Fort Arnad
The air was cold and clear as dawn broke over Fort Arnad. The gentle waves of the Eastern Ocean lapped quietly on the shore as birds from the forest to the west began to sing. Sighing, Tagg Wavedeep closed his eyes as he felt the sun's first rays on his face. Sunflash was a muscular, young otter. Tagg had the most vibrant blue eyes. Tagg was an orphan; he was adopted by Captain Warnell Wavedeep when he first arrived at Arnad with his nearly dead mother seasons ago at the end of autumn. Opening his eyes Tagg looked out to the ocean, it was a beautiful blue and the sky above was tinged pink and purple. All was calm and peaceful until…Bong! Bong! Bong!
The bell ringer Rustle Redoak decided it was time to ring the bell to tell all the other otters and squirrels living in the fort that dawn had arrived. Tagg rested his arms on the bluish slate parapet and waited for someone to relieve him from sentry duty. His arms were sore from holding up his large wooden buckler and spear for three hours. He spun around quickly on the stone ramparts when someone tapped him on the shoulder. It was his sentry replacement Garron Longstone.
"Hey mate, I'm here to take your sentry duty," said Garron. "Go get some breakfast, there's blueberry pancakes and strawberry cordial!"
Tagg smiled and thanked Garron before he ran across the wall and down the stairs where he nearly crashed into Drill Sergeant Armanzi. Speedily dodging past him Tagg sped across the training fields and into the main building. He set his wooden shield and iron spear against the wall and turned left into the mess hall. He took his place at the end of serving line right after Jennil Pinebrush. Jennil was a beautiful squirrel with light brown fur and hazel eyes.
"Good mornin' Jen. How's it goin' on the west side?" asked Tagg.
"Not a sign of vermin for a few miles out. Did ya hear? The Dirnaith are taking new recruits! I really want to be chosen." replied Jennil.
"Wow, I hope I really want be recruited. Maybe we should compete in the Skills Exhibition? They might have recruiters there."
By this time the otter and squirrel had reached the food and the intoxicating smells of blueberry pancakes, lemon cranberry muffins and hot maple syrup reached their noses. Jennil and Tagg each took 2 blueberry pancakes and covered them with syrup. Jennil commented on how the food was cooked as she usually did. There was nothing the squirrel loved more than cooking, except possibly beating a vermin into the dust. At the end of the serving counter there were 3 large barrels and a kettle of water for tea. Tagg filled a beaker with strawberry cordial and Jennil took a teacup of cold mint cordial. Then taking their plates they went to a table where their friends Rustle Redoak, Sprig Streamspray and Jay Oceanwind.
"Hey Tagg, hey Jennil. They are posting the new recruits tomorrow at breakfast." said Jay, "I heard that the new recruits have Drill Sergeant Fleetpaw."
"That sucks. Tagg and I are going to compete in the Exhibition because there might be scouts there. I really want to be recruited although I wish we could get Drill Sergeant Rushflat." replied Jennil.
Sprig mumbled through a mouthful of muffin, "Aye, that'd be a blast. Well I think if it means a better chance at getting recruited then all of us will compete in the ex."
"I don't know if I want to be recruited." said Jay quietly.
"Why not?" asked Tagg and the squirrels. Almost all the adolescents of Fort Arnad wanted a place in the Dirnaith, Fort Arnad's grand army. All five of the companions were training to become a member. Oddly enough, Sprig didn't seem surprised, Tagg guessed it was because Jay had already told her. The two spent all their time together and recently they had been going off.
"Well, I was thinking that I might go into sailing instead." replied Jay meekly, "I just prefer the open sea to being in an army for the rest of my life."
His only reply came from Rustle who had been busy reading a book on bows, "You know you could join the ocean faction of the army. They spend most of their time sailing up and down the coast heading off raiders and corsairs. The group finished their breakfast as they talked more about the upcoming exhibition. When they had finished eating they put their dishes in the washing bucket and headed to their Historical War Strategies class. After classes they had lunch in the orchard. Usually after lunch they would have combat classes, but they had been cancelled because of the exhibition. So the friends went to sign up for the exhibition. Out of them all Tagg was the first to fight. He was fighting Jarred Janglefist in the 4th match. Jarred was a large brawny otter, he bullied all the weaker creatures in Fort Arnad. Tagg and his friends went to sit in the stands that had been put around the main combat ring. The first fight was between Rangle and Fred the two squirrel twins. They each chose their weapons, Rangle chose a mace and Fred took a long metal lance. Then they donned their armour and entered the ring. They gave a warriors salute to each other, they saluted the four judges, they saluted the watchers and finally they saluted each other again. The head judge called for the match to begin and the twins began circling each other. Fred struck first by stabbing out with his lance. Rangle sidestepped the thrust and countered by charging in and smashing downward with his mace. Fred dodged out of the way and swung his lance. The lance hit Rangle in the side and he went down hard. He then rolled to the side narrowly avoiding another hit from Fred. Rangle struggled to stand but was knocked down again by a sound thwack from Fred's lance. With a groan he called stop. The head judge called for the match to halt and declared Fred the winner. The five friends watched the following two battles in awe and fascination wondering if they would be able to win even their first fight. Then it was Tagg's turn, nervously he made his way to the armour tent. Once in the tent Lance Corporal Davin handed him a mail shirt and greaves. Tagg strapped on the greaves and pulled of his belt. Then putting the mail shirt over his red tunic he put his belt back on. Finally he donned a cloth cap and a mail coif. Taking a helmet he exited the tent passing Jarred on his way. Tagg looked over the weapons set out for the match. Turning to the squirrel that stood by the weapons he asked, "Do you have any great swords?"
