Meanwhile, in Salamandastron, every able-bodied and willing perilous beast
in the land was preparing for war. Almost the entire artillery of
weapons, usually hidden away in one of the deep chambers of the castle, was
split up into the hands of hard working soldiers drilling under the hot
sun, and more importantly, under the sharp eyes of their commanders. Lord
Snowstripe stood on his bedroom balcony in his castle, towering above all
the other creatures performing their tasks down below. He suddenly saw a
small figure rush out of the bushes into the open area where the soldiers
were drilling. It was a little badger girl that had the same distinctive
upturned nose as he did and the same radiant pearly black eyes as his wife
had. The little girl had come to see what all the excitement was all about,
and Lord Snowstripe gradually realized that the little badger was his
daughter!
Surprised at the sudden return of his little girl Lynette, Lord Snowstripe practically flew down the castle stairs, followed closely by his wife Lucinda, and they both embraced their daughter tightly. All the soldiers stopped drilling and rushed to the scene. "Precious darling," Snowstripe wept, "where have you been? Papa's been so worried about you!"
Lynette kissed her papa's cheek soundly, then turned around and waved her hand to Justine and Callista. Lady Lucinda went over to greet them, and invited them to stay for supper. Callista smacked her lips soundly, and Justine agreed that it was a dream come true to be a guest at a Salamandastron feast.
During the feast, Justine and Callista stuffed themselves with the delicious delicacies that the superb cooks had made for the special occasion of finding Lynette until they felt they would burst. As everyone gradually finished their meal, Lord Snowstripe called a meeting of his commanders, his wife Lucinda, Lynette, and Justine and Callista.
During the meeting, Justine and Callista learned about the rivalry between Lord Snowstripe and a new Rapscallion leader sea rat named Dima Nero. Lord Snowstripe's sister Melanius was originally the official Badger Lady, and Snowstripe, being younger, was his sister's best counselor. During a bloody battle three years ago, Dima Nero had captured Lady Melanius. Joining forces with Redwall, Salamandastron won the battle, but Lady Melanius was still a captive. Recently, a Rapscallion thief sent by Dima Nero had stolen one hundred ancient gold coins, extremely special to Salamandastron. The thief had also kidnapped Lynette, but halfway along the trail back to the Rapscallion campgrounds, Lynette gently urged her spear out of the sleeping thief's pocket, cut away the ropes that were binding her with the spear, and slipped away during the night. Now, Lord Snowstripe was going to launch a surprise attack on the Rapscallion army he had been planning for the past three years. The Badger Lord had now over 700 willing animals, including the Redwall army, to fight for him.
"I'm in it for your side, sir," Justine stated grimly.
"And I'm in it for your side, ma'am," added Callista.
With fire burning in her eyes, Lady Lucinda declared, "So it is. Let us destroy the evil Rapscallion forces once and for all!"
Surprised at the sudden return of his little girl Lynette, Lord Snowstripe practically flew down the castle stairs, followed closely by his wife Lucinda, and they both embraced their daughter tightly. All the soldiers stopped drilling and rushed to the scene. "Precious darling," Snowstripe wept, "where have you been? Papa's been so worried about you!"
Lynette kissed her papa's cheek soundly, then turned around and waved her hand to Justine and Callista. Lady Lucinda went over to greet them, and invited them to stay for supper. Callista smacked her lips soundly, and Justine agreed that it was a dream come true to be a guest at a Salamandastron feast.
During the feast, Justine and Callista stuffed themselves with the delicious delicacies that the superb cooks had made for the special occasion of finding Lynette until they felt they would burst. As everyone gradually finished their meal, Lord Snowstripe called a meeting of his commanders, his wife Lucinda, Lynette, and Justine and Callista.
During the meeting, Justine and Callista learned about the rivalry between Lord Snowstripe and a new Rapscallion leader sea rat named Dima Nero. Lord Snowstripe's sister Melanius was originally the official Badger Lady, and Snowstripe, being younger, was his sister's best counselor. During a bloody battle three years ago, Dima Nero had captured Lady Melanius. Joining forces with Redwall, Salamandastron won the battle, but Lady Melanius was still a captive. Recently, a Rapscallion thief sent by Dima Nero had stolen one hundred ancient gold coins, extremely special to Salamandastron. The thief had also kidnapped Lynette, but halfway along the trail back to the Rapscallion campgrounds, Lynette gently urged her spear out of the sleeping thief's pocket, cut away the ropes that were binding her with the spear, and slipped away during the night. Now, Lord Snowstripe was going to launch a surprise attack on the Rapscallion army he had been planning for the past three years. The Badger Lord had now over 700 willing animals, including the Redwall army, to fight for him.
"I'm in it for your side, sir," Justine stated grimly.
"And I'm in it for your side, ma'am," added Callista.
With fire burning in her eyes, Lady Lucinda declared, "So it is. Let us destroy the evil Rapscallion forces once and for all!"