Chapter Two
The two friends began walking through Mossflower together, wandering around as the sun sank lower in the sky. They didn't have to rush back to Redwall, and the weather was good. Both were content to walk beside each other in silence. The vermin had given them a lot to think about.
Who was Fangarl? What did he or she want with Redwall? When would they know the mysterious Fangarl? Were they in danger? As these thoughts ran through Kyra's head, she snorted and chastised herself. If there are vermin involved, of course the creatures of Mossflower were in danger, she told herself.
Fangarl, she reasoned, was obviously some sort of leader. It had certainly sounded like she was the one who had ordered the two weasels- Kyra had forgotten their names- to look for. . . something. And, Redwall had been found. She supposed that they were looking for a place with prosperous resources that would be easily conquerable. They had obviously not known about her otters and Rhyna's squirrels.
Time wore on, and the sun sank even lower in the sky. Kyra Longfletch and Rhyna Reguba arrived at Redwall's gates at what any otherbeast would have considered a very good moment, for tonight the celebration of the Midsummer Solstice was to take place!
Both chieftains had forgotten about the celebration because of the urgent news that they carried. They remembered as they drew nearer, for they heard the shouts of joy and merrymaking from the inside of the Abbey. The sun had completely set, but starlight and the bright moon shone down with soft silvery radiance, covering the wonderful party with a magical glow.
They soon awoke from their midsummer eve trances, and Rhyna raised a paw to knock on the gates. Both creatures look at each other. Their thoughts were simultaneous, and both winced. The news that they bore would not be the kind creatures would want to hear during a time of merrymaking and goodwill and love. Vermin attacks were not things to be mentioned during feasts.
Neither of the two leaders wished to disrupt the feast with rumors of an attack upon the Abbey. The feast was a time for joy, not a time for councils of war. What beast in their right mind would want to hear of vermin threats during a celebration? Rhyna looked at Kyra, who read her mind like an open book. "So," Kyra said, "we'll wait until tomorrow to tell 'em about these vermin, right Reguba?"
The squirrelmaid flicked her bushy tail and nodded vigorously. Rhyna agreed completely with Kyra's unspoken reasoning, feeling it herself. They would have to keep silent about their discovery until the next day. "Aye, Skip," Rhyna agreed, pressing a paw to her lips.
"No need to ruin their feast, is there?" the Reguba continued. "With all the vermin dead, it'll take a few days for Fangarl, whoever he or she is, to find out about us and to plan an attack." Kyra nodded, though she knew Rhyna had only said the words to reassure herself.
Kyra sighed. "We might as well let these others have their fun and join in ourselves for a few minutes before we tell them next morning. A little party won't hurt if we're going to have a vermin attack any time soon, matey."
"Agreed, Kys. If we're going to be in a war- and it certainly seems as if that's a possibility- the Redwallers will want something happy to talk about and to look back on. Where would we be without a little joy in the bad times? Let 'em rest one last night before we worry them about war and bloodshed."
"Now, be a good little squirrelmaiden an' open the gate fer me," Kyra joked. "'Fraid I'm no use at climbin' up walls and openin' 'em from the other side. I'll leave that t'you treewhallopers with those odd bushy tails. At least they have a use, no matter how odd they look."
The otter winked, to show she was only joking, while Rhyna put on a face of mock exasperation. "Look who's talkin', streamdog! You with that big rudder sticking out of your backside callin' my brush odd looking. Otters are far worse. I'll open yon gate, but I expect you t'do the swimming fer this team, Longfletch. Understood?"
With that last comment, the squirrelmaid dashed up the wall, over the gatehouse, and landed on the wall top. Kyra would have gasped in amazement if she hadn't seen the Reguba perform such marvelous feats on many occasions.
The squirrelmaid then ran down the walltop steps and unlocked the gate while Kyra waited. Her ears perked up as she heard the lock click and stepped inside the gates as Rhyna held them open. The squirrelmaid grinned as she passed, winking cheekily and holding a paw to her lips.
"Remember, Longfletch. We're both to keep mum. Understand? No hints, not even to the Abbess. Even Abbesses need time to have fun, eh? Samara'll find out tomorrow, like everyone else. Just between us two. . . and by the way, we could have knocked. The feast is outside in such good weather." Kyra rolled her eyes, pushing her way past Rhyna.
Once the ottermaid had walked through the gate and onto the Redwall Grounds, she moaned and raised her eyes heavenwards. What idiots they both were. They could have simply knocked. . .
