Brian Jacques - Redwall #16 - Triss

Triss amused the little shrews by singing them a song she had made up.

They sat tapping their paws as they listened to the jolly air.

Bushes and treetops drifting by,

Fish gliding’neath our keel,

Soft and gentle breezes sigh,

‘Tis like a dream made real.

Whirl and gurgle, eddy and flow,

Past carp and dace and bream,

Dragonflies, mayflies, swooping low,

As we sail upon the stream.

Cuckoos call out from the trees,

Bees bumble busily by,

Telling of golden days like these,

When the sun smiles from the sky.

Some will pole and others row,

Let each one do their best,

Let the waters flow by slow,

Put up your paws and rest.

Blue smoke wafted through the trees. Kroova and Shogg sat on the bankside, dabbling their paws in the shallows. Sagax and Gulif checked that the boats were well concealed. Scarum had wheedled his way into a new position. Mimsy and the Guosim cooks had actually appointed him to serve the meal. Triss covered her mouth, turning aside to stifle her merriment at the sight of him. Scarum had bound a turban about his ears to stop them from flopping into the food. Clad in a flowery apron, he wielded a ladle officiously.

Attention in the ranks, chaps, lunch is served. Line up here in a jolly orderly manner. No nonsense now, I’m your disher-upper, so watch your behaviour, wot!

When Triss had been served with a delicious bowl of something the shrews called Streambank Stew, she took her beaker of cider and a small batch loaf of shrewbread. She sat between Kroova and Shogg. All three giggled helplessly as they watched Scarum chiding Sagax.

Good grief, sah, look at those paws. Traid I can’t serve you until you’ve washed’em in the stream. Move along, please, don’t stand there glarin’

at me like that. Next!

It was in the midst of all this that Gulif suddenly held up his paws for silence.

Hist! Sounds like our backtrackers returnin’, but they’re comin’ this way runnin’ like madbeasts. Break camp, Guosim, git the riddle’uns ready to leave fast!

The fire was quickly doused. Triss and her companions helped to round up the shrewbabes. There had originally been four backtrackers, but only two staggered into camp, one with a vicious spearwound in his paw.

Sagax threw a cloth around the injury, binding it speedily as the shrew gasped.

Git movin’ sharpish, Gulif, there’s a horde o’ vermin on our track, armed f the teeth an’ out fer blood. They slew Cadro an’ Elbun, but we got away. They’re ‘ard on our trail, mate, there ain’t time to ‘ang about!

Gulif drew his rapier as he heard the vermin crashing through the undergrowth downstream. The tough little Guosim leader growled out orders. Mimsy, Triss, get the old ‘uns an’ the babes goin’, make for the ford an’ head south down the path. Sagax, you two streamdogs an’

the rest o’ ye, we’ll form a rearguard an’ follow. Git goin’ now, quick!

Kurda, Vorto and Riggan raced ahead of the rest, while Freebooters and Ratguards thundered along both sides of the bank. Supported by Prince Bladd and Slitfang, Plugg Firetail stumped along not far behind.

Haharr, we’ll lay ‘em by the tails this time, buckoes!

Riggan put on a spurt, calling back to Kurda, I think I caught sight of ‘em, up ahead. There’s smoke an’ steam, though I don’t see no boats!

Kurda slashed at willow fronds with her sabre. Never mind der boats, ve find dem later. Get der slaves!

Vorto grinned triumphantly as they passed through the camp. Some o’

those ashes are still smolderin’Ñthey broke camp in a hurry. We’ll soon catch up with’em!

Mokug halted on the path, pointing out a tree. Is that’un an ash, Skip?

Skipper shook his head patiently. No, mate, that’s a rowan. The leaves look the same, but the ash is stouter an’ it don’t’ave red berries like the rowan tree. Log, old mate, will ye find an ash an’ point it out to’im?

However, Log a Log’s interest in trees had suddenly waned. Detaching himself from his score of Guosim, he cocked his head on one side, drawing his rapier. Cut the cackle a moment, will ye, I can’ear somethin’!

The young otter Rumbol walked ahead a few paces. Yore right, somebeast’s a-comin’ this way in an’urry!

Triss and the shrews appeared around a bend.

Log a Log dashed toward them. Mimsy, wot’s the rush, marm. Where’s old Gulif?

As he spoke, the rest of the party ran into view. Gulif sighted the Guosim Chieftain and roared out the shrew war cry: Logalogalogalogaloooooog!

Sagax boomed out a warning as they neared the Red-wallers. Vermin chasing us, a great load of’em!

Skipper had been staring strangely at Triss, but he recovered and took swift charge of the situation. Git yore party down t’the Abbey, marm, tell the Abbot to hold the gate’til we arrive. The rest of us, form up on the path’ere, slings an’ javelins. Look out, they’re comin’, I see the scum!

The vermin were hard on the heels of their quarry as they rounded the bend, with Kurda waving her sabre and screeching, Ve haff dem, kill, kill!

She dropped swiftly back as an unexpected volley of slingstones hit her front ranks. Plugg passed her, brandishing his huge battle-axe.

He laughed wildly.

Haharr, me beauty, ye ain’t in yore daddy’s castle now. We’ll show ye’ow Freebooters gets the job done. Chaaaarge!

Much to Skipper’s surprise, Scarum picked up a fallen spear and saluted smartly. Salamandastron trained hare, sah, ready for duty, stand aside if ye please. Javelin throwers to either side of this path! Pay attention in the ranks there! Shrews an’ slingers, form up across the path in three ranks, look lively. That’s the ticket, chaps. First slingin’ rank, throw an’ drop back two ranks. We’ll give ‘em blood’n’vinegar, me buckoes!

Eulaliiiiiiaaaa! Second rank, throw an’ drop back two ranks, make every stone count, steady the buffs an’ hammer ‘em!

Amazingly, the tactic worked. Hail after hail of speedily hurled stones halted the vermin charge.

Plugg wrung his paws as a big pebble reverberated against the blade of his axe. Press forward, ye spineless jellyfish, we outnumber ‘em ten to one. Drop t’the sides o’ the path an’ circle ‘em!

Skipper and Log a Log had their swords and javelins on either side of the path. The Guosim Chieftain murmured to his shrews, This ain’t no fight t’the deathÑwe only need to slow ‘em down until we can get to Redwall. Don’t let anybeast try to sneak by an’ surround us, or we’ll be cut off!

Down the path the battle ensued, with Kurda and Plugg urging their creatures on. Both the Princess and the silver fox were enraged that their force could make no headway against the efficiently organised band. Vorto dashed recklessly forward, but was repulsed by Log a Log skilfully wielding his rapier. Nursing a slashed cheek, the Ratguard Captain bumped into Kurda.

Princess, ‘ow can they be retreatin’ an’ beatin’ us at the same time?

It ain’t right!

Kurda pushed by him and slew a shrew with a sabre thrust. See, dey die, same as any odder beast. You turn back an’ I slay you, too. Plugg, vere you goin’? Come back, coward!

Leaning heavily on a cringing Prince Bladd, the Freebooter stumped off into the tree shelter, calling back to Kurda, 1 ain’t goin’ up agin that... Look!

They had fought almost up to the ramparts of Redwall Abbey. The battlements were thronged with young andold, flinging anything they could lay their paws upon. Abbot Apodemus stood out on the path, hurrying the remainder of the party inside.

Straight in, friends, don’t dawdle. You put up a brave fight there, come on in.

He stood calmly until the last one, Skipper, was safe inside. Only then did Father Abbot deign to retreat. Close the gates, Crikulus. Gooch, you and I will see to those extra bars. Get the gate locked safe and tight!