Chapter Twenty-Two
Hares poured in through the main gates of Redwall. Many of the Abbey dwellers were there to greet them, especially the Dibbuns. Among the large mass of Redwallers were Diathus, Tamarillo, Mia, and Rosethorn. Diathus watched the Long Patrol curiously as she stood away from the main crowd. She had not ever seen many of her species all at once before. As hello's and welcome's were exchanged, a hare, stern and officious looking, ambled over and made an elegant leg, announcing in a kind though somewhat gruff voice, "Sergeant Ace, at yer service, missie. An' who have I the pleasure of addressin'?"
Mocking a curtsy, Diathus pulled a small smile. "Diathus Spinner, sah. Pleased t'meetcha. This is th' Long Patrol, aye?"
"Aye, missie, 'tis the Long Patrol alright, all th' way from Salamandastron. You heard o' it afore?"
The haremaid gave a shrug of her shoulders and replied airily, "You could say that, yes. I've seen it afore. So have you been here before? 'Tis a grand place, eh?"
Ace nodded in definite agreement, then grinned brightly, quite an unusual sight. "Aye, 'Specially their vittles. No 'fense t' Salamandastron's cooks o' course, but by Jove, e'er tried their dansom'n'plum cake? It's to die for!"
Giggled softly, Diathus shook her head. "No, but I will soon. I hear that there's goin' t'be a Nameday Feast, wote'er that is. Wot is it exactly?"
As the Long Patrol sergeant began explaining to Diathus about Nameday at Redwall Abbey, Tamarillo was busy chatting with Swiftspeed and Glory. The Long Patrol Galloper, urging the captain to meet some new friends, had pushed her towards the nearest creatures who they did not know, and the three were getting along quite well.
Mia, however, sat stone-faced beside a russet apple tree, staring at the mass of hares. She was not the most social squirrel, unlike a few of the others from the Abbey, mainly Treetop and Periwinkle, and she did not like being around so many others that she did not know. Rising to her footpaws with a deep breath, she looked around for someone she knew that was not preoccupied, when she was suddenly hauled off. Turning her head, she came face to face with Rosethorn, who was dragging her towards a small group of Redwallers and Long Patrollers she had been talking too.
"Wot in th' names o' apples an' acorns are y'doing?"
Rosethorn giggled and finally released Mia's arm as they reached the group. "I'm trying to get you to talk to some other creatures, make some new friends."
A friendly looking mouse with bright hazel eyes smiled cheerily and pointed to each one in the group, introducing them as she did so. "Hiya, I'm Raiyon. Nice t'meetcha, I'm sure. This is Ivy, Rambati, Birchleaf, Midnight, Reene, and.er." Here, Raiyon paused and glanced at a tall, lanky female hare quizzically. "Sorry, miss, forgot your name. What was it again?"
The hare grinned. "Merry."
"Right, and that's Merry. So who are you? Where do you come from?"
Rosethorn giggled to herself as Mia was bombarded with questions. Glad that her friend had something to do, she began looking around, and her cheerful expression became one of confusion as she saw Abbess Sencatina, Diathus, and Treetop slip off.
**
Abbess Sencatina blinked in surprise as Treetop finished speaking. Diathus also looked shocked, but not as much as the Abbess. Leaning in closer, she gazed at the squirrel uncertainly.
"Are you absolutely sure?"
The woodland squirrel nodded confidently. "Absolutely. Tall weasel, thick brown fur, cutlass, yellow tunic, and three bracelets on the right paw, fits your description completely. His name is Vermeng, also. He's headed this way, about three days away."
Sencatina blinked and quirked an eyebrow questioningly. "If they're three days away, how do you know of the news? And how do you know his name?"
Treetop shrugged and spread his paws out wide, replying, "Word travels fast in Mossflower. But if you really want to know the whole truth, you should ask Glidewing. She came in after the Long Patrol did. She's in the orchard right now. Maybe you should speak to her." Turning his attention to Diathus, he threw her a swift wink. "She also has some news of an eagle friend of yours. It seems that the eagle was the one who told her of the weasel's name."
The mention of Skydrop caused Diathus to dash up and run out into the orchards. Treetop followed immediately, almost as quickly as the hare. Shaking her head and murmuring to herself about youth and never ending energy, Sencatina followed behind slowly.
