Chapter 3
Extract from the writings of Brother Bebiune, Recorder of Redwall Abbey in Mossflower Country.
It is a yet another lovely spring morning here at our beloved Redwall Abbey. Unfortunately, we still do not know the name of this beautiful season…yet. Abbess Sencatina is determined to keep it a secret until Nameday, and if you will excuse me for saying, whenever our squirrel Abbess sets her heart onto something, she can get very determined and stubborn. She still hasn't even given us a clue, and Nameday is just a few sunsets away, or in other words, when Horvory is done with the preparations. Raiyon the Bellringer is also very stubborn. She must have tried a dozen times to find out, using different strategies each time. Coaxing, threatening, (can you believe, threatening the Abbess!) tricking, and many more plans have been attempted by the poor mousemaid. But alas, my friend, Abbess Sencatina is too wise to fall for the young mouse's tricks, how clever they may be.
We also have another young trickster, although this one likes stealing food, instead of trying the figure out names of seasons. Actually, I don't even think she knows about naming seasons. She probably thinks that seasons come with names. Well, if you think of it that way, perhaps they-Oh, excuse me, babbling on and on like that. Back onto the subject. Skipper of Otters and his wife, River, have raised a mischievous little Dibbun, who is called Manei, as River's great-great grandmother had been called. River says that Manei is an exact image of her old otterkin when she was younger, but the similarities stop there. River's great-great grandmother was kind, obedient and never caused any trouble. River's daughter is a mischief, rogue, scoundrel, rascal, and much more of that sort. That otter is either stealing from Friar Horvory's kitchen, or getting Raiyon to help her with it. Sometimes, I wish that she would grow up and become a real Redwaller, kind and helping, sensitive and good, but it is Dibbuns like Manei that keep this Abbey alive, and away from dullness, although quite a few times, Horvory had tried to retire from his job, always complaining about the otter Dibbun. Of course, he doesn't mean it, really. He loves to cook, and he also loves Manei's company, if you would call it that. Actually, I would rather call it mischief, but if Horvory insists that she- oh dear. Please pardon me again for babbling on again. I must stop getting of the topic like that.
We have new Abbey members now. Just days ago, Sandfir the Squirrel and his sister, Azalea, knocked on our door, wanting to be let in and accepted. Of course, we obliged, them being our woodland friends and all, and also because Azalea was terribly sick. Because Azalea was sick, I guess that is the reason that Sandfir came here. He is no healer, so he needed our help. There is still no sign of Treetop, Sandfir's childhood friend, who had disappeared a few seasons ago. I know we will find him, but I also know that will not be very soon, for we don't even know where he went.
The Long Patrol! The gluttonous, comical, loud, yet gallant and perilous group of hares are getting ready to make a journey here from their mountain home, Salamandastron. We know this because they sent a messenger, a small robin named Glidewing, to tell us, or in other words, warn us. The poor Friar has got himself working up a storm in his precious kitchen. The tables, countertops, even the floor, are covered with made and ready foods prepared for the feast and for the group of hungry hares. I can hardly put a foot inside the kitchen without stepping on something. Good thing I never tried again after my footpaw squished on of the Friar's potato and leek turnover. Badgermom Ttricino tells me that even though not all of the hares are leaving her father, Badger Lord Brawnpeak the Bold and the fire mountain, Salamandastron, there are still many of the walking stomachs, with the odd 'green one' marching with them, though I don't know what that means. I wonder if it means a hare that is green, or a camouflage expert, or something of that sort. Like I was saying, many of them are coming. Goodness, they'll eat us out of our kitchens and our cellars, then out of our Abbey!
Our Abbey warrior is growing big and strong, although he rarely carries the sword of Martin the Warrior. I remember when Rambati was only a little Dibbun, always stealing from our Abbey kitchen, or pinching strawberries at the harvest season, just like Manei. Now, he's the one who always catches her! Life and how it goes is quite queer, don't you think? Rambati is also getting very fond of Raiyon. Almost everyday, I see those two on the lawn, sitting around and chatting like two old friends who have known each other for quite a while, when really, Raiyon's only been here for a few seasons when Rambati was born in our Abbey.
Oh, what is that loud commotion? It sounds like slaughter in the kitchen. I must go see what is happening, so if you will excuse me, I should stop writing. I hope nothing has gone wrong with the feast. Then we might have to cancel, or delay. Goodness, I don't know what I would do of that has to happen! I must go now, goodbye!
Brother Bebiune, Recorder of Redwall Abbey
in Mossflower Woods
Brother Bebiune rushed out of the little gatehouse and into the Abbey, headed for the kitchens. Right at the doorway to the kitchen, he was stopped by the squirrelmaid sisters, Primrose, Pimpernel and Periwinkle, and the mouse warrior, Rambati, Champion of Redwall Abbey. Primrose held up her paw and, with her other one, pointed to the kitchen. Her voice was filled with anxiety and nervousness as she tried to stop the brother.
"Er, Brother Bebiune, I'm not sure you would want to go in there."
