The Young and The Old

Young Daleria looked at the setting sun cresting the fire mountain Salamandastron. She was a young hare, sent to train and join Lady Consellariel's Long Patrol. Daleria sat atop a sand dune unsure of entering the majestic mountain, unsure of what was to come. She packed up her things into her haversack and set off towards Salamandastron at a fast dogtrot.

*****

Inside the forge room of Salamandastron was Lady Consellariel, a strong leader but kind hearted and helpful to any new recruit. She listened to the lookout's report.

'A young hare approaching?'

'Yes marm, she should arrive by about two hours after dawn.'

'Good work. Send in Colonel Galde will you?'

'Yes marm.'

The scout left the forge, shutting the massive wooden door silently. Consellariel moved over to a ledge seat near the window and sat down. She watched a small figure moving closer in the dwindling light of the day and smiled inwardly. Consellariel had received a letter from Abbess Jemerian early that season, she remembered part of the letter clearly.

'Dear Lady Consellariel of Salamandastron,
Redwall Abbey has a new arrival, a young hare by the name of Daleria. She came to our Abbey, alone and lost. She was heading towards Salamandastron, towards her life ambition of joining the famed Long Patrol. She rested with us for about a week, and has set off to your mountain. Please do look after her well. She is an honest and hardworking creature, and I can see the light of battle burning in her eyes. I hope that she will be a valuable addition to your Long Patrol,
Yours truly,
Abbess Jemerian'

Yes, she would personally train this young one, Consellariel thought inwardly. That young hare was something others were not. Daleria... Daleria... She was special. She was different.

*****

Vaxial! Vaxial! None on neither land nor sea was more brutal, merciless and heartless as Vaxial! None knew who or what this strange but powerful creature was, but he commanded a great horde. Vaxial! He lived in the shadows, flitting in and out of light and dark. Yet he knew every thing going on around him, and he dealt with it with an iron fist of power. His great horde of a thousand slew and plundered wherever they went. They wreaked villages and destroyed many areas. Yet they were organised and totally obedient to their master. Vaxial! He would get that Arielad... and nothing was going to stop him.

*****

Colonel Galde entered the large candle illuminated forge. Saluting the badger lady, he spoke.

'You asked for me, m'lady?'

'Yes, Colonel. You and I alone know who she is.'

'What? Who is who, marm?'

'She. The young hare Daleria.'

The Colonel looked at Consellariel, his face straight, but his mind flying with thoughts about Daleria. Not her! It couldn't be!

'I know what you are thinking Colonel. Surely this must be a story, or a coincidence. Well Colonel, it is not. The inscriptions in stone prove it.

The young one with fire in her eyes,
the vision of tomorrow.
The destined one to destroy the vermin,
Vaxial the destroyer.
The young of the Good must prevail,
over the old of the Bad.
Airelad! Airelad! Airelad!
The blood of my flows in her veins,
beyond what she can be.
In battle for honour and good will she see,
the light that she carries for all that she will lead.
Airelad! Airelad! Airelad!
Forever in the stones of Salamandastron,
the leader of the waiting,
the one has arrived...
'

'M'lady... what shall we do?'

'There is nothing we can do Colonel. All we can do is train her well. She will have to find what she needs to go on inside of herself. As long as she does, Daleria is unstoppable.'

*****

As Daleria finally reached the mountain as the dawn peeked out over the horizon, she sighted a group of hares outside its entrance. A tall and militaristic looking hare came up to her.

'Welcome to Salamandastron. We have been expecting you. My name is Captain Joseph Rinelly Gerina. Pray tell me, what is yours?'

Daleria answered, feeling quite sure of herself now

'Daleria sah!'

'I see. Come along, I'll show you to Lady Consellariel.'

Daleria was led into the mountain. Hares of every age were around her. She was led through winding corridors carved into the stone, upwards toward the forge room.

Captain Joseph pushed the wooden door open, saluted smartly and said,

'New arrival marm! Daleria is the name she goes by.'

Consellariel eyed Daleria, who look very tense, yet confident all the same, up and down.

'Very well captain, dismissed.'

Joseph saluted again then wheeled around and left.

Consellariel smiled and turned towards Daleria.

'Welcome to Salamandastron. So you are Daleria. Why do you come?'

Daleria's tense face melted away for a while, relieved at the badger lady's smile, but only for a moment. It hardened like stone and her voice turned grim and was filled with a burning hatred like none Consellariel had heard before.

'To train and join the Long Patrol, marm. My family was slain by the vermin scum named Vaxial, who I have sworn to destroy!'

Consellariel was touched by the young hare's horrible past.

'Oh... You own no weapon?'

'None marm. A mere simple sling, my weapons were taken by Vaxial and his horde.'

'All right. I shall see that you begin personal training with my Colonel, Galde, soon. Meanwhile, go to the wall and choose a weapon. Choose wisely. It may last you a lifetime.'

Not rushing at all, Daleria walked towards the selection of armoury. Knowing that she was in her own element, she took her time in selecting a good blade. Running her eyes through the many perilous blades there were, she rested her paw on a long sabre. Picking it up along with its sheath, Daleria flicked it around like an expert, twirling it and slashing at the air, testing its superb balance.

'You know a lot about blades and how to use them?' Consellariel questioned.

'I was brought up using them. My family was constantly under attack by vermin, but Vaxial proved too much for us to handle. I was fortunate to escape with my life.'

'So you are. Let's see how good you really are then.'

Consellariel took up a sabre herself and engaged in soundless swordplay with Daleria. Both were experience in swordplay, neither calling out tips or hints to the other and steel clashed against steel.

Daleria had a tense look written on her face, yet her movements were controlled and smooth, slow yet managing to counter every stroke given by Consellariel and delivering more back. Finally, with that of a experienced fighter, Daleria, if even lazily, disarmed Consellariel with a quick fleeting flick of her paw. Consellariel's sabre flew through the air, whirling around. Daleria's paw shot out into the flying blur of steel and withdrew the sabre calmly with out even scratching herself and handed it back to Consellariel, who had a look of disbelief written on her face.

'Well young one, I have never seen any creature play with a sabre like you did, and I have never seen any creature disarm me!'

Shuffling modestly on her footpaws, Daleria replied,

'It was quite easy... I never found swordplay hard.'

'All right... Well go down to Colonel Galde, he'll assign you a dormitory bed, then you can go to the mess hall for lunch.'

*****

'Yes, yes... Salamandastron will fall under my power after I get that Arielad! None will defeat Vaxial! None! Gall! Listen to me!'

A sly looking water rat came into view in the dimly lit cave chamber. The cave had shadows all around, lighted only by a few candles. The water rat swallowed, knowing that Vaxial with his dagger could be anywhere, flitting around the small cave chamber, hiding in the shadows, watching his every move.

'Yes master?'

'I want you to take 30 of my best trackers out and scout around the mountain. Find all entrances, openings or any kind of escape route possible. Report back to me in 3 days. Or else.'

'Y-yes m-master.' Stammered the water rat.

'Now get out of my sight before I decide to slay you! I want to be alone!'

Gall the water rat scurried out like a timid mouse, out of the chamber