**
Glidewing's eyes widened a considerable amount when she saw a hare racing in her direction. Managing to keep calm, she tilted her head to the left slightly and blinked her beady eyes, staring at Diathus curiously.
"How may I help you, ma'am?"
"Skydrop, wot did he say? Is he alright? And wot news d'you have o' Vermeng? Where is he? Wot about the slaves? Wynde, Ariel, and Dock? How are they? They're not dead, are they? Please, tell me!"
The small robin's eyebrows raised as she was bombarded with questions. Shifting from one talon to the other, she managed to squeak out, "If you would let me speak, I would answer you!" Diathus smiled apologetically and calmed down, though she was still quite anxious. Glidewing, after clearing her throat a few times, began answering the hare's questions.
"First of all, if you mean the eagle, then he said to tell you 'hello.' He is in absolute fine condition. He also told me that the weasel corsair Vermeng was headed this way. I'm sure Treetop told you of that already. Vermeng is three days from here. I saw no slaves, but maybe that bushy tail that looked like the tail of a squirrel is a slave. I don't really know, and therefore, I also do not know of any creatures named Wynde, Ariel, or Dock, or their current status. Sorry, ma'am."
The haremaid sighed after Glidewing was finished. The robin took it as a sigh of dissatisfaction and she grew alarmed quite quickly.
"Oh, I am terrible sorry if I didn't supply you with the information you were interested in. It's just that I didn't get the chance to-"
Diathus shook her head and said, "No, s'okay. I guess I just really miss my friends. Thanks fer yer help, marm."
The pattering of footpaws from behind her announced that someone was approaching. The haremaid turned around to see four figures running towards her.
"Wot's goin' on, Di?" Tamarillo took a deep breath once he reached the haremaid. Alongside him were Mia, Rosethorn, and Abbess Sencatina. Diathus glanced at her former companion sadly. "Vermeng. He's coming."
A growl arose to Mia's throat. Placing a paw on her friend's shoulder, Rosethorn blinked in surprise and tilted her head slightly.
"Are you sure, Diathus?"
The haremaid smiled wryly. "I didn't want t'believe it either, but it's true." Diathus turned to the abbess and her smile turned into an apologetic one. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have stopped here. Now a horde's approachin' here, ready to attack an' slay. Mayhaps I should just leave." Sencatina shook her head firmly. "No, you will stay. End of discussion. Now if you will excuse me, I must go find Major Starworthy and Rambati."
The squirrel scrambled off with much agility for one so old and Glidewing flew off back into the verdant woods of Mossflower, leaving the four companions together. Diathus sighed and slumped down onto the grass, groaning softly.
"This is all my fault."
Tamarillo put a reassuring paw on Diathus's shoulder. "No it's not Di, things like this just happen. Dun worry, e'erythin'll be fine, right Mia?"
The squirrel was kicking at the grass, muttering incoherent things to herself. Most of the words were threats directed towards multiple seabeasts of Vermeng's horde. The arrival of the weasel affected her deeply as well. Rosethorn sighed and answered for her preoccupied friend.
"Yes, everything will be fine. You'll see, Diathus."
**
In Major Starworthy's mind, the last thing he would have called the situation was 'fine.' A grave expression on his face, the elder hare's ears drooped slightly as he heard the news from Abbess Sencatina.
"I had my suspicions, Abbess, but now if what Glidewing says is true, then that confirms it. Vermeng is coming, and whatever he wants, the ending will not be pretty, marm."
Rambati the mouse warrior was equally grim. "And they've chose a fine time too, right in the middle of a Nameday feast!"
Sighing, Sencatina nodded sullenly and glancing around at the momentarily peaceful Redwall Abbey. Besides her, the major, Rambati, Glidewing, Treetop, and Diathus's group of companions, no other creature knew of Vermeng's arrival, and the Abbess intended it to stay that way. "I know what you mean, both of you. Still, there's no reason to disturb their spirits. We can worry about it after the feast."
The loud toll of the Matthias and Methuselah bells announced the beginning of the Nameday feast, along with Raiyon's existence at the belltower. Pulling a smile, the elder squirrel headed to the main Abbey building.
"We'll discuss things later, Major. By what Glidewing and Treetop say, we still have time to think things through. Until then, feast and be merry!"
