Chapter 1
As the sun began to rise slowly and shine light onto everything it saw, a black ship became visible on the rolling waves of the sea. Below the decks of the dark ship was a group of sleeping oar slaves, all chained by the footpaws to the ship's walls. But among the group was an awake, sturdy, young female hare who was tugging away at her chain, trying her hardest to get free. Oblivious to all around her, she tugged and she pulled and she yanked and even bit, put despite her strength, she could not pull it off of the wall. Frustrated and agitated, the hare let out a low growl, which echoed through the large, silent area. The hare's head immediately shot up, afraid that someone had heard her. Satisfied that nobeast had moved, she began her work again, her mind focused on only one thing. To get free! She yanked until the sun was clearly up, and she still was not done yet. Anxious that somebeast would go below deck to check on her and the others, she gave the chain one last yank, hoping the effort would be the last. Luckily, the chain snapped in two, weak from the pressure it had faced. The hare jumped up in excitement and completely forgot the chain was still connected to her footpaws. The jangle of the chain brought the hare on alert, and she immediately sat back down, afraid she had woken somebeast up. Her eyes were fixed on the staircase that led up to the deck, and they stayed there for quite a while. Slowly, she got back up again and crept quietly to the staircase. Once she had reached it, she turned back around and looked at all of her sleeping friends who were still chained up. Her eyes showed a sign of regret, but it soon disappeared. She looked up to the top of the staircase, where he freedom would begin. Although they could not here her because they were still asleep, the hare murmured softly, "I'll come back to free ye all. I promise."
Vermeng was a corsair, and captain of the slave ship Carassan, and all beasts above it and, unfortunately, below it. His ship traveled to several lone islands, picking up slaves he liked to call 'souvenirs.' The slaves he captured rowed his ship for him in the cramped space below deck, and when he got new ones, he took the oldest, weakest slaves and threw them into the sea. Some had tried to escape, but it wasn't the most possible thing they could try to do. There were always vermin walking around deck, wondering what to do. Although it wasn't the best thing the seabeasts could do, they always managed to spot an escaping slave and surround the poor creature. Once the slave was caught, which didn't take long, for the ones who were attempting an escape were weak from their rowing work, the best that could happen to them was torture. The other choice was death, which most of the escaping slaves had suffered. After several attempts, the slaves lost hope and began to get used to the life they lived; pushing and pulling the oars.
The weasel corsair was on the deck, enjoying the cool breeze on the spring morning. It was a perfect day for sailing. However, his grin disappeared as he saw a small rat scamper towards him, his face a picture of fright and surprise. When the rat reached the waiting weasel, he threw a short solute, and began to stammer him report.
"Cap'n, sir, eh, er, a slave, er, 'tis a hare, er, broke, er, broke the, eh, broke the chains an', uh, is now on, uh, on deck, er, on the opposite side of the, er, ship."
Vermeng shrugged nonchalantly. Another one of his pitiful slaves was attempting to escape. He stifled a yawn as he replied, "Jus' tell the crew to catch 'im like they've done 'afore."
The unfortunate rat who had brought the news to Vermeng, who was called Treeslot, hung his head. "'Tis a she, cap'n. An', er, yore seabeasts are, eh, attemptin' to catch her at this moment."
The weasel was caught off guard. A female hare, and his crew of seabeasts haven't caught her yet? He was sure this couldn't be true, so he repeated what was just said to him. "A female es'aped? An' they haven't gotten 'er yet?"
Not sure of how to answer, Treeslot stuttered, "Er, yes?" Just as the rat had finished his report, a ferret named Sinzord stumbled over to Vermeng and collapsed at the weasel's feet, his paw clutching the spot on his head where his left ear would've been, moaning and groaning in pain.
"The 'are tore me ear off! Owowowow! She's gone mad, fightin' an' slayin' like crazy, the cursed female! Owowow!"
Enraged, Vermeng grabbed a dagger and ran to the side of the ship where the escaped hare was, with Treeslot close behind and Sinzord wobbling around, trying to catch up.
The hare was fighting like a mad beast, injuring and slaying without any weapon being held in her two paws. She was out numbered greatly, for now almost all of Vermeng's seabeasts were after her, but she fought on bravely. As the hare was about to kick a stoat on the bottom, Vermeng silently ushered his hordebeasts out of his way, quickly sneaked up behind her, then grabbed her and placed his dagger a hairs length from her throat.
"One move and yer a deadbeast! Wot's yer name, hare?"
The hare growled, partly at Vermeng and partly at herself for getting recaptured so easily. "Nasty trick, weasel! Did ye know that sneakin' up on yore enemies was a cowardly act? Ha, probably not. I can't imagine ye knowin' anything in that small brain o' yores. An' as for me name, let go of me first an' then I'll tell you it."
The corsair stared at her suspiciously, trying to figure out if she was planning something, but seeing no harm in letting the hare go for she was only a young female, Vermeng released the dagger and spun the hare around roughly, hoping to make her dizzy and confused. But instead of trying to stop or stopping, the hare continued to spin faster and faster, revolving towards a bow and a bagful of arrows that somebeast aboard the Carassan had clumsily left on the deck on the ship.
Vermeng realized his mistake all too late. "Quick, grab 'er now!"
The hare had reached the bow and arrows and was knotting an arrow onto the bow, aiming at the surprised corsair captain, her face grim and showing no emotion at all. "I always keep me promises, weasel, even if it's vermin I make promises to, so I'll tell ye me name, and ye had better learn to fear it. Me name's Diathus Spinner, see there. Prepare to die, seascum! Blood and vinegaaaarrr! Eulaliiiiaaaaaaaa!"
Around the middle of the ship, a gigantic caged bird craned his neck as far as it would go to see what was causing the chaos and confusion on the slave ship, Carassan. Skydrop the eagle had been captured by Vermeng last season. Skydrop had attacked Vermeng because he was too close to his mate and his young ones. The eagle and the weasel were fighting viciously and Skydrop was emerging victorious when the unfortunate eagle fell unconscious from a sneak attack from a stoat from Vermeng's horde. When he had gained consciousness, he found himself imprisoned in a cage that was made of very strong metal, too strong for him to break out of, but now that a slave was loose, he might have a chance to escape. Eagerly, he tried his best to get full vision of the sight before him.
Vermeng had been saved by one of the beasts in his crew. A ferret called Foglute had made a dash for Diathus, and collided into her. Diathus barely had time to fire the bow, but because she was distracted, her aim was not the most accurate, and the arrow pierced the beast who was standing next to Vermeng, who fell with a scream, clutching the arrow that ran through his middle and falling backwards onto the deck floor, slain.
