Chapter 8
"Major!"
Major Starworthy turned to see Swiftspeed the Galloper running towards him and the Patrol at top speed, which was extremely fast. Behind him was Tweetleg Sprinter, trying her best to keep up with the fastest hare. Starworthy felt a bit of admiration for the younger hare.
"Halt!" The Major called out, stopping the patrol, allowing the tired hares to catch up. When Swiftspeed caught up and Tweetleg caught up with Swiftspeed, Starworthy could tell that he had been running for a long time, for the Galloper and Sprinter was panting heavily. After Swiftspeed emptied half of a flagon of dandelion burdock, which he had accepted gratefully from Fernmint and Tweetleg threw the contents of a cup of water over her to refresh herself, they made their report.
"Sah, Vermeng the corsair has landed near the shores of Salamandastron," Swiftspeed began. He drank the rest of his drink when Tweetleg continued for him.
He's not after Salamandastron this time, so we needn't worry about that, but my intuition tells me that he's coming our way. It may be just a coincidence." Tweetleg trailed off, a bit unsure of what to say next.
The Major nodded and motioned to the patrol to take yet another break.
"Tell me Swift, did you here them say anything about what they were coming this far inland for?"
Swiftspeed shrugged as he sat down, his legs and footpaws aching from the sprint. "I didn't really here anything in particular, sah, except that they mentioned the name 'Diathus' and the word 'eagle' a lot. Does that help?"
The officer nodded and twirled his whiskers absently as he stared off into space. "Yes, er, yes, that helps a lot, Speed, m'lad. Eh, you two go ahead an' sit down. Ye must be exhausted from all your runnin, sah. Oh, er, can ye two get me, er, Acanthus and Tapbeat?"
Swiftspeed stared at Starworthy oddly as Tweetleg cocked her head questionably, but then they let it go and dashed off. Swiftspeed reappeared next to Fernmint, who smiled and gave him another flagon of dandelion burdock. He smiled back gratefully, then ran off to Glory, where she and Tapbeat were chatting away.
"Tapbeat, the Major wants ye and Acanthus. Tweetleg is getting Acanthus, so ye might want to go now. I don't know what it's goin' to be about, sorry about that, but I do know that somethin' is worryin' the Major."
Tapbeat looked over Swiftspeed's shoulder at the Major. Acanthus was already there, and he had saluted smartly. Tapbeat nodded slowly and got up. He winked at Glory before he took off.
"Well, marm, wish me luck, an' that the Major won't bite me head off."
Swiftspeed watched Tapbeat walk over the Major, then turned back to Glory, his normally cheery face grim. "Cap'n, I have a feelin' that the we might not just be goin' to the Abbey to visit and feast."
Tapbeat grinned cheerily as he jumped to the Major's side. Unusually, the officer didn't smile back, he just nodded.
"Well now, Tapbeat, m'lad. We were wonderin' when you would get 'ere. Anyhow, lissen up, you two. Swiftspeed and Tweetleg just came back. They informed me that Vermeng the corsair has just landed near the coasts of Salamandastron." He paused for a moment as he looked at the two younger hares. Acanthus's face showed mighty concern, and Tapbeat was staring at Salamandastron's peak, which was still visible. Turning back to the Major, the drummer queried, "Are ye goin' to go back to Salamandastron to defend?"
Major Starworthy shook his head slowly. "No, m'laddie, we're goin' to continue to Redwall Abbey. Tweetleg says that he's not after our mountain, so that's okay. But she thinks that they might be headin' in our direction. I'm not saying that they're after Redwall, fer I don't even think that vermin has even heard of it, but if he's comin' in our direction, he's surely goin' to bump into Redwall. So, this is why I have you two in front of me. Acanthus."
The weapon extraordinaire came to attention quickly and saluted. "Yes, sah?"
"I want you to skim through our supplies, an' see if there are enough weapons to go 'round. We didn't bring much though, cause we thought this was just goin' to be a visit. If you find that there aren't enough, don't include some hares that don't need weapons, such as Jansorio, cause he can box, and Beynin Longarch, cause he has his own bow. Clear?"
Acanthus threw a swift salute and rushed off. Major nodded approvingly, and then turned to Tapbeat.
"Sah, I want you to, first, round up the hares and tell them the news, since you're a reasonable one and they'll listen to you without going ballistic, and second, I want to practice wid your drum. I have a feelin', m'lad, that there just might be." Starworthy trailed off, a far off look in his eyes. Tapbeat nodded, saluted, and ran off like Acanthus did.
"Hares of the Long Patrol, gather 'round!"
All the hares turned to the drummer, Tapbeat. He waved and jumped into the center of the gathering hares.
