The Lutra - Jacques, Brian - Redwall 09 - The Pearls Of Lutra

Hazelnuts, chestnuts, almonds and beechnuts were added to the mix under Tansy's watchful eye, though she missed Gerul taking a quick swig of October ale because she was busy checking on the hare pouring in a small noggin of dark elderberry wine. Friar Higgle chuckled as he watched Tansy's efforts to supervise the gluttonous pair whilst concentrating on her mixture.

"Tch, tch, Gerul, take those dried apple rings off that talon!"

"Mmm, I say, these little purply things are just the job!"

"You villain! Stay away from my dried plums. Mind out, let me get this crystallized fruit in the bowl before you two get your thieving paws into it!"

The cake mix was finally emptied into a circular oven dish that had been lined with thin maple bark soaked in vegetable oil to prevent the cake from sticking. Tansy allowed the hare and owl to place it in the oven whilst she got the covering ready.

Clecky's ears stood up and his nose twitched. "What ho, m'gel, is that cream an' marchpane I see, wot?"

Narrowing her eyes fiercely, Tansy shook the ladle at them both. “Yes it is. Keep your distancego and get more charcoal for the oven firesdo something useful!"

Clecky sniffed indignantly. "Tchah! Have a care, marm, we're chefs, not stokers. Here you, small molechap, more fuel for the oven fires, smartly now!"

The young mole whom Clecky addressed was quite taken aback. He saluted the hare and dashed off to get charcoal.

Gerul clacked his beak admiringly, remarking to Friar Higgle, "Isnt he the good one at the givin' of orders, sir? Why, if I wasn't so disobedient to him I'd obey him meself, so I would!"

Higgle stepped in and came to Tansy's rescue. "You carry on mixin' the cream, missie; I'll set these two to rollin' out marchpane."

The good Friar instructed them both in the use of the golden doughy mixture. "This 'ere's marchpane, see. 'Tis made from ground almonds, stiff comb honey an' sweetchestnut flour. Mister Clecky, you take this roller an' roll it out flat, so's it'll go over the cake afore Tansy tops it off with meadowcream. Now, Gerul sir, I wants you t'make seven lovely round balls with this lump o' marchpane. They'll go atop of the cake for Father Abbot's seven seasons. Look busy now, sirs, an' mind, no nibblin'. Martin, will you stand by with yore great sword an' keep an eye on 'em?"

The Warriormouse chuckled. "Oh, I won't need my sword, Higgle, this copper ladle should do!"

Chapter 10

Rollo knew from experience how many times he had lost things only to find them again down the sides of his armchair in the gatehouse. He smiled, producing a parchment scroll from a gap between cushion and chair. Fermald the Ancient had not been very different from him when she lived. Balancing his lantern on the chair arm and donning his spectacles, the old Recorder carefully unfastened the ribbon from the parchment and unrolled it. The writing was thin and spidery, but quite legible.

Unusual it is to call a vermin friend, but this weasel Graylunk, a poor lonely creature whose mind was sore troubled by his past, I call him friend. But why? Have not the vermin, more so those who come from the seas, always been the foebeast? I call Graylunk friend because he called me friend. Creatures below stairs did not understand him, they grew weary of his constant weeping. But I knew by the deep wound in his head that he could not help behaving in the way that he did. Ah, cruel wound! to cut short the seasons of one still young.

Death is no stranger to me, I could see its mark upon Graylunk and I did all in my power to make his last days comfortable. He told me of many things; together we sat in this dusty attic, I listened to his words and in my mind I was transported, far over the seas to where there is no winter. In my imagination I saw the surf booming against the warm coast of Sampetra and learned of the Emperor Mad Eyes. My friend had led a wicked life, but in his final days he repented of all evil. Though I tried to set his mind at ease, he was troubled, frightened of the vengeance that would stretch across the ocean to claim him. Graylunk told me a secret and begged me to speak of it to no living creature.

One morning I awoke and he was gone, fled from this Abbey to die alone someplace where he would not bring evil upon me, his friend. One day, if I still live, I will stand before those who follow him from afar and I will do as my friend told me, I will deny that ever I knew of him. I will say Graylunk was never within the walls of this Abbey. In this way I will try to keep Redwall safe, for it is my home.

As for the secret my friend imparted to me, I will keep my promise and never speak of it to any living creature. I will not speak, but I will write, lest the Tears of all Oceans remain forever lost. Someday they may be needed for a great purpose. Graylunk left the Tears with me, a final gift to his only friend. When I am gone the only one to possess them will be the creature with the wit and wisdom to find them. The Tears would only bring grief and death to a beast with little sense. I have spoken in my dreams to the spirit who long ago founded Redwall, Martin the Warrior of old, and I know what I do now is right.

To the goodbeast whose name I do not know, nor ever shall, I say this. Seek and find the Tears of all Oceans, be not blinded by their beauty, use them wisely.

Look not up, nor to the four main points,

But where our paws do tread, the dead oak joints.

There wrought by mother nature 'neath the main

Lies that which holds the beauty, or the bane.

Rollo folded the parchment carefully, concealing it within his wide habit sleeve. Then he took the lantern and made his way downstairs. The old Recorder's mind coiled with Fermald's testament, unanswered questions and the baffling rhyme. He joined Martin in the kitchens where, in low tones, a brief conversation was held.

"Martin, I found a strange parchment, written by the Ancient."

"I knew you'd find something, Rollo, that's why I left you up there on your own. Where was this parchment hidden?"

"Down the side cushions of Fermald's armchair, though I don't think the rest of this mystery is going to be so easily solved."

"Hmm, only what we'd expect, I suppose. Fermald was a quaint and devious creature. We must investigate it fully, but later, not now. Take a look at the antics of our cake-making crew; they've had these kitchens in uproar since they started."

All Redwall kitchen work had ceased; Friar Higgle and Teasel with the rest of their workers watched with much merriment as Tansy supervised her unruly helpers. The cake had baked perfectly, and now stood cooling on a stone ledge. Tansy had beaten the meadowcream until it was right for spreading.

Gerul helped her to lift the cake down onto the table, saying, "Great seasons, missie, sure an' I never smelt anythin' as wonderful as this cake in all me life! 'Tis a tribute to ye!"

Smiling, the hedgehog maid thanked the owl for his compliment, rounding on Clecky in the same breath.

"Why, thank you, Gerul. Mister Clecky! Put a paw near that bowl of cream and I'll chop it off!"

The rascally hare bowed low, the picture of nobility and injured innocence. “For shame, marm, how could you accuse me of such foul deeds? Why, I'd chop me own paw off before I'd use it to steal cream!"

Swiftly Tansy turned on Gerul, judging by the laughter behind her back that something was going on. "Gerul, take those talons out of that marchpane this instant!"

"Who, me, marm? I was only makin' pretty liddle patterns on it!"

Taking advantage of Tansy's back, Clecky scooped a glob of meadowcream with the tip of his ear, bending it skillfully into his mouth. The assembled Redwallers fell about laughing, but Tansy was not amused.