Vermeng stood aside as he watched the hare battle. He was, for one, amazed. Though his crew outnumbered her one to a thousand, she still fought on, yelling Eulalia's and hacking away at the foebeast like she was a madbeast who wouldn't ever tire out and stop fighting, oblivious to all her wounds. His seabeasts were now getting uneasy about the hare, and even the weasel corsair himself did not want to face Diathus in close combat.
Diathus looked at the hordebeasts and smiled wryly. Now was her chance to escape from the hated ship. Pausing for a moment, Diathus looked around her at her surroundings for the first time since she had cut free of her chains. Then it hit her. Escape to where? She was on a ship that was in the middle of the ocean, and the only way she could get off of the Carassan was to dive off of the ship, which would easily get her eaten by the big fish or drown because of the sea before she even spotted land. She clutched the bow grimly.
"Long as I'm here on this ship, an' alive too, might as well free someone else," Diathus muttered to herself. She headed towards the other end of the ship, where Skydrop was caged. She had heard rumors of the mighty bird from the seabeasts, and decided that she should free him so he could fly away. If she was to free the other slaves, then they would be in the same predicament as she was in, trapped on the ship in the sea, so she would only be getting them in trouble also.
Vermeng saw where she was headed, and immediately guessed what she was up to. Not wanting her to succeed and the bird to be set free, the angry weasel yelled to his weary troupes as he followed the hare. "Stop standin' ther' like a bunch o' dithering idiots an' follow me!"
"How do I get this lock thingy open, eagle?" Diathus queried the eagle while fidgeting with the lock to his cage nervously, glancing behind her once in a while.
Skydrop squeezed one of his great talons out of the cage between two bars and pointed to a pile of filthy silk, rags, and other pieces of unwanted clothing. "'Em stuck the key in t'at dirty pile o'er ther' in t'at corner." Skydrop craned his neck and saw the charging hordebeasts behind her. "Ye be quick an' hurry oop, lassie! Vermeng an' his crew's acomin' noo!"
Diathus backed away from the cage, talking rapidly while she did so. "There's no time to find the key; it'll take too long, an' by the looks o' that pile, it might take a while to find it. Hurry, move to the far back o' the cage!"
Skydrop did as she asked, and Diathus began to spin like she had before in front of Vermeng, except this time, with more strength and energy. She collided into the cage and smashed the front side of it, making a huge hole between two bars, and then span back to the previous spot she was standing. Skydrop stared at the hole in front of him, frozen with shock.
"Go on, eagle, climb through the hole an' fly away! I'll hold 'em off." Though her body was aching all over from the crash, Diathus turned to Vermeng's crew, who had slowed down and was now advancing on her and the great bird. Two or three of them were bolder than the rest and ran all the way with their blades pointed at the hare, hoping they could run her through. Before they could reach her, though, they were greeted by large whacks on their heads with Diathus's bow, and fell, stunned. She turned her head to speak to the eagle who had still not flown away. "Go, quickly!"
A rat of Vermeng's crew took this opportunity to stab her in the shoulder with his short sword, but found himself immediately wishing he hadn't. Diathus turned back instantly and using one of her arrows as a spear, she ran the rat through the middle. The rat fell with a moan, slain. The rest of Vermeng's horde backed away from the dangerous hare, not wanting to suffer the unfortunate fate as their comrade.
Skydrop figured out that this would be the only time that he and the haremaid could escape, so he shouted out from behind her, "Come on, lassie. Ah'm no' goin' wi' oot ye. Clim' on tae mah back!"
Realizing that the slave and the bird were going to escape, Vermeng shouted to his uneasy horde. "Come on, ye great big cowards! 'Tis only a little 'are maid! Now go a'ter 'er or I'll be goin' a'ter ye!"
Fearing their leader more than the haremaid, Vermeng's crew charged at the eagle, Skydrop, and Diathus.
Sinzord had gotten between Daithus and Skydrop, not letting Diathus pass. Sinzord hoped that this bold move would earn him a high rank with Vermeng, and be a favorite of the weasels. Casually, Diathus threw an arrow like it was a javelin with her arm that had the uninjured shoulder. The arrow struck true, piercing Sinzord's other ear. Sinzord yelped painfully, and Diathus smiled mockingly.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I just hurt yore other ear. Want me to take out yore eyes now?"
Clutching his throbbing ear and covering his eyes in fear that Diathus would send another arrow headed for them, Sinzord scrambled blindly to get away from the perilous hare, only to collide into a stoat who was about to sling a stone at Diathus, knocking the stoat down, while the sling wrapped around his arm.
Diathus continued to smile. "Thanks, ferret! Remind me that next time I see ye, I owe ye a liddle present: yore nose ripped off!"
"Clim' on, lassie. Quickly noo."
Kicking a ferret who had gotten in her way and clutching her injured shoulder, Diathus climbed onto Skydrop's back.
"Let's go, eagle."
The great eagle nodded and let out a loud cry.
"Krrreeeekah!"
Skydrop flapped his great wings once and soared out into the air as Diathus sat on his back, looking down at the Carassan silently.
**
Everyone in Redwall Abbey was preparing for Nameday, which was just a few days away. Mother Abbess Sencatina had though of a nice name for the spring, though the old squirrel wouldn't tell anybeast, nor give any clues or hints.
"'Tis a wonderful day, eh, Abbess? The grass is green, skies are blue, and the lawn is alive with little Dibbuns." Young Raiyon the Bellringer walked alongside Abbess Sencatina as they strolled through the Abbey turf. Raiyon paused and stopped talking and walking, as if she had just though of something. "You know, Abbess, I think it would be even more of a wonderful day if you would kindly tell me and the rest of the Abbey what the new season's name is. Don't you agree, Abbess?"
Abbess Sencatina chuckled lightly at the hopeful mouse and stopped so she was beside her. "Yes Raiyon, you are definitely right. Should I tell you the name now?"
The young mouse nodded eagerly. "Yes, please do, Abbess."
Mother Abbess grinned and strolled off, calling out over her shoulder, "Not telling!"
Raiyon pondered over this for a moment. "Not Telling? Hmmm, the Spring of the Not Telling. Awfully strange name, Abbess! Well, at least it's better than…hey, just wait a minute, Abbess! Excuse me for saying, Abbess, but just who do you think you're trying to fool? Not telling, ha. Abbess!"
