Major Clandestine had sent Galloper Galedeep to Lady Consellariel under the badger's request. He stood to attention as she issued him instructions.

'Leave by the west wicker gate and let nobeast see you. Get Colonel Galde, the vixen, Brigadier Remora and Captain Paragon to come back with you. Tell the Colonel to leave the rest of the hares under Rapieratce's command. Tell Rapieratce to charge at the vermin at the call of Eulalia. If you see vermin, leave and return to Redwall immediately, whether or not the mission was completed, the risk of letting them know we are here is too great. Major Clandestine will be at the gate awaiting your arrival back. Go with all speed and care.'

'Yes marm!'

'Good. Leave now.'

Saluting, the hare left Lady Consellariel alone in her room with the Major, who inquired,

'Marm, what do you plan on doing with the vixen?'

'Hah! That piece of fur? To Vaxial she is useless now, and he will slay her. We will pretend we don't know that, and still use her as a bargain. While he scorns her, we will charge.

Then Remora and Paragon will weave their way through the fighting, find Fegen and give him a weapon. I'm sure they will be taken by surprise. It is the only way.'

'Are you sure of this, m'lady? There might be a chance they already know we are here.'

'Even if they do, the nine hundred will take them by the west, and my hundred by the east. I have arranged for Log a Log Reed and his shrews to attack from the north, and Skipper of Otters Raden has taken his otters out onto the north path and will attack from there. The vermin will be surrounded.'

'What about Daleria?'

'Daleria? She will have the honour of leading my hundred straight into the stunned vermin, towards Vaxial.'

*********

Lord Fegen struggled feebly against his bonds, unable to break free, gagged, starved and tortured. Vaxial would use him as bait. He hoped that whoever the Abbey defenders were, that they would not fall for it. It was he or the Abbey, and he was willing to give his life for it.

*********

Rapieratce listened to Galedeep's report.

'To attack at a Eulalia? Are you sure?'

'That is what lady Consellariel told me sah!'

'Fine. Stand easy.'

After dismissing Galedeep, Rapieratce took out his rapier.

'To the death scum!'

******

It was after dark when Galedeep returned. Hastily the Major admitted him through the gate.

'How was it?'

'Message got through marm!'

'Good. Go report to lady Consellariel. The day is tomorrow. Get ready. This will be battle like nothing you've ever seen before.'

*****

The badger ruler Lady Consellariel stood on the ramparts hoisting a bound Waleb up to face the shadowed leader.

'Vaxial you scum, I have your vixen!'

'You mean that useless Waleb? I thought she was long dead!'

'Well she isn't, so what will you give for her?'

'I'll give her this!'

'Mercy, lord!'

At a signal, a black-feathered shaft zipped up and cut into the vixen's heart, silencing her forever. From the depths of the woods, a cry went up.

'Eulaliaaa!'

Immediately, chaos broke out. The force from the west moved in with deadly speed and force, led by Rapieratce, who slew the first two vermin.

Before the vermin could react, Skipper's otters rounded down on them from the north like vultures to prey. Log a log and his shrews fought with their short rapiers like spiky furred messengers of death. But the worst was for last. Daleria came running out of the abbey like a madbeast, with Lady Consellariel at her side and a hundred at her back, running and shouting.

'Eulalia! 'S death on the wind! Vaxial! Your death awaits!'

Tearing her way through the vermin, slaying a ferret that came too near to her flickering sabre, Daleria made her way to Vaxial. When she reached him, she pulled him out of the shadows.

Vaxial's face was revolting. Rotten green brown flesh adorned the face of a half stoat, half fox. White fangs gleamed underneath green welts of rotten and dead skin. His eyes revolved madly as if he was unable to control them. It was repulsive. But Daleria couldn't care less. Pulling the creature up to her face, sabre raised, she screamed,

'Look upon me Vaxial! I am Airelad! Your death comes!'

With that, she thrust her sabre down, and slew the creature that had tormented her mind since that fateful day, long ago.

Major Clandestine was in major trouble. Ringed by vermin, she went down fighting to the last. But as a rat was about to dispatch her, a crazed Consellariel roared through.

Bloodwrath had taken her. Swinging her axe pike, she made vermin fly like birds. Tearing the rat off the injured major, she flung him skywards. Daleria rushed over, protecting the major and dragging her away from the mad badger lady. They formed up with Rapieratce and Sergeant Longrunn, and they became an unstoppable ring of half-rapier half-sabre fighters. Daleria cut down at least four vermin with two swipes of her blade, a smile on her face all the same.

'Vaxial, your horde will fall! No more will you and your scum torment me nor any other creature too weak to defend itself! Die vermin!'

They raged onward, slashing and stabbing. They looked out for any cornered beast, and saw Galedeep was ringed.

Slashing and cutting their way over to Galedeep, who was cornered against a dead log, they tried to cut off the vermin, but too late. A ferret thrust his spear forward. The brave galloper died fighting.

Roaring with anger, Daleria tried to get to the ferret, only to be pulled back by the major.

'Watch your temper, young 'un. It could get you killed. Stay with us.'


At last the fighting ceased. Lady Consellariel limped up towards Daleria and her team, leaning heavily injured on her axe pike but alive.

'At last, the horde of Vaxial is defeated, and peace will once again return to Mossflower.'

The major inquired.


'Where is the Colonel?'

Daleria was weeping. Her normally straight figure was bent over a hare.

'Colonel Galde…'

The colonel was mortally wounded by a spear through the middle. He spoke for the last time.


'Young Daleria, you have a long way to go. I must leave for the Dark Forest, but you will achieve much in your life. Farewell.'

'No!'

And so, Colonel Galde of Salamandastron died.

*****

Many Seasons Later

*****

Captain Daleria looked upon the mountain of Salamandastron. It had been many a long season since she first looked at it, she had just returned with Lady Consellariel and the rest of the Long Patrol from Redwall Abbey, where she had completed her training. Out of the thousand that went, a hundred were lost. Galedeep, Vale and Colonel Galde and Captain Paragon were part of the unfortunate few who did not survive. They had stayed at Redwall, resting and recuperating, burying the dead and tending to the injured.

Sighing deeply, she strode forward to Lady Consellariel's side.

'So it is finished, m'lady.'

'Yes. The horrible past of Vaxial and his horde have been buried in the Ridge of a thousand, never to torment any otherbeast again.'

******

Lady Consellariel lived on protecting the shores for many more seasons, with Captain Daleria at her side, both as warrior and friend, protecting Mossflower country. Many of the hares still remember her as one of the greatest Long Patrol officer there was.

******

*Consellariel is the idea htenywg, who let me use it.