Her two sisters agreed right away, nodding their heads furiously and trying to lead the confused Brother away from the Abbey kitchens and not see whatever was going on in there.
"Yes, er, it's a real mess in there, Brother Bebiune, a really big one. Why don't we go, er, take a nice walk outside instead, and get some fresh air? You've been in the gatehouse the whole day, and it must get quite stuffy in there."
"Thank you for the offer, Pimpernel, but I think I'd rather stay here and see what's going on in the kitchen. Besides, I just came from the gatehouse, meaning I had to walk through the Abbey orchard, so I've already been outside. As for the mess, I won't go in and step on anything, just look around and such."
"No really, Brother. The Friar is, er, very busy in there. Are you sure you want to barge into the kitchen and upset Friar Horvory while he's making something delicious, like, er, perhaps, I don't know, maybe a summercream pudding?"
There was a slight chuckle from Rambati as Primrose said 'summercream pudding,' and the squirrelmaid threw the warrior a dirty look, which silenced him immediately, though the expression on his face was still quite humorous, and he still looked like he was going to burst out laughing at any moment.
The kindly Brother, although startled by Rambati's laughter, kept on his protest. "Er, Rambati, I do not exactly understand what is so funny. And I'm sure, dear. Horvory has always enjoyed company while he was cooking. Now please, young ones, let me through. I would never forgive myself if something terrible had happened to Horvory's kitchen and I wasn't there to help him. Besides, the good Friar has told me that he has a lot of work to do and I could drop by anytime I wanted to help, and right now, I want to help him."
Rambati burst out giggling from watching as the three squirrels tried to get the Brother away from the kitchen. He held his sides as he shook with laughter. "Oh, hahaha, er, heeheehee, no need to worry, the Friar doesn't need your help, heehee! He has, hahaha, tons of help already! Are you sure you want to go in, Brother Bebiune? Heeheehee, it's a battlefield in that kitchen, hahahaheehee, Friar Horvory against Raiyon the Bellringer, heeheeheehee!"
As he continued laughing, the warrior mouse stepped aside to reveal to the Recorder absolute chaos. Raiyon had been trying very hard to making a summercream pudding. The Friar had tried pulling the bowl out of her grasp, complaining about her wasting ingredients. This had roused the young mouse's temper, and she and the Friar were arguing and quarrelling furiously. The brother otters, Valor and Brisk, were trying their best to calm the two down, while also trying to save the food that Friar Horvory had worked so hard on from Raiyon's stamping footpaws and flailing arms. Regrettably, a lot was already damaged. Manei was rolling happily around in a puddle of October Ale that the old cellarmole Durgurgle had brought from the cellars for the Friar to sip while her worked and dropped it in sheer disbelief as he saw the scene in front of him. The new squirrel, Sandfir, was cleaning up the mess and moving the punctured food as best as he could while flour dropped onto his back from the tables because of Raiyon's clumsy paws as they whirled around unwieldy in anger and frustration. Abbess Sencatina was also there, shaking her head slowly as she watched the curious scene in front of her. Most unusual, a mousemaid named Ivy was sitting on a chair in the middle of the commotion, coolly sipping mint tea, oblivious to all around her. Bebiune, like the Abbess, shook his head and pushed pass the squirrels and the mouse.
"You were right, young ones. I did not, nor do I, want to see that. Good bye now. I will return to my quiet gatehouse and pick up my quill pen and write."
Near the kitchen door was Durgurgle, clutched up in a tight ball and huddling in a corner. "Burr, I cain't ber to look at all 'at wunnerful vittles be runed. Hurr hurr hurr, 'tis so sad."
Bebiune nodded and glanced back at the kitchen. "Yes, and by the time those two are done, Horvory will have to start all over again. Oh goodness, somebeast stop them!"
As the Brother turned to the tapestry of Martin the Warrior for help, Rambati's shout caused him to hurry back to the kitchen.
"Brother Bebiune, Ivy is getting up!"
The Brother and the other onlookers looked curiously at the mousemaid Ivy as she slowly got up from her chair. Gracefully strolling across the kitchen, she started sampling the foods that had not been destroyed yet. Ivy nibbled daintily, going from one platter to the other. Once in a while, she would murmur a 'Quite exquisite', or a 'Very nice.' Raiyon and Friar Horvory had stopped
fighting to stare at the mousemaid. Finally, after quite a while, Friar Horvory strode out to face her.
"Just hold on, mizzy. Just wot do ye think yore doin', sampling all the vittles I've been working so hard on an' have made especially for the feast?"
Ivy smiled pleasantly at him, her face a picture of innocence and her voice gentle and charming. As she spoke, her voice dripped with sweetness and sincerity. The mousemaid chose her words very carefully as she spoke. "Well, dear Friar, you and Raiyon were fighting so much that I thought you had forgotten about the Nameday feast and the food that you have spent so much time on. It's not the best thing to leave a friend's precious work to rot or get cold, so I decided to spend some of my time to help you eat it, seeing that the creatures at the feast won't be able too because you'll be too busy and won't be able to finish your work. I'm sure you won't mind, since you and Raiyon will be so busy with your arguing. If you don't mind, I'll get back to my sampling."