The bellringer immediately started chasing after Abbess Sencatina, shouting angrily, "Abbess, come back! I demand to know the name of our season, Abbess! It isn't fair, I tell you, it isn't fair, Abbess! It's not just your season, you know, it's mine too, as well as the rest of the Abbey's, and Mossflower's too, Abbess, so we should know what to call it! Come back, Abbess!"
Sister Melissis, the mouse that worked in the infirmary, poked her head out of a window. "Whew! It's quite stuffy in here." She spotted Abbess Sencatina skipping around and giggling like she was a Dibbun, with Raiyon hot on her tail, still shouting. The Sister shook her head, smiling. "Well, well, it looks that our Abbess grows younger instead of older. My, my, what a sight!"
In the kitchen, Friar Horvory the dormouse was preparing for the Nameday feast. The tables were piled high with finished foods. Woodland summercream pudding, blueberry scones, spring salads, leek and onion pasties, strawberry flans, cornflower custard, just to name a few.
"Cakes, trifles, salads, breads, flans, tarts, puddin', pasties, so much work to be done! Not to mention the arrival of the Long Patrol. Oh, those gluttonous hares! It's a good thing Midnight and I already have most of the feast prepared. An' at least I don't have any deadline. Deadline, hah! Put me under pressure by saying the feast will start when I finish me work. Oh, woe is me! Hmmm…might want to hurry up then." the fat little Friar sighed as he absently spread meadowcream onto a damson and plum cake.
"Do you 'ave zoup? Cat ferget the zoup!" A tiny voice called out from below. "Cat have feast without zoup!"
Friar Horvory looked down at the otter Dibbun, Manei, daughter of Skipper of Otters and River, and smiled warmly. He had always had a soft spot for otters; happy and energetic creatures, they were. "Of course, liddle 'un, how could I ferget soup. Speaking of soup, would you be so kind to take this bowl o' soup to Midnight the otter fer me? She helped me prepare a lot o' this feast so I thought she deserved a little bowl of wot she made."
Manei took the bowl of watershrimp and hotroot soup and looked at it slyly. Looking back up at the Friar, the otter Dibbun grinned mischievously. "Course I vill, Friar Hoviry. Heeheehee!" With that, the otter ran off outside with the bowl of soup.
Manei skipped happily with her bowl of soup as she looked for a nice place to eat it. "Me got a bowl o' soup! Me goin' eat up an' then none left for Middynight...Eeeek!" Manei yelped as she ran into a sturdy mouse.
"Slow down, little one! You'll get yourself hurt if you skip while holding a bowl of soup."
Manei was picked up along with her soup, and found herself looking straight into the stern eyes of the mouse, Rambati, the Abbey warrior. "Speakin' of soup, why is a bowl of Friar Horvory's watershrimp and hotroot soup doing outside of the Abbey kitchen? Also, who gave you the bowl of soup, and where are you going with it? Answer all my questions truthfully, now."
Manei paused for a while, trying to think of a good alibi, although Rambati's last statement clearly suggested no lying. Then she remembered what she was supposed to do with the soup and used it as an excuse. "Friar give to me to give to Middynight! Put me dow'!" Manei replied as she kicked and struggled to get out of the grasp of the warrior while also trying not to spill her precious soup that she had 'worked so hard' to get. "Pleez?"
Rambati smiled warmly as he put the little Dibbun down, but began to lecture her, trying his best not to laugh as the otterbabe shuffled her footpaws nervously and stared at the grassy ground. "Midnight is inside the Abbey, not outside, and I know you better than that, little Manei. I think you're keeping this soup for yourself. Come on now, I will take you to Midnight so you can give her the soup like you were supposed to, and after that, I will take you to your mother, River. Let us see what she says about her own daughter stealing from Friar Horvory and Midnight. This isn't the first time, though."
Manei was pushed lightly back to the Abbey, while getting a firm scolding from Rambati.
Midnight strolled happily into the Abbey kitchen. She greeted the Friar with a smile as she slowly inched towards a cupboard, never once taking her eyes off the dormouse. "Friar, mate! How's the feast comin' along? Good, I hope? And I hope you haven't been too busy working for the Long Patrol that's ye've forgotten about us other creature in the Abbey and have left us to starve?"
The Friar smiled warmly at the jolly otter, ignoring the fact that she was moving to a cupboard. "Everything is fine, and nobeastie is going to starve. Thank ye fer helpin', Midnight. How was yore soup? Was it as good as Skipper's? If not, tell him ye and I stilled tried our best."
Midnight, who was helping herself to a bag of watershrimp out of the cupboard, paused for a moment, and looked confused as she said, "Soup? Wot soup? This is my first helpin' o' soup today, Friar, which is pretty suprisin' fer me, but back on the subject, wot soup?"
Now it was Friar Horvory's turn to look confused. "I sent River's daughter Manei to send you a bowl o' soup for helping me in the kitchen." Realization suddenly dawned onto the old dormouse and he crossed his arms and pouted. "Humph! The liddle mischief! She's probably ran off an' kept the soup for 'erself. Why, when I get me hands on the liddle rogue, I'll, I'll, I don't know what I'll do, but it won't be good!"
Before Midnight could calm the Friar down, Rambati was at the kitchen door with a sheepish looking Manei at his side. "Go on, Manei. Be a good Dibbun and give Midnight her soup."
Hesitantly, Manei approached the older otter. She stared at the soup for quite a while, then handed the bowl to her and whispered, "Here's your zoup, Middynight. Sorry me took it."
Midnight grinned and patted Manei on the head. Then she turned the Friar and her grin turned even wider. "Watershrimp and 'otroot soup, me favorite."
"Where the sun never sets
And is always aglow,
Where the river runs long
To where I'll never know.
Where the mountain crest
Reaches high into the sky,
Where the flowers never wilt,
And the birds fly high.
Where the grass is green
And the skies are blue,
That is the place where I want to be,
Where I want to be with you."
Periwinkle, a pretty squirrelmaid, jumped up and twirled in the air as she sang the last note of the song, and landed gracefully. Gabrieny, the young hogmaid who was 'cellkeeper in training', had been listening to Periwinkle's song nearby. She tilted her head slightly in astonishment at the singing, twirling squirrelmaid and clapped softly as she complimented her.
"Very nicely done, Periwinkle. 'Tis a lovely song, though I don't think I've e'er heard that one before. Did ye make it yerself?"
Sister Melissis, who had come from the infirmary in search for fresh air, had heard Gabrieny's comment and shook her head. "Surely not! Young Periwinkle, compose her own song?
