Epilogue
The extracts from the recordings of Marrik Bankvole, Recorder and Gatehouse Keeper of Redwall Abbey.
Ah! What a day! If only I wasn't Recorder. Then I could go out and have fun with all my friends…though what good is that when you're not a babe anymore?
It's been five seasons since Rugval Sarrico the Renegade came to Mossflower woods. It was a terrifying ordeal to be stuck at a campsite, listening to the sounds of war as my older friends fought against the slavers, the Flitcheye, the foxes, and against Sarrico himself. I'm glad it's all over.
Stormpaw came to live at Redwall, much to everyone's surprise. Everyone was glad to have her stay permanently, especially Runn. So that brings me to another topic that Mrs. Rimrose Swifteye could never write due to her lack of doing her duties (she had been a very old squirrel)—Runn and Stormpaw got married when we returned to Redwall and had twins. They're named Iceblade and Ralar, after the two who died fighting. It's sad, dying. But that's what happens. Nobeast can stop it.
But things are happy here at Redwall. I have become Recorder, as you can see. Verleaf has become Abbot. He's a wise Abbot and a very good cook, too. Kippit…poor Kipp. Ever since his brother died, he's changed. He was the one who led our little force back to Redwall, little as he was. Waving the sword of Martin the Warrior high in the air, he kept everybeast going. So I guess you can tell he's the Redwall Champion and acts just like his brother had only five seasons before.
Pinidap has been reunited with his father. Lieutenant Tammello, Painttail, Sister Rayna, Earlop, Lin, Pawpike, and Filian had a glorious family reunion. Now the new cook, Friar Tibbin, has his paws full with a whole hare family.
The south wall has been fixed, and due to its seemingly constant toppling, we had it reinforced with some "secret" mole equipment. Foremole says that it won't topple—or even threaten to topple—anymore.
We are all growing old. The elders die, the adults grow old, and the young ones grow big and strong. Even I feel old, even though I'm still somewhat of an adult. I keep getting a pain in my right footpaw whenever a storm's about to come upon us. Kipp jokes and says that's proof I'm old. He's always the joker, though, even if he's the responsible squirrel that brought us home five seasons ago.
Where was I? Oh yes, growing old. But I cannot afford to ramble, for it is Abbot Verleaf's Jubilee feast today. I hope Father Abbot cooks one of his specialties. Stormpaw would help him. Hah, then there'd be hotroot soup loaded with enough hotroot pepper to set your mouth on fire. Only otters can handle that stuff. I'm perfectly fine with a summer salad.
We've gotten a new Badger Mother too. Mother Rose; that's her name. Yes, it's the same old little Rose that Rugval had kidnapped, along with the rest of us.
Flint and Vulpes, who were the only good foxes, it seemed, had befriended us and now live inside the Abbey. They have a son, Shadow, and two daughters, Mist and Aura. It's quite nice to have two non-vermin foxes amongst us. It's a change, yes, and a very good one. Flint and Vulpes know vermin like the back of their paws, and they are very knowledgable.
Rukka now lives with the other sparrows in Warbeak's Loft. He's a conspicuous one in there, yes, but he doesn't mind. He still goes out and delivers messages when we need it.
Oh no. My right footpaw is hurting now. A storm will come, I just know it.
Recorder Marrik yelped in pain as he looked down at his footpaw. It was only a splinter. Tugging on the splinter to pull it out, he continued writing.
Never mind about the storm and the pain in my footpaw. It's only a splinter, but it hurts like crazy. Ah well. That's what I get for rubbing my paw against the wooden floor like that.
Oh dear, I can hear Sister Anna calling me. She says I need to get my furry backside off this chair and hurry outside before I starve anyone at the feast. I guess I lost track of time. It must be noon already. I must go now.
Marrik Bankvole (Recorder and
Gatehouse Keeper of Redwall
Abbey in Mossflower)
