Tringle cut in, attempting to help her brother. “Actually there’s some puffins an’ guillemots, ordinary gulls, an’ a few kittiwakes, sah. Oh, there’s also that small thing, right out there, could that be a ship?”
Lord Asheye stood bolt upright, his head turning this way and that. “A ship…Where?”
Leaving the tea trolley, Mullein hurried to the broad window space. He peered hard, following the direction of Tringle’s paw as she explained.
“Over there, sah, away to the far west, comin’ from the north. I think it is a ship, eh, Furps?”
Her brother, who had the keenest sight of those in the forge room, climbed up onto the sill, taking hold of Major Mullein’s paw as he leaned out. Shading his brow with his free paw, Furps stared intently at the object. His shout echoed around the forge chamber. “It is! It’s a bally ship alright, sah, an’ it’s headin’ this bloomin’ way, straight t’the blinkin’ mountain, if’n y’flippin’ ask me!”
Major Mullein lifted him from the sill, with a stern note in his voice. “Less of the barrack room lingo young ’un, Badger Lord present, y’know!”
Furps held a paw to his mouth. “Oops, my ’pologies, sah!”
The ancient Badger Lord seized his walking staff, issuing orders urgently. “Major, gather all officers immediately, tell them to turn out the Long Patrol, full complement, well armed!”
Mullein saluted with his swagger stick. “Right y’are, Lord. I’ll have ’em linin’ the west shore in full fig, armed t’the eartips. Will ye be attendin’?”
Asheye nodded vigorously. “Send old Ecrea up, tell him to attend the lord’s wardrobe, I want to be dressed in full regalia. Oh, I’ll need to be bearing some kind of arms, a sword do you think?”
Tringle spoke out boldly, before the Major could answer. “Beg pardon, Lord, but a battleaxe might be better. It looks fearsome, but you can use it to feel your way, just like the staff you have to help you along.”
The haremaid winced as Asheye’s big paw descended thankfully on her shoulder. “Good idea, young ’un! You and your brother stay here. When I’m ready you can both walk me down to the shore.”
Major Mullein did an about turn in the doorway. He beckoned Tringle and Furps to him, whispering to them. “This is your first assignment as Scout Runners. Lord Asheye is under your protection. Guard him with your lives, your very lives, d’ye hear?”
Mullein turned and marched off, leaving behind him two young hares almost bursting with pride.
Drums thundered and bugles blared as Salamandastron roused itself to meet the newcomers.
The Eulalia dipped its prow to the heaving sea, bucking playfully as it rose, dropping to meet the next wave. Every scrap of sail canvas was taut as the breeze whistled through the rigging. Gorath the Flame stood in the bows with Salixa, watching the majestic mountain growing larger with every moment. Gorath wiped a big paw across his eyes. “Salamandastron, it’s like a dream. If only my old grandparents could have lived to see it.”
The slender badgermaid patted his shoulder. “They did their best for you, and you lived to see it for them. That would have made them happy.”
Orkwil trundled by holding the sword of Martin over his shoulder so that he would not trip. The young hedgehog swept off his floppy hat in an elaborate bow. “Good day, friends. The weather’s holdin’ fair I trust!”
Salixa smiled at him. “It is indeed, Captain, and how are you today pray tell?”
Reveling in his role as Shipsmaster, Orkwil replied. “Well, marm, exceedin’ well, as is all me gallant crew, ’ceptin’ ole Rangval, who swears he ain’t long for this world. Still y’know wot us saltwater beasts say,
He’s far better on land,
be it soil, rock or sand,
an’ quite good up a tree,
but he don’t like the sea!”
Rangval the Rogue was the only beast aboard to be seasick. The wretched squirrel lay on the afterdeck swathed in a mass of blankets.
Maudie brought him a beaker of fresh water. “Golly, you look like bloomin’ death, mate. Try a sip o’ this, ’tis only water, but it might help, wot!”
