Young Warriors' Quest 4: Flight from the Abbey
All ten of the young Abbey dwellers summoned to the midnight meeting awoke with a start as the Abbey bells softly chimed 12 o'clock. Arven woke too, remembering the dream he had just had. He was pretty sure he had decided what to do. Log a log and Gurgan Spearback had napped. Tammo de Fformello Tussock had stayed awake, and so had his pretty wife Pasque Valerian, but Cregga Badgermum had dropped off with little Russano soundly asleep in her arms, clutching as always on to Russa Nodrey's old hardwood stick. But one other was awake… The small figure slipped quietly downstairs towards the kitchens, but then faded away into the gloom in the passageway and was lost to sight in the shadows.
Rica rose quietly from her bed, seeing the shadowy forms of Sarra, Seapryde, Marsa, Garllo and Brulla, as she stood upright. Wordlessly the girls left their dorm, joining up with Danmar, Elmjac, Burrdigg and Morio as they reached the stairwell. When they reached Cavern Hole, it was lit and there were several creatures already there. Cregga Badgermum stood by the door cradling Russano, a vast, welcoming presence. Tammo and Pasque stood together with the rest of their Long Patrol battalion near a vast oak chest, talking quietly with Arven, Foremole, Skipper, Gurgan Spearback and Log a log. When all had entered the room, Cregga spoke.
"I have called you here tonight because, as you know, Martin the Warrior called these ten young ones to go to Salamandastron and help the Badger Lord there, but they were refused permission to leave by Abbess Tansy. I did not know there was a Badger Lord at Salamandastron, but if Martin has spoken, then you must go. We here have promised to arm you and give you any help you may need, including a guide to the edge of Mossflower Woods and instructions for the rest of the way. Gurgan!"
The massive hedgehog stumped forwards in his oversized boots and opened the enormous oak chest. He took out a dangerous-looking tree trunk headed war mallet.
"My ole war mallet," he said gruffly. "'Tis thine now, Garllo. Use it well to defend thy friends, daughter. Make me proud to be thy father, an' find thy way back to this Abbey someday!"
He handed it to the hedgehog maid and chuckled as she handled the enormous mallet with apparent ease, carrying it over her shoulder. The hedgehog stepped back from the chest, relinquishing his place to Tammo and Pasque. Tammo felt around inside for some time before withdrawing a blade that was half the length of a sword but double that of a dagger. It glowed with a dim bluish sheen in the candlelight and he fastened it to his son, Morio, sash fashion, by the aid of a twine and linen belt with a sliver buckle shaped as a running hare. Tammo tapped it lovingly. "This was my mother's weapon; she gave it to me when I ran off to join the Long Patrol. ''Tis called a dirk, made in the forge of Salamandastron whence you are bound, and no weapon ever served me better. Throw it, slash with it, it can do anything you wish."
Morio's mother Pasque was next to speak. "Your father and I named you after our friends, heroes who died at the Ridge of a Thousand and in the Great Rapscallion War. Never let anybeast take your weapon from you, and make us proud of our name and the names we gave you, Morio Furgale Reeve Starbuck Russa Perigord Rockjaw Stormeye Valerian de Fformello Tussock!"
"What an unholy mouthful," muttered Cregga, bending low over the chest. She drew out a massive axepike, it's head tipped with a double-bladed spearpoint and the handle a thick piece of dark hardwood as tall as the badgermum herself. She cradled it fondly before giving it to Sarra. "Sarra Dreameyes, you have been chosen to go with your friends to Salamandastron, the fiery mountain of the Badger Lords, where I used to rule as Lady Cregga Rose Eyes. I give you my old weapon as yours- I gave up my old life when I became blind at the Ridge of a Thousand. Use it well!" Sarra nodded dumbly as she took the weapon. It was glinting dangerously in the firelight, and she handled it well.
Log a log did not move, but he looked straight at Marsa, the shrewmaid who had come to Redwall with the rest of her group of Guosim. "Marsa Streamchild, you already have your weapon- that traditional to the Guosim, the rapier. I know that you can use it well- I have trained you in its use. Use it only to defend you, your friends and the defenceless!"
