RAVENBLADE: PROLOGUE
Around a crackling fire in the tiny cave, deep in Mossflower, a strange scene was revealed.
The big dog fox was scarred and lean, a brass hoop in his ear revealing his corsair origin. His fur was gray, he was clad in a simple tunic, and his cunning eyes were undulled by his age.
Yet, seated near the merry blaze, with his equally old vixen mate, three young fox cubs staring intently at him with bright eyes, he did not seem like a normal vermin.
Derlan, one of the cubs, squeaked, "Daddy Rellback, ye said ye wuz gonna tell uz the story!"
Rellback, for that was his name, yawned and stretched. "Aye, me liddle buckoes, indeedy I'm gonna tell ye me story, but only if ye sits still n' quiet, like babes in the Abbey yonder." He pointed in the direction of Redwall.
Kerrim, the oldest cub, piped in her high reedy voice, "Heeheehee! T 'e Dibbn's are even worsers ten us sometimes, Daddy!"
The youngest cub Rine spoke up as well. "T'ey runs around and plays t'icks alla time!"
"Not when an elder tells tales, they don't."
Denveer, the vixen, smiled and elbowed him in the side. "Eh, stop th' gab, cubs, settle ye down. Rellback, ye promised."
'Aye aye, cap'ness!" joked Rellback. "Kay, 'kay! Listen ye well naow, me cubs…"
And strange as it was, the happy little family of foxes settled down to listen, as Rellback the former corsair began to unfold the tale from his younger days.
The tale of the Dragons.