He pushed the beaker away with a plaintive groan. “Water, d’ye say, get it outta me sight, darlin’. Sure an’ wasn’t it water that’s got me this way? Water, goin’ up an’ down, back an’ for’ard, side t’side, rollin’ an’ sloppin’, an’ never stoppin’. Me ould body’ll be dead by the time we make land. No need t’dig me a grave, no, just toss me ould remains anywhere, up in a tree, or down on the grass. Sure, there’s not a beast that’ll notice me. Bein’ so green I’ll blend right in!”
Osbil was passing by, he shook his head sorrowfully. “It’s been a pleasure knowin’ ye, Rangval, me ole mate. Would ye like to do me a partin’ favour, seein’ as yore dyin’?”
The rogue squirrel managed a weak smile.
“Anythin’ fer you, me ould Guosim messmate, name it.”
Osbil replied promptly. “Those good daggers ye always carry, could ye let me have them now, just to save us all arguin’ over ’em when yore gone.”
Salixa arrived in the nick of time, she helped Maudie to restrain Rangval as he tried to hurl the blades at Osbil, ranting furiously.
“Arr, let me at the villain, I’ll give him me knives sure enough. One through his black heart, one through his fatpot belly an’ one more through his thievin’ paws!” He appealed piteously to the young badgermaid. “It ain’t bad enough, havin’ to die of the seasickness, miss, but that blaggard wants to rob me lovely daggers!”
Salixa took a small flask from her beltpurse. “Die of seasickness? Nonsense, a good swig of my medicine should put paid to that. Open your mouth!”
Rangval had a horror of medicines. Shaking his head vigorously, he clamped his mouth tight. Salixa passed the flask to Maudie. “Give our friend a good dose when he opens his mouth.” She pinched the squirrel’s nose, cutting off his air. He struggled wildly to resist, but in the end he had to open his mouth to breathe. Maudie acted swiftly, pouring almost half the flask into Rangval.
The rogue squirrel’s tail stood up like a flagpole. “Yooooaaaaarrrrgh! Ye murderers, ye’ve killed me!”
Amid the laughter he sprinted up the mast, where he sat quivering with rage as he glared down at them.
Gorath called from his place in the bows as they drew closer to shore. “Look, there’s almost tenscore hares in uniform waiting on the tideline for us. I take it they’re the famous Long Patrol, Miz Maudie?”
The haremaid began brushing her tunic down and generally trying to look presentable as she answered. “By Jove, there’s a sight t’do your jolly old heart good. They’ve turned the full complement out t’greet us. Stap me scut, there’s Major Mull, Corporal Thwurl, Biffy Bigelow, Lanky Lockben, Stinky Scarbuttle an’ Big Beau Sullagan. Colour Sarn’t O’Flugg an’ Colonel Cragglow. Oh look, there’s young thingummy an’ his sister wotsername, see who they’re escortin’, it’s Lord Asheye himself, wot! Halloooo, milord, ahoy!”
The ancient badger raised his battleaxe to the incoming vessel. Wild cheering broke out on the shoreline. Not to be outdone, the crew of Eulalia added to the din with their joyous shouts. As soon as it was possible, mooring lines were hurled to the vessel from the shore. Scores of willing paws hauled the ship to land. Osbil and his Guosim furled sail, slacking off all rigging. The prow nosed up through the shallows until the entire craft lay heeled onshore.
Maudie leapt down onto the beach, closely followed by Gorath and Salixa. The ranks of warrior hares parted as Lord Asheye and Major Mullein walked to meet them. The haremaid threw a smart salute.
“Hon. Maudie Mugsberry Thropple reportin’ back as ordered, sah! Mission accomplished, found Gorath the Flame, er, an’ one other, Salixa, very pretty maid. Hopin’ you approve. Sah!”
Major Mullein returned the salute. “Well done, Miss Thropple, you’re to be commended on an exemplary completion of a difficult assignment.”
The ancient Badger Lord confronted the two young badgers
. Reaching out, he found the badgermaid’s face, smiling as he ran his paw gently across her features. “Salixa, the slender willow tree. At times like this I would wish to have my sight for a moment. Truly I can tell you are as beautiful as your name implies. Salamandastron bids you welcome, young one, it is your home for as long as you wish it to be.”
