Morning at Redwall Abbey brought the tearstained face of Redwick to the window. Vunnel had brought the squirrels dinner up last night, but she could only talk quickly to her friend. Then she had to hurry back downstairs. Redwick's stomach growled hungrily and she yawned. The remembrance of last night, brought new tears to her eyes, but she fought them off.
A knock came at the door, but she said nothing. The door opened and Abbess Ino entered. She looked weary, as if she hadn't slept all night, and her habit was creased. If she had slept, she hadn't bothered to change. Her eyes were downcast and she looked up with great sadness.
"Redwick, I must apologize. Brother Harwood gave me a good dressing-down last night, and I believe I acted quite foolishly. My quick temper got the best of me, and that's not something that should happen to the Abbess. "However, even though you will not look up at me, which I can understand, I have something for you." She held out an old rolled scroll, but when the squirrelmaid didn't take it, Ino sighed and set it down on Redwick's bed. "It came to be in a dream last night, and when I woke up, I found myself standing in front of the tapestry of Martin the Warrior. He recited the poem to me and I sort of...fainted. When I came to, I brought my paw up to steady myself against the wall and the stone, underneath the hilt of the sword, slid in. This is what was inside." Redwick still didn't look up, so Ino sighed again. "If you'll excuse me, I must go attend to our guests." She left with one last glance to the squirrel, and then quietly closed the door.
Redwick finally turned and stared silently at the scroll. Then, with a shaky paw, she gingerly picked it up, unrolling it and reading it.
"The apple anew,
Stands tall and alone,
Disliked by few,
Your name shall be known.
The apple and soil,
Meet close in the heart,
One close to royal,
The other, apart.
One carries pears,
The other my words,
The small one ensnares,
The help of the birds.
Seek out the ones,
In the blue overhead,
Pears hold the sun,
Beware the dead."
Redwick stared at it in shock. The poem was most certainly about her and Vunnel. No
other squirrel and mole were that close of friends in the entire abbey. Besides, if it was meant for later, Harwood would never have found it, Ino would never have- Ino! Redwick was back to feeling miserable. It wasn't the Abbess that should have been apologizing. It was herself. When her temper flared, she was worse than the mouse. She folded the scroll up and exited the room, heading strait for the kitchens.
The fat little Friar looked up at her arrival. "Ahh, m'dear Redwick," squealed Friar. "It's good to see you again! You should've seen poor Ino last night! She was beside herself with remorse for acting so shortly. She does, however, wish to speak with you. Here, have some
fresh blueberry scones and some meadow cream."
As the squirrelmaid was accepting the scones, a paw suddenly shoved the swing doors open and five worn looking hares entered. "Ah the jolly ol' kitchens! So good to finally see one, after all the flippin' traipsin' 'ere an' there!" The hare grabbed the shocked Friar's paw and patted
it. "You must be Friar Guddly, pleased ter meetcha I'm sure. Wot ya cookin' up fer five famished 'ares?"
Friar Guddly grabbed a rolling pin and brandished it menacingly at the hare. "Out of my kitchens, horrible beasts! Out now! You're gonna eat us out of house an' Abbey! Out, now!"
"Bit of a bad show there, old chap," grumbled the hare indignantly, but retreated with the rest of the hares. Redwick suppressed a giggle and followed them out.
"Thanks Friar!" Then Redwick chuckled slyly. "Oh, by the way, as I understand, they're
intent on staying for quite some time." Redwick left the kitchens, laughing, as Guddly emitted a strangled sob.
The young squirrel entered Great Hall and found Ino, Harwood, Skipper, two otters and the five hares eating a light, late, breakfast. The hare that had spoken earlier got up and bowed gallantly.
"At ya service, young squirrelmaid. I am Captain Turnel Thistledown Sapwood of the Sa-
"Oh shove a cork in it, mate," growled one of the otters she didn't know. He smiled at her. "I'm Dral, me matey Bluback, that's Sapwood there, an' Reen, his sister Tallonia, that's Flopeer an' that's Beachtree." "Redwick, these are hares from Salamandastron,"
Abbess Ino spoke up, looking very grave. "Their home has been taken over by an evil ferret and her Death Horde. They've come asking for our help. I was just telling them about the poem as they ate."
Bluback chuckled. "More like scoffed, marm."
Flopeer mumbled something and got a playful shove from the otter.
"Do ya 'ave the scroll Red-thing," asked Tallonia as she dribbled some honey on her blueberry scones.