Rhyna grinned, and shrugged. "Oh well, at least now we can join the party. Even if it would have been easier to just knock. . ." Kyra glared, and Rhyna closed her mouth. They walked together for a few moments, receiving smiles and waves from the other creatures at the feast and smiling and waving in return.
Soon, Rhyna spoke again. "Remember, keep mum, Longfletch." Kyra winked at her friend, lifted a paw in parting, and walked off into the midst of the feast. Kyra did not want to stay with Rhyna during the feast, for if she did the Reguba would be reminding her with small gestures and winks all night, and it would be even more tempting to tell.
Razorfang the Ferret, known as Raze to everyone in the Abbey, was sitting at the feast table with another ferret, Kilt Fourclaw, at his side, though there was a seat between them. Both of the ferrets had lived at Redwall for some time now, and were trusted by all and respected as members of the Abbet. Both were hard working and good creatures, their hearts as good as those of any goodbeasts.
Both had rather interesting pasts, but both had pledged their lives to Redwall, and both were special friends of a certain Kyra Longfletch. Kilt was a rather nice fellow, friendly and a wonderful warrior with his twin blades. Raze was quiet and withdrawn, and he had befriended a white swan named Kraken, who he had nursed back to health after he had found him with a broken wing.
Kilt's temperament at the moment, however, was rather peeved. Raze had refused to let him take the seat that separated them, and Kilt thought he knew why. He didn't dare ask though, because he knew Raze would simply rebuke him.
Eventually, after a long and awkward stretch of silence, the ferret could not keep quiet any longer. He was rather like Rhyna in that respect. "Raze," he complained, looking at the empty seat, "Why won't y'let me sit down there, matey? What are you afraid of? Aren't we good friends? Don't you trust me?"
Raze grinned and patted the seat, shaking his head. Just to make sure Kilt didn't move from his current seat, the ferret stretched out one of his legs, resting it on the seat so that he could not sit down. "This seat is saved fer Kys, Kilt, an' yew know it," the ferret said, a smile curving his usually unmoved lips.
Raze rarely smiled, but this was a feast, and a rather funny situation. "That otter is the only one who I trust to sit next ter me widout stealin' me food! Yore a seat away, so we can still talk, but I can have a conversation wid me plate too. . . without interruptions."
"What about yer other side?" Kilt asked, for the other chair next to Raze was empty too. Both ferrets stared at each other, trying desperately not to laugh. Raze took a big bite of a cream trifle, licking his lips afterwards before tucking into a mushroom pastie that sat on the other side of his plate. After he had taken a few savory mouthfuls, he paused to answer Kilt.
"Well, if someone sits there, I know that they won't be worse 'n you at stealin' otherbeasts food, Kilt."
Kilt snorted and started eating the contents of his own plate quickly and neatly. He popped a candied chestnut- of which he was rather fond- into his mouth and sucked on it, letting the sugar wind it's way to the back of his throat. Then, he took a long gulp of Strawberry cordial, smiling afterwards and sighing contentedly. Kilt quite a sweet tooth, after all.
A few seconds later, just as Raze had predicted, Kyra ran forwards and slammed herself into the seat next to him, grabbing a plate and any food she could get her paws on. She was very hungry. There was plenty of food for all, for this was the Summer Solstice Feast, and the kitchens had outdone themselves.
She took a gulp of some Elderberry wine. Kyra detested all forms of ale and beer, though she had a particular fondness for wine. "What?" she said, seeing a sulky expression on Kilts face. "Raze won't let you sit next to 'im so you can't steal his food? Don't worry mate, you c'n have some of mine."
Kilt grinned, and nodded. "Ye read my mind, riverdog." Kyra shrugged, and handed Kilt a Mushroom Pastie.
"You know," the ferret said, one of his ears twitching to dislodge a clump of cream that had somehow gotten in his fur, "I think that Raze'd die before he let me have a crack at his tuck. That ferret's as greedy as a fambly of Hedgehogs what ain't eaten in ten seasons. That's what feasts are for, y'know, to keep us all from growin' spikes 'cause of bein' hungry. Rather uncomfortable t'sleep on, donchew think?"
Kyra laughed, eyes sparkling. This feast was a good one, and Kilt and Raze, two of her best friends at the Abbey, were always excellent company. The three were an almost inseparable pair, though Sky was still Kyra's best friend.
"Its not just riverdog, ferret," Kyra said resentfully. "I'm half wavedog too, an' don't you forget it Fourclaw! Besides, y'shouldn't call Raze greedy. You're the one who's complainin' about not bein' able to steal otherbeasts food. There's plenty, anyway." At this, all three friends laughed uproariously before continuing to eat the contents of their plates.
