Redwall: The Darkblade: chptr 6
#10 of series3
Mylechua Darkblade the otter had been put into a mini coma when he was struck by a flying rock. The Redwall Infirmary otteress ignored all warnings and brought the rogue into the infirmary, where she treated him and other things. Mylechua was out for a full week.
Aurora and her assistant, the mousemaid that attended to Kenya, stood over Mylechua. The mouse's expression was of worry.
"What if he wakes up and tries to kill us all, Aurora? What if he's awake right now and plotting to get us in our sleep? What if-"
"He's been asleep for a week now. I don't think he's going to wake up any time soon. By the looks of that bump on his head, he's been attacked for real this time. It's a wonder he's still alive."
"I would rather not see him alive."
"Well he is, and he are helping him whether he deserves it or not."
Suddenly the otter stirred on his cot.
"Mmf. Where am I?" he said attempting to sit up and holding his head.
"Kelsey, go get Skipper and Crea. Hurry!"
The mousemaid ran out of there faster than you could blink. Within seconds, both the otter chieftain and the badger mother were at the foot of Mylechua's bed with ropes and weapons.
All Mylechua could do was sit and look surprised. "Good morning. Could you be any chance tell me where I am?"
"You know very well where you are, Mylechua Darkblade." Crea growled.
"Oh you know me then? I apologize for being rude but I haven't the foggiest on who you lot are. Though I'd like to know." He said looking at Aurora.
The ottermaid turned the two around. "I think he really doesn't know who we are or where he is. He seems to know who he is though. My bet is that he has amnesia."
"I don't care what he has. He is the scum of the earth." Skipper didn't bother whispering.
"Uh, forgive me, but I'm right here. I can hear you."
They turned back around. "Yes. Can you tell me who you are?" Aurora asked.
"I'm Mylechua Darkblade."
"Good. Can you tell me how you know?"
"Well, since this bed I'm in has a cloak on it and the name in the cloak is Mylechua Darkblade, I figured that must be me. Unless one of you is that creature."
"I'll keep a close eye on his over the next few days. If I suspect foul play, you can have him."
Skipper and Crea both replied, "Agreed."
Meanwhile Melenko was planning another attack on Redwall...
"Well, me mates. Our last try at gaining entrance to that magnificent fortress would have gone off without a hitch if it wasn't for that bungling idiot of an otter, Mylechua Darkblade. The wall guards could have been taken care of a little better, but... They are expecting us to go back on our word right away now that Mylechua is with them, and I know he's with them. He's injured and those soft Redwallers can't resist taking in a helpless beast in need. This is what we'll do; we lay low for a while, a few weeks, gathering supplies, followers, ECT. Then we attack again when they think it's safe again. It's foolproof. So take five gents, we're gonna play the waiting game. Hahaha."
During that time of peace, most everyone in Redwall came to trust Mylechua again; he truly did have amnesia...
"It's been a week and a half, doc. Can't I get out of bed yet?" still all he could remember was his name.
"Don't call me Doc, my name is Aurora. And no you cannot. When I found you I didn't realize you had a broken leg too. Just stay still and obey my instructions."
"Okay, okay. You know, you're prettier when you're angry."
"Flattery will get you nowhere around here, sir. Sit up, time for lunch. Skipper had this made for you. Shrimp and Hotroot soup."
Even though he was an otter, Mylechua lived on his own his entire life, so he was not used to spicy foods like this. He took one sip and almost choked on all the hotness.
"What kind of an otter are you? Don't like spicy foods, huh." Aurora smiled in amusement as she chided him.
The rest of the day went by slowly for Mylechua, and the next morning he awoke early. Everybeast was yet asleep, so he got the idea to sneak down to the yard and see if the bow on the wall was his, it had his name, but he wasn't sure if he could shoot.
Shooting at thin tree, Mylechua found that he was a good shot, even though he had to lean on a stick for a crutch. He had gotten off the last arrow of the quiver when Aurora noticed he was not in bed and spotted him down in the yard.
"What do you think you're doing?" she called when she got outside.
"I was just seein' if I knew how to shoot. You know I might come in handy if there was ever a fight with somebeast."
"There was once, Melenko attacked us while-" not wanting to bring back suppressed memories, she dropped the subject, "never mind. Get inside and back up to bed. And if I catch you out here again before you're better, I'll cut that leg off. Then what'll you do?"
"Melenko. Now why does that name sound familiar?" he thought for a moment, "Oh well, I'll remember it sometime. Hopefully along with everything else."
Aurora cursed herself under her breath for slipping, "Hopefully you'll never remember."
After that morning, everything went back to being peaceful and slow.