20

That evening the Abbess stood up on the west battlements of the outer wall to watch the sunset. Bryony accompanied her; the two were special friends. Meriam turned from the evening sky and viewed her Abbey.

“What are you thinking of, Mother Abbess? You look sad, said Bryony, tugging the wide, pale-green habit sleeve.

The calm eyes blinked momentarily, slightly moist. “I was thinking of our long-gone heroes, little one, how they helped to build this beautiful place from rose-colored sandstone. Your own great grandsire, Gonff the Mousethief, and his goodwife, Columbine, were part of it all. See the wonderful Abbey building beyond the gardens and lawns? It soars to the sky, oaken doors, stained-glass windows, and carved stone. Every room inside, from the wine cellars to the kitchens and larders, Cavern Hole, where the Dibbuns play on winter nights, Great Hall, where we go to feast this evening, the dormitories, sick bay, passages, stairs, and corridors, all, all were built for us and otherbeasts who will come after.

“Nothing must happen to this wonderful placenot to the pond, the orchards behind our main building, or even the gatehouse, set in the side of the main gate over which we stand on these ramparts. Look at this great wall, battlemented and constructed to keep out fear and famine. See how it stands open to the west flatlands, bordered by the great trees of Moss-flower Wood on three sides. You and I and others to come will add to it. One day when these stones are old, Redwalt shall have a belltower and a bell, libraries, tapestries, and a schooling place. Is that not wonderful, Bryony?

The little mousemaid looked up into Meriams face. “Wonderful indeed, but you still look sad, Mother Abbess.

Meriam smiled one of her rare smiles. Taking Bryonys paw, she led the way down the gatehouse steps. “Sad? Why should I be sadwere going to a feast together! What happier occasion than that, my pretty one?

The mousemaid laughed aloud men, for the great Mother Abbess of all Redwall Abbey did a most unlikely thing. Picking up the hem of her gown in one paw, she skipped across the lawn with Bryony, the two of them giggling and chuckling like a pair of Dibbuns escaping on bath night.

As they entered Great Hall, a chorus greeted them; the young ones were impatient to get started.

“Cut the cake, cut the cake, Cut the cake for goodness sake, Me an my mate have each got a plate, An here we have to sit an wait. So cut the cake, say the grace, Lets get cream upon me face, An sticky paws as a slice I take, Oh cut that cake for goodness sake!

Gliding across to her big chair, the Abbess put on a mock frown. Silence fell in the hall like a stone.

Meriam waited until two small fat moles pulled her chair back so she could sit. Tucking paws into her sleeves, she remained standing, gazing out across the foursquare set tables. Candle and lantern lights twinkled against spotless white linen, posies of buttercup, kingcup, daisy, and apple blossom lay wreathed amid the festive fare. Bunfolds great cake dominated all; it stood above the fresh loaves of wheat, oat, and barley bread, golden-brown crusts glowing. Cheeses lay sliced and quartered, colored from deep yellow through to pale white. Woodland trifles topped with honeycream jostled for position among carrot flans, watershrimp-and-mushroom pasties, spring vegetable soup, and the favorite of moles, deeperVever tur-nipntaternbeetroot pie. Latticed fruit tarts sat alongside fruit pies and applecream puddings. To refresh the palate there was old cider, October Ale, cellar-cooled mint tea, fizzy strawberry cordial-and-dandelion-and-burdockcup.

And still all was silence as Abbess Meriam stared severely about her, repeating aloud the Redwali grace for the occasion.

“This feast weve made to remember you, Who made our Abbey great, Comrades, stout of heart and true, Belovd by valorous fate. Dinny, Gonff, and Columbine, Good Martin and Abbess Germaine, I raise to you this glass of wine, And to others, too many to name. So join me, friends, this toast I call: Redwali heroes one and all!

The last line was echoed by everybeast; a sip was taken from each drink. Still the silence held under Meriams stern gaze. Suddenly she winked, and flashed a swift smile. “Well, I dont know about you lot, but Im starving!

Amid applause and roars of laughter she sat down. Then the feast of the Redwali Heroes was begun.

Not half a league away, the night foliage of Mossflower rustled and a streambank came alive. By the light of a silver half-moon, a hundred creatures readied their weapons. Heartwood turned to a huge brawny otter who had sprung from the water armed with javelin and sling. “Yore warriors ready, Skip-perjo? he said.

Rocks clacked in the big fellows sling pouch as he patted it. “Right as rain an fierce as thunder, matey!

Sumin patted the shoulder of a small but extremely fierce-looking female squirrel. “What dye say for your lot, Red-farl?

She ticked the barbed tip of an arrow, grinning in anticipation. “Anything for Redwali an a chance of a vermin scrap. You point the way, bucko, well be there before ya!

“I say, old thing, goin tbe a minor tussle, wot?

Sumin peered through the gloom and was surprised to see a lanky hare carrying an immense bow and a quiver of arrows bigger than any he had ever seen. The squirrel blinked in surprise, but Redfarl merely waved her bushy tail, saying, “Hes all right, we found him wandering lost a few seasons back. Best shot Ive clapped eyes on, though his arrers are like spears. Would ybelieve, he wants to be a squirrel like us? Great fighter, though, but sometimes Ive got my doubts. He fights like ten an eats like twenty!

The hare was indeed a curious sight; his short bob tail was looped around with a cord, which led up his back and was fastened to his ears. The normally taciturn Sumin hid a smile as he whispered to Redfarl, “Whats his name?

Redfarl shook her head. “You dont want to know.

Sumin coughed to disguise a giggle. “Yes, I do.

The squirrel warrior smiled wryly. “Go on then, ask him.

Sumin pointed at the strange creature. “Whats your name, hare?

Bending his lanky legs, the hare stooped and then shot up, landing in the lower branches of a stunted oak. “Got the species wrong, old thing. Im a squirrel now, doncha know. Oh, dont tell me, Ive got the bally old body of a hare, but here, where it counts, in the headnthe heart, Im a blinkin great tree walloper, a squirrel!

Sumin tried not to look astounded. “I never asked your species, hare, er, squirrel, I asked your name! What is it?

The squirrelhare leapt to a higher branch, missed it, and fell flat on the ground in front of Sumin. “You dont want to know! he said.

“Yes, I do!

“Oh, all right, then. Mname is Wilthurio Longbarrow Sackfirth Toxophola Fedlric Fritillary Wilfrand Hurdleframe Longarrow Leawelt Pugnacio Cinnabar Hillwether ...

“Stop, stop! You were right, I dont want to know!

The squirrelhare twanged his bowstring musically. “But you can call me Jodd. Dyou want to know what thats short for?

Redfarl gave the creature an exasperated glare. “No, he doesnt. Come onlets get goin!

The bushes rustled, there was a small splash in the stream, and a moment later the woodland was quiet as the warriors vanished like smoke on the breeze, heading northward to where Swartt Sixclaw the Warlord was camped with his horde.