Chapter 19

Sam, Flugg, and Orlando were celebrating the victory over Sibo and his Corsairs. The cooks of the mountain as well as the Guosim were carrying large platters and cauldrons of strawberry scones, potato and leek soup, trifle with meadpw cream, and hot wheat pasties. Everyone licked their lips and they're stomachs groaned in unison. Over hundreds of paws snagged their share of scones, soup, trifle, pudding, salads, and filled their cups, chalices, and tankards of foamy brown shrew beer, damson wine, cordials, ales, and fizzes. Sam stood up and knocked his fork to his tankard.

"Attention, attention, everybeast. Thank you. I would like to propose a toast for our victory over the Corsairs, and a victory over Xaviel and his horde!"

Everyone cheered and hollered at Sam's words. He continued as soon as the animals quieted down.

"However, this victory would not have been achieved without sacrifice, I would be thankful if everybeast could bow their heads and give silence for our fallen comrades."

Everyone stopped eating and drinking, and lowered their heads for a moment. As soon as the moment passed, it was back to eating and drinking.

Everybeast back at Redwall headed into the gatehouse cottage, to get their winter blankets. Hopefully, it wouldn't be too bad of a winter. Matthias and Cornflower were in charge of handing everybeast their blanket. It took a whole afternoon to get everybeast their blanket.

"Well, that's the last of them."

Matthias stated, dusting his paws off. Cornflower smiled at Matthias.

"It sure is good to help the needy and poor."

"Aye, it sure is."

The couple exchanged hugs from each other and headed into Cavern Hole, were Friar Jube was preparing dinner. Inside the dining hall, there were ten beasts to a table. The first table sat Matthias, Cornflower, Mattimeo, Tess, with Martin II in her arms, Tim, Jess, Basil, Sandra, Winifred, and Foremole. Another table sat the ten sister of Jube. At the Abbot's table was Constance, Abbot Mordalfus, and a few of the brothers and sisters of Redwall. The Abbey's servants and maids brought out trolleys of food, freshwater shrimp hot root soup for the ones who dared to get their tastebuds burned. Those who weren't so daring were offered plenty of other tasty items to consume. Such as trifle with meadow cream, puddings, and flans. They also served hot items like, a varity of different soups, scones, tarts, and pasties. Jube and his helpers wheeled in barrels of the Abbey's famous October Ale, strawberry cordial, elderberry wine, its many beers, and fizzes. It was a self service area, so anybeast could grab their cup and fill it to their hearts content. It was a joyous and cheerful time at Redwall.

A haremaiden escorted Sam to his chambers.

"Here we are sir, you're room, I hope you have a pleasant stay with us."

"Thank you, ma'am. I shall."

Sam said as he closed the door behind him. The sun risen over the clouds and everybeast of the Mossflower Patrol and Guosim said their heartfelt goodbyes.

"Sam, we at Salamandastron are forever in your debt."

"As are we, Lord Orlando. Maybe next time if our Abbey is under siege, you can come to our aid, hmm?"

Orlando gave a hearty laugh at Sam's remark.

"Ohohohoho, or maybe just a visit?"

"Hmmhmm, that too. I've got unfinished business with that coward Xaviel. I witnessed him, Feraug, and few others like him running away from the fight we had with those Corsairs."

Orlando nodded and replied.

"Do what needs to be done, young warrior. I will see you again."

"I shall and thank you for your aide and hospitality."

Orlando gave Sam a big hug, and waved goodbye. Sam caught up with Elmtail, Harlan, and Flugg.

"I saw them run South, we go South."

Sam stated.

"Aye, aye, sir!"

Harlan exclaimed. Elmtail saluted with his tail. The beasts were going to finish off Xaviel once and for all.

Xaviel slouched on the rock he sat himself on, mumbling to himself while eating a piece of woodpigeon.

"Those fools, they'll all pay for this. They will pay tenfold for their crimes."

He whispered to himself. Feraug sat next to his Captain.

"I agree with you, sir, but look on the bright side, the vermin who runs away lives to fight another day."

"That is true, we are still alive, and when we reach Nikos, trouble will be brewing, I know it in my bones."

Xaviel chuckled rubbed his paws together. He threw the bone in the fire and it sizzled, and popped.

Sam and the Mossflower Patrol were gaining closer to their targets, they could see small silhouettes of Xaviel and the horde. Sam sheathed his sword and equipped his bow.

"Shh, listen, I need somebeast to head out there and surrender themselves. This will lower their guards and then we'll fire a barrage of arrows there way. Who is going to be the 'bait.'"

"I will."

A young skinny bankvole, about the same age as Sam said.

"Alright, are you sure you want to do this?"

"I am positive, if it gets those nasty vermin what for."

Sam nodded at what the youngster said and slowly headed out with his paws raised over his head.

"Please don't hurt me, I am only one."

Xaviel and Feraug drew their daggers and casually walked over to the bankvole.

"You want mercy, you want mercy? Don't make laugh!"

Xaviel taunted. The bankvole produced fake tears to try and convince the sable and weasel to spare his life. The bankvole fell and kissed the ground to show that he was inferior to Xaviel. Xaviel just laughed it off, and ordered Feraug to do his job.

"Skin this miserable bag of fur."

"With pleasure."

Feraug said in a sadistic manner. Feraug flashed his knife at the bankvole. Suddenly an arrow wisped on by and struck Feraug right between the eyes. Xaviel saw his life long comrade fall and die, he looked over to the rock to see his sword laying there.

"Ambush!"

He cried, he attempted to run towards his sword but an arrow shot out from the forest and struck him in the sternum. A barrage of arrows flew from the trees and struck everybeast apart of Xaviel's horde. They were pierced in the throat, eyes, stomach, head chest. The arrows kept flying until the vermin were all dead. Xaviel on the otherpaw was still alive, though dying none the less. Harlan walked up to the sable and readied his bow. Xaviel struggled to lift himself up.

"Wait, wait!"

He pleaded. The sable coughed up blood and continued to speak as blood seeped from his mouth and wounds.

"You kill me you answer to...!"

He was rudely interrupted by the arrow the arrow that struck his head. It was done, Sam had finally exacted his goal.