Heeheehee, that's like asking Raiyon to cook! No offense to the bellringer, though. It's just that she…she doesn't… anyway, your sister Pimpernel wrote it, didn't she, Periwinkle?"
The squirrelmaid smiled sweetly. "You're right of course, ma'am. I couldn't compose a good song to save my own tail! Pimpernel wrote it because she is a good song composer, though not a good singer. My other sister, Primrose, is the best out of us three at playing her squirrelina. She made the instrument herself, you know. We make a very good team when it comes to performing. Perhaps we could perform at the Nameday Feast? I heard that the Friar is almost done with the preparations, in other words, food. I can't wait, the season will finally have a name. I wonder if Raiyon…" Periwinkle stopped chatting away as she raised an eyebrow at the hogmaid, who was dancing and twirling away in a very clumsy manner, trying to imitate what she had done a few moments ago, and failing. Gabrieny stopped her actions for a moment and looked at Periwinkle, perplexed.
"How'd ye twirl like that, marm?"
The badger mother of Redwall Abbey, named Ttricino, sat helplessly on the Abbey lawn as masses of Dibbuns climbed and crawled all over and around her. She dare not stand up, fearing that she would step on and squash one of the Dibbuns who were playing around her footpaws. Sighing, the badger sat on the lawn as, without knowing of the torment they were causing, Dibbuns played around the unfortunate badger.
One of the Dibbuns, a mole named Burno, had climbed on to Ttricino's head. He waved his tiny stick like a sword and called out in a, what he thought would be, gruff voice, "Hurr, oi'm Marthen the Warrior, an' allbeasts are gurtly afeared o' oi, oh aye."
A mouse Dibbun, called Runey, climbed onto Ttricino's right shoulder. "You not Ma'tin! I be Ma'tin! I make better Ma'tin than 'ou!"
Young Burno shook his head. "Nay, you'm Marthen next toime. Oi'm Marthen today."
Ttricino flinched slightly as Runey jumped and stamped his feet on her shoulder in disappointment. "No, I be Ma'tin! I want be Ma'tin! I be Ma'tin, even I hav' ta fight you ta be 'im!"
Burno frowned. "Them we'm will foight!" The mole positioned his short stick in front of him as if it was a real weapon. "Burr, okay, oi'm be ready."
Runey also had a stick ready in front of him. "Okay, one, two, five, twemmy, go!"
Stick hit stick as the two Dibbuns fought over the badger mother's head. Burno was getting along a bit better than Runey, who was a bit unbalanced on the badger's shoulder. Suddenly, Runey's stick struck Burno's hand, causing him to yelp and drop his stick. The mole watched as his stick struck Ttricino's knee. He leaned in to get a better look when he Runey gave the mole a little shove. Burno tumbled off of the big badger's head, bouncing off Ttricino's knee, and landing sitting down, scratching his head.
"Urr, what 'app'ned?"
Runey grinned triumphantly and took Burno's place on top of the badger mother's head. Then, the little Dibbun mouse started jumping enthusiastically.
"I won! I'm Ma'tin! I won!"
While Runey bounced and jumped on the badger mother's head, Something inside Ttricino snapped. Dibbuns had jumped on her head and shoulder, sticks had fallen on her, and so much more. She had had enough. Ttricino jumped up onto her two feet, causing the ground to shake slightly. Using her blunt paws, she started throwing and shaking the Dibbuns off of her furry body. Having done that, she threw her head back and roared out, "Eulaliiiaaaaaaaaaa!"
The startled Dibbuns looked up at their normally peaceful and quiet badger mother. None of them said a word for they were too stunned, so Ttricino said something for them.
"Go, go inside right now! I've been patiently sitting here and not being noticed while tiny little Dibbuns are squirming and climbing all over me! You slimy lot have jumped on me, dropped sticks on me, even tickled my footpaws, and I've had far enough! Go inside to bed this instant and go take your naps that you should have taken a long time ago, do you hear me, before I lose my temper again and do something far worse that just roar my war cry!"
The shocked Dibbuns all ran screaming into the Abbey, afraid that their badger mother would do something more.
"Aaaiieeeee! Help us, the badgermom's attackin'!"
"Miz Ttroicoino goin' t'slay uz!"
"She's goin' ta choppa our tails off an' trow us into 'ee pond!"
"Oh, oh! Momma, Miss Ttricino is goin' ta jump on me, drop stickies on me, an' tickly me footpaws! Said so herself! Heeeelllppp!"
Once the little Dibbuns were gone, although their screams could still be heard from the Mossflower Woods, the badger mother plopped back onto the grass and sighed, extremely confused about her previous behavior. "Whew! I don't know why I did that or what had gotten into me! Imagine, calling the Dibbuns slimy!" Ttricino said to no one in particular.
River, Manei's mother, and Sister Delani, who had been going around to collect flowers for Great Hall, sat down next to Ttricino on the Abbey lawn.
River said, "Yore related to a badger lord, marm. Yore father is Lord Brawnpeak the Bold, ruler o' the great fire mountain Salamandastron, home to mountain hares. And besides, ye were always a bit impatient when you arrived at the Abbey. Didn't ye think so, Sister?"
Sister Delani agreed whole heartily. "Yes, you were always impatient with the Dibbuns. Remember when little Burno was taking a bath and he pretended to be our Martin the Warrior again? He splashed you and got you all soakin' wet, and then refused to get out of the tub and when you got him out, he started running around you and when you actually got hold of him, he squirmed away! You were patient at first when you tried to get the little rogue, but then you tried a few more times, and your patience wore out so you cried out, 'Eulalia! S'death on the wind! Eulalia!' You frightened the poor little mite out of his skin, and I'll bet he still hasn't forgotten it. To tell you the truth, I was pretty frightened myself."
River chucked. "Yup, an' I was right next to ye! I went deaf for two hours, or was it three? Y'screamed blue murder, as if a tyrant and his horde were after ye."
The Sister turned to the otter with a serious expression. "Tyrant? And his horde? Wot exactly made you say that, miss River?"
River stopped chortling. "Er, just somethin' that popped into me mind, sister."
Sister Delani shivered. "It would be horrible if a tyrant and his horde were attacking the Abbey. It's been so long since we had war and other things of that sort, and I would hate to spoil the peace. Also, wouldn't it be horrible if the Dibbuns grew up knowing war?"
Ttricino nodded grimly. "Aye, that it would. But if some beast does attack, we have a brave Abbey Warrior to lead us into battle."