As Ivy walked calmly to a plate of blueberry crumble, every beast that had witnessed the strange speech help their breath, expecting the Friar to explode with anger. A few moments past, and the Friar burst out into chuckles.
"Missy, you're a smart one! Righto, Let me through, everybeast. There's a feast's work to be done here. Oh, er, Abbess, I'm sure you won't mind delaying the feast. I have a lot of redoing to do."
The Abbess nodded understandingly, a grin playing around her lips. "And what should we do with the destroyed food?"
The Friar winked cheerfully. "Righto, bring them to Cavern Hole, an' anybeast who wants it, gets it. Oh, now I do wish the hares were here. They wouldn't mind a mashed plum pudding, or slightly squished cake. Now Manei, get up an' go to your mother. She'll wash ye up good'n'proper. Sandfir, you can stop now. You've got flour all over the back of yore new tunic, an' I'm sure that after all the time Delani put on sewing that special tunic fer ye, she'll explode wid anger if ye got it any flourier. Brisk, Valor, I am sorry about the trouble I caused ye two. An' Raiyon, I'm sorry. The pressure of preparing a feast has gotten to me again."
Brisk grinned and nodded. "Righto! Come on, mates, Lets go and leave the Friar to his work."
Valor agreed completely. "Yup, he must have a lot to do, cleanin' and cookin' an' the rest o' that."
Sandfir smiled and slowly edged towards the door. "Right, good luck, Friar. I got to go check on Azalea. She's my sister, after all."
The three headed for the door. Raiyon was already there.
"We'll be going now," Raiyon called to the Friar cheerfully. "Don't worry, you'll get your kitchen cleaned up in a flash."
As the four dashed out, the Friar shook his head and muttered to himself darkly as he used a mop to clean up the puddle of October Ale.
"Humph, yunsters, al'ays want to get out o' doin' a chore. Yah, leave it to old Friar Horvory, he'll clean it up fer us. Humph. One day, you'll come into the kitchen and I'll be gone, on vacation for all ye'll know, and then you can go and do yer own moppin' an' sweepin' wid no me to help ye wid it. Humph."
Ivy the mousemaid was still in the kitchen. She tapped Friar Horvory in the shoulder lightly. "Excuse me, dear Friar. Would you mind if I did the sweeping and mopping? That way, you can start making more of your delicious delicacies for the famished creatures who are waiting to taste your wonderful creations."
The Friar's disposition immediately changed as soon as he heard the carefully chosen words that Ivy had thought up. "Why thank you missy. I'll get to it right away. No beastie in this Abbey's goin' to starve, no sirry!" Friar Horvory chuckled to himself as he busied himself into his work. Ivy started to sweep the floor gracefully, smiling as the Friar talked to himself.
"A liddle pinch o' this, a liddle pinch o' that, put a liddle o' this in an' this should be done on no time at all!"
Abbess Sencatina and Brother Bebiune also smiled as they secretly peeked into the kitchen. They both nodded in satisfaction that everything was going well, and walked away from the door, Brother Bebiune headed for his gatehouse, and Abbess Sencatina to the dormitory to help Sister Cheterina, who worked in the dormitory, put the Dibbuns to sleep, both thinking the same thoughts. Ivy was a special mouse!
A young mouse sat silently on the clean spring grass, looking straight forward. His ears came alert as he heard footsteps behind him. Somebeast was approaching. Raiyon the bellringer quietly sneaked up on Rambati the Warrior and suddenly covered his eyes with her floury paws, trying to disguise her recognizable voice.
"Guess who, O great warrior!"
Rambati relaxed. It was only Raiyon. He smiled, but didn't turn around.
"Hello Raiyon, old bellringer friend. Make any tasty summercream puddings lately?"
Raiyon uncovered her friend's eyes and plopped down onto the grass next to him.
"Hello Rambati, old warrior friend. Catch any naughty little otter Dibbuns lately?"
Rambati grin grew wider. "Caught one just yesterday with a bowl of soup. She said she was going to take it to Midnight. Ha, can you believe what River did when I told her that her daughter had been stealing again? She just burst out laughing and said that next time she stole, she should save some for her!" The warrior mouse leaned back onto the soft ground. "I was just like Manei when I was a Dibbun, always stealing from the kitchens. Pity I won't be able to again, it was so much fun. What would everyone think though, the warrior of Redwall Abbey pinching vittles from the Abbey kitchen?"
Raiyon chuckled as she did the same. "Hmmm…yes, a pity, though I can't quite imagine you stealing anything. Time passes quickly, doesn't it, Rati?"
Rambati nodded. "Aye, Rai, just yesterday it was the Winter of the Dancing Badger, and now it's the…I believe it's the Spring of the Not Telling."
