Chapter Twenty-Three
"Woah." That was the only word that came to mind as Glory entered Redwall's Great Hall. Flowers from the gardens graced the walls, all strung upon a long vine of ivy. Food of all different sorts were set on the table, from apple tarts to treetop broth, much to the excitement of squirrels. A large cake sat in the middle of the table, covered in meadowcream. The garrulous hare Plucky stood nearby the garrison captain, licking his lips hungrily. Throwing Glory a swift wink, he commented, "Nice spread, wot?"
The captain agreed whole-heartily with a nod of her head. Everybeast took a seat at the table, and Abbess Sencatina sat at the head of the large table. Raiyon the bellringer looked up at the old squirrel expectantly from her seat next to her close friend, Rambati.
"Well marm, guess it's time to tell us what the name is!"
Though outwardly she nodded politely, inwardly she was panicking. With the arrival of Vermeng and all the other eventful things that had been going on, Sencatina had forgotten the name that she had been planning on naming the season on. Blushing slightly, though it was not noticeable against her red colored fur, the Abbess stood up to recite the grace.
"The seasons have been kind to us,
Winter, Summer, Spring and Fall.
We sit here, 'round the table.
Good food, we give thanks to all.
A new season has come upon us,
In the shadows, winter cowers.
New season, I name thee
Spring of the Vibrant Flowers."
A loud 'Amen' followed the Abbess's somewhat shaky poem. Tamarillo stood from his chair and raised his beaker topped with fruit cordial.
"Here's to the flowers of the Abbey! Periwinkle, Pimpernel, Primrose, Azalea, Ivy, if'n y'count vines, an' of course, Diathus. Rosethorn too, if you take out the Thorn part. I would also include Acanthus'n'Oleander, but they might be embarrassed, so I won't mention them."
General laughter followed as the weapon extraordinaire Acanthus attempted a swipe at the irrepressible hare. Dodging it expertly, Tamarillo sat back down into his seat, grinning cheekily.
Raiyon stopped her assault on a leek and onion pasty to gaze at the Abbess curiously.
"So that's the name you made us wait so long for?"
Sencatina shook her head, a small smile playing around her face. "Actually, I forgot my original name, so that was the best I could think of."
Rambati spluttered on his rosehip cordial as he saw Raiyon give a comical look of dismay. Chuckling nervously as Badgermom Ttricino and Abbess Sencatina gave him a quaint look, he nodded as his mouse friend and commented, "Guess you'll have to wait until next season to guess the season again, eh?"
A shout from another section of the table cut off the mousemaid's heated response. Turning her head, she fought back a smile as she saw multiple large heaps of food piled onto the plates belong to the Long Patrol. Plucky's voice drifted over to their section of the table.
"I say, my compliments t' the chef! Grrmmpch!"
Glory looked up from her beaker of October Ale and turned to Major Starworthy quizzically. "You look down, sah. What's the matter?"
From the other side of the garrison captain, Swiftspeed grabbed the last candied apple ring, much to the dismay of the otter sitting across from him, and glanced at his commanding officers.
"Aye, Major, wot's wid the gloomy face? Thought Kinorum'n'Kidust cured that already."
Starworthy had been thinking of the horde that was on its way to Redwall when the two Long Patrollers had snapped him out of his thoughts. Forcing a smile onto his face, the major picked up his fork absently, then put it back down again, forgetting to eat the salad that was on the fork. Tadaval Kathudler, the boisterous colonel who sat across from Starworthy, blinked in mock surprise.
"Oh I say! The major's put down his fork, an' there's still food on it, wot! Call Fernmint, we need t'get th'good majah t'the infirmary!"
Noticing the looks that a few abbeybeasts were giving him, Tadaval lowered his voice and grinned sheepishly. "Just jokin', wot!"
The major cast Tadaval a sharp glance, but said nothing of it. His mind still somewhere else, Starworthy shrugged absentmindedly. "Guess I forgot to eat it then." He picked up his fork once again and put it in his mouth. The colonel heaved a sigh of mock relief and gave the major a strange glance.