As the sun began to rise slowly and shine light onto everything it saw, a black ship became visible on the rolling waves of the sea. Below the decks of the dark ship was a group of sleeping oar slaves, all chained by the footpaws to the ship's walls. But among the group was an awake, sturdy, young female hare who was tugging away at her chain, trying her hardest to get free. Oblivious to all around her, she tugged and she pulled and she yanked and even bit, put despite her strength, she could not pull it off of the wall. Frustrated and agitated, the hare let out a low growl, which echoed through the large, silent area. The hare's head immediately shot up, afraid that someone had heard her. Satisfied that nobeast had moved, she began her work again, her mind focused on only one thing. To get free! She yanked until the sun was clearly up, and she still was not done yet. Anxious that somebeast would go below deck to check on her and the others, she gave the chain one last yank, hoping the effort would be the last. Luckily, the chain snapped in two, weak from the pressure it had faced. The hare jumped up in excitement and completely forgot the chain was still connected to her footpaws. The jangle of the chain brought the hare on alert, and she immediately sat back down, afraid she had woken somebeast up. Her eyes were fixed on the staircase that led up to the deck, and they stayed there for quite a while. Slowly, she got back up again and crept quietly to the staircase. Once she had reached it, she turned back around and looked at all of her sleeping friends who were still chained up. Her eyes showed a sign of regret, but it soon disappeared. She looked up to the top of the staircase, where he freedom would begin. Although they could not here her because they were still asleep, the hare murmured softly, "I'll come back to free ye all. I promise."
Vermeng was a corsair, and captain of the slave ship Carassan, and all beasts above it and, unfortunately, below it. His ship traveled to several lone islands, picking up slaves he liked to call 'souvenirs.' The slaves he captured rowed his ship for him in the cramped space below deck, and when he got new ones, he took the oldest, weakest slaves and threw them into the sea. Some had tried to escape, but it wasn't the most possible thing they could try to do. There were always vermin walking around deck, wondering what to do. Although it wasn't the best thing the seabeasts could do, they always managed to spot an escaping slave and surround the poor creature. Once the slave was caught, which didn't take long, for the ones who were attempting an escape were weak from their rowing work, the best that could happen to them was torture. The other choice was death, which most of the escaping slaves had suffered. After several attempts, the slaves lost hope and began to get used to the life they lived; pushing and pulling the oars.
The weasel corsair was on the deck, enjoying the cool breeze on the spring morning. It was a perfect day for sailing. However, his grin disappeared as he saw a small rat scamper towards him, his face a picture of fright and surprise. When the rat reached the waiting weasel, he threw a short solute, and began to stammer him report.
"Cap'n, sir, eh, er, a slave, er, 'tis a hare, er, broke, er, broke the, eh, broke the chains an', uh, is now on, uh, on deck, er, on the opposite side of the, er, ship."
Vermeng shrugged nonchalantly. Another one of his pitiful slaves was attempting to escape. He stifled a yawn as he replied, "Jus' tell the crew to catch 'im like they've done 'afore."
The unfortunate rat who had brought the news to Vermeng, who was called Treeslot, hung his head. "'Tis a she, cap'n. An', er, yore seabeasts are, eh, attemptin' to catch her at this moment."
The weasel was caught off guard. A female hare, and his crew of seabeasts haven't caught her yet? He was sure this couldn't be true, so he repeated what was just said to him. "A female es'aped? An' they haven't gotten 'er yet?"
Not sure of how to answer, Treeslot stuttered, "Er, yes?" Just as the rat had finished his report, a ferret named Sinzord stumbled over to Vermeng and collapsed at the weasel's feet, his paw clutching the spot on his head where his left ear would've been, moaning and groaning in pain.
"The 'are tore me ear off! Owowowow! She's gone mad, fightin' an' slayin' like crazy, the cursed female! Owowow!"
Enraged, Vermeng grabbed a dagger and ran to the side of the ship where the escaped hare was, with Treeslot close behind and Sinzord wobbling around, trying to catch up.
The hare was fighting like a mad beast, injuring and slaying without any weapon being held in her two paws. She was out numbered greatly, for now almost all of Vermeng's seabeasts were after her, but she fought on bravely. As the hare was about to kick a stoat on the bottom, Vermeng silently ushered his hordebeasts out of his way, quickly sneaked up behind her, then grabbed her and placed his dagger a hairs length from her throat.
"One move and yer a deadbeast! Wot's yer name, hare?"
The hare growled, partly at Vermeng and partly at herself for getting recaptured so easily. "Nasty trick, weasel! Did ye know that sneakin' up on yore enemies was a cowardly act? Ha, probably not. I can't imagine ye knowin' anything in that small brain o' yores. An' as for me name, let go of me first an' then I'll tell you it."
The corsair stared at her suspiciously, trying to figure out if she was planning something, but seeing no harm in letting the hare go for she was only a young female, Vermeng released the dagger and spun the hare around roughly, hoping to make her dizzy and confused. But instead of trying to stop or stopping, the hare continued to spin faster and faster, revolving towards a bow and a bagful of arrows that somebeast aboard the Carassan had clumsily left on the deck on the ship.
Vermeng realized his mistake all too late. "Quick, grab 'er now!"
The hare had reached the bow and arrows and was knotting an arrow onto the bow, aiming at the surprised corsair captain, her face grim and showing no emotion at all. "I always keep me promises, weasel, even if it's vermin I make promises to, so I'll tell ye me name, and ye had better learn to fear it. Me name's Diathus Spinner, see there. Prepare to die, seascum! Blood and vinegaaaarrr! Eulaliiiiaaaaaaaa!"
Around the middle of the ship, a gigantic caged bird craned his neck as far as it would go to see what was causing the chaos and confusion on the slave ship, Carassan. Skydrop the eagle had been captured by Vermeng last season. Skydrop had attacked Vermeng because he was too close to his mate and his young ones. The eagle and the weasel were fighting viciously and Skydrop was emerging victorious when the unfortunate eagle fell unconscious from a sneak attack from a stoat from Vermeng's horde. When he had gained consciousness, he found himself imprisoned in a cage that was made of very strong metal, too strong for him to break out of, but now that a slave was loose, he might have a chance to escape. Eagerly, he tried his best to get full vision of the sight before him.
Vermeng had been saved by one of the beasts in his crew. A ferret called Foglute had made a dash for Diathus, and collided into her. Diathus barely had time to fire the bow, but because she was distracted, her aim was not the most accurate, and the arrow pierced the beast who was standing next to Vermeng, who fell with a scream, clutching the arrow that ran through his middle and falling backwards onto the deck floor, slain.