Salixa placed her brow against the lord’s paw. “Thank you, sire, I will never leave this place as long as I can stand at Gorath’s side.”
Both the Badger Lord’s paws now found Gorath’s face. He stood silent as the blind one inspected his features thoroughly. Asheye nodded as if in confirmation. “So, you are Gorath the Flame, I have seen you in my dreams many times. Though now you stand before me I feel you are bigger than in the visions, taller. Truly you are marked deep by the flame, the forge of life branded you thus. Let me touch the weapon you call Tung.”
Gorath placed Asheye’s paw on the pitchfork, he familiarised himself with it from butt to tines. “A stout and honest implement, Gorath, it can be used either in combat, or to tend growing crops. Which do you prefer?”
The young badger thought for a moment. “I would sooner grow food from the land than dig graves for our enemies. But I can do both if need be, sire.”
Asheye gave him back the pitchfork. “Welcome to your mountain, Lord Gorath!”
The crimson westering sun cast long shadows on the three badgers. Gorath and Salixa took Asheye’s paws, allowing him to lead them into the mountain fortress of Salamandastron. Maudie borrowed Martin’s sword from Orkwil, it flashed scarlet in the last rays as the shores resounded to the mass roar of a single word…
“Eulaliaaaaaaaaaaa!”
Epilogue
“Extract from the writings of a badgermaid.”
Fourteen seasons is no great length of time to most elders, but to me it is the sum of my entire life so far. A few days ago I finished reading the Family Chronicle, which was written by my mother, Lady Salixa of Salamandastron. Maybe I have not lived through the adventures of my parents and their friends, but I have a lifetime ahead. So this morning I started to write my own Chronicle. Who knows, mayhaps I have inherited some writing skill from my mother.
However, with all the goings on around here, it is hard to concentrate. Did I tell you, tonight is the Great Midsummer Eve Feast. The shore in front of our mountain will be decked with lanterns, and garlanded with blossoms. It’s going to be a time for wonderful food, happy music and great entertainment. Then guess what? Tomorrow afternoon I will be boarding the good ship Eulalia, bound on a voyage to Redwall Abbey. Such excitement!
But let me tell you how all this came to be, back to my Chronicle. You must remember that being young, I rely on family and friends for certain information about events that occurred when I was a mere babe, or even farther back, before I was born. I have a few to thank for their time and patience in assisting me. My mother, Salixa, and my father, Gorath, Lord of Salamandastron. My Grand Uncle, General Mull; Aunt Maudie, the regimental Colonel Cook and Caterer; and rascally old Uncle Rangval, unofficial Scout in Charge to the Long Patrol. Also the various Guosim shrews, otters and Redwallers I have encountered when the Eulalia makes her annual voyage from the River Moss, which they tell me is not far from the Abbey.
Well, it seems that when Eulalia first came to our mountain, in the final days of that long-gone summer, there was widespread rejoicing. A feast, which lasted four days, took place. It was during the final evening of the celebrations, everybeast was seated around a fire on the shore, singing, feasting and enjoying those last warm days of the season. A young hedgehog, Orkwil Prink, made the remark that soon the falling leaves of autumn would be sticking to his headspikes. This seemed to affect Old Lord Asheye greatly, his jovial mood deserted him, and he sat there in a state of deep depression. Everybeast present thought the ancient badger had merely fallen asleep, because he was very old, and it was getting quite late. Not wishing to waken Lord Asheye, the Long Patrol hares stopped roaring out rowdy barrack room ditties. My father turned to my mother, who had not sung thus far. Knowing she possessed a sweet, gentle voice, he persuaded her to give a rendition of the little ballad she had performed for him that night beneath the stars on the plateau. Obligingly, she began singing.
“Let me wander here forever, through the glades
where once I played.
Long ago in carefree seasons, mid the noontide
sun and shade.
I will see again before me, all those smiling
friends I knew.