"Wot's on yer mind, Majah?"
Remembering the Abbess's words about not telling anyone else about the approaching horde, he smiled somewhat tensely. "This and that, colonel. No need to worry about me. I'm fine!"
Though he had returned to his meal, Swiftspeed was listening to each word of the somewhat peculiar conversation that had gone between the two officers. Taking a bite out of his candied apple ring, the Galloper swallowed and whispered to the captain, "Fine is th' last word I'd use t'describe him. Something's botherin' him, an' it's not a good something."
Glory nodded in agreement, though she said nothing of the matter. 'If the major has something to tell us,' she thought to herself. 'he'll tell us in good time.'
Diathus stared at her plate blankly. She had not really eaten a lot, for there was look much on her mind. Looking up, she saw that Mia was doing the same, pushing her spring salad around her plate idly with her fork. Rosethorn was trying to get her squirrel friend to eat with no avail. At a tap on the shoulder, Diathus turned. Tamarillo was gazing at her worriedly.
"Something wrong, Di? Y'haven't eaten much, most unlike you. Is it, erm, him?"
The haremaid nodded, knowing that 'him' meant 'Vermeng.' Of course, Tamarillo couldn't say that, because they were not supposed to tell.
"Yes, it's 'him.' Gotten me really worried, y'know. He'll be arriving soon, an' I know exactly wot he wants. Th'problem is, because of me, a battle might have t'start."
Diathus kept her voice low and soft, hoping that nobeast would hear here. Fortunately, no one seemed to notice, as they were all busy in their own conversations. Satisfied that nobeast was listening, the haremaid continued.
"He'll probably want t'have me back as a slave, an' if'n I don't, he'll most likely start a war against this abbey."
Nodding slowly, Tamarillo flashed a wry smile. "Hard bein' th'one that causes e'erything, isn't it? E'erything relies on wot yer decision is, though the Abbess clearly stated that she isn't allowin' you t'turn yerself in. Dun worry about it, Di. E'erything will be fine."
"That's wot they all say," the haremaid mumbled sullenly.
Rambati, like the others who knew of Vermeng's arrival, was also quite dour. Raiyon the bellringer glanced at her friend in concern.
"What's wrong, Rati?"
The mouse warrior grinned falsely at his friend. "What makes you think anything's wrong, Rai?"
Pointing to his empty plate, the bellringer raised an eyebrow. "I believe that answers your question."
Continuing his false cheerfulness, Rambati began piling up his plate with various foods. Raiyon watched him skeptically. Once the mouse was done getting his food, he turned to the mousemaid and smiled somewhat goofily.
"See, I'm fine!"
Raiyon merely shook her head.
"I know you better than that. What's wrong?"
The warrior's expression immediately fell, and his smile disappeared. Taking a bite out of an apple flan gloomily, he look up at the mousemaid and frowned.
"Sorry Rai, can't tell you."
The mousemaid was deeply confused by Rambati's words. The two usually told each other everything, and now her friend was refusing to answer her question. At least, answer it properly. The Redwall champion caught Raiyon's confused look and cracked a small smile.
"I'll explain when I can. But for now, pretend nothing's wrong, okay?"
Though not completely satisfied, the bellringer nodded in agreement. She knew Rambati could be quite obstinate when he wanted to. She returned to her meal, though her mind was racing with reasons on why her friend could be acting the way he was. Unconsciously, she began muttering to herself.
"Mayhaps his secret is about me. Or some other beast told him that I told one of his secrets so he can't trust me. Or mayhaps he thinks he can't trust me. Or he's mad at me. Or-"
The mousemaid's ponderings were interrupted by a soft cough from beside her. Rambati shook his head, smiling slightly.
"No, no, no, and no. Don't worry, Raiyon. It's not you. I'm just not supposed to tell you."
Abbess Sencatina had been watching those who knew of Vermeng carefully, and knew that they were going through trouble keeping it a secret. Sighing inwardly, she took a bite out of a flan and mentally decided that she would have to tell the Abbeybeasts soon.