Vermeng stood aside as he watched the hare battle. He was, for one, amazed. Though his crew outnumbered her one to a thousand, she still fought on, yelling Eulalia's and hacking away at the foebeast like she was a madbeast who wouldn't ever tire out and stop fighting, oblivious to all her wounds. His seabeasts were now getting uneasy about the hare, and even the weasel corsair himself did not want to face Diathus in close combat.
Diathus looked at the hordebeasts and smiled wryly. Now was her chance to escape from the hated ship. Pausing for a moment, Diathus looked around her at her surroundings for the first time since she had cut free of her chains. Then it hit her. Escape to where? She was on a ship that was in the middle of the ocean, and the only way she could get off of the Carassan was to dive off of the ship, which would easily get her eaten by the big fish or drown because of the sea before she even spotted land. She clutched the bow grimly.
"Long as I'm here on this ship, an' alive too, might as well free someone else," Diathus muttered to herself. She headed towards the other end of the ship, where Skydrop was caged. She had heard rumors of the mighty bird from the seabeasts, and decided that she should free him so he could fly away. If she was to free the other slaves, then they would be in the same predicament as she was in, trapped on the ship in the sea, so she would only be getting them in trouble also.
Vermeng saw where she was headed, and immediately guessed what she was up to. Not wanting her to succeed and the bird to be set free, the angry weasel yelled to his weary troupes as he followed the hare. "Stop standin' ther' like a bunch o' dithering idiots an' follow me!"
"How do I get this lock thingy open, eagle?" Diathus queried the eagle while fidgeting with the lock to his cage nervously, glancing behind her once in a while.
Skydrop squeezed one of his great talons out of the cage between two bars and pointed to a pile of filthy silk, rags, and other pieces of unwanted clothing. "'Em stuck the key in t'at dirty pile o'er ther' in t'at corner." Skydrop craned his neck and saw the charging hordebeasts behind her. "Ye be quick an' hurry oop, lassie! Vermeng an' his crew's acomin' noo!"
Diathus backed away from the cage, talking rapidly while she did so. "There's no time to find the key; it'll take too long, an' by the looks o' that pile, it might take a while to find it. Hurry, move to the far back o' the cage!"
Skydrop did as she asked, and Diathus began to spin like she had before in front of Vermeng, except this time, with more strength and energy. She collided into the cage and smashed the front side of it, making a huge hole between two bars, and then span back to the previous spot she was standing. Skydrop stared at the hole in front of him, frozen with shock.
"Go on, eagle, climb through the hole an' fly away! I'll hold 'em off." Though her body was aching all over from the crash, Diathus turned to Vermeng's crew, who had slowed down and was now advancing on her and the great bird. Two or three of them were bolder than the rest and ran all the way with their blades pointed at the hare, hoping they could run her through. Before they could reach her, though, they were greeted by large whacks on their heads with Diathus's bow, and fell, stunned. She turned her head to speak to the eagle who had still not flown away. "Go, quickly!"
A rat of Vermeng's crew took this opportunity to stab her in the shoulder with his short sword, but found himself immediately wishing he hadn't. Diathus turned back instantly and using one of her arrows as a spear, she ran the rat through the middle. The rat fell with a moan, slain. The rest of Vermeng's horde backed away from the dangerous hare, not wanting to suffer the unfortunate fate as their comrade.
Skydrop figured out that this would be the only time that he and the haremaid could escape, so he shouted out from behind her, "Come on, lassie. Ah'm no' goin' wi' oot ye. Clim' on tae mah back!"
Realizing that the slave and the bird were going to escape, Vermeng shouted to his uneasy horde. "Come on, ye great big cowards! 'Tis only a little 'are maid! Now go a'ter 'er or I'll be goin' a'ter ye!"
Fearing their leader more than the haremaid, Vermeng's crew charged at the eagle, Skydrop, and Diathus.
Sinzord had gotten between Daithus and Skydrop, not letting Diathus pass. Sinzord hoped that this bold move would earn him a high rank with Vermeng, and be a favorite of the weasels. Casually, Diathus threw an arrow like it was a javelin with her arm that had the uninjured shoulder. The arrow struck true, piercing Sinzord's other ear. Sinzord yelped painfully, and Diathus smiled mockingly.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I just hurt yore other ear. Want me to take out yore eyes now?"
Clutching his throbbing ear and covering his eyes in fear that Diathus would send another arrow headed for them, Sinzord scrambled blindly to get away from the perilous hare, only to collide into a stoat who was about to sling a stone at Diathus, knocking the stoat down, while the sling wrapped around his arm.
Diathus continued to smile. "Thanks, ferret! Remind me that next time I see ye, I owe ye a liddle present: yore nose ripped off!"
"Clim' on, lassie. Quickly noo."
Kicking a ferret who had gotten in her way and clutching her injured shoulder, Diathus climbed onto Skydrop's back.
"Let's go, eagle."
The great eagle nodded and let out a loud cry.
"Krrreeeekah!"
Skydrop flapped his great wings once and soared out into the air as Diathus sat on his back, looking down at the Carassan silently.
**
Everyone in Redwall Abbey was preparing for Nameday, which was just a few days away. Mother Abbess Sencatina had though of a nice name for the spring, though the old squirrel wouldn't tell anybeast, nor give any clues or hints.
"'Tis a wonderful day, eh, Abbess? The grass is green, skies are blue, and the lawn is alive with little Dibbuns." Young Raiyon the Bellringer walked alongside Abbess Sencatina as they strolled through the Abbey turf. Raiyon paused and stopped talking and walking, as if she had just though of something. "You know, Abbess, I think it would be even more of a wonderful day if you would kindly tell me and the rest of the Abbey what the new season's name is. Don't you agree, Abbess?"
Abbess Sencatina chuckled lightly at the hopeful mouse and stopped so she was beside her. "Yes Raiyon, you are definitely right. Should I tell you the name now?"
The young mouse nodded eagerly. "Yes, please do, Abbess."
Mother Abbess grinned and strolled off, calling out over her shoulder, "Not telling!"
Raiyon pondered over this for a moment. "Not Telling? Hmmm, the Spring of the Not Telling. Awfully strange name, Abbess! Well, at least it's better than…hey, just wait a minute, Abbess! Excuse me for saying, Abbess, but just who do you think you're trying to fool? Not telling, ha. Abbess!"