"Friends, comrades, I bring news from Major Starworthy. I believe we all know of the weasel corsair, Vermeng. He has never come close to shore, 'cept the time when he tried to conquer Salamandastron. That plan, however, failed. Now he has yet again landed near the shores of Salamandastron." Tapbeat waited for the gasps of shock to pass before he continued. "Fortunately, Vermeng is not after Salamandastron. He has learned since our badger lord Rawnblade the Bold, descendant of Russano the Wise, cut his number of seabeasts in half. Unfortunately, we, meanin' Swiftspeed the Galloper, Tweetleg Sprinter, Major Starworthy, Acanthus, weapon extraordinaire, and I, Tapbeat the Drummer, think that they are headed the same way we are goin', meanin' that he might run into Redwall Abbey." There was another wave of gasps, also followed by a few sighs.
"If they find Redwall, they'll try to conquer it!"
Tapbeat looked around and his eyes rested on Reene, who had made the last comment. She was staring at Tapbeat, her cheerful face now horrified. Tapbeat nodded and gave her a reassuring smile. "I understand your distress and worry, friend, but let me remind you, Vermeng's number has been cut in half, and we will be arrivin' at Redwall before him. That way, we will be able to raises Redwall defenses and think of a plan before he attacks. If and when Vermeng attacks, we, the hares of the Long Patrol, mountain hares of Salamandastron, will make Lord Brawnpeak the Bold proud of us an' give 'em blood'n'vinigar!"
The last comment brought cheers from the Long Patrol, followed by multiples of encouraging shouts.
"Aye, they'll get a fight to remember, wot!
"Then they'll learn the real meanin' o' the long used term 'perilous hare!'"
"There may be twenty three of us chaps, and thousands of 'em, but quality counts more than quantity, an' we got lots o' quality in us hares!"
"Lets give 'em blood'n'vinigar! Eulaaaliiiiiaaaaaa!"
Startled, all hares turned to the normally silent captain. But Swiftspeed and Tapbeat followed Glory's lead, and soon, every hare had taken up the hare's cry.
"Eulaaaliiiiiaaaaaa!"
The time honored war cry of the hares and badgers rang throughout the cool, clean spring air, causin' the birds nearby to start chirping uncontrollably, angry that their rest had been disturbed.
The Long Patrol was ready.
"Major!"
Major Starworthy turned to see Swiftspeed the Galloper running towards him and the Patrol at top speed, which was extremely fast. Behind him was Tweetleg Sprinter, trying her best to keep up with the fastest hare. Starworthy felt a bit of admiration for the younger hare.
"Halt!" The Major called out, stopping the patrol, allowing the tired hares to catch up. When Swiftspeed caught up and Tweetleg caught up with Swiftspeed, Starworthy could tell that he had been running for a long time, for the Galloper and Sprinter was panting heavily. After Swiftspeed emptied half of a flagon of dandelion burdock, which he had accepted gratefully from Fernmint and Tweetleg threw the contents of a cup of water over her to refresh herself, they made their report.
"Sah, Vermeng the corsair has landed near the shores of Salamandastron," Swiftspeed began. He drank the rest of his drink when Tweetleg continued for him.
He's not after Salamandastron this time, so we needn't worry about that, but my intuition tells me that he's coming our way. It may be just a coincidence." Tweetleg trailed off, a bit unsure of what to say next.
The Major nodded and motioned to the patrol to take yet another break.
"Tell me Swift, did you here them say anything about what they were coming this far inland for?"
Swiftspeed shrugged as he sat down, his legs and footpaws aching from the sprint. "I didn't really here anything in particular, sah, except that they mentioned the name 'Diathus' and the word 'eagle' a lot. Does that help?"
The officer nodded and twirled his whiskers absently as he stared off into space. "Yes, er, yes, that helps a lot, Speed, m'lad. Eh, you two go ahead an' sit down. Ye must be exhausted from all your runnin, sah. Oh, er, can ye two get me, er, Acanthus and Tapbeat?"
Swiftspeed stared at Starworthy oddly as Tweetleg cocked her head questionably, but then they let it go and dashed off. Swiftspeed reappeared next to Fernmint, who smiled and gave him another flagon of dandelion burdock. He smiled back gratefully, then ran off to Glory, where she and Tapbeat were chatting away.
"Tapbeat, the Major wants ye and Acanthus. Tweetleg is getting Acanthus, so ye might want to go now. I don't know what it's goin' to be about, sorry about that, but I do know that somethin' is worryin' the Major."
Tapbeat looked over Swiftspeed's shoulder at the Major. Acanthus was already there, and he had saluted smartly. Tapbeat nodded slowly and got up. He winked at Glory before he took off.
