Prologue:
From the diary of Brother Sain, historian and recorder of Redwall Abbey in Mossflower Country.
A lazy day for everyone it was, even troublesome dibbuns didn't have to do anything for punishment. Otters swam in the lake, dibbuns ran around being chased by the Brothers and Sisters who watched over them, Abbot Alexander sat with our Champion Tom watching the crazed seen of dibbuns being chased. Only one person was busy that day and that was Friar John who was bustling about in the kitchen, as always, preparing for the next meal. But little did anyone, this day know that the great mountain of fire, Salamandastron, was falling into the hands of a band of searats lead by Damuggon. That the Great Badger Radion the Mace was running with 10 score hare known as The Long Patrol, was heading towards their Redwall Abbey at the very moment.
-Brother Sain (Historian and Recorder of Redwall Abbey)
Chapter 1
Radion had walked down the mountainside of Salamandastron for a simple walk, and then became very worried of the ships he saw at sea off the coast. He, Radion the Mace, head of Long Patrol and a badger shouldn't have been afraid of a band of searats but he had known what bands of searats could do to Salamandastron, by ways of his ancestors. The ships could surely see his mountain, judging by the distance from shore they were at, and Radion prayed that a mountain was all that they knew.
As he started walking back up the mountain one of his hares, Colonel Chester who was a descendant of Basil Stag Hare. Chester was sprinting down the mountainside towards him, no doubt to tell him of the ships.
"Radion, sir my men and I have seen white sails in the distance. We think that they might be yet another band of searats," Chester said breathlessly.
"I have seen them and was coming up the mountain to, incase that they are searats, help out in anyway that I can to keep our lives a secret."
"Sir we have started seeing the younger hares to weapons and armour for you."
"Good. Now back up the mountain"
"Sir," Chester saluted and then went bounding back up the mountainside.
As Radion started back up the mountainside he shot one, last, worrying look towards the four white sails off in the distance. After he reached the top of the mountain he went into the lower levels of the mountains which were nothing but forges. As he reached his forge he picked up a hammer and heated a slab of steel until it was red hot and he started forging a broadsword. Not a normal broadsword a broadsword to rival the Sword of Martin the Warrior.
What a terrible day today is, thought Abbot Alexander as rain pounded against the windows of Redwall Abbey. Dibbuns were going crazy, must be giving the Sisters and Brothers a workout. But the thing that worried him most was that the first records of Redwall were missing only himself and Recorder, Brother Sain, knew about it.
Suddenly hearing a dibbuns voice shout, "Farvver h'Abbot" he looked up and saw Monty the molebabe running towards him with the rest of the dibbuns and Sister Granger behind them.
He bent down and asked, "Monty what is it?"
Monty got up on to his toes and told the Abbot what it was. "My lickle friends and oi have had a idea. We should 'ave a feast tonight"
"Why not?" said Alexander as he rose up, "Sister Granger go to everyone and tell them to start their preparations for a feast! As for the young dibbuns you shall go help Friar John in the kitchens tell him that I will be there in a few minutes."
As Sister Granger hurried off and the dibbuns ran to the kitchens the Abbot walked over to the Tapestry of Martin the Warrior to where their champion was standing and he asked, "Tom, will you help me in the kitchens with the dibbuns and Friar John?" he said it fully expecting a mere nod. But instead Tom said, "Yes, Father Abbot"
Abbot Alexander was taken aback at Tom speaking everyone knew that he didn't speak much if ever because he had been in The Great Mossflower War and ever since then had been protector of their beloved abbey. Since he was talking Father Abbot took advantage of it and had a nice long conversation on their way down to the kitchens. As they arrived Friar John was busier than usual and had a nice large fish cooking, scones in the oven, and had a deeper 'n' ever turnip 'n' tater 'n' mushroom pie and a large cake in the ovens. As they were preparing for a feast that night they had no idea of the looming threat that was approaching Salamandastron.