Raiyon, with much effort, chose to ignore the teasing comment, though she still gave Rambati a swift glare, which he chuckled at. "Have you ever seen anything like it? Ttricino, our old badgermom, was laughing and singing, and most of all, dancing. What a sight. No wonder Abbess chose to name it Winter of the Dancing Badger. It was the strangest thing. Quite funny also, if you don't mind me saying. The huge hat with the bells attached to it was the funniest thing."
Rambati nodded. "She didn't seem so old when she did dance, though. Actually, she's not that old right now. Just very tall. Despite all the loud roaring, she's the gentlest badger I've ever known, not that I've know any others. Ttricino's taken care of me for a very long time, so I should know. Her bark is much worse than her bite."
Raiyon sighed. "I hope so, because I heard her roar yesterday. I nearly jumped out of my fur, half because I was so surprised, and half because I believe the ground shook! I hope that the Dibbuns are okay. They must have been scared too."
Rambati smirked slightly. "The Dibbuns are behaving much more since yesterday afternoon's incident. Actually, Sister Melissis claims that she heard them murmur in their sleep about giant badgermoms, chasing them around the Abbey, trying to throw them into a giant water pail so they could take a long bath. Okay, so maybe only little Fackels. I have to say, the little hedgehog babe was extremely frightened yesterday. Maybe it was because he was the one who tickled Ttricino's footpaws. Speaking of yesterday, how was your little chase with the vulnerable Abbess Sencatina? Successful? Did she tell you the name of our season, or did you fail yet again?"
Raiyon sighed again. "It's amazing, you know, Rati. How can an Abbess who seems so old and
frail be so young and lively? I chased after Mother Abbess for what seemed like hours and hours, but I couldn't catch up to the old bushtail, excuse me for calling the Abbess that. It was like she never ran out of energy. She was always running at least a few footpaws in front of me, calling out teasingly. Say, I never though an Abbess would do that. Whew, remind me never to do that again. It seems like there's no hope figuring out the spring's name ahead of time, and now we'll have to find out the name later because I went on and got Friar Horvory upset. Now half of the feast is ruined and we have to wait even longer! Wait a tick, I shouldn't be complaining. I was part of why it happened. But still, it's not fair!"
Rambati shrugged and got up slowly. "When you live here, Rai, you have to be prepared for these kind of things. Especially when you mess with the Abbess or the Friar. Come on, let's go see if we can help Horvory clean up the big mess that you two made. If you want something to be done, at least help." He stuck out his paw to help Raiyon get up. The mouse on the lawn took it hesitantly and hauled herself up, then brushed herself off a bit indignantly.
"Well, all right. Let's go."
The two mice walked slowly into the Abbey, stopping occasionally because Raiyon didn't want to face the Friar after her cooking mistake. They walked through Great Hall, and paused to look at Martin the Warrior, admiring every bit of the well woven cloth on the wall of Great Hall. As they were staring at the tapestry, loud footsteps were heard. Rambati turned away from the tapestry at the sound of scampering creatures to see Skipper of Otters and River, followed by a band of otters. Skipper's rough features were full of worry as he checked everything that he saw, while Riverlight face was absolutely tearful. She looked around wildly, as if looking for something or someone. Finally, she seemed to notice Raiyon and Rambati. Her eyes lit up for a moment, then seeming to realize they were the beasts or beast she was looking for, they quickly dimmed again, back to the state they had first saw her in.
"What's wrong, River, ma'am?" Raiyon inquired politely. She, too, had looked away from the tapestry. "Is there something bothering you?"
"'Tis Manei," River explained rapidly, still looking around furiously. As if she actually expected to find something there, the worried otterwife checked behind the tapestry. "Our liddle Manei's missin'!"
"She's gone?" Raiyon gasped in surprise.
Skipper nodded gravely as he also tried to look behind the tapestry along with his wife, for what reason, they didn't know yet. "Aye, she was supposed to take 'er bath but she didn't come. We knew she doesn't like to take baths, so we waited a while fer her to finally get bored o' her hidin' game and come fer her bath, but she still didn't come, so we started looking fer 'er. Searched all around, mates, called 'er name, checked the 'hole Abbey. Well, almost the 'hole Abbey. We were very close. Ain't no sign o' the liddle mischief." Skipper's otter crew pitched in.
"Can't find 'er anywhere, mates."
"We checked all o' 'er favorite 'idin' spots."
"No trace o' where she could've went, me buckoes."
"'Aven't seen 'er since the October Ale incident."
"'Tis like the liddle rascual jus' disappeared into thin water, ye know."
"Righto, she's nowhere to be found."
River was the first to notice Rambati's disappearance. The otter looked around anxiously. "Where's Rambati? Have we lost the poor mouse too?"
Skipper shook his head knowingly as his eyes strayed around the hall and landed on to the warrior's disappearing form. "Of course not, the good warrior's probably gone to tell the Abbess."
Skipper was right, except Rambati wasn't only telling the Abbess. He was running around the Abbey, yelling at the top of his lungs.
"Missing otter Dibbun, Manei's missing!"