"Well, marm, wish me luck, an' that the Major won't bite me head off."
Swiftspeed watched Tapbeat walk over the Major, then turned back to Glory, his normally cheery face grim. "Cap'n, I have a feelin' that the we might not just be goin' to the Abbey to visit and feast."
Tapbeat grinned cheerily as he jumped to the Major's side. Unusually, the officer didn't smile back, he just nodded.
"Well now, Tapbeat, m'lad. We were wonderin' when you would get 'ere. Anyhow, lissen up, you two. Swiftspeed and Tweetleg just came back. They informed me that Vermeng the corsair has just landed near the coasts of Salamandastron." He paused for a moment as he looked at the two younger hares. Acanthus's face showed mighty concern, and Tapbeat was staring at Salamandastron's peak, which was still visible. Turning back to the Major, the drummer queried, "Are ye goin' to go back to Salamandastron to defend?"
Major Starworthy shook his head slowly. "No, m'laddie, we're goin' to continue to Redwall Abbey. Tweetleg says that he's not after our mountain, so that's okay. But she thinks that they might be headin' in our direction. I'm not saying that they're after Redwall, fer I don't even think that vermin has even heard of it, but if he's comin' in our direction, he's surely goin' to bump into Redwall. So, this is why I have you two in front of me. Acanthus."
The weapon extraordinaire came to attention quickly and saluted. "Yes, sah?"
"I want you to skim through our supplies, an' see if there are enough weapons to go 'round. We didn't bring much though, cause we thought this was just goin' to be a visit. If you find that there aren't enough, don't include some hares that don't need weapons, such as Jansorio, cause he can box, and Beynin Longarch, cause he has his own bow. Clear?"
Acanthus threw a swift salute and rushed off. Major nodded approvingly, and then turned to Tapbeat.
"Sah, I want you to, first, round up the hares and tell them the news, since you're a reasonable one and they'll listen to you without going ballistic, and second, I want to practice wid your drum. I have a feelin', m'lad, that there just might be." Starworthy trailed off, a far off look in his eyes. Tapbeat nodded, saluted, and ran off like Acanthus did.
"Hares of the Long Patrol, gather 'round!"
All the hares turned to the drummer, Tapbeat. He waved and jumped into the center of the gathering hares.
"Friends, comrades, I bring news from Major Starworthy. I believe we all know of the weasel corsair, Vermeng. He has never come close to shore, 'cept the time when he tried to conquer Salamandastron. That plan, however, failed. Now he has yet again landed near the shores of Salamandastron." Tapbeat waited for the gasps of shock to pass before he continued. "Fortunately, Vermeng is not after Salamandastron. He has learned since our badger lord Rawnblade the Bold, descendant of Russano the Wise, cut his number of seabeasts in half. Unfortunately, we, meanin' Swiftspeed the Galloper, Tweetleg Sprinter, Major Starworthy, Acanthus, weapon extraordinaire, and I, Tapbeat the Drummer, think that they are headed the same way we are goin', meanin' that he might run into Redwall Abbey." There was another wave of gasps, also followed by a few sighs.
"If they find Redwall, they'll try to conquer it!"
Tapbeat looked around and his eyes rested on Reene, who had made the last comment. She was staring at Tapbeat, her cheerful face now horrified. Tapbeat nodded and gave her a reassuring smile. "I understand your distress and worry, friend, but let me remind you, Vermeng's number has been cut in half, and we will be arrivin' at Redwall before him. That way, we will be able to raises Redwall defenses and think of a plan before he attacks. If and when Vermeng attacks, we, the hares of the Long Patrol, mountain hares of Salamandastron, will make Lord Brawnpeak the Bold proud of us an' give 'em blood'n'vinigar!"
The last comment brought cheers from the Long Patrol, followed by multiples of encouraging shouts.
"Aye, they'll get a fight to remember, wot!
"Then they'll learn the real meanin' o' the long used term 'perilous hare!'"
"There may be twenty three of us chaps, and thousands of 'em, but quality counts more than quantity, an' we got lots o' quality in us hares!"
"Lets give 'em blood'n'vinigar! Eulaaaliiiiiaaaaaa!"
Startled, all hares turned to the normally silent captain. But Swiftspeed and Tapbeat followed Glory's lead, and soon, every hare had taken up the hare's cry.
"Eulaaaliiiiiaaaaaa!"
The time honored war cry of the hares and badgers rang throughout the cool, clean spring air, causin' the birds nearby to start chirping uncontrollably, angry that their rest had been disturbed.
The Long Patrol was ready.