"Woah." That was the only word that came to mind as Glory entered Redwall's Great Hall. Flowers from the gardens graced the walls, all strung upon a long vine of ivy. Food of all different sorts were set on the table, from apple tarts to treetop broth, much to the excitement of squirrels. A large cake sat in the middle of the table, covered in meadowcream. The garrulous hare Plucky stood nearby the garrison captain, licking his lips hungrily. Throwing Glory a swift wink, he commented, "Nice spread, wot?"
The captain agreed whole-heartily with a nod of her head. Everybeast took a seat at the table, and Abbess Sencatina sat at the head of the large table. Raiyon the bellringer looked up at the old squirrel expectantly from her seat next to her close friend, Rambati.
"Well marm, guess it's time to tell us what the name is!"
Though outwardly she nodded politely, inwardly she was panicking. With the arrival of Vermeng and all the other eventful things that had been going on, Sencatina had forgotten the name that she had been planning on naming the season on. Blushing slightly, though it was not noticeable against her red colored fur, the Abbess stood up to recite the grace.
"The seasons have been kind to us,
Winter, Summer, Spring and Fall.
We sit here, 'round the table.
Good food, we give thanks to all.
A new season has come upon us,
In the shadows, winter cowers.
New season, I name thee
Spring of the Vibrant Flowers."
A loud 'Amen' followed the Abbess's somewhat shaky poem. Tamarillo stood from his chair and raised his beaker topped with fruit cordial.
"Here's to the flowers of the Abbey! Periwinkle, Pimpernel, Primrose, Azalea, Ivy, if'n y'count vines, an' of course, Diathus. Rosethorn too, if you take out the Thorn part. I would also include Acanthus'n'Oleander, but they might be embarrassed, so I won't mention them."
General laughter followed as the weapon extraordinaire Acanthus attempted a swipe at the irrepressible hare. Dodging it expertly, Tamarillo sat back down into his seat, grinning cheekily.
Raiyon stopped her assault on a leek and onion pasty to gaze at the Abbess curiously.
"So that's the name you made us wait so long for?"
Sencatina shook her head, a small smile playing around her face. "Actually, I forgot my original name, so that was the best I could think of."
Rambati spluttered on his rosehip cordial as he saw Raiyon give a comical look of dismay. Chuckling nervously as Badgermom Ttricino and Abbess Sencatina gave him a quaint look, he nodded as his mouse friend and commented, "Guess you'll have to wait until next season to guess the season again, eh?"
A shout from another section of the table cut off the mousemaid's heated response. Turning her head, she fought back a smile as she saw multiple large heaps of food piled onto the plates belong to the Long Patrol. Plucky's voice drifted over to their section of the table.
"I say, my compliments t' the chef! Grrmmpch!"
Glory looked up from her beaker of October Ale and turned to Major Starworthy quizzically. "You look down, sah. What's the matter?"
From the other side of the garrison captain, Swiftspeed grabbed the last candied apple ring, much to the dismay of the otter sitting across from him, and glanced at his commanding officers.
"Aye, Major, wot's wid the gloomy face? Thought Kinorum'n'Kidust cured that already."
Starworthy had been thinking of the horde that was on its way to Redwall when the two Long Patrollers had snapped him out of his thoughts. Forcing a smile onto his face, the major picked up his fork absently, then put it back down again, forgetting to eat the salad that was on the fork. Tadaval Kathudler, the boisterous colonel who sat across from Starworthy, blinked in mock surprise.
"Oh I say! The major's put down his fork, an' there's still food on it, wot! Call Fernmint, we need t'get th'good majah t'the infirmary!"
Noticing the looks that a few abbeybeasts were giving him, Tadaval lowered his voice and grinned sheepishly. "Just jokin', wot!"
The major cast Tadaval a sharp glance, but said nothing of it. His mind still somewhere else, Starworthy shrugged absentmindedly. "Guess I forgot to eat it then." He picked up his fork once again and put it in his mouth. The colonel heaved a sigh of mock relief and gave the major a strange glance.