Like Sarra, Marsa nodded wordlessly, her mind filled with what she was about to attempt. Next, Major Perigord Habile Sinistra came forward, though he did not burrow through the old chest in front of him. Instead he withdrew one of his two long shining fencing sabres from its scabbard at his waist. He presented it to Danmar hilt first.
"Danmar Gonffen," he said. "I give one of my weapons to you- no weapon has ever served me better, and 'twas made in the fires of Salamandastron when I joined the Long Patrol. I won't make any long speeches-"
"You dreadful great fibber, you've never made a short one in your life, wot!" murmured the Major's sister, Captain Twayblade.
"- as I was saying before I was, ahem, interrupted," Perigord glared fiercely at his sister, "I won't make any speeches, but use your weapon well, wot wot!"
Skipper of otters went next. "Seapryde Brookback, me liddle matey," he began. "Your family helped a Badger Lord once before, long before Redwall was ever built. That Lord was named Old Lord Brocktree, an' I'm told by a friend of mine that Marsano, the Lord who rules there now, is a direc' desken…, I mean, deden…, oh, he's a relative o' yourn, awright! Enny'ow, this badger lord, 'e made a spear for 'im in the forge of the fire mountain- a double pointed javelin, it was. Some'ow, I don' quite know 'ow, us otters found it, and yer, well, yer to 'ave it, mate!" Seapryde took the javelin Skipper gave to her with a gruff "Thanks, Skip!"
After him came Foremole Diggum. He presented Brulla and Burrdigg with a sling and a red embroidered pebble pouch filled with stones apiece.
"Ee be molechoilds of Red' all, an oi be's givvin' these to ee as thoi weapons. Use ee well, liddle molers!"
Arven went last. "Elmjac Swifteye," he began. "Long ago, when Redwall was in danger from searats, three brave hares of the Long Patrol made several longbows to use in this Abbey's defence. Later, two of them died to free the searats' oarslaves, but the weapons they made remained in Redwall. Here is one of them and the quiver of arrows that accompanied it. Use 'em well!"
Finally the Abbey Warrior turned to Rica. "I confess, Rica, that I was not sure whether or not to allow ye to leave Redwall with the Sword. However, Martin the Warrior came to me tonight, and this is what he told me.
'Do not hinder Rica,
Help her in the quest.
Teach her how to use my sword,
And help to lead the rest.'
"Well, after that I couldn't very well refuse, could I? Anyways, Rica Gonffen, here is RatDeath, the Sword of Martin the Warrior. You are to be Champion of Redwall Abbey!"
Despite the necessary order of "Quiet!" from Cregga Badgermum, everybeast broke out in muted applause as Rica, blushing red from ears to tail, took the sword from Arven. Cregga was just about to speak again when her exceptionally sharp ears caught a sound outside the door.
Thump! "Ooooh, my ankle!"
"Come in here, young Butty!" commanded Cregga sternly. Arven stifled a chuckle as the chubby young squirrel friar entered the room backwards, tugging a dozen backpacks well stuffed with food of all kinds. Friar Butty finally looked up from his task to report to Cregga Badgermum.
"Um, I heard as how you were going to help Rica and her friends escape, Cregga marm," he began nervously, "and you can't let our warriors go hungry, can you? I brought food for two escorts as well!"
"Well done, young Butty," said the Major, eyeing the packs chock full of good Redwall food longingly. "Well, looks like we'd best be off- m' goodself an' my Long Patrol Platoon'll be your guides, wot wot!"
Butty looked crestfallen. "But sir," he said. "I only packed food for twelve. Besides the ten young 'uns that're goin', where'll that leave you?"
"No need t' worry, young feller m'lad!" said Torgoch calmly. "The kids can take the two extra backpacks as emergency rations an' the rest of us can live off the fat of the jolly ol' land, wot wot?"
A sound from above, where Abbess Tansy's bedroom was, made them all start.
"Quick!" hissed Arven. "Go now, all of you, we'll make your excuses!"
"Right, old boy, good luck!" said Twayblade. There was just time for them all to sling the packs over their shoulders before Cregga was ushering them out the door. The old blind badgermum escorted the ten young ones and the Long Patrol battalion to a side gate from the Abbey. All ten youngsters sprinted forwards, dashing away from the only home any of them had ever known into the unknown and silent night.