It was then that Kyra grinned even wider. She spotted something that almost sent her into gales of laughter, and she had to use all of her willpower to prevent herself from falling onto the floor and rolling about, clutching her stomach.
"Oh, Raze. . ." she said, tapping the ferret on the shoulder and pointing towards a figure that was coming rapidly towards him. "Looks like one of our friends wants t'sit next to you. Oh, its Cap'n Glutto- er, I mean, Cap'n Sky! Oh, and look! The only other open seat is next to you, matey. Shows you that even Kilt has competition in the food department."
Raze groaned and passed his plate to Kyra. "You might as well let Kilt 'ave it, Kys. Or eat it yerself, anyways. If either o' you don't steal it, that stomach on legs Meadowsong will! After all that trouble o' getting Kilt to sit a seat away from me."
The ferret looked imploringly at Kyra, sighing dramatically. "Are you the only creature who isn't out to steal a beasts tuck, Kys?" Kyra laughed and pushed the plate back, shaking her head. Raze would get as much food as anybeast if she had anything to say about it. This was a feast, and there was enough to feed the abbey three times over.
"Don' worry. There will be plenty for all 'ere, matey. Sky'll steal some, but she'll be piling her own plate as well. And you c'n always take more if she finishes off yore food, Raze." It was then that Skythistle Morningdew Meadowsong approached, sitting herself next to Raze on the opposite side of him than Kyra. Raze looked at Kyra, and Kyra stepped on his foot rather forcibly to keep him from acting rashly.
Both ferrets grew rather protective around their food, and Sky was as drawn to food as any hare. For some reason, however, hares always managed to stay fit no matter how much food they piled down their bottomless stomachs.
"Well, bally greetin's an' solicitations, Raze m'laddo, eh wot?" Sky's greeting was returned with a nasty glance from Raze. He opened his mouth to speak, but was quickly stopped by Kyra's paw pressing on his own yet again.
Sky continued, not noticing. "And you too, Kilt Fourclaw! Nice t'see you all up an' alive, doncha know! An' is that Kyra Longfletch I see?" Kyra stood up slightly and gave her best friend in the entire world a tight and long embrace. The two hadn't seen each other for a good long while, and it felt very good to be reunited after almost half a season.
"No t'ain't, Sky! It's Rhyna Reguba dressed up in an otter costume an' wearin' Kyra's weapons an' arrows. Nice t'see ye, Meadowsong! How's th' patrolling' been goin', m'dear haremaid?" Sky waved a treacle tart and took a large bite, not caring that she had taken it from Raze's plate. Raze said not a word, but only glowered.
Kyra smiled and slipped him a clandestinely stolen tart from the center of the table to keep his mouth shut. Raze smiled gratefully and stuffed it into his mouth, letting crumbs fall down his chin. He couldn't let Sky take it right from his paws. She had done so on numerous occasions before.
"Oh, t'has been splendid," Sky answered, her eyes sparkling as they did whenever she talked about Patrolling. Sky's warrior nature had fitted in with the way things were run at the mountain of Salamandastron perfectly, and Sky felt quite at home in the volcano.
"I've gotten t'lead a few patrols now, eh eh! Regimental scout 'n foot fighter, doncha know! But all this bally work has been makin' this young Cap'n hungry, eh wot!" With that, she shoved the rest of Raze's treacle tart into her mouth and chewed, savoring the taste.
After this, Raze seemed to forgive his haremaid friend for stealing one of his tarts and the four friends spent much time chatting amiably and eating whenever they could step out from the conversation. Kyra was careful not to mention the vermin sightings to anyone, not even three of her dearest friends. Caught up in the feast Sky, Raze, and Kilt didn't seem to notice.
Kyra sighed and took a sip of her Hotroot soup, cooling the taste with a bite of the Turnip 'n Tater 'n Beetroot Pie made by the moles. She then picked up a flagon and took a long sip of damson wine. Damson wine was a particular favorite of Kyra's, as was elderberry, though she didn't at all like beers or ales.
She hadn't been exposed to wine until she had left slavery, wine had been one of the delights she found when she had come to Mossflower. After many seconds, she put it down and licked her lips, winking at Sky. "Aye, this Damson Wine is th' best that's been fermented in a long while, so 'tis! Luvverly stuff this vintage!"