Extract from the writings of Brother Bebiune, Recorder of Redwall Abbey in Mossflower Country.
It is a yet another lovely spring morning here at our beloved Redwall Abbey. Unfortunately, we still do not know the name of this beautiful season…yet. Abbess Sencatina is determined to keep it a secret until Nameday, and if you will excuse me for saying, whenever our squirrel Abbess sets her heart onto something, she can get very determined and stubborn. She still hasn't even given us a clue, and Nameday is just a few sunsets away, or in other words, when Horvory is done with the preparations. Raiyon the Bellringer is also very stubborn. She must have tried a dozen times to find out, using different strategies each time. Coaxing, threatening, (can you believe, threatening the Abbess!) tricking, and many more plans have been attempted by the poor mousemaid. But alas, my friend, Abbess Sencatina is too wise to fall for the young mouse's tricks, how clever they may be.
We also have another young trickster, although this one likes stealing food, instead of trying the figure out names of seasons. Actually, I don't even think she knows about naming seasons. She probably thinks that seasons come with names. Well, if you think of it that way, perhaps they-Oh, excuse me, babbling on and on like that. Back onto the subject. Skipper of Otters and his wife, River, have raised a mischievous little Dibbun, who is called Manei, as River's great-great grandmother had been called. River says that Manei is an exact image of her old otterkin when she was younger, but the similarities stop there. River's great-great grandmother was kind, obedient and never caused any trouble. River's daughter is a mischief, rogue, scoundrel, rascal, and much more of that sort. That otter is either stealing from Friar Horvory's kitchen, or getting Raiyon to help her with it. Sometimes, I wish that she would grow up and become a real Redwaller, kind and helping, sensitive and good, but it is Dibbuns like Manei that keep this Abbey alive, and away from dullness, although quite a few times, Horvory had tried to retire from his job, always complaining about the otter Dibbun. Of course, he doesn't mean it, really. He loves to cook, and he also loves Manei's company, if you would call it that. Actually, I would rather call it mischief, but if Horvory insists that she- oh dear. Please pardon me again for babbling on again. I must stop getting of the topic like that.
We have new Abbey members now. Just days ago, Sandfir the Squirrel and his sister, Azalea, knocked on our door, wanting to be let in and accepted. Of course, we obliged, them being our woodland friends and all, and also because Azalea was terribly sick. Because Azalea was sick, I guess that is the reason that Sandfir came here. He is no healer, so he needed our help. There is still no sign of Treetop, Sandfir's childhood friend, who had disappeared a few seasons ago. I know we will find him, but I also know that will not be very soon, for we don't even know where he went.
The Long Patrol! The gluttonous, comical, loud, yet gallant and perilous group of hares are getting ready to make a journey here from their mountain home, Salamandastron. We know this because they sent a messenger, a small robin named Glidewing, to tell us, or in other words, warn us. The poor Friar has got himself working up a storm in his precious kitchen. The tables, countertops, even the floor, are covered with made and ready foods prepared for the feast and for the group of hungry hares. I can hardly put a foot inside the kitchen without stepping on something. Good thing I never tried again after my footpaw squished on of the Friar's potato and leek turnover. Badgermom Ttricino tells me that even though not all of the hares are leaving her father, Badger Lord Brawnpeak the Bold and the fire mountain, Salamandastron, there are still many of the walking stomachs, with the odd 'green one' marching with them, though I don't know what that means. I wonder if it means a hare that is green, or a camouflage expert, or something of that sort. Like I was saying, many of them are coming. Goodness, they'll eat us out of our kitchens and our cellars, then out of our Abbey!
Our Abbey warrior is growing big and strong, although he rarely carries the sword of Martin the Warrior. I remember when Rambati was only a little Dibbun, always stealing from our Abbey kitchen, or pinching strawberries at the harvest season, just like Manei. Now, he's the one who always catches her! Life and how it goes is quite queer, don't you think? Rambati is also getting very fond of Raiyon. Almost everyday, I see those two on the lawn, sitting around and chatting like two old friends who have known each other for quite a while, when really, Raiyon's only been here for a few seasons when Rambati was born in our Abbey.
Oh, what is that loud commotion? It sounds like slaughter in the kitchen. I must go see what is happening, so if you will excuse me, I should stop writing. I hope nothing has gone wrong with the feast. Then we might have to cancel, or delay. Goodness, I don't know what I would do of that has to happen! I must go now, goodbye!
Brother Bebiune, Recorder of Redwall Abbey
in Mossflower Woods
Brother Bebiune rushed out of the little gatehouse and into the Abbey, headed for the kitchens. Right at the doorway to the kitchen, he was stopped by the squirrelmaid sisters, Primrose, Pimpernel and Periwinkle, and the mouse warrior, Rambati, Champion of Redwall Abbey. Primrose held up her paw and, with her other one, pointed to the kitchen. Her voice was filled with anxiety and nervousness as she tried to stop the brother.
"Er, Brother Bebiune, I'm not sure you would want to go in there."