Hares poured in through the main gates of Redwall. Many of the Abbey dwellers were there to greet them, especially the Dibbuns. Among the large mass of Redwallers were Diathus, Tamarillo, Mia, and Rosethorn. Diathus watched the Long Patrol curiously as she stood away from the main crowd. She had not ever seen many of her species all at once before. As hello's and welcome's were exchanged, a hare, stern and officious looking, ambled over and made an elegant leg, announcing in a kind though somewhat gruff voice, "Sergeant Ace, at yer service, missie. An' who have I the pleasure of addressin'?"
Mocking a curtsy, Diathus pulled a small smile. "Diathus Spinner, sah. Pleased t'meetcha. This is th' Long Patrol, aye?"
"Aye, missie, 'tis the Long Patrol alright, all th' way from Salamandastron. You heard o' it afore?"
The haremaid gave a shrug of her shoulders and replied airily, "You could say that, yes. I've seen it afore. So have you been here before? 'Tis a grand place, eh?"
Ace nodded in definite agreement, then grinned brightly, quite an unusual sight. "Aye, 'Specially their vittles. No 'fense t' Salamandastron's cooks o' course, but by Jove, e'er tried their dansom'n'plum cake? It's to die for!"
Giggled softly, Diathus shook her head. "No, but I will soon. I hear that there's goin' t'be a Nameday Feast, wote'er that is. Wot is it exactly?"
As the Long Patrol sergeant began explaining to Diathus about Nameday at Redwall Abbey, Tamarillo was busy chatting with Swiftspeed and Glory. The Long Patrol Galloper, urging the captain to meet some new friends, had pushed her towards the nearest creatures who they did not know, and the three were getting along quite well.
Mia, however, sat stone-faced beside a russet apple tree, staring at the mass of hares. She was not the most social squirrel, unlike a few of the others from the Abbey, mainly Treetop and Periwinkle, and she did not like being around so many others that she did not know. Rising to her footpaws with a deep breath, she looked around for someone she knew that was not preoccupied, when she was suddenly hauled off. Turning her head, she came face to face with Rosethorn, who was dragging her towards a small group of Redwallers and Long Patrollers she had been talking too.
"Wot in th' names o' apples an' acorns are y'doing?"
Rosethorn giggled and finally released Mia's arm as they reached the group. "I'm trying to get you to talk to some other creatures, make some new friends."
A friendly looking mouse with bright hazel eyes smiled cheerily and pointed to each one in the group, introducing them as she did so. "Hiya, I'm Raiyon. Nice t'meetcha, I'm sure. This is Ivy, Rambati, Birchleaf, Midnight, Reene, and.er." Here, Raiyon paused and glanced at a tall, lanky female hare quizzically. "Sorry, miss, forgot your name. What was it again?"
The hare grinned. "Merry."
"Right, and that's Merry. So who are you? Where do you come from?"
Rosethorn giggled to herself as Mia was bombarded with questions. Glad that her friend had something to do, she began looking around, and her cheerful expression became one of confusion as she saw Abbess Sencatina, Diathus, and Treetop slip off.
**
Abbess Sencatina blinked in surprise as Treetop finished speaking. Diathus also looked shocked, but not as much as the Abbess. Leaning in closer, she gazed at the squirrel uncertainly.
"Are you absolutely sure?"
The woodland squirrel nodded confidently. "Absolutely. Tall weasel, thick brown fur, cutlass, yellow tunic, and three bracelets on the right paw, fits your description completely. His name is Vermeng, also. He's headed this way, about three days away."
Sencatina blinked and quirked an eyebrow questioningly. "If they're three days away, how do you know of the news? And how do you know his name?"
Treetop shrugged and spread his paws out wide, replying, "Word travels fast in Mossflower. But if you really want to know the whole truth, you should ask Glidewing. She came in after the Long Patrol did. She's in the orchard right now. Maybe you should speak to her." Turning his attention to Diathus, he threw her a swift wink. "She also has some news of an eagle friend of yours. It seems that the eagle was the one who told her of the weasel's name."
The mention of Skydrop caused Diathus to dash up and run out into the orchards. Treetop followed immediately, almost as quickly as the hare. Shaking her head and murmuring to herself about youth and never ending energy, Sencatina followed behind slowly.
