Chapter 16
Sam shook his head in amazement, of course badgers were beasts who loved challenges. Orlando and his hares escorted their friends into the mountain. Inside the dining hall, a great feast took place. The chefs from each patrol and tribe brought out different kinds of entrees to indulge upon. The Guosim made shrewcake with ooey-gooey honey with gooseberries spread on the top, potato, carrot, and onion pies, and pints of black shrewbeer to wash it down. The cooks of Mossflower Patrol made everybeast mushroom and white sauce pasties, raspberry scones, fruit medly eith meadow cream, different kinds of vegetable stews, and pints of October Ale. Lastly, the hares of Salamandastron made their finest cuisine for the heroes. They created potato and leek scones sprinkled with a bit of sea salt, oatcakes drizzled with a touch of honey, roasted apples sprinkled with cinnamon and honey, large bowls of apple and pear pudding, and pints of their finest cordials to wash it all down. Each and everyone at the table gorged themselves on the delectable items. Food was being passed left and right, everyone was getting his or her fill of food. Pints, tankards, and cups were being refilled of beer, ale, or cordial. Orlando let out a hearty laugh.
"Ohohohohohohoho! It has been a while since I have had a good laugh, look at the little ones."
The harebabes of Salamandastron were eating small bowls of apple pudding, then one thought it would be clever to try and wear the food as a hat. The tiny baby did this and the gooey pudding slopped down from his head and onto his whiskers and the floor. Usually, Orlando was strict about beasts wasting food, he would lecture you for wasting proper vittles, but something changed in Orlando. Was it becasue everybeast there was having a good time or was it because he thought that this would be his last evening and he need to make the most of it? Either way, nothing could stop this wonderful event. A few hours had pasted and everybeasts stomaches were buldging, few of them groaned in agony, while the others patted their bellies in satisfaction. Flugg was sleeping soundly in the chair, all of a sudden his face winced, and his stomach started to rumble. He moaned and groaned, then suddenly.
"BEEEEEEELLLLLLLLCCCCCHHHHH!"
The shrew unleashed the biggest belch that anybeast heard. He yawned and went back to sleep. Sam and the bigger beasts, including Orlando were all dumbstruck at the incredible yet gassy feat that Log-a-Log Flugg performed. Sam yawned and stretched.
"Say, Orlando. Any lodgings for my crew and I?"
Orlando nodded and he ordered a few of his guards to escort the young warriors up to their bunks. Before Sam and his patrol went to bed, he wanted to get something else off his chest. He raced towards the hulking badger and gave him a mighty hug.
"Glad to see you, old friend. Tomorrow, my Mossflower Patrol, Log-a-Log's Guosim, and your Long Patrol will show those wretches what for, you know what they say, 'quick's the word, sharp's the action.'"
Orlando let out a chuckled and watched as old and new friends made it up the stairs to their dormitories.
Sibo and Tavadar sat near the fires getting warm, when they heard sand getting tossed about. Tavadar drew his mace and chain, Sibo had a paw hovered over his cutlass' hilt.
"Do not worry, we are only here to help."
Sibo seemed a bit panicked but he was able to gather his composure.
"Wha! I mean, who goes there?"
He demanded to know who he was speaking to. A sable and a brown furred weasel stepped into the light of the fire.
"My name is Xaviel and this is my Right Paw, Feraug. We're tracking a squirrel, and his beasts, have you seen them?"
Sibo scoffed at the question, sat back down, and began roasting a fish.
"Pssh, no! I'm not interested in your little hunt for a squirrel, I'm determined to take that mountain from a badger snd his hares. Alas, my army is minuscule, hey, why not join forces? I bet you a barrel of seaweed grog to a rowboat that your squirrel and his friends are inside the mountain."
Xaviel paced around, kicking up sand. The sable tapped his chin and clicked his tongue. He then nodded approvingly.
"Deal, I'll help you take the mountain, you help me find the squirrel, deal?"
"Deal."
The two vermin leaders clasped each other's paw and shook on it.