Gone alas to memory’s keeping, faithful comrades
good and true—”
She was interrupted by Lord Asheye, who rose up calling, “I know that song, Melutar composed it! How do you know it, lady, tell me, please?”
My mother was startled, but she answered readily. “Lord, I learned it from a good and wise old badger, but his name was not Melutar, they call him the Tabura.”
Asheye clutched my mother’s paws and wept. “Did you know this Tabura, does he still live?”
Gorath my father answered for her. “Aye, Lord, like you he is heavy with seasons, but he is alive and well at Redwall Abbey. Why do you ask?”
A hush fell over the assembly as Asheye began speaking. “Long ago in another life, there were two brothers, Melutar and Ferlon. They were like the sun and moon. Ferlon, the eldest, was big and strong, silver-coated, hot-tempered and wild. Melutar, the younger, was of medium size, dark-coated and placid. He was a dreamer, a seeker of knowledge, a writer of poems and songs. They were destined to walk different paths. Melutar stayed home, caring for their aged parents, and growing in wisdom. Ferlon followed the drums of war, his road took him to Salamandastron, and his savage reputation grew by the seasons. Vermin foebeast feared Ferlon, wherever he cast his wild gray eyes, death and destruction came like a roaring fire, leaving only ashes. That badger was me, I became known as Lord Asheye, the beast cursed by Bloodwrath. Melutar was my younger brother, I thought he had long gone to the land beyond the seasons. Something told me that soon I would be joining him.”
Asheye turned his face toward the recently promoted General Mullein, his constant companion. “Remember I told you of the voices that haunted my dreams? They said that never again would I be seen at Salamandastron, once the autumn leaves fall. Well, old friend, it looks like the shadow of fate has finally fallen upon me.”
Mullein nodded sadly. “Aye, sah, who can escape it?”
That was when my father said his piece. “When I was taken captive I thought many times that I would die never having seen Redwall, or Salamandastron. But I was mistaken, as I believe you are, Lord. There is a ship lying in the bay, it will take you to be united with your long-lost brother, whom you thought dead. When autumn leaves fall, you will be far from this mountain, bound for the Abbey of Redwall. I think that is what your voices were trying to tell you, sir. The fates are being kind to you!”
Mullein helped the ancient badger to stand upright. “Well, stap me, sah, I believe Lord Gorath’s right. I’ll jolly well wager your brother, the Tabowot’sisname, will be over the blinkin’ moon t’see ye, wot!”
Lord Asheye clasped his friend’s paw. “It would be a pleasure if you were to accompany me, Mull.”
The General saluted gallantly with his free paw. “Hah, t’would be an honour to travel at y’side, sah!”
I have heard that story many times from my father, he calls it the happy fate of Lord Asheye. My mother also related how Asheye, and Mullein, sailed away on the Eulalia, bound on a rosy dawn tide for Redwall, to meet again his brother, the Tabura.
I think this is a fitting start to my Chronicle. Redwall Abbey is a place of my dreams, many times I have pleaded to visit there. However, my father always said I was too young, until this season, my fourteenth. With the aid of Aunt Maudie, Rangval and my mother, he was finally persuaded. I am to spend four seasons at the Abbey. Can you imagine it, four whole seasons! Mother has given me to understand that I will spend time being educated by my two adopt
ed grandfathers, Asheye and the Tabura. Father says that education is the key to both happiness and wisdom, I am sure this is true.
But Auntie Maudie and Uncle Rangval told me there is lots of fun to be found at Redwall, and lots of new friends to be made. There’ll be feasting, singing, sporting, logboating with Guosim, ranging the streams with Barbowla and his otters…. And I’m actually sailing tomorrow atnoon, I’ll be lucky if I sleep a wink tonight!
I know I’m repeating myself, but Redwall really is the place of my dreams. They say that there is always a welcome there for those who are good of heart, and true to their friends. Who knows, perhaps we’ll meet there one sunny day?
Rowanbloom, daughter of Lady Salixa and Lord Gorath of Salamandastron
Brian Jacques, Eulalia!
(Series: # )
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