Okay, me again. I didn't get any more reviews but my challenge still stands! So, last time Furmingbia was racing towards the kitchens to accept a challenge. Cool.

My Rose of Old Redwall

Chapter 6: The Sword

~There are weapons that are worth a great fortune, and there are weapons that are delicate and made for decoration with heavy jewelry, but no matter what it is, it is only a weapon, a nonliving thing that is made good or bad by its owner.~

~Log-a-Log Bur

"So."

"So."

"So?"

"So."

"So…"

"Awkward…?"

"So…?"

"So…!"

"So…" Martin cleared his throat. "You… managed… to make all that in… one hour?"

"56 minutes." Furmingbia corrected, then gestured dramatically at the mountain of food. "Have a go at it, and tell me what you think."

The Redwallers, many not even knowing who Furmingbia is, dug happily into the rows and piles of afternoon treats: (get ready people, food alert!) blackberry-and-redcurrant muffins, honey-dipped raspberry scones, blueberry preserve pastries, cinnamon apple and pear pies, black currant and peach preserve crumbles, cornbread studded with almonds and seeds, strawberry-juice-soaked white bread with dabs of milk and dark chocolate, orange flans, peach pastries, cheese sandwiches flavored with a bit of salt and other spices, apricot preserve cookies with meadowcream on top, even a great sponge cake wiped thickly with marchpane and swirled with meadowcream and set with diced strawberries and grapes, etc.

The clever mousemaid even made shrimp-and-hotroot soup for the otters, adding in pawfuls of dried fish and finely chopped carrots, turnips, lettuce, and potatoes.

Not to be outdone, the kitchen staff set about making their own food. Then some sturdy mice brought out drinks to serve: pear cordial, apple cordial, October Ale, pale mountain cider, golden cider, apple cider, pear cider, strawberry cordial, strawberry fizz, dandelion and burdock cordial, elderberry wine, peach cordial, apple tonic, peach and apricot tonic, pear tonic, elderberry cup, etc.

Meanwhile, the Dibbuns were suddenly very interested in Furmingbia's collection of swords.

"What's dis?"

"It's my dirk, Skytail. Don't pull it out, it's poisoned."

"What's dis?"

"Gerrial, I told you a million times, it's a dagger."

"What's dis?"

"Oh, my other dirk."

"Issi poisoned?"

"No, here, I can show you a few twirls. Don't repeat what I'm doing, alright?"

"'Kay, Mingby."

The mousemaid pulled out the dirk slowly, it was studded with a few small peridots and bound with black leather. Standing up and scooting a few enthusiastic Dibbuns back, she began twirling it, gaining speed by the moment. Suddenly it was a blur of silver metal, and Furmingbia tossed it a few times, catching it with her other paw, tail, footpaws, or mouth. Then she threw the dirk, burying itself deep into a small apple far, far away, surprising the otter that was about to eat it.

Tugging on the string that connected the dirk to her paw, Furmingbia pulled the sword back.

"Can we see your bigga sword?" The tiny babes pleaded, pointing to a beautiful hilt poking out of sheath slung over Furmingbia's back. Reluctantly and wanting to dive back into good Redwall fare, Furmingbia drew her sword. The glint of light reflecting off of the sword caught everyone's attention, and a deathly silence fell over the entire abbey as they stared at the sword.

It was Martin's sword.

CLIFFHANGER! Oh I love them. I got one more review! Three more! :D