The bellringer immediately started chasing after Abbess Sencatina, shouting angrily, "Abbess, come back! I demand to know the name of our season, Abbess! It isn't fair, I tell you, it isn't fair, Abbess! It's not just your season, you know, it's mine too, as well as the rest of the Abbey's, and Mossflower's too, Abbess, so we should know what to call it! Come back, Abbess!"
Sister Melissis, the mouse that worked in the infirmary, poked her head out of a window. "Whew! It's quite stuffy in here." She spotted Abbess Sencatina skipping around and giggling like she was a Dibbun, with Raiyon hot on her tail, still shouting. The Sister shook her head, smiling. "Well, well, it looks that our Abbess grows younger instead of older. My, my, what a sight!"
In the kitchen, Friar Horvory the dormouse was preparing for the Nameday feast. The tables were piled high with finished foods. Woodland summercream pudding, blueberry scones, spring salads, leek and onion pasties, strawberry flans, cornflower custard, just to name a few.
"Cakes, trifles, salads, breads, flans, tarts, puddin', pasties, so much work to be done! Not to mention the arrival of the Long Patrol. Oh, those gluttonous hares! It's a good thing Midnight and I already have most of the feast prepared. An' at least I don't have any deadline. Deadline, hah! Put me under pressure by saying the feast will start when I finish me work. Oh, woe is me! Hmmm…might want to hurry up then." the fat little Friar sighed as he absently spread meadowcream onto a damson and plum cake.
"Do you 'ave zoup? Cat ferget the zoup!" A tiny voice called out from below. "Cat have feast without zoup!"
Friar Horvory looked down at the otter Dibbun, Manei, daughter of Skipper of Otters and River, and smiled warmly. He had always had a soft spot for otters; happy and energetic creatures, they were. "Of course, liddle 'un, how could I ferget soup. Speaking of soup, would you be so kind to take this bowl o' soup to Midnight the otter fer me? She helped me prepare a lot o' this feast so I thought she deserved a little bowl of wot she made."
Manei took the bowl of watershrimp and hotroot soup and looked at it slyly. Looking back up at the Friar, the otter Dibbun grinned mischievously. "Course I vill, Friar Hoviry. Heeheehee!" With that, the otter ran off outside with the bowl of soup.
Manei skipped happily with her bowl of soup as she looked for a nice place to eat it. "Me got a bowl o' soup! Me goin' eat up an' then none left for Middynight...Eeeek!" Manei yelped as she ran into a sturdy mouse.
"Slow down, little one! You'll get yourself hurt if you skip while holding a bowl of soup."
Manei was picked up along with her soup, and found herself looking straight into the stern eyes of the mouse, Rambati, the Abbey warrior. "Speakin' of soup, why is a bowl of Friar Horvory's watershrimp and hotroot soup doing outside of the Abbey kitchen? Also, who gave you the bowl of soup, and where are you going with it? Answer all my questions truthfully, now."
Manei paused for a while, trying to think of a good alibi, although Rambati's last statement clearly suggested no lying. Then she remembered what she was supposed to do with the soup and used it as an excuse. "Friar give to me to give to Middynight! Put me dow'!" Manei replied as she kicked and struggled to get out of the grasp of the warrior while also trying not to spill her precious soup that she had 'worked so hard' to get. "Pleez?"
Rambati smiled warmly as he put the little Dibbun down, but began to lecture her, trying his best not to laugh as the otterbabe shuffled her footpaws nervously and stared at the grassy ground. "Midnight is inside the Abbey, not outside, and I know you better than that, little Manei. I think you're keeping this soup for yourself. Come on now, I will take you to Midnight so you can give her the soup like you were supposed to, and after that, I will take you to your mother, River. Let us see what she says about her own daughter stealing from Friar Horvory and Midnight. This isn't the first time, though."
Manei was pushed lightly back to the Abbey, while getting a firm scolding from Rambati.
Midnight strolled happily into the Abbey kitchen. She greeted the Friar with a smile as she slowly inched towards a cupboard, never once taking her eyes off the dormouse. "Friar, mate! How's the feast comin' along? Good, I hope? And I hope you haven't been too busy working for the Long Patrol that's ye've forgotten about us other creature in the Abbey and have left us to starve?"
The Friar smiled warmly at the jolly otter, ignoring the fact that she was moving to a cupboard. "Everything is fine, and nobeastie is going to starve. Thank ye fer helpin', Midnight. How was yore soup? Was it as good as Skipper's? If not, tell him ye and I stilled tried our best."
Midnight, who was helping herself to a bag of watershrimp out of the cupboard, paused for a moment, and looked confused as she said, "Soup? Wot soup? This is my first helpin' o' soup today, Friar, which is pretty suprisin' fer me, but back on the subject, wot soup?"
Now it was Friar Horvory's turn to look confused. "I sent River's daughter Manei to send you a bowl o' soup for helping me in the kitchen." Realization suddenly dawned onto the old dormouse and he crossed his arms and pouted. "Humph! The liddle mischief! She's probably ran off an' kept the soup for 'erself. Why, when I get me hands on the liddle rogue, I'll, I'll, I don't know what I'll do, but it won't be good!"
Before Midnight could calm the Friar down, Rambati was at the kitchen door with a sheepish looking Manei at his side. "Go on, Manei. Be a good Dibbun and give Midnight her soup."
Hesitantly, Manei approached the older otter. She stared at the soup for quite a while, then handed the bowl to her and whispered, "Here's your zoup, Middynight. Sorry me took it."
Midnight grinned and patted Manei on the head. Then she turned the Friar and her grin turned even wider. "Watershrimp and 'otroot soup, me favorite."
"Where the sun never sets
And is always aglow,
Where the river runs long
To where I'll never know.
Where the mountain crest
Reaches high into the sky,
Where the flowers never wilt,
And the birds fly high.
Where the grass is green
And the skies are blue,
That is the place where I want to be,
Where I want to be with you."
Periwinkle, a pretty squirrelmaid, jumped up and twirled in the air as she sang the last note of the song, and landed gracefully. Gabrieny, the young hogmaid who was 'cellkeeper in training', had been listening to Periwinkle's song nearby. She tilted her head slightly in astonishment at the singing, twirling squirrelmaid and clapped softly as she complimented her.
"Very nicely done, Periwinkle. 'Tis a lovely song, though I don't think I've e'er heard that one before. Did ye make it yerself?"
Sister Melissis, who had come from the infirmary in search for fresh air, had heard Gabrieny's comment and shook her head. "Surely not! Young Periwinkle, compose her own song?
