Brian Jacques - Loamhedge

Contents

Prologue

BOOK ONE “They’re not as big as I thought they’d be”

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

BOOK TWO “If only they were back here at Redwall”

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

BOOK THREE “We lived one summer too long”

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

Epilogue

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Loamhedge

An Ace Book / published by arrangement with the author

All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2003 by The Redwall La Dita Co., Ltd.

This book may not be reproduced in whole or part, by mimeograph or any other means, without permission. Making or distributing electronic copies of this book constitutes copyright infringement and could subject the infringer to criminal and civil liability.

For information address:

The Berkley Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Putnam Inc.,

375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

The Penguin Putnam Inc. World Wide Web site address is

http://www.penguinputnam.com

ISBN: 978-1-1012-2024-5

AN ACE BOOK®

Ace Books first published by The Ace Publishing Group, a member of Penguin Putnam Inc.,

375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

ACE and the “ A ” design are trademarks belonging to Penguin Putnam Inc.

Electronic edition: August, 2005

BY THE SAME AUTHOR

Redwall

Mossflower

Mattimeo

Mariel of Redwall

Salamandastron

Martin the Warrior

The Bellmaker

Outcast of Redwall

Pearls of Lutra

The Long Patrol

Marlfox

The Legend of Luke

Lord Brocktree

Taggerung

Triss

Castaways of the Flying Dutchman

The Angel’s Command

Seven Strange and Ghostly Tales

The Great Redwall Feast

A Redwall Winter’s Tale

The Tale of Urso Brunov

Redwall Map and Riddler

Redwall Friend and Foe

Build Your Own Redwall Abbey

Tribes of Redwall: Badgers

Tribes of Redwall: Otters

For my good friend Martha Buckley,

who inspired my Martha.

For Heather Boyd,

who cheered me from her hospital bed to mine.

and

To the memory of two brave warriors:

Nolan Wallace, who became Lonna Bowstripe,

and Eric Masato Takashige Boehm,

who fought the good fight.

Prologue

Have you been travelling, my young friend? Come in out of the darkness and rain. Sit by the fire, eat, drink and rest yourself. Life is one long journey from beginning to end, you know. We all walk different roads, both with our bodies and our minds. Some of us lose heart and fall by the wayside, whilst others go on to realise their dreams and desires.

Let me tell you a story of travellers, and the paths they followed. Of young ones, like yourself, sometimes uncertain of their direction, and often reluctant to listen to the voices of sense and wisdom. Of a mighty warrior, set on a course of destiny and vengeance, unstoppable in his resolve. Of an evil one and his crew, cruel and ruthless, bound on a march of destruction and conquest. Of a simple maid and her friends, homebodies whose only aims were peace and well-being for all. Of wicked, foolish wanderers, chasing fantasies and fables, consumed by their own greed. Of small babes who dreamed small dreams, not knowing what the future held in store for them. And, finally, of two friends, faithful and true, who had roamed many highways and together chose their own way.

The lives I will tell you of are intertwined by fate—good and evil bringing their just rewards to each, as they merited them. Listen whilst I relate this story. For am I not the Teller of Tales, the Weaver of Dreams!

BOOK ONE

“They’re not as big

as I thought they’d be”

1

Lashing rain, driven by harsh biting winds from the sea, scoured the land from the bleak salt marshes to the stunted scrub forest. Abruc the sea otter bent against the strain of a loaded rush basket. It was tied to his shoulders and belted across his brow to stop it from spilling backward.

Holding on to his father’s paw, young Stugg trotted alongside, plying his parent with interminable questions, which Abruc did his best to answer.

“H’are you veddy veddy strong?”

Scrunching his eyes against the wind, Abruc could not help smiling at his inquisitive little son. “I have t’be strong. I’ve got to feed you, your mamma an’ the whole family. That’s my job, I’m a father.”

Stugg sucked his free paw, digesting this information whilst he thought up another question. “Den why can’t Stugg sit atop of your basket no more?”

Abruc adjusted the belt to ease the strain on his neck. “Because you’ve growed since last season. Yore gettin’ to be a big feller now, a fine lump of an otter. Soon you’ll be carryin’ yore ole dad an’ the basket. Let’s put a move on, Stugg, so we can make it into the woods by dark. It’ll be good to take a rest out o’ this weather.”

With the sound of the grey northeast sea pounding in their ears, both the sea otters squelched through the desolate salt marshes toward the weather-bent scrub forest.

Daylight ebbed into early evening as they entered the shelter of the trees. With a grunt of relief, Abruc swung his basket to the ground. It was brimfull of edible seaweed, scallops, mussels and shrimp—a full two days’ work, gleaned from the coast of the barren northeast waters. Abruc sat on a fallen pine. Sensing his father’s weariness, Stugg climbed up behind him and began gently rubbing his brow.