Brian Jacques - Redwall #06 - The Outcast of Redwall

Sabretache gave Sunflash a quick wink. “Beggin ypardon, sah, I mean, what happens when the rain stops?

The Badger Lord answered before Sandgall had a chance to. “We attack! Leave the bare minimum of defenders at the mountain here, the rest of us put on full battle gear and take the fight to the enemy. This is the best chance well have: our numbers are bolstered by shrews, otters, and squirrels.

Squinching the monocle into his cheek, Sandgall agreed. “Excellent plan, mLord, was just about to suggest it mself!

The Wraith was directly below the broad window ledge. He lay breathless in the rain, listening to what was going on. A quick peek reassured him that Sunflash was standing close to the window space. The weasel planned to make his move as soon as he regained his wind and felt fit enough for a burst of speed. Drawing the poisoned stone blade, he sheltered it carefully against the rain with his paw. All it would take was a quick leap onto the window sill and a swift strike at the unsuspecting badger.

Chuckling and chortling, Folrig and Ruddle came bounding into the bedchamber. They dashed about, searching frantically in the nooks and corners.

Sunflash could not help smiling at the two funsters. “Excuse me, you two frog-frighteners, but what are you doing chasing round my bedchamber, eh?

Between gusts of laughter they explained.

“Yahahaha! You shoulda seen ole Fortys face!

“Whoohooheehee! We pulled the ole rockcream trick on im!

“Haha! Aye, we told im that otter rockcreams were the most delicious thing anybeast ad ever tasted. So, that greedy Forty, couldnt wait to get is paws on some!

“Right! Then we nips out tthe kitchens an covers a few rocks wid meadowcream. Otter rockcreams, see?

Sunflash stifled a chuckle. “He didnt eat any, surely?

Folrig and Ruddle leaned on each other for support, helpless with mirth. “He, he, heeheehee! Pore old Forty ad bolted one down afore we could stop im, shoulda seen is face, hahahahaha!

Colonel Sandgall twitched his eye, making the monocle wiggle. “Hmm, very droll, Im sure, but if I were you chaps Id scoot fast or hide. I can hear young Forty comin, an he dont sound greatly pleased or amused by your jape!

“Gloggle! Yarggh! Ill rockcream the bounders! Where are the flippin plank-tailed villains, Ill skin em alive!

Folrig and Ruddle shot around Sunflash, attempting to hide themselves behind the badgers broad back. Forty came thundering in, cream all around his mouth and an otter rockcream f cake in each paw, his face a picture of comic indignation. “Come out, you rotten otters! he yelled. A loud giggle from behind Sunflash gave them both away..The outraged hare saw that the Badger Lord suddenly ap-I peared to have six footpaws. Forty raised the rockcreams to ; throw. Sunfiash saw what was about to happen and dropped flat to the chamber floor, leaving Folrig and Ruddle exposedto Fortys vengeance.

It was not a lucky day for the Wraith. The mottled weasel sprang upright in the windowspace, wielding his deadly stone knife, triumph shining in his pale eyes. At that exact moment, Forty flung the cream-covered rocks and the otters ducked with lightning speed.

Splakk!

Both missiles scored a direct hit on the Wraiths face. Instinctively, the weasels paws flew up to his mouth, and he plunged silently backward into space, the dagger sticking in his jaw. The last sound the Wraith made was when his felling body thudded against the rocks far below. Draped across the rain-soaked stone with both eyes closed, the carcass of what had once been the weasel Wraith was almost invisible.

Sabretache fixed Forty and the two otters with the haughty glare of an outraged officer. “Im goin to count to three now, and if you chaps havent found someplace else to play your silly tricks by then, youll all be on a fizzer, double guard duty for three nights. Understood?

Three hasty salutes, a patter of footpaws, and the slamming of the door announced tranquillity had returned to the bedchamber.

Colonel Sandgall polished furiously at his monocle. “Must be somethin wrong with this bally contrivance, wot! Dyou know, I thought I saw some type of vermin standin on that windowledge, not a moment ago, confounded strange, eh, wot?

Sunflash coughed politely, catching a nod from Sabretache. “Did you really, Colonel? Im sure I saw something there, too; mustve been a trick of the light, reflection off the sea or something. What dyou think,Tache?

The hare leaned out over the windowsill. “Oh, indeed, sah, stranger things have been seen around this mountain more times than enough, wot! I say, the jolly old rains startin to pack in, see, theres the sun comin out!

Steam rose in wisps from the sand as the midday sun rose high to warm the earth. Swartt Sixclaw stood rapping his gauntleted paw against his sword hilt.

“We shouldve heard somethin by now. Surely if this Wraith beast is as good as Vs supposed ter be, the badger must be dead?

Nightshade moved artfully out of paw range. “Well just have to wait and see, Lord.

Swartt turned on her, snarling as his temper rose. “Let me ear you say that jus once more, vixen, an youll be wearin yer tail round yer neck fer a scarf