Her two sisters agreed right away, nodding their heads furiously and trying to lead the confused Brother away from the Abbey kitchens and not see whatever was going on in there.
"Yes, er, it's a real mess in there, Brother Bebiune, a really big one. Why don't we go, er, take a nice walk outside instead, and get some fresh air? You've been in the gatehouse the whole day, and it must get quite stuffy in there."
"Thank you for the offer, Pimpernel, but I think I'd rather stay here and see what's going on in the kitchen. Besides, I just came from the gatehouse, meaning I had to walk through the Abbey orchard, so I've already been outside. As for the mess, I won't go in and step on anything, just look around and such."
"No really, Brother. The Friar is, er, very busy in there. Are you sure you want to barge into the kitchen and upset Friar Horvory while he's making something delicious, like, er, perhaps, I don't know, maybe a summercream pudding?"
There was a slight chuckle from Rambati as Primrose said 'summercream pudding,' and the squirrelmaid threw the warrior a dirty look, which silenced him immediately, though the expression on his face was still quite humorous, and he still looked like he was going to burst out laughing at any moment.
The kindly Brother, although startled by Rambati's laughter, kept on his protest. "Er, Rambati, I do not exactly understand what is so funny. And I'm sure, dear. Horvory has always enjoyed company while he was cooking. Now please, young ones, let me through. I would never forgive myself if something terrible had happened to Horvory's kitchen and I wasn't there to help him. Besides, the good Friar has told me that he has a lot of work to do and I could drop by anytime I wanted to help, and right now, I want to help him."
Rambati burst out giggling from watching as the three squirrels tried to get the Brother away from the kitchen. He held his sides as he shook with laughter. "Oh, hahaha, er, heeheehee, no need to worry, the Friar doesn't need your help, heehee! He has, hahaha, tons of help already! Are you sure you want to go in, Brother Bebiune? Heeheehee, it's a battlefield in that kitchen, hahahaheehee, Friar Horvory against Raiyon the Bellringer, heeheeheehee!"
As he continued laughing, the warrior mouse stepped aside to reveal to the Recorder absolute chaos. Raiyon had been trying very hard to making a summercream pudding. The Friar had tried pulling the bowl out of her grasp, complaining about her wasting ingredients. This had roused the young mouse's temper, and she and the Friar were arguing and quarrelling furiously. The brother otters, Valor and Brisk, were trying their best to calm the two down, while also trying to save the food that Friar Horvory had worked so hard on from Raiyon's stamping footpaws and flailing arms. Regrettably, a lot was already damaged. Manei was rolling happily around in a puddle of October Ale that the old cellarmole Durgurgle had brought from the cellars for the Friar to sip while her worked and dropped it in sheer disbelief as he saw the scene in front of him. The new squirrel, Sandfir, was cleaning up the mess and moving the punctured food as best as he could while flour dropped onto his back from the tables because of Raiyon's clumsy paws as they whirled around unwieldy in anger and frustration. Abbess Sencatina was also there, shaking her head slowly as she watched the curious scene in front of her. Most unusual, a mousemaid named Ivy was sitting on a chair in the middle of the commotion, coolly sipping mint tea, oblivious to all around her. Bebiune, like the Abbess, shook his head and pushed pass the squirrels and the mouse.
"You were right, young ones. I did not, nor do I, want to see that. Good bye now. I will return to my quiet gatehouse and pick up my quill pen and write."
Near the kitchen door was Durgurgle, clutched up in a tight ball and huddling in a corner. "Burr, I cain't ber to look at all 'at wunnerful vittles be runed. Hurr hurr hurr, 'tis so sad."
Bebiune nodded and glanced back at the kitchen. "Yes, and by the time those two are done, Horvory will have to start all over again. Oh goodness, somebeast stop them!"
As the Brother turned to the tapestry of Martin the Warrior for help, Rambati's shout caused him to hurry back to the kitchen.
"Brother Bebiune, Ivy is getting up!"
The Brother and the other onlookers looked curiously at the mousemaid Ivy as she slowly got up from her chair. Gracefully strolling across the kitchen, she started sampling the foods that had not been destroyed yet. Ivy nibbled daintily, going from one platter to the other. Once in a while, she would murmur a 'Quite exquisite', or a 'Very nice.' Raiyon and Friar Horvory had stopped
fighting to stare at the mousemaid. Finally, after quite a while, Friar Horvory strode out to face her.
"Just hold on, mizzy. Just wot do ye think yore doin', sampling all the vittles I've been working so hard on an' have made especially for the feast?"
Ivy smiled pleasantly at him, her face a picture of innocence and her voice gentle and charming. As she spoke, her voice dripped with sweetness and sincerity. The mousemaid chose her words very carefully as she spoke. "Well, dear Friar, you and Raiyon were fighting so much that I thought you had forgotten about the Nameday feast and the food that you have spent so much time on. It's not the best thing to leave a friend's precious work to rot or get cold, so I decided to spend some of my time to help you eat it, seeing that the creatures at the feast won't be able too because you'll be too busy and won't be able to finish your work. I'm sure you won't mind, since you and Raiyon will be so busy with your arguing. If you don't mind, I'll get back to my sampling."