**
Glidewing's eyes widened a considerable amount when she saw a hare racing in her direction. Managing to keep calm, she tilted her head to the left slightly and blinked her beady eyes, staring at Diathus curiously.
"How may I help you, ma'am?"
"Skydrop, wot did he say? Is he alright? And wot news d'you have o' Vermeng? Where is he? Wot about the slaves? Wynde, Ariel, and Dock? How are they? They're not dead, are they? Please, tell me!"
The small robin's eyebrows raised as she was bombarded with questions. Shifting from one talon to the other, she managed to squeak out, "If you would let me speak, I would answer you!" Diathus smiled apologetically and calmed down, though she was still quite anxious. Glidewing, after clearing her throat a few times, began answering the hare's questions.
"First of all, if you mean the eagle, then he said to tell you 'hello.' He is in absolute fine condition. He also told me that the weasel corsair Vermeng was headed this way. I'm sure Treetop told you of that already. Vermeng is three days from here. I saw no slaves, but maybe that bushy tail that looked like the tail of a squirrel is a slave. I don't really know, and therefore, I also do not know of any creatures named Wynde, Ariel, or Dock, or their current status. Sorry, ma'am."
The haremaid sighed after Glidewing was finished. The robin took it as a sigh of dissatisfaction and she grew alarmed quite quickly.
"Oh, I am terrible sorry if I didn't supply you with the information you were interested in. It's just that I didn't get the chance to-"
Diathus shook her head and said, "No, s'okay. I guess I just really miss my friends. Thanks fer yer help, marm."
The pattering of footpaws from behind her announced that someone was approaching. The haremaid turned around to see four figures running towards her.
"Wot's goin' on, Di?" Tamarillo took a deep breath once he reached the haremaid. Alongside him were Mia, Rosethorn, and Abbess Sencatina. Diathus glanced at her former companion sadly. "Vermeng. He's coming."
A growl arose to Mia's throat. Placing a paw on her friend's shoulder, Rosethorn blinked in surprise and tilted her head slightly.
"Are you sure, Diathus?"
The haremaid smiled wryly. "I didn't want t'believe it either, but it's true." Diathus turned to the abbess and her smile turned into an apologetic one. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have stopped here. Now a horde's approachin' here, ready to attack an' slay. Mayhaps I should just leave." Sencatina shook her head firmly. "No, you will stay. End of discussion. Now if you will excuse me, I must go find Major Starworthy and Rambati."
The squirrel scrambled off with much agility for one so old and Glidewing flew off back into the verdant woods of Mossflower, leaving the four companions together. Diathus sighed and slumped down onto the grass, groaning softly.
"This is all my fault."
Tamarillo put a reassuring paw on Diathus's shoulder. "No it's not Di, things like this just happen. Dun worry, e'erythin'll be fine, right Mia?"
The squirrel was kicking at the grass, muttering incoherent things to herself. Most of the words were threats directed towards multiple seabeasts of Vermeng's horde. The arrival of the weasel affected her deeply as well. Rosethorn sighed and answered for her preoccupied friend.
"Yes, everything will be fine. You'll see, Diathus."
**
In Major Starworthy's mind, the last thing he would have called the situation was 'fine.' A grave expression on his face, the elder hare's ears drooped slightly as he heard the news from Abbess Sencatina.
"I had my suspicions, Abbess, but now if what Glidewing says is true, then that confirms it. Vermeng is coming, and whatever he wants, the ending will not be pretty, marm."
Rambati the mouse warrior was equally grim. "And they've chose a fine time too, right in the middle of a Nameday feast!"
Sighing, Sencatina nodded sullenly and glancing around at the momentarily peaceful Redwall Abbey. Besides her, the major, Rambati, Glidewing, Treetop, and Diathus's group of companions, no other creature knew of Vermeng's arrival, and the Abbess intended it to stay that way. "I know what you mean, both of you. Still, there's no reason to disturb their spirits. We can worry about it after the feast."
The loud toll of the Matthias and Methuselah bells announced the beginning of the Nameday feast, along with Raiyon's existence at the belltower. Pulling a smile, the elder squirrel headed to the main Abbey building.
"We'll discuss things later, Major. By what Glidewing and Treetop say, we still have time to think things through. Until then, feast and be merry!"