All ten of the young Abbey dwellers summoned to the midnight meeting awoke with a start as the Abbey bells softly chimed 12 o'clock. Arven woke too, remembering the dream he had just had. He was pretty sure he had decided what to do. Log a log and Gurgan Spearback had napped. Tammo de Fformello Tussock had stayed awake, and so had his pretty wife Pasque Valerian, but Cregga Badgermum had dropped off with little Russano soundly asleep in her arms, clutching as always on to Russa Nodrey's old hardwood stick. But one other was awake… The small figure slipped quietly downstairs towards the kitchens, but then faded away into the gloom in the passageway and was lost to sight in the shadows.
Rica rose quietly from her bed, seeing the shadowy forms of Sarra, Seapryde, Marsa, Garllo and Brulla, as she stood upright. Wordlessly the girls left their dorm, joining up with Danmar, Elmjac, Burrdigg and Morio as they reached the stairwell. When they reached Cavern Hole, it was lit and there were several creatures already there. Cregga Badgermum stood by the door cradling Russano, a vast, welcoming presence. Tammo and Pasque stood together with the rest of their Long Patrol battalion near a vast oak chest, talking quietly with Arven, Foremole, Skipper, Gurgan Spearback and Log a log. When all had entered the room, Cregga spoke.
"I have called you here tonight because, as you know, Martin the Warrior called these ten young ones to go to Salamandastron and help the Badger Lord there, but they were refused permission to leave by Abbess Tansy. I did not know there was a Badger Lord at Salamandastron, but if Martin has spoken, then you must go. We here have promised to arm you and give you any help you may need, including a guide to the edge of Mossflower Woods and instructions for the rest of the way. Gurgan!"
The massive hedgehog stumped forwards in his oversized boots and opened the enormous oak chest. He took out a dangerous-looking tree trunk headed war mallet.
"My ole war mallet," he said gruffly. "'Tis thine now, Garllo. Use it well to defend thy friends, daughter. Make me proud to be thy father, an' find thy way back to this Abbey someday!"
He handed it to the hedgehog maid and chuckled as she handled the enormous mallet with apparent ease, carrying it over her shoulder. The hedgehog stepped back from the chest, relinquishing his place to Tammo and Pasque. Tammo felt around inside for some time before withdrawing a blade that was half the length of a sword but double that of a dagger. It glowed with a dim bluish sheen in the candlelight and he fastened it to his son, Morio, sash fashion, by the aid of a twine and linen belt with a sliver buckle shaped as a running hare. Tammo tapped it lovingly. "This was my mother's weapon; she gave it to me when I ran off to join the Long Patrol. ''Tis called a dirk, made in the forge of Salamandastron whence you are bound, and no weapon ever served me better. Throw it, slash with it, it can do anything you wish."
Morio's mother Pasque was next to speak. "Your father and I named you after our friends, heroes who died at the Ridge of a Thousand and in the Great Rapscallion War. Never let anybeast take your weapon from you, and make us proud of our name and the names we gave you, Morio Furgale Reeve Starbuck Russa Perigord Rockjaw Stormeye Valerian de Fformello Tussock!"
"What an unholy mouthful," muttered Cregga, bending low over the chest. She drew out a massive axepike, it's head tipped with a double-bladed spearpoint and the handle a thick piece of dark hardwood as tall as the badgermum herself. She cradled it fondly before giving it to Sarra. "Sarra Dreameyes, you have been chosen to go with your friends to Salamandastron, the fiery mountain of the Badger Lords, where I used to rule as Lady Cregga Rose Eyes. I give you my old weapon as yours- I gave up my old life when I became blind at the Ridge of a Thousand. Use it well!" Sarra nodded dumbly as she took the weapon. It was glinting dangerously in the firelight, and she handled it well.
Log a log did not move, but he looked straight at Marsa, the shrewmaid who had come to Redwall with the rest of her group of Guosim. "Marsa Streamchild, you already have your weapon- that traditional to the Guosim, the rapier. I know that you can use it well- I have trained you in its use. Use it only to defend you, your friends and the defenceless!"