As Ivy walked calmly to a plate of blueberry crumble, every beast that had witnessed the strange speech help their breath, expecting the Friar to explode with anger. A few moments past, and the Friar burst out into chuckles.
"Missy, you're a smart one! Righto, Let me through, everybeast. There's a feast's work to be done here. Oh, er, Abbess, I'm sure you won't mind delaying the feast. I have a lot of redoing to do."
The Abbess nodded understandingly, a grin playing around her lips. "And what should we do with the destroyed food?"
The Friar winked cheerfully. "Righto, bring them to Cavern Hole, an' anybeast who wants it, gets it. Oh, now I do wish the hares were here. They wouldn't mind a mashed plum pudding, or slightly squished cake. Now Manei, get up an' go to your mother. She'll wash ye up good'n'proper. Sandfir, you can stop now. You've got flour all over the back of yore new tunic, an' I'm sure that after all the time Delani put on sewing that special tunic fer ye, she'll explode wid anger if ye got it any flourier. Brisk, Valor, I am sorry about the trouble I caused ye two. An' Raiyon, I'm sorry. The pressure of preparing a feast has gotten to me again."
Brisk grinned and nodded. "Righto! Come on, mates, Lets go and leave the Friar to his work."
Valor agreed completely. "Yup, he must have a lot to do, cleanin' and cookin' an' the rest o' that."
Sandfir smiled and slowly edged towards the door. "Right, good luck, Friar. I got to go check on Azalea. She's my sister, after all."
The three headed for the door. Raiyon was already there.
"We'll be going now," Raiyon called to the Friar cheerfully. "Don't worry, you'll get your kitchen cleaned up in a flash."
As the four dashed out, the Friar shook his head and muttered to himself darkly as he used a mop to clean up the puddle of October Ale.
"Humph, yunsters, al'ays want to get out o' doin' a chore. Yah, leave it to old Friar Horvory, he'll clean it up fer us. Humph. One day, you'll come into the kitchen and I'll be gone, on vacation for all ye'll know, and then you can go and do yer own moppin' an' sweepin' wid no me to help ye wid it. Humph."
Ivy the mousemaid was still in the kitchen. She tapped Friar Horvory in the shoulder lightly. "Excuse me, dear Friar. Would you mind if I did the sweeping and mopping? That way, you can start making more of your delicious delicacies for the famished creatures who are waiting to taste your wonderful creations."
The Friar's disposition immediately changed as soon as he heard the carefully chosen words that Ivy had thought up. "Why thank you missy. I'll get to it right away. No beastie in this Abbey's goin' to starve, no sirry!" Friar Horvory chuckled to himself as he busied himself into his work. Ivy started to sweep the floor gracefully, smiling as the Friar talked to himself.
"A liddle pinch o' this, a liddle pinch o' that, put a liddle o' this in an' this should be done on no time at all!"
Abbess Sencatina and Brother Bebiune also smiled as they secretly peeked into the kitchen. They both nodded in satisfaction that everything was going well, and walked away from the door, Brother Bebiune headed for his gatehouse, and Abbess Sencatina to the dormitory to help Sister Cheterina, who worked in the dormitory, put the Dibbuns to sleep, both thinking the same thoughts. Ivy was a special mouse!
A young mouse sat silently on the clean spring grass, looking straight forward. His ears came alert as he heard footsteps behind him. Somebeast was approaching. Raiyon the bellringer quietly sneaked up on Rambati the Warrior and suddenly covered his eyes with her floury paws, trying to disguise her recognizable voice.
"Guess who, O great warrior!"
Rambati relaxed. It was only Raiyon. He smiled, but didn't turn around.
"Hello Raiyon, old bellringer friend. Make any tasty summercream puddings lately?"
Raiyon uncovered her friend's eyes and plopped down onto the grass next to him.
"Hello Rambati, old warrior friend. Catch any naughty little otter Dibbuns lately?"
Rambati grin grew wider. "Caught one just yesterday with a bowl of soup. She said she was going to take it to Midnight. Ha, can you believe what River did when I told her that her daughter had been stealing again? She just burst out laughing and said that next time she stole, she should save some for her!" The warrior mouse leaned back onto the soft ground. "I was just like Manei when I was a Dibbun, always stealing from the kitchens. Pity I won't be able to again, it was so much fun. What would everyone think though, the warrior of Redwall Abbey pinching vittles from the Abbey kitchen?"
Raiyon chuckled as she did the same. "Hmmm…yes, a pity, though I can't quite imagine you stealing anything. Time passes quickly, doesn't it, Rati?"
Rambati nodded. "Aye, Rai, just yesterday it was the Winter of the Dancing Badger, and now it's the…I believe it's the Spring of the Not Telling."