Heeheehee, that's like asking Raiyon to cook! No offense to the bellringer, though. It's just that she…she doesn't… anyway, your sister Pimpernel wrote it, didn't she, Periwinkle?"
The squirrelmaid smiled sweetly. "You're right of course, ma'am. I couldn't compose a good song to save my own tail! Pimpernel wrote it because she is a good song composer, though not a good singer. My other sister, Primrose, is the best out of us three at playing her squirrelina. She made the instrument herself, you know. We make a very good team when it comes to performing. Perhaps we could perform at the Nameday Feast? I heard that the Friar is almost done with the preparations, in other words, food. I can't wait, the season will finally have a name. I wonder if Raiyon…" Periwinkle stopped chatting away as she raised an eyebrow at the hogmaid, who was dancing and twirling away in a very clumsy manner, trying to imitate what she had done a few moments ago, and failing. Gabrieny stopped her actions for a moment and looked at Periwinkle, perplexed.
"How'd ye twirl like that, marm?"
The badger mother of Redwall Abbey, named Ttricino, sat helplessly on the Abbey lawn as masses of Dibbuns climbed and crawled all over and around her. She dare not stand up, fearing that she would step on and squash one of the Dibbuns who were playing around her footpaws. Sighing, the badger sat on the lawn as, without knowing of the torment they were causing, Dibbuns played around the unfortunate badger.
One of the Dibbuns, a mole named Burno, had climbed on to Ttricino's head. He waved his tiny stick like a sword and called out in a, what he thought would be, gruff voice, "Hurr, oi'm Marthen the Warrior, an' allbeasts are gurtly afeared o' oi, oh aye."
A mouse Dibbun, called Runey, climbed onto Ttricino's right shoulder. "You not Ma'tin! I be Ma'tin! I make better Ma'tin than 'ou!"
Young Burno shook his head. "Nay, you'm Marthen next toime. Oi'm Marthen today."
Ttricino flinched slightly as Runey jumped and stamped his feet on her shoulder in disappointment. "No, I be Ma'tin! I want be Ma'tin! I be Ma'tin, even I hav' ta fight you ta be 'im!"
Burno frowned. "Them we'm will foight!" The mole positioned his short stick in front of him as if it was a real weapon. "Burr, okay, oi'm be ready."
Runey also had a stick ready in front of him. "Okay, one, two, five, twemmy, go!"
Stick hit stick as the two Dibbuns fought over the badger mother's head. Burno was getting along a bit better than Runey, who was a bit unbalanced on the badger's shoulder. Suddenly, Runey's stick struck Burno's hand, causing him to yelp and drop his stick. The mole watched as his stick struck Ttricino's knee. He leaned in to get a better look when he Runey gave the mole a little shove. Burno tumbled off of the big badger's head, bouncing off Ttricino's knee, and landing sitting down, scratching his head.
"Urr, what 'app'ned?"
Runey grinned triumphantly and took Burno's place on top of the badger mother's head. Then, the little Dibbun mouse started jumping enthusiastically.
"I won! I'm Ma'tin! I won!"
While Runey bounced and jumped on the badger mother's head, Something inside Ttricino snapped. Dibbuns had jumped on her head and shoulder, sticks had fallen on her, and so much more. She had had enough. Ttricino jumped up onto her two feet, causing the ground to shake slightly. Using her blunt paws, she started throwing and shaking the Dibbuns off of her furry body. Having done that, she threw her head back and roared out, "Eulaliiiaaaaaaaaaa!"
The startled Dibbuns looked up at their normally peaceful and quiet badger mother. None of them said a word for they were too stunned, so Ttricino said something for them.
"Go, go inside right now! I've been patiently sitting here and not being noticed while tiny little Dibbuns are squirming and climbing all over me! You slimy lot have jumped on me, dropped sticks on me, even tickled my footpaws, and I've had far enough! Go inside to bed this instant and go take your naps that you should have taken a long time ago, do you hear me, before I lose my temper again and do something far worse that just roar my war cry!"
The shocked Dibbuns all ran screaming into the Abbey, afraid that their badger mother would do something more.
"Aaaiieeeee! Help us, the badgermom's attackin'!"
"Miz Ttroicoino goin' t'slay uz!"
"She's goin' ta choppa our tails off an' trow us into 'ee pond!"
"Oh, oh! Momma, Miss Ttricino is goin' ta jump on me, drop stickies on me, an' tickly me footpaws! Said so herself! Heeeelllppp!"
Once the little Dibbuns were gone, although their screams could still be heard from the Mossflower Woods, the badger mother plopped back onto the grass and sighed, extremely confused about her previous behavior. "Whew! I don't know why I did that or what had gotten into me! Imagine, calling the Dibbuns slimy!" Ttricino said to no one in particular.
River, Manei's mother, and Sister Delani, who had been going around to collect flowers for Great Hall, sat down next to Ttricino on the Abbey lawn.
River said, "Yore related to a badger lord, marm. Yore father is Lord Brawnpeak the Bold, ruler o' the great fire mountain Salamandastron, home to mountain hares. And besides, ye were always a bit impatient when you arrived at the Abbey. Didn't ye think so, Sister?"
Sister Delani agreed whole heartily. "Yes, you were always impatient with the Dibbuns. Remember when little Burno was taking a bath and he pretended to be our Martin the Warrior again? He splashed you and got you all soakin' wet, and then refused to get out of the tub and when you got him out, he started running around you and when you actually got hold of him, he squirmed away! You were patient at first when you tried to get the little rogue, but then you tried a few more times, and your patience wore out so you cried out, 'Eulalia! S'death on the wind! Eulalia!' You frightened the poor little mite out of his skin, and I'll bet he still hasn't forgotten it. To tell you the truth, I was pretty frightened myself."
River chucked. "Yup, an' I was right next to ye! I went deaf for two hours, or was it three? Y'screamed blue murder, as if a tyrant and his horde were after ye."
The Sister turned to the otter with a serious expression. "Tyrant? And his horde? Wot exactly made you say that, miss River?"
River stopped chortling. "Er, just somethin' that popped into me mind, sister."
Sister Delani shivered. "It would be horrible if a tyrant and his horde were attacking the Abbey. It's been so long since we had war and other things of that sort, and I would hate to spoil the peace. Also, wouldn't it be horrible if the Dibbuns grew up knowing war?"
Ttricino nodded grimly. "Aye, that it would. But if some beast does attack, we have a brave Abbey Warrior to lead us into battle."