"I don't have any here, but there is a few of them in the main armory. I didn't bring any out because I didn't think any of the competitors would have the strength or skill to wield one. But I'll go get one for you if you think you can handle it." replied the squirrel in a thick, deep voice. Then he ambled off in the direction of the armory.
Jarred had just exited the tent, he laughed, "I bet that old fogey wouldn't give you a weapon. That's a good thing you probably would have killed yourself with it." Then Jarred picked up a double-bladed battle axe and entered the ring. After a few minutes the squirrel came back and handed a heavy but balanced sword. He handed it to Tagg with a smile and a nod. Tagg took the sword and entered the fighting ring. He did his mandatory 3 salutes and then saluted Jarred again out of respect, Jarred saluted only 3 times. Jarred looked at Tagg and sneered as he readied his weapon. Tagg tried to ignore the sneer but he was fuming inside from what Jarred had said earlier and everything else about him. As he tried to calm himself Tagg prepared himself by standing in the Warrior Ready stance with his dominant right foot back and his sword held in the parry position for his dominant side. The hilt of the sword was at his waist and his right shoulder was rolled back slightly. The Warrior Ready stance could let him go into the offensive or defensive easily.
"Fighters at the ready!" yelled the referee Drill Seargent Rushflat and small wiry otter, "BEGIN!"
The two otters stood facing each other for a few seconds before Jarred came rushing forward and yelling, "Yarrrrrggghhhhhhhhhh!"
Jarred swung his axe down horizontally for Taggs' head, Tagg quickly ducked and rolled under Jarreds' legs. He then swung his sword at Jarreds' torso, Jarred parried with a clang and countered with a downward slash. The axe slammed into Taggs' shoulder and he fell to the ground. It looked like Tagg was injured to badly to continue but suddenly his eyes turned bloody red and he swung his sword with amazing force and speed hitting Jarreds' knees, and then he got up and slammed his blade down on his head. Now Jarred was on the ground but he rolled out of the way and charged Tagg swinging his axe back and forth before slamming into Tagg's side. This time Tagg countered by stabbing at Jarreds' chest with his sword, Jarred was hit and the referee called, "Halt! Three hits on Jarred, the winner is Tagg Wavedeep!"
The watchers cheered, they were all yelling and screaming because the bully had been defeated. Tagg smiled and staggered out of the ring as his eyes returned to their regular shining blue. Once outside of the ring he slowly made his way to a tent where two healers were tending to the competitors who were injured. Tagg entered the tent and sat down on a nearby oak chair. An old, silver-haired otter carrying a medicine satchel approached Tagg. She smiled at him and said, "Here let me bandage your wounds."
The others also won their fights. Rustle dodged all his opponents blows and let him tire before hitting him in the chest with three blunt arrows. Jay accidentally knocked out his opponent when he prepared to swing his axe. Jennil won through pure skill with her saber and Sprig just took her opponents hits before hitting them hard with her warhammer. For her build Sprig was amazingly strong. The rest of the afternoon past as the young creatures participated in the Exhibition, the first round of the competition was over just a few minutes before the bells resounded telling all the creatures of Arnad that it was time for the inhabitants to dine. The five companions headed into the main building. They sat down at their usual round, wooden table. Tagg smiled and asked what everyone would like to drink; he went to the far corner and took 5 iron flagons. He filled three with strawberry cordial, one with cold mint and comfrey tea and the last with dandelion fizz. When he came back to the table with the beverages he discovered that Rustle and Jay had already went to get the food.
"So what vittles have the cooks grilled up today?" he said as he sat down beside Sprig. "I'm starvin'! The fights really tired me out!"
"And you think we're still full of energy? Try having to wield one of your scimitars with your rudder! I'm in need of a great big bowl of steaming hotroot soup!"
"Don't worry mate, there'll be plenty of soup for all!" said Jay joyously. He was carrying a tray with three large bowls of what otters called shrimp and hotroot soup. It was made with shrimp, bulrushes and other water vegetation; when the shrimp were nearly cooked some spicy hotroot pepper was put in. The quantity was up to the chef but otters loved it nice and spicy.
"Nothing 'otter for an otter!" Tagg, Sprig and Jay chorused.