The Ottermaid passed her friend the flagon, taking another sip of her soup and some more bites of her pie while the haremaid sampled it. She nodded approvingly, quickly draining the flagon after a brief taste and throwing it onto the table.
"You're right there, Kyra! 'Tis wunnerful, wot! Not sure of the year, though. . ." Kyra knew that the year was the Summer of the Blazing Sun, but she didn't mention it. The ottermaid had become somewhat of an authority on Elderberry and Damson wine. "Wish I could bring some of this Redwall tuck to th' ol' fire mountain," Sky continued. "But, that is not to be."
Kyra grinned and winked, remembering a previous visit to Salamandastron fondly. "Aw, Sky! Mooneye th' cook isn't that bad! She managed not t'burn th' Shrimp Salad last time! Dunno how she managed to burn the first one I saw her make, though. Salads aren't apt to burn. Wonder why she put it in the oven in the first place."
At this, the ottermaid fell into gales of laughter. Sky glared, and Raze took the opportunity to steal back a mushroom pasty that Sky had taken from him and set on her own plate. Sky didn't notice, and neither did Kyra.
"I recall that the reason she burned the first one was because you were in the kitchens," Sky said, a gleam in her eye. "She didn't put the bally thing in the oven, y'great streamdog, doncha know! T'was all your fault, wot. If I recall th'bally memory correctly, a certain jolly ottermaid was trying to steal pawfuls of it before she had finished mixing it t'gether."
Kyra stopped laughing. "Then," Sky said, a malicious smile curving her lips, "that ottermaid happened to upset the bowl and sent it falling into the fire when she smacked your fat an' grubby paw with the ladle, Waterwhalloper!"
Kyra rubbed her paw in remembrance. "I'd think you'd have bandaged paws by now, with all the snitching of food you must do at your beloved mountain! An' besides, that hare should be on Patrol with the aim, eye, and arm she's got! She's strong of paw, as I c'n very well tell you!"
With that, all four of the friends burst into unstoppable gales of laughter. Sky, who recovered first, gulped the rest of Kyra's Hotroot Soup and Kilt's piece of Deeper 'n Ever Pie down in a flash before either could notice.
Kilt, however, did notice that some of his food was missing when he put his fork on his plate, trying to spear a piece of nonexistent pie. "Kyra!" He complained, showing her his empty plate, "what did you take me pie for, matey?"
Kyra shrugged, and opened her mouth to explain, but Sky beat her to it. The haremaid was not going to be blamed for the crime, even if she had committed it. Kilt had already given her the perfect scapegoat- Kyra. Smiling, Sky wove together a fabric of lies that would save her skin. If Kilt found out, she would be in big trouble indeed.
"Kyra! How could you?" Sky's face was the picture of innocence and offended dignity. Kyra opened her mouth to speak again, but Sky covered it with a paw, an ashen tint coming to her face. Raze ate while Sky talked, knowing that the haremaid's mouth would soon be occupied with food again, most likely his.
"Stealin' a friends tuck like that? Shame on you, otter! Shame, I say, wot," Sky continued. "Here, Kilt," she said, extending her plate, "take my slice of pie, since that gluttonous ottermaid ate the whole thing! The tasty pie's prolly in her bottomless stomach by now! Can't believe that ottermaid stole your pie!"
Raze stopped eating and had been spending most of his energy stifling giggles, unable to eat for laughing. Sky was just about to return to eating when his giggles intensified. Kyra stared at him, a concerned expression on her face. He snickered, his eyes bugging out and the finger of his paw that wasn't covering his mouth pointing at Sky. He had, of course, seen her take the pie from Kilt's plate.
"I. . ." he tried to say, through stutters, "I. . . Er. Hahahaha, I didn't know yo- yo- you Hohohohehe! I didn't know yo-, I di- I didn't know you was an H'Ottermaid, Sk- Sk- Sky! Oh, great seasons! Hehehehahahohohohoho!"
With this, Kyra and Kilt started laughing too. Kilt started gasping, trying to speak. He didn't manage this feat for several minutes, his teeth gritted to try and prevent laughter. Unfortunately, this method of stifling his giggles didn't work very well. He gasped for breath, hardly able to breathe at all.
"Knew there was something funny when Sky offered me food from her plate," he said with a grin. It took several more moments for him to continue, but continue he did, somehow. "Thought I was hallucinating," he finished, falling onto the ground next to his chair and clutching his stomach.
Sky waggled her ears and twitched her nose, looking down her nose at her three friends. But, even she was too amused to stay angry for long. Sky was an admirer of a good witty comeback, and this one was no exception.