"Wot's on yer mind, Majah?"
Remembering the Abbess's words about not telling anyone else about the approaching horde, he smiled somewhat tensely. "This and that, colonel. No need to worry about me. I'm fine!"
Though he had returned to his meal, Swiftspeed was listening to each word of the somewhat peculiar conversation that had gone between the two officers. Taking a bite out of his candied apple ring, the Galloper swallowed and whispered to the captain, "Fine is th' last word I'd use t'describe him. Something's botherin' him, an' it's not a good something."
Glory nodded in agreement, though she said nothing of the matter. 'If the major has something to tell us,' she thought to herself. 'he'll tell us in good time.'
Diathus stared at her plate blankly. She had not really eaten a lot, for there was look much on her mind. Looking up, she saw that Mia was doing the same, pushing her spring salad around her plate idly with her fork. Rosethorn was trying to get her squirrel friend to eat with no avail. At a tap on the shoulder, Diathus turned. Tamarillo was gazing at her worriedly.
"Something wrong, Di? Y'haven't eaten much, most unlike you. Is it, erm, him?"
The haremaid nodded, knowing that 'him' meant 'Vermeng.' Of course, Tamarillo couldn't say that, because they were not supposed to tell.
"Yes, it's 'him.' Gotten me really worried, y'know. He'll be arriving soon, an' I know exactly wot he wants. Th'problem is, because of me, a battle might have t'start."
Diathus kept her voice low and soft, hoping that nobeast would hear here. Fortunately, no one seemed to notice, as they were all busy in their own conversations. Satisfied that nobeast was listening, the haremaid continued.
"He'll probably want t'have me back as a slave, an' if'n I don't, he'll most likely start a war against this abbey."
Nodding slowly, Tamarillo flashed a wry smile. "Hard bein' th'one that causes e'erything, isn't it? E'erything relies on wot yer decision is, though the Abbess clearly stated that she isn't allowin' you t'turn yerself in. Dun worry about it, Di. E'erything will be fine."
"That's wot they all say," the haremaid mumbled sullenly.
Rambati, like the others who knew of Vermeng's arrival, was also quite dour. Raiyon the bellringer glanced at her friend in concern.
"What's wrong, Rati?"
The mouse warrior grinned falsely at his friend. "What makes you think anything's wrong, Rai?"
Pointing to his empty plate, the bellringer raised an eyebrow. "I believe that answers your question."
Continuing his false cheerfulness, Rambati began piling up his plate with various foods. Raiyon watched him skeptically. Once the mouse was done getting his food, he turned to the mousemaid and smiled somewhat goofily.
"See, I'm fine!"
Raiyon merely shook her head.
"I know you better than that. What's wrong?"
The warrior's expression immediately fell, and his smile disappeared. Taking a bite out of an apple flan gloomily, he look up at the mousemaid and frowned.
"Sorry Rai, can't tell you."
The mousemaid was deeply confused by Rambati's words. The two usually told each other everything, and now her friend was refusing to answer her question. At least, answer it properly. The Redwall champion caught Raiyon's confused look and cracked a small smile.
"I'll explain when I can. But for now, pretend nothing's wrong, okay?"
Though not completely satisfied, the bellringer nodded in agreement. She knew Rambati could be quite obstinate when he wanted to. She returned to her meal, though her mind was racing with reasons on why her friend could be acting the way he was. Unconsciously, she began muttering to herself.
"Mayhaps his secret is about me. Or some other beast told him that I told one of his secrets so he can't trust me. Or mayhaps he thinks he can't trust me. Or he's mad at me. Or-"
The mousemaid's ponderings were interrupted by a soft cough from beside her. Rambati shook his head, smiling slightly.
"No, no, no, and no. Don't worry, Raiyon. It's not you. I'm just not supposed to tell you."
Abbess Sencatina had been watching those who knew of Vermeng carefully, and knew that they were going through trouble keeping it a secret. Sighing inwardly, she took a bite out of a flan and mentally decided that she would have to tell the Abbeybeasts soon.