Brian Jacques - Redwall #16 - Triss

Malbun bowed her head slightly. Thank you, Skipper, you did well.

Crikulus, my friend, it seems that we’ve been given our first clue by none other than Martin the Warrior. So you open up the parchment and I’ll study this pawring. Let’s make a start.

Skipper hovered anxiously over them. Anythin’ I can do to ‘elp you two goodbeasts, anythin’ at all? Crikulus smiled hopefully at him. Er, breakfast? The big otter bounded off, chuckling. Right y’are, brekkist for three comin’ up, mates! Malbun placed the pawring in a shaft of sunlight, itstwo jetstones glowing darkly on either side of the four symbols.

Hmm, Skipper said that Martin pointed at the pawring. Now let me see, the leaf is three times five. She studied it briefly, then pointed at the next-to-last symbol. This is leaf-shaped. It even has a mark like a leaf vein running through its centre. Yes, this is the leaf.

Crikulus showed her the parchment. That shape shows up all over here, and the other two shapes as well, because obviously both end symbols are the same. But here’s your leaf: twice on the top line, three times on the second line, once on the third line, three times on the fourth line, and once on the bottom line of those two rows that are set apart.

Ten times in all, what d’you make of that?

Malbun shook her head. Ten times, that’s only two times five. We’re looking for three times five. Count them again.

Crikulus did as he was bade, but his first count proved right. That leaf only appears ten times, I’m positive!

Mokug was up and about early on his first morning. He went downstairs to explore his beautiful new home, strolling hither and thither with a radiant smile on his face and whistling softly between his teeth.

Friar Gooch popped his head around the kitchen door. A good morn to ye, friend. Come in, we’re just getting the breakfast ready. I’m Gooch, the Friar of Redwall.

A few moles were pulling hot scones from the ovens. Furrel was busy ladling a blob of meadowcream onto each scone and topping it off with a strawberry. She wrinkled her nose in a jolly manner at Mokug. Do ee loike to try wunn, zurr?

The hamster eagerly accepted her offer. Thankee, pretty miss, I’d like that fine!

The molemaid giggled. You’m keep callen oi pretty an’ oi’ll let ee’ave’em all, zurr!

Skipper trundled a trolley out of the steamy mist from a line of bubbling pans, nodding affably to Mokug. Top o’ the morn to ye, mate. Load yore brekkist on this trolley an’ we’ll take it to the gatehouse. Crikulus an’ Malbun are lookin’ at yore scroll down there. If’n ye eat with all the Redwallers, those DibbunsTl mob ye. They always do that to newcomers an’ guests.

Malbun and Crikulus made Mokug welcome. Over breakfast they told him of Skipper’s dream and their efforts to interpret the symbols. Malbun took the pawring from her apron pocket and showed it to Mokug. Ever seen anything like this before?

Fear and hate suffused the hamster’s face. That’s the pawring of King Sarengo. I’ve seen it many a time, aye, an’ felt it too. Ole Sarengo often lashed out at me when’e was wearin’ it. See that scar over me left eye? Those black stones did that. Sarengo just laughed when’e saw me lyin’ on the floor with blood runnin’ down me face. Oh, I’ve seen it before, mate, believe me!

Malbun’s voice softened. She felt sorry for the hamster. What about these signs? I don’t suppose you know what any of them mean, do you?

Mokug did not even have to look at the symbols. Oh, those, any slave at Riftgard could tell ye that, marm. It stands for Royal House of Riftgard. Ye see it stamped or carved on anythin’ in the kingdom over there.

Skipper pushed a bowl across to Mokug. Try some o’ this, messmate,’otroot’n’watershrimp soup. If’n it’s good for otters, it should do you good, too. Put a sparkle in yore eye an’ a spring to yore step!

Whilst they were joking and laughing at the taste of food new to Mokug, Crikulus took the pawring and scroll, along with his beaker of mint tea. The old Gatehouse Keeper went outside to sit on the wallsteps in the morning sun. He stared at the pawring and the parchment alternately, repeating to himself, Royal House of Riftgard, the leaf is three times five.

Churk the ottermaid wandered up with a scone and a beaker of dandelion-and-burdock cordial. She sat beside the old shrew. Ah, a bit o’ peace an’ quiet at last. Ye wouldn’t believe the noise those Dibbuns are makin’ in the orchard.

Crikulus continued talking to himself, ignoring Churk. The leaf is three times five, Royal House of Riftgard.

The burly ottermaid listened to the odd phrases. Leaf is three times five, wot’s that supposed to mean, sir?

Crikulus looked up, as if just noticing her. Are ye any good at puzzles and riddles, miss?

Churk winked confidently at him. You just try me. Skipper says I’m too clever for me own rudder sometimes. I like tryin’ to solve things.

Showing her the pawring and parchment, Crikulus explained. You see these four symbols on the ring? Well, they stand for Royal House of Riftgard.

The sign shaped like a leaf is the one I’m interested in. Now, the key is hidden somewhere in all of the symbols on this parchment. The only clue to it are these words: The leaf is three times five. So, miss, does that mean anything to ye?

Churk sat silent for a moment, concentrating hard on the evidence presented to her. Crikulus was about to speak when she held up a paw.

He held his silence whilst Churk continued scanning the objects. A slow smile began spreading across her face. Still studying the parchment, she spoke. Can you get me some clean parchment an’ somethin’ to write with, sir?

As Crikulus bustled into the gatehouse, Malbun indicated a single strawberry cream scone. We saved the last one for you, my old pal.

Where’ve you been, and where’s the pawring an’ scroll got to?

The ancient shrew rummaged a thin charcoal stick outof a drawer. You can have the scone. Where’s all the clean parchment gone, has somebeast hidden it all?

Malbun slid a piece from under the armchair cushion. It’s right here where you put it the other day.

Crikulus snatched the section of birch bark parchment. Young Churk is looking at the scroll an’ ring, out on the wallsteps. I think she’s onto somethin’!

As they hurried from the gatehouse, Mokug grabbed the scone. Waste not want not, especially strawberry cream scones!

Churk took the writing materials and immediately began scribbling away.

Skipper patted her back proudly. Haharr, you just watch this young ‘un solve yore puzzle!

But the ottermaid was not about to allow them to.

I’m not havin’ you four breathin’ down me neck. Now be off with ye, yore makin’ me nervous an’ I can’t think properly. Go on, shoo, an’

leave me alone!

The four Redwallers strolled off toward the orchard. Skipper cast a backward glance at Churk working away. That ‘un’s got some nerve, sendin’

us off t’play like four naughty Dibbuns. Ah, but she’s a brainy one, that niece o’ mine.

Malbun remarked drily, Don’t know where she gets all those brains.

Certainly not from her uncle.

Nimbly, she dodged a swing from Skipper’s rudder. The otter Chieftain spoke out indignantly. I taught Churk all she knows. Aye, there’s nobeast like me at riddles. Lissen to this, mates: Y is a letter, yet why is a word.

Don’t stalk among grass stalks, a stork’s a bird.

I is a letter you see with your eye.

Can U mean you, or is it just I?

Ask me a riddle and I’ll tell you Y.

Two’s one and one, but there’s to and too.

To understand too, I must tell you

There’s a B and a bee which should really be Like a letter C, you don’t see in the sea.