Redwick shook her head. "No, I forgot it upstairs, marm. I'll be right back!" She quickly ran up the stairs and grabbed the scroll. As she was about to leave, a large rock flew through the open window. She stopped dead in her tracks and glanced warily at the window. She crossed over to it and looked out.
Four ferrets were standing just outside the walls. The biggest waved at her, grinning a snaggle-toothed grin. "'Ey matey! You sure live in a nice snug Abbey."
Redwick nodded and stared hard at the rag tag group below her. "That's right. This is Redwall Abbey. We are here to provide food and shelter to those who have none."
Skabeye laughed harshly and elbowed Spliteer in the side. "Harharhar, Spliteer. 'Is must be the grandness place in the entire werld. I betcha the rabbits er in 'ere! Lets arsk 'er if they ar!"
Spliteer buffeted the ferret. "Sure nitwit. Then they cin invite us in an' kill us. Naw, idjit,
we gota figur out some way ter get in so we cin tell Azcar wur they went. She wantsa take the place anyways." He called back up to the squirrel. "Me an' my muckers er alone an' 'ungry. Is it possible fer us ta spend a night in yer great, protective walls?"
The squirrel tugged at her habit undecided. "Tell ya what, ferret. I'll go an' talk to the Abbess and you an' yer minions cin go round the front an' wait there." The squirrel disappeared from view.
Flagg shook his head, scratching his ripped ear. "If ya arsk me, mucker, they ain't gunna let us in."
Spliteer glowered at him. "I didn't arsk yer opinion, thick'ead. Now le's go round front like the tree'opper said an' wait there. These stupid cowards'll let us in."
"Dern't be to 'asty en yore thinkin', mucker. Many a' gret warlords, better an' ar Darkfangs, 'ave been slaughtered unmerciff'ly 'ere," said Greeseer. The ferrets glanced in disbelief at the Abbey.
"Them?" Skabeye asked in shock. Nobeast could believe that a bunch of peace loving mice, otters and squirrels could defeat a ferret as mighty as the Darkfang.
Redwick came back down the stairs and paused uncertainly. "Abbess, there are four ferrets outside our walls, askin' to be let in."
Sapwood's ears rose up. "Ferrets, old tree walloper? Outside this jolly Abbey?" The hares
leapt to their paws, followed by the rest of the creatures in Great Hall. As they went outside, the first cries of alarm were heard from some hedgehogs on top of the wall in front of the main gate. They ascended the stairs and looked down at the burly ferrets. Flopeer peered angrily at them.
"Phwaw! I say, y'scurvy villans! Whad'ya want 'ere?"
Skabeye elbowed Flagg. "Thar's the rabbits, mucker. Let's git in 'ere an' finish em' off!"
Still smiling upwards, Spliteer trampled on Skabeye's paw, causing the ferret to jump up and down on one paw, nursing the other. Spliteer looked sadly up at the Redwallers. "Y'see
mates. We been wanderin' 'ungry, alone an' wounded fer as long as anybeast cin remember."
Abbess Ino seemed to soften slightly as the ragged group below her. "Even though they are vermin, they still are in the need of our help. Maybe one night is not asking too much. Then in the morning we can send them on their way with some supplies." She looked from the hares to Skipper and then back again.
Tallonia was peering intensely at Spliteer. The ferret jogged her memory as flashes of the battle for Salamandastron raced through her head. There, on the ledge with Whitepaw, back to back, ten ferrets closing in. Somebeast raised his sword and...it was gone again. Tallonia shook her head to clear it and the tears.
Skipper conversed with Sapwood and Vunnel trundled up the stairs to stand by her squirrel friend. Another mole was following her.
"'Ello, Redwick. Oi faound Garble 'ere an' oi thought 'ee could cum with us. 'Ee is only 'bout a season youn'er than us." Then Vunnel looked down at the ferrets, wrinkling her nose. "Wot be them doin' ere?"
Redwick waved a greeting to Garble. "I don't know, Vunnel." Finally, Skipper nodded. "I guess the vermin can come in, but they'd best be'ave. They can eat and drink their fill, then they are given a room and kept under guard. We can't have them wanderin' about, you understand, marm."
Ino nodded firmly in agreement. "But, of course, Skipper."
The gates opened slowly and Skipper escorted the vermin in. The ferrets glanced around the Abbey in awe. It was the most beautiful sight they had ever and would ever see. "Huh huh, can't wait'll the Darkfangs take this place. Twill be nice to live in." Greeseer smiled, dumbly looking around. Then the vermin looked up at the hares.