Raiyon, with much effort, chose to ignore the teasing comment, though she still gave Rambati a swift glare, which he chuckled at. "Have you ever seen anything like it? Ttricino, our old badgermom, was laughing and singing, and most of all, dancing. What a sight. No wonder Abbess chose to name it Winter of the Dancing Badger. It was the strangest thing. Quite funny also, if you don't mind me saying. The huge hat with the bells attached to it was the funniest thing."
Rambati nodded. "She didn't seem so old when she did dance, though. Actually, she's not that old right now. Just very tall. Despite all the loud roaring, she's the gentlest badger I've ever known, not that I've know any others. Ttricino's taken care of me for a very long time, so I should know. Her bark is much worse than her bite."
Raiyon sighed. "I hope so, because I heard her roar yesterday. I nearly jumped out of my fur, half because I was so surprised, and half because I believe the ground shook! I hope that the Dibbuns are okay. They must have been scared too."
Rambati smirked slightly. "The Dibbuns are behaving much more since yesterday afternoon's incident. Actually, Sister Melissis claims that she heard them murmur in their sleep about giant badgermoms, chasing them around the Abbey, trying to throw them into a giant water pail so they could take a long bath. Okay, so maybe only little Fackels. I have to say, the little hedgehog babe was extremely frightened yesterday. Maybe it was because he was the one who tickled Ttricino's footpaws. Speaking of yesterday, how was your little chase with the vulnerable Abbess Sencatina? Successful? Did she tell you the name of our season, or did you fail yet again?"
Raiyon sighed again. "It's amazing, you know, Rati. How can an Abbess who seems so old and
frail be so young and lively? I chased after Mother Abbess for what seemed like hours and hours, but I couldn't catch up to the old bushtail, excuse me for calling the Abbess that. It was like she never ran out of energy. She was always running at least a few footpaws in front of me, calling out teasingly. Say, I never though an Abbess would do that. Whew, remind me never to do that again. It seems like there's no hope figuring out the spring's name ahead of time, and now we'll have to find out the name later because I went on and got Friar Horvory upset. Now half of the feast is ruined and we have to wait even longer! Wait a tick, I shouldn't be complaining. I was part of why it happened. But still, it's not fair!"
Rambati shrugged and got up slowly. "When you live here, Rai, you have to be prepared for these kind of things. Especially when you mess with the Abbess or the Friar. Come on, let's go see if we can help Horvory clean up the big mess that you two made. If you want something to be done, at least help." He stuck out his paw to help Raiyon get up. The mouse on the lawn took it hesitantly and hauled herself up, then brushed herself off a bit indignantly.
"Well, all right. Let's go."
The two mice walked slowly into the Abbey, stopping occasionally because Raiyon didn't want to face the Friar after her cooking mistake. They walked through Great Hall, and paused to look at Martin the Warrior, admiring every bit of the well woven cloth on the wall of Great Hall. As they were staring at the tapestry, loud footsteps were heard. Rambati turned away from the tapestry at the sound of scampering creatures to see Skipper of Otters and River, followed by a band of otters. Skipper's rough features were full of worry as he checked everything that he saw, while Riverlight face was absolutely tearful. She looked around wildly, as if looking for something or someone. Finally, she seemed to notice Raiyon and Rambati. Her eyes lit up for a moment, then seeming to realize they were the beasts or beast she was looking for, they quickly dimmed again, back to the state they had first saw her in.
"What's wrong, River, ma'am?" Raiyon inquired politely. She, too, had looked away from the tapestry. "Is there something bothering you?"
"'Tis Manei," River explained rapidly, still looking around furiously. As if she actually expected to find something there, the worried otterwife checked behind the tapestry. "Our liddle Manei's missin'!"
"She's gone?" Raiyon gasped in surprise.
Skipper nodded gravely as he also tried to look behind the tapestry along with his wife, for what reason, they didn't know yet. "Aye, she was supposed to take 'er bath but she didn't come. We knew she doesn't like to take baths, so we waited a while fer her to finally get bored o' her hidin' game and come fer her bath, but she still didn't come, so we started looking fer 'er. Searched all around, mates, called 'er name, checked the 'hole Abbey. Well, almost the 'hole Abbey. We were very close. Ain't no sign o' the liddle mischief." Skipper's otter crew pitched in.
"Can't find 'er anywhere, mates."
"We checked all o' 'er favorite 'idin' spots."
"No trace o' where she could've went, me buckoes."
"'Aven't seen 'er since the October Ale incident."
"'Tis like the liddle rascual jus' disappeared into thin water, ye know."
"Righto, she's nowhere to be found."
River was the first to notice Rambati's disappearance. The otter looked around anxiously. "Where's Rambati? Have we lost the poor mouse too?"
Skipper shook his head knowingly as his eyes strayed around the hall and landed on to the warrior's disappearing form. "Of course not, the good warrior's probably gone to tell the Abbess."
Skipper was right, except Rambati wasn't only telling the Abbess. He was running around the Abbey, yelling at the top of his lungs.
"Missing otter Dibbun, Manei's missing!"