Chapter 7
"So, this place called, 'Fortress Blakkhart' is home to a family of wildcats and their armies of hordebeasts?" asked Martin. Raygo nodded his head.
"Yes sir, I am the only one who escaped and lived. The others who attempted to free themselves were met with s volley of arrows," the adolescent shrew replied. Adjusting his spectacles, Abbot Durral placed his paws in the habit sleeves of his and leaned back in his chair.
"Though, these wildcats have never laid eyes on Redwall, I fear we may have a war on our paws if they try and conquer Mossflower, they've already conquered the southeast shores, and I wouldn't be surprised if they tried their luck here," the Father of Redwall said sighing deeply. Martin then stood up, standing proud in front of sll of his ppers, elders, and betters.
"I'll go, I'll travel southeast and find this Fortress Blakkhart."
"Easier said than done, friend," Raygo replied, "you may have guts but the creatures of Fortress Blakkhart have hundreds and hundreds of vermin at their disposal. They have fortified walls, guards a top of the battlements guarding it all day and night, and the son of the old wildcat Emperor is a skillful and talented swordsbeast."
"Well so am I!" Martin exclaimed with a wide smile across his face. Abbot Durral stood up and yawned.
"Martin, if you must go, I am not going to stop you, but take heed, do not let your ego get the gest of you, take Raygo's advice and prepare yourself, you are one beast, not an army. I say, you two find out in which area of the southeast is Fortress Blakkhart, and see who else is willing to help you on your journey."
Martin nodded in agreement at what the Abbot said.
"I will do as you say, Father."
"Good, good, now it is getting late, off to bed. Goodnight all."
"Goodnight, Father Abbot," everybeast responded with. Martin walked out of Great Hall, and into his bed in the gatehouse cottage. Slipping on his nightgown, Martin sprawled on the mattress, snuggling deep in his blankets. As Martin dreamed he was in Great Hall, gazing upon the Tapestry of the original Martin. All of a sudden, the Martin on the Tapestry sprang to live and he jumped off of the wall he hung from. Clad in silver armor, and wielding a sword and shield, the original Warriormouse slowly walked up to Martin. Martin, son of Mattimeo and Tess took a few paces backwards, raising his paws in defense, but the old Martin smiled at the son of Mattimeo and spoke.
"Mouse who shares the same name, do not be afraid. I am here to tell you your journey to the southeast will not be easy, this is what you must do," Martin said. The original Warrior told the directions in a rhyme to Martin.
"Inside these redstone walls you seek,
Find your friend, the squirrel who,
Was born in the northland peaks,
Seek the hedgehog who'd rather stay,
Helping the Cellar Master brew ales all day,
Find the shrew who was recently freed,
Who must return to the fortress of dread and greed,
Travel south to seek out the shrews,
Who have know no such fear,
That know the streams quite clear,
Find three ousiders,
Who's friendship is forever and true,
No beast can separate it,
Not me or even you,
Travel east to find the toad scholar,
Who talks in an elegant accent and has beautiful manners,
But watch out for the vermin on the path,
They will bring you discomfort and wrath,
Once who've reached the shores,
There shall be the place who seeked,
Be sure to watch out for the old one, dressed in sleek."
Martin woke up, the morning summer sun shined through his window. He heard the abbey birds tweet their morning songs. Getting dressed, the Warrior of Redwall hurried along into Cavern Hole, where breakfsst was being served. The menu for the day was wheat pancakes, toast with raspberry preserve and buttercup spread, and tankards, beakers, chalices, and goblets of mint and herbal tea. Martin stood up and spoke.
"Everybeast, I had a dream, Martin spoke to me. He said I need to recruit three other creatures with me, a squirrel born from the northern mountains, a hedgehog who would rather stay here and help make ales, and a shrew who was recently freed. Hey, I know all three. The squirrel, Elkor is out in the orchard, the hedgehog, Hamlus is in here in Cavern Hole, as well as Raygo. I know this is a lot to ask but Martin needs us to travel straight south to rendezvous with a tribe of stream shrews, then locate a small group of 'outsiders,' though Martin didn't specify on who these outsiders were. Then were to meet a toad, who is apparently a scholar. Then travel straight east that is where Fortress Blakkhart is," Martin said. Hamlus the hedgehog stood up as well as Raygo. Martin lead the two outside. Hamlus was dressed in a brown habit, and Raygo was dressed in a forest green habit. Hamlus twiddled his thumb claws nervously as he shuffled out of Cavern Hole. Elkor saw Martin, Hamlus, and Raygo approach him, he was very burly squirrel dressed in a plaid kilt tunic, and wore two sashes, one around his waist, and the other around his shoulder. His weapon of choice was a double ended pike staff. The tall and very lean squirrel took a bow to the trio.
"Aye, Martin. 'Tis good ta be seein' ya, again the squirrel said in his gruff northlandish accent. Martin let put a chuckle.
"Elkor, you're always seeing me, anyways, Martin says he needed me to recruit on a quest to find Fortress Blakkhart, are you in?"
Brandishing his pike staff, the burly squirrel gritted his pearly whites and laughed out loud.
"Ohohohohoho! Can birds fly, can bees make 'oney, course I want ta join ye!"
"Good, I'll be right back," Martin stated. Running back inside to Great Hall, Martin took the sword from the mantle and tied the scabbard onto his belt. Then the Warriormouse ran down to the kitchens to pack four haversacks full of fruits, pasties, and other rations the four needed on their journey. He then grabbed four canteens and filled each one with the Abbey pond water. He passed each haversack to each beast. Martin smiled at the other three.
"Ready?" he asked. Elkor and Raygo replied with.
"Yes!"
But Hamlus stammered.
"No-not re-re-really."
Placing his muscular paw around the young hog's back, Elkor smiled at him disarmingly.
"Don't be 'fraid, me laddie. Ol' Elkor will be protectin' yer 'ide."
"Old? You're the same age as Martin."
"Aye, but it's just a figure o' speech. Now Martin let's be off."
"We will, but first we must bid the Abbey goodbye."
Running back inside, Martin fetched Mattimeo, Tess, Auma, Abbot Durral, and the rest. He gave his father a hug goodbye.
"Well dad, I don't know how long I'll be gone, but I promise to be safe, and to try and return unscathed."
"Please do, or your mum might kill ya."
Brandishing a rolling pin, Tess glared at her son, jokingly. To humor his parents, Martin gulped aloud.
"Well, I am off, goodbye, everyone."
"Goodbye, you four!"
"Hurr, boie noaw, whack a few 'e vermin fer me, would yas!"
"Be safe on your journey you four."
The Abbey guards opened the double door getes, and the four adventurers walked out, a single tear formed in Martin's eye, this was it. The adventure he'd been waiting for so long.
