Brian Jacques - Redwall #20 - Eulalia!

The rogue squirrel's tail stood up like a flagpole. "Yooooaaaaarrrrgh! Ye murderers, ye've killed me!"

Amid the laughter he sprinted up the mast, where he sat quivering with rage as he glared down at them.

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Gorath called from his place in the bows as they drew closer to shore. "Look, there's almost tenscore hares in uniform waiting on the tideline for us. I take it they're the famous Long Patrol, Miz Maudie?"

The haremaid began brushing her tunic down and generally trying to look presentable as she answered. "By Jove, there's a sight t'do your jolly old heart good. They've turned the full complement out t'greet us. Stap me scut, there's Major Mull, Corporal Thwurl, Biffy Bigelow, Lanky Lockben, Stinky Scarbuttle an' Big Beau Sullagan. Colour Sarn't O'Flugg an' Colonel Cragglow. Oh look, there's young thingummy an' his sister wotsername, see who they're escortin', it's Lord Asheye himself, wot! Halloooo, milord, ahoy!"

The ancient badger raised his battleaxe to the incoming vessel. Wild cheering broke out on the shoreline. Not to be outdone, the crew of Eulalia added to the din with their joyous shouts. As soon as it was possible, mooring lines were hurled to the vessel from the shore. Scores of willing paws hauled the ship to land. Osbil and his Guosim furled sail, slacking off all rigging. The prow nosed up through the shallows until the entire craft lay heeled onshore.

Maudie leapt down onto the beach, closely followed by Gorath and Salixa. The ranks of warrior hares parted as Lord Asheye and Major Mullein walked to meet them. The haremaid threw a smart salute.

"Hon. Maudie Mugsberry Thropple reportin' back as ordered, sah! Mission accomplished, found Gorath the Flame, er, an' one other, Salixa, very pretty maid. Hopin' you approve. Sah!"

Major Mullein returned the salute. "Well done, Miss Thropple, you're to be commended on an exemplary completion of a difficult assignment."

The ancient Badger Lord confronted the two young badgers. Reaching out, he found the badgermaid's face, smiling as he ran his paw gently across her features. "Salixa, the slender willow tree. At times like this I would wish

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to have my sight for a moment. Truly I can tell you are as beautiful as your name implies. Salamandastron bids you welcome, young one, it is your home for as long as you wish it to be."

Salixa placed her brow against the lord's paw. "Thank you, sire, I will never leave this place as long as I can stand at Gorath's side."

Both the Badger Lord's paws now found Gorath's face. He stood silent as the blind one inspected his features thoroughly. Asheye nodded as if in confirmation. "So, you are Gorath the Flame, I have seen you in my dreams many times. Though now you stand before me I feel you are bigger than in the visions, taller. Truly you are marked deep by the flame, the forge of life branded you thus. Let me touch the weapon you call Tung."

Gorath placed Asheye's paw on the pitchfork, he familiarised himself with it from butt to tines. "A stout and honest implement, Gorath, it can be used either in combat, or to tend growing crops. Which do you prefer?"

The young badger thought for a moment. "I would sooner grow food from the land than dig graves for our enemies. But I can do both if need be, sire."

Asheye gave him back the pitchfork. "Welcome to your mountain, Lord Gorath!"

The crimson westering sun cast long shadows on the three badgers. Gorath and Salixa took Asheye's paws, allowing him to lead them into the mountain fortress of Salamandastron. Maudie borrowed Martin's sword from Orkwil, it flashed scarlet in the last rays as the shores resounded to the mass roar of a single word ...

"Eulaliaaaaaaaaaaa!"

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Epilogue

"Extract from the writings of a badgermaid."

Fourteen seasons is no great length of time to most elders, but to me it is the sum of my entire life so far. A few days ago I finished reading the Family Chronicle, which was written by my mother, Lady Salixa of Salamandastron. Maybe I have not lived through the adventures of my parents and their friends, but I have a lifetime ahead. So this morning I started to write my own Chronicle. Who knows, mayhaps I have inherited some writing skill from my mother.

However, with all the goings on around here, it is hard to concentrate. Did I tell you, tonight is the Great Midsummer Eve Feast. The shore in front of our mountain will be decked with lanterns, and garlanded with blossoms. It's going to be a time for wonderful food, happy music and great entertainment. Then guess what? Tomorrow afternoon I will be boarding the good ship Eulalia, bound on a voyage to Redwall Abbey. Such excitement!

But let me tell you how all this came to be, back to my Chronicle. You must remember that being young, I rely on family and friends for certain information about events that occurred when I was a mere babe, or even farther back, before I was born. I have a few to thank for their time

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and patience in assisting me. My mother, Salixa, and my father, Gorath, Lord of Salamandastron. My Grand Uncle, General Mull; Aunt Maudie, the regimental Colonel Cook and Caterer; and rascally old Uncle Rangval, unofficial Scout in Charge to the Long Patrol. Also the various Guosim shrews, otters and Redwallers I have encountered when the Eulalia makes her annual voyage from the River Moss, which they tell me is not far from the Abbey.

Well, it seems that when Eulalia first came to our mountain, in the final days of that long-gone summer, there was widespread rejoicing. A feast, which lasted four days, took place. It was during the final evening of the celebrations, everybeast was seated around a fire on the shore, singing, feasting and enjoying those last warm days of the season. A young hedgehog, Orkwil Prink, made the remark that soon the falling leaves of autumn would be sticking to his headspikes. This seemed to affect Old Lord Asheye greatly, his jovial mood deserted him, and he sat there in a state of deep depression. Everybeast present thought the ancient badger had merely fallen asleep, because he was very old, and it was getting quite late. Not wishing to waken Lord Asheye, the Long Patrol hares stopped roaring out rowdy barrack room ditties. My father turned to my mother, who had not sung thus far. Knowing she possessed a sweet, gentle voice, he persuaded her to give a rendition of the little ballad she had performed for him that night beneath the stars on the plateau. Obligingly, she began singing.

"Let me wander here forever, through the glades where once I played.

Long ago in carefree seasons, mid the noontide sun and shade.

I will see again before me, all those smiling friends I knew.

Gone alas to memory's keeping, faithful comrades good and true--"

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She was interrupted by Lord Asheye, who rose up calling, "I know that song, Melutar composed it! How do you know it, lady, tell me, please?"

My mother was startled, but she answered readily. "Lord, I learned it from a good and wise old badger, but his name was not Melutar, they call him the Tabura."

Asheye clutched my mother's paws and wept. "Did you know this Tabura, does he still live?"

Gorath my father answered for her. "Aye, Lord, like you he is heavy with seasons, but he is alive and well at Red-wall Abbey. Why do you ask?"

A hush fell over the assembly as Asheye began speaking. "Long ago in another life, there were two brothers, Melutar and Ferlon. They were like the sun and moon. Ferlon, the eldest, was big and strong, silver-coated, hot-tempered and wild. Melutar, the younger, was of medium size, dark-coated and placid. He was a dreamer, a seeker of knowledge, a writer of poems and songs. They were destined to walk different paths. Melutar stayed home, caring for their aged parents, and growing in wisdom. Ferlon followed the drums of war, his road took him to Salamandastron, and his savage reputation grew by the seasons. Vermin foe-beast feared Ferlon, wherever he cast his wild gray eyes, death and destruction came like a roaring fire, leaving only ashes. That badger was me, I became known as Lord Asheye, the beast cursed by Bloodwrath. Melutar was my younger brother, I thought he had long gone to the land beyond the seasons. Something told me that soon I would be joining him."