That same night Redwall was holding Abbot Reiron's Jubilee Feast. Creatures from all across Mossflower came to Redwall that night, the feast was held in the abbey orchard. Wooden tables were set in a circle midst the blooming trees. The Redwallers were all bustling about, servers were bringing food from the kitchen, drinks were being brought of from the cellars, and more tables were being set up. Redwall's gates were open and many woodland creatures were joining the festivities. Dali, Redwall's badger mother was taking the abbey babes to the pond to wash up. The babes, called Dibbuns, didn't want to go wash up and they kept on running away over the lawn. It didn't take long for them to be scooped up by one beast or another and brought back to the pond. Dali, who was on her knees by the pond scrubbing Dibbuns couldn't get up fast enough to catch them. One particularly chaotic squirrel dressed in a clean blue tunic ran off for the 6th or 7th time, he nearly made it out the abbey gate, but was caught at the last minute by a brawny otter. The heavily muscled otter was wearing a plain green tunic with a beautifully woven belt over it. Tied to the belt was a sling and a pouch full of pebbles, and he was carrying a double pointed javelin across his back. The otter grabbed the Dibbun and threw him up in the air. The Dibbun was caught easily by another strong otter, this one was younger and female, the otter carried him over to Dali. "Hi Dali, it looks like little Rumree trying to go vermin hunting in the wood again."
"That sounds about right, Azura. This little scamp has been trying to get outside all day. I think he wanted to find your father. Would you help me with the rest of these Dibbuns?" the huge badger replied as she grabbed yet another runaway Dibbun.
"Rumree was trying to find Skipper? Why would he do that?" Azura was now down on her knees beside Dali, she grabbed a sponge and some soap and started scrubbing Dibbuns.
"Little Rumree fancies himself a sailor. And who's a better sailor then Skip? But even though Rumree the river squirrel wants your dad to build him a miniature boat he still refuses to get a bath. Well looks like everyone is cleaned up, lets take them over to the table."
The strong badger stood up with a groan, the Dibbuns all grouped around her some of them clung onto her green linen dress. Azura stood behind the group making sure none of the rascals ran off. In that formation they slowly made their way to the circle of tables. Dali and Azura sat all the Dibbuns around two large wooden tables, with them sat babes from the families that came from Mossflower Woods. Dali led Azura to seat with a few other beasts her age, then Dali went to the head table and took her place in the huge wooden chair that had been brought out from Great Hall. Beside her was a smaller but still beautifully carved Abbot's chair. Abbot Reiron, dressed in a clean brown habit with a woven white girdle tied around his waist approached. He took his place at the head of the table, he took a small bell that was placed on the table in front of his chair. When the abbot rang the bell it made a clear ring. Ding a ling.
"Redwallers, woodlanders please take a seat at a table. The food will be brought out soon-" began the Abbot before he was interrupted by Redwall's resident hair Jasper Swiftpaw.
"Mmmmm, bring out the jolly tucker ol' chap. Finish the speech and bring out the grub! Wot, wot!"
Reiran continued before he could be interrupted again, "As I was saying, The food will be brought out soon. But first will young Jovan bless us by saying grace."
"Of course I will Father Abbot," said a smiling young squirrel
Mice, otters, squirrels, moles,
Hedgehogs, hares, badgers, voles,
You come here to fill your plates,
Through forests and our Abbey gates,
Join us now, to share some food,
Stories, plays and drinks we brewed.
Everyone applauded the young squirrel's inventive grace. Blushing Jovan straightened his girdle and sat down beside Azura who complimented him, the compliment made Jovan blush even more. After the creatures stopped clapping they began filling plates, bowls, beakers, mugs, tankards and flagons. There was no particular order to eating Redwall fare, some Dibbuns started with large bowls of trifle with lots of meadow cream and berries while Skipper's otter crew filled large wooden bowls with shrimp and hotroot soup. Everyone shared the delicious fare making sure the woodlanders tried every type of food. The tables were creaking under the weight of the delicious spread; there was many types of bread and farls. There were 10 different cheeses ranging from small yellow cheese to big white ones with spices and nuts inside. There was salads, soups, turnovers, pasties, flans, trifles, cakes, pies, tarts and more. To one side of tables a group of trestles were set up and on them were barrels of ale, cordial, fizz and wine. There was lots of entertainment, there was plenty of music and many stories were told, Skipper and his otter crew preformed an acrobatic act with the squirrels, the family of hedgehogs called the Rundyspikes had a spike tussling tournament with all the other hedgehogs. Spike tussling is when to hedgehogs lock head spikes and try to throw the other off the ground. The tournament was very funny as some hedgehogs Dibbuns decided they could take on the champion Stumphead Rundyspike themselves. The Dibbuns attached their small head spikes to his head and tried to flip him. Their efforts only caused Stumphead to swing his head a bit, but when his head moved Stump's main head spike knocked into a nearby barrel of Strawberry Fizz causing its contents to spill out over the Dibbuns sitting under it.