Chapter Twenty-Three: Mossflower Marches to War
Beechtail didn't get much sleep, but the next day he paid better attention to Skipper and Log-a-log, as they worked on the plans to defend the Abbey. The day was bright and sunny, Aspen and Maplefur, were back in the orchard, practicing archery again…
Beechtail tried to concentrate on what Skipper and Log-a-log were saying. It was nearly noon. There was a dark blot on the horizon. Skipper saw it too. They rushed to the west battlements, to see if it was the Rapscallions approaching. It was a bird!
It grew larger, Ghan Cloudcleaver soared over the Abbey wall, and landed by the Abbey pond; severely frightening some nearby dibbuns. They rushed down the stairs to the pond.
Skipper faced the bird, "Who are you, and what do you want?"
Ghan looked up, "I am called Ghan Cloudcleaver, I bring a message from the longears of the firemountain, for Abbotmouse. He showed them a scroll tried to his leg."
"A message from Salamandastron?" Log-a-log ran off to find the Abbot.
In a few minutes, Abbot Thren was reading the scroll, which was a letter from Lord Adaracor, explaining their situation, and asking for reinforcements.
"Well, my crew will go join them, Adaracor has got a point, it'll be difficult to defend Redwall," Skipped commented.
"I've got forty shrews, we'll come too," Log-a-log added.
"You're not leaving us behind, the Limbrunners are with you," replied Aspen. Maplefur nodded.
"But, someone has to stay and defend the Abbey," said Skipper.
"Not really, if I understand the plan, the Redwallers are supposed to flee into Mossflower," replied Beechtail.
"Abandon the Abbey! I've never heard of such a thing,"
"I've never heard of the Long Patrol losing a battle, but it happened."
The discussion turned into an uproar, Beechtail clanged his swords together to restore order.
"We don't really have a choice, if the battle is tomorrow night, we should leave today. The whole point of this attack is to hit the Rapscallions with everything we've got. We must all go."
There was some muttering, but eventually everyone agreed that Beechtail was right. "We'll leave tonight; get everyone ready to march by then."
The rest of the afternoon was quite busy, Skipper's crew gathered pebbles and made javelins, the Limbrunners were busy making arrows, the shrews were arguing, as usual. Beechtail and Log-a-log made sure that the kitchens would have rations ready, and the Redwallers organized the infirmary; if the battle was won there would be many wounds.
At early evening, everything was ready. After a quick meal, the army, consisting of around forty otters, the same number of shrews, a score of squirrels, and one partially crazy otter/hare, marched out the gate, guided by Ghan, and led by Beechtail, bearing both the Sword of Martin, and the real Rapscallion sword.