Author's Note
Hey guys. I just wanted to respond to Faith, who has made a review on the prologue.
I don't necessarily consider Jerbilrats rats, just rat-like creatures. I personally think of them as like springhares.
Furthermore, Aldric gained the Abbey's trust by being kind, gentle, intelligent, civilized, and he was under the protection of Abbess Willow and Foremole Judd. He excelled in Abbey School, and made many friends. He became a Brother, being the Abbey Gardener, and eventually was selected by the dying Abbess he was to lead the Abbey.
Also, Friar Gato's full name is Gato Felician Gingivere. Just so you know, and there's no confusion.
I hope this clears things up. Moving on to Chapter 1!
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In Salamandastron, there was a buzz of activity. Training exercises were performed, security protocols executed, and battle plans thought of and run through with officers, The Badger Lord, Lord Alder Stonestripe, was in his office, at his desk, with Colonel Bracken, Brigadier Winterberry, Major Wrenfield, and Theris, his falcon companion. He was an ordinary sized badger, born and bred in Salamandastron, normal strength, broadsword and war hammer as primary weapons, afflicted with Bloodwrath, like so many other Badger Rulers before him. The five beasts were looking at a map of the Northlands, running through the first of seven campaigns to rid the land of searats and Juska clans which were raiding villages there.
"Alright, Major Gorseberry will lead seventy-eight hares to Hawk's Peak, where she and the troops will rest until Queen Bukkla and her army come in to guide them to Bluetree, where they'll split and come into the village from the north, west, and south, leaving the vermin to flee into the Western Sea. Athloras Axehound and seventy others will kill most of them, and Major Gorseberry will leave thirty-five hares, under the lead of Lieutenant Darwinias. He'll be commissioned there for a half-season, guarding the place, until Arthas Ramord will take over the job. From there, they'll go on a patrol of Mossfloer Wood, meeting up with and discussing plans with the Guosim, until taking the River Moss and getting back here."
Theris piped up. "I don't think Hawk's Peak is a not a very good idea, my lord, perhaps they should wait at Red Wing Point. That way, they could receive help from both Auburn the Wise and Spatha Redkite."
"You know Spatha. She's so nervous of her chicks being hurt that she wouldn't help them hardly at all. And Auburn, despite what her title may suggest, is not very wise at all when it comes to battles. She's only partaken in a few skirmishes in her life. She's far too young to help." Alder replied.
"If I may, Milord," it was Colonel Bracken who spoke now. "if she cannot fight with them, she could still oversee th' bloomin' cads surrounding th' village and their numbers, or should I say 'overhear' them. You know Barn Owls have a very keen sense of hearing. Their earholes are located at different levels of their skulls so that they c'n make an auditory map of their surroundings."
"You seem to forget, Colonel, that bats can do the same thing. Perhaps even better. Lady Redwing has already agreed that she and her bats will be taking part in the fighting, meaning that we can ask for and receive at least one bat to assist them."
"She has sent over fifteen scores t' th' South, and there's about seventeen scores at Mountpit, meaning there are only two scores left t' defend th' mountain. Meaning our chances of getting one, let alone two are so pretty slim. Besides, owls an' hawks are bigger'n bats, so in that respect they are superior. So owls have every advantage in th' battlefield, so why don't we send them, eh wot!"
"I thought we were all clear on Hawk's Point! No matter the place, the same thing will happen. They will be picked up by Queen Bukkla, they'll save Bluetree, and the lieutenant will be commissioned there." Brigadier Winterberry said, calming the group down.
"Very well. I'll order Brookes to get the group's rations prepared." Theris replied coolly, before sauntering out of the room and down the stone hall.
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Late into the night, while most beasts slept, the troubled Badger Lord stayed up, staring at the map of the lands surrounding Salamandastron and a book on defensive battle tactics.
"Discussing the plans with yourself again, darling?" It was Marcella, Alder's wife.
"Hmm, what? Oh, I was reviewing the defense measures that will be carried out if and when we hear reports of the enemy coming in from the North or South."
Marcella set down a glass of blackcurrant wine. "What if they come in from the Western Sea, or from the East? Do youknow what you'll do if that happens?"
"That's why I'm reviewing it! So I can make plans in case that ever happens!" Alder raised his voice, perhaps a bit too high, because you could hear a spear drop in the background.
"I'm sorry, I just want... i just want to have the best for our children and the Dibbuns we have here, especially with the baby coming, I just want you to be safe." he pat the bump on his mate's middle, smiling.
"I don't need that much protection! We have one-thousand-two-hundred able-bodied hares here, six-hundred Dibbuns, and three-hundred elders. The Long Patrol is bigger than it has ever been, and it's growing each day! We have allies to the North, South, East, and West, and there are rumors of a party being sent to the Far East, to see if we can find allies there. There is nothing to worry about!"
"Oh, but there is. King Draco and Queen Scelesta's fleets are growing every day, and we don't even have a single ship!"
Marcella spoke calmly compared to her husband. "Crown Prince Rufus has been amassing a fleet, and they now have a flagship, a huge battling ship called the Galleon. The Guosim have their logboats, and there are quite a few ships that sea otters own, which could be commissioned to the West."
"But we need more than a few small ships! We need something along the lines of an imperial fleet! I've added up all of the ships within the Allied Lands, and we have about thirteen. That is not going to stop seventy-three or more ships, dear!"
"Very well, then. You be frustrated. You be angry and worried. I'll be waiting for you when you finally come to your senses and go to bed." With that, the Badger Lady stalked off down the hallway.
"How will we ever win this war? How?" Alder looked up at a statuette of an ancient predecessor of his, Brocktree. "I want to be wise and strong like you, but I'm not strong enough!"
He tensed his paw up, and it shook almost involuntarily and violently. He began to speak the ancient Badger Ruler chant:
"Seas and lifespans, ebbing, flowing,
Mountain Rulers, coming, going,
Seasons, future, seasons gone.
Badger warriors from the shades,
Stand beside me, guide my paw,
O wise Lords and gentle maids,
Restrain my rage, preserve our law."
He repeated it, over and over again, as his paw loosened and ceased shaking. But sung and sung he did, like the soft whispers of the night breeze as they would sing a lullaby to the moon and stars.