door. The entrance swung open and the guard motioned Ozab and his beasts forward.

"Xenophus bless you, abbot," he said as the mongoose led his comrades forward into the compound.

"And you," Ozab responded, his heart pounding like a timpani.

When the small group had safely past the four interior guards, they walked quickly up the street and ducked into an empty shed.

"Nicely done, Ozab," Ritter said.

"Yeah, you 'ad that stoat tremblin' in 'is boots," Salto agreed.

The mongoose chuckled.
"Paranoia is a useful tool."

Cat walked up to Winky, who seemed very upset.
"What's a matter, Winks?"

"I didn't get to say all that stuff I learned. I knew it good, too, now it's just takin' up space in me brain," he protested.

Groggs slapped his cousin on the back.
"Don't go worryin' about it Winks, you still gots plenty of empty space in yer brain," he said soothingly.

Salto chuckled and muttered under his breath.
"No doubt about that."

Zaphyr's thoughts were still preoccupied with the knowledge that Lord Egbert of Gleneden was a prisoner of the Brotherhood. An immovable smile had resided on his face since the revelation was revealed to him. As he walked through his quarters toward the kitchen to prepare a pot of snakebane tea, he actually found himself whistling, something he hadn't done since he was a child.

He surprised himself at the level of hatred he felt for the moles, of the shame he felt at his surrender to them. Now that was all in the past, their most beloved leader would be sacrificed to Xenophus. It was all so delightfully fitting and ironic. The smile grew. His revelry was cut short by a loud knock at his door. Slightly peeved at the interruption, he opened the door and huffily addressed the small group of monks at the threshold.

"I hope for your sakes, brothers, that there is a good reason for disturbing me."

The leader of the group replied.
"It's been a long time, Zaphyr," Ozab said calmly, pulling back his hood to reveal his features.

A look of shock crossed the acolytes face.
"Ozab! What is the meaning of this?" he snapped.

Ozab smiled.
"We re taking you on a trip, Zaphyr."

"You're doing nothing of the sort," he replied angrily. "Guards! Guar..."

His call of alarm was cut short by a sharp rap on the head by a belaying pin Winky had brought with him from the boat. The Chief Acolyte crumbled to the ground, senseless. Ozab looked down at him.

"So far, so good. Winky, Groggs...tie him up. I'm going to find some parchment and a quill in his quarters. The rest of you...," he became very serious, "go to that blockhouse there...," he pointed to the adjacent building, "it's the most likely place for them to keep prisoners. I have not been here during the time the Gleaners began kidnapping the natives, but that is where they would be likely to keep them. Ritter, use your skills as a lockpick and open the door. If there are any supplicants in this compound, we cannot leave them here."

"We're on it!" Ritter said, joining Salto, Trey, and Cat on their way across the courtyard.

Egbert and Bobo were walking through the room speaking to the dozen poor beasts incarcerated with them when the door swung open. Whether Egbert was more surprised to see Salto and his brothers or Salto was more surprised to see the large mole is debatable. Only Bobo seemed unshaken, rushing forward and shaking the rat's paw firmly.

"Nice of ya to come, about time really...was beginin' to think my luck wasn't holdin' out...I'm Bobo, or ya can call me Lucky...lucky by name, lucky by nature, that's me...and this..." he waved Egbert over, "is my pal Eggy."
Salto regained his composure and smiled.

"I know Eggy awright, Bobo, just kinda surprised to see 'im here."

"Not half as surproised as Oi am." Egbert said cheerfully. He turned to the nutria, "Oi'm starting to believe you....Lucky."

"Told ya," Bobo said simply.

Salto got to the point.
"We need to get out of here now. There's only a short time till these scarlet buggers get done with their devotions and come back from the fortress and we need to be well gone by then."

Trey, Cat, and Ritter were already ushering the other prisoners out of the cell. As Salto started to leave, Bobo tugged his arm.
"I know where they keep all the weapons they confiscated. They're in a room right next to us."

Egbert patted Salto on the back.
"He's roight, if we arm everyone, our chances are better."

Salto called to Ritter.
"Rit! Open up that door next to this room, will ya?"

"Sure thing," The ferret replied.

When the lock had been picked and door opened, Bobo rushed past the beasts at the door and ran inside. After a brief while he emerged wearing crossed bandolier belts, each holding five thin, short knives in holster-type sheaths. The nutria grinned broadly as he fingered the blades.
"Oh, my beauties," he muttered to his knives, "I've missed ya, my darlings."

Salto turned to Egbert and spoke softly.
"Not quite right, is he?"

"He's foine, Oi loike him," The mole said bluntly.

Salto nodded.
"If you trust 'im, so do I."

Ozab's group now numbered twenty beasts and men. Winky and Groggs carried the unconscious Zaphyr. Everyone stood in a circle around the mongoose in the empty courtyard. He held a rolled parchment in his paw and addressed the group.
"Around that corner...," he pointed ahead toward the main gate, "are four guards. They won't be expecting any trouble from behind them. Those of us dressed as monks will approach and subdue them. The rest of you stay out of sight till we're done. Winky, Groggs, hand that sleeping beauty to some of these fine beasts to carry and fall in line."

When that had been accomplished, Ozab set out with his six 'monks' behind him in the direction of the main gate. Before he had gone too far, he turned briefly and addressed Egbert.
"It's good to see you well, my friend." He continued his march.

The four monks on watch in the interior of the compound paid no undue notice to the line of brothers approaching them. When Ozab was right next to them, he gave a signal and the rescuers attacked. Three of the monks went down quickly, but the fourth pulled free and ran toward the main gate shouting.

"Escape! Escape! The prisoners are loose!"
Winky launched the belaying pin with force and accuracy, knocking the final guard sprawling. The four subdued brothers were quickly tied up. Ozab waved the remaining escapees forward to join them. He shook his head.

"The guards sounded the alarm. They'll be waiting for us when we open the gate."

"There's only four of 'em out there," Ritter commented.

"With bows and arrers," Groggs added, "I don't really wants to become a pincushion."

Bobo stepped forward.
"Leave it to me," He said confidently.

"Are you sure?" Egbert asked.

"That I am, now get your folks to the side so's they don't get poked by an arrow when I open the gate."

"Do what he says!" Egbert said urgently.

The small group moved to the side while Bobo unlocked the gate in preparation of opening it. He tugged on the large wooden door. It stuck in the ground, unmoving. He pulled harder, it moved slightly. He gave a final tug with all his strength and the door came suddenly loose, swinging freely inward and knocking Bobo off balance.

As the doors swung open, it revealed four archers, bows drawn. They released their shafts simultaneously. Bobo, still off balance, fell backward, landing on his rump. The arrows flew over his head, missing him by no more than an inch.

As the archers notched another arrow, the nutria moved like lightening. Crossing his arms across his bandoliers, he grasped a knife in each paw and swung his arms forward, releasing both knives at the same time. Immediately, he repeated the motion, throwing two more knives.

Egbert looked around the door in concern for his friend. Bobo sat smiling. In front of him the four monks lay moaning, pawing at the knives which protruded from their left shoulders.   Each had been struck in exactly the same spot. They were quickly disarmed and tied. Egbert helped the nutria up. He smiled.
"You really are the master of knives."

"And lucky, too," Salto said smiling.

When everyone had exited the compound, Ozab nailed the parchment to the wooden door.
"Time to go," he said simply. The escapees anxiously followed the mongoose across the plateau to safety as the bells signaling the end of devotions began to peal. They were well gone before their daring escape was discovered and the thankful tears of the freed prisoners flowed freely for many miles.