Like Sarra, Marsa nodded wordlessly, her mind filled with what she was about to attempt. Next, Major Perigord Habile Sinistra came forward, though he did not burrow through the old chest in front of him. Instead he withdrew one of his two long shining fencing sabres from its scabbard at his waist. He presented it to Danmar hilt first.
"Danmar Gonffen," he said. "I give one of my weapons to you- no weapon has ever served me better, and 'twas made in the fires of Salamandastron when I joined the Long Patrol. I won't make any long speeches-"
"You dreadful great fibber, you've never made a short one in your life, wot!" murmured the Major's sister, Captain Twayblade.
"- as I was saying before I was, ahem, interrupted," Perigord glared fiercely at his sister, "I won't make any speeches, but use your weapon well, wot wot!"
Skipper of otters went next. "Seapryde Brookback, me liddle matey," he began. "Your family helped a Badger Lord once before, long before Redwall was ever built. That Lord was named Old Lord Brocktree, an' I'm told by a friend of mine that Marsano, the Lord who rules there now, is a direc' desken…, I mean, deden…, oh, he's a relative o' yourn, awright! Enny'ow, this badger lord, 'e made a spear for 'im in the forge of the fire mountain- a double pointed javelin, it was. Some'ow, I don' quite know 'ow, us otters found it, and yer, well, yer to 'ave it, mate!" Seapryde took the javelin Skipper gave to her with a gruff "Thanks, Skip!"
After him came Foremole Diggum. He presented Brulla and Burrdigg with a sling and a red embroidered pebble pouch filled with stones apiece.
"Ee be molechoilds of Red' all, an oi be's givvin' these to ee as thoi weapons. Use ee well, liddle molers!"
Arven went last. "Elmjac Swifteye," he began. "Long ago, when Redwall was in danger from searats, three brave hares of the Long Patrol made several longbows to use in this Abbey's defence. Later, two of them died to free the searats' oarslaves, but the weapons they made remained in Redwall. Here is one of them and the quiver of arrows that accompanied it. Use 'em well!"
Finally the Abbey Warrior turned to Rica. "I confess, Rica, that I was not sure whether or not to allow ye to leave Redwall with the Sword. However, Martin the Warrior came to me tonight, and this is what he told me.
'Do not hinder Rica,
Help her in the quest.
Teach her how to use my sword,
And help to lead the rest.'
"Well, after that I couldn't very well refuse, could I? Anyways, Rica Gonffen, here is RatDeath, the Sword of Martin the Warrior. You are to be Champion of Redwall Abbey!"
Despite the necessary order of "Quiet!" from Cregga Badgermum, everybeast broke out in muted applause as Rica, blushing red from ears to tail, took the sword from Arven. Cregga was just about to speak again when her exceptionally sharp ears caught a sound outside the door.
Thump! "Ooooh, my ankle!"
"Come in here, young Butty!" commanded Cregga sternly. Arven stifled a chuckle as the chubby young squirrel friar entered the room backwards, tugging a dozen backpacks well stuffed with food of all kinds. Friar Butty finally looked up from his task to report to Cregga Badgermum.
"Um, I heard as how you were going to help Rica and her friends escape, Cregga marm," he began nervously, "and you can't let our warriors go hungry, can you? I brought food for two escorts as well!"
"Well done, young Butty," said the Major, eyeing the packs chock full of good Redwall food longingly. "Well, looks like we'd best be off- m' goodself an' my Long Patrol Platoon'll be your guides, wot wot!"
Butty looked crestfallen. "But sir," he said. "I only packed food for twelve. Besides the ten young 'uns that're goin', where'll that leave you?"
"No need t' worry, young feller m'lad!" said Torgoch calmly. "The kids can take the two extra backpacks as emergency rations an' the rest of us can live off the fat of the jolly ol' land, wot wot?"
A sound from above, where Abbess Tansy's bedroom was, made them all start.
"Quick!" hissed Arven. "Go now, all of you, we'll make your excuses!"
"Right, old boy, good luck!" said Twayblade. There was just time for them all to sling the packs over their shoulders before Cregga was ushering them out the door. The old blind badgermum escorted the ten young ones and the Long Patrol battalion to a side gate from the Abbey. All ten youngsters sprinted forwards, dashing away from the only home any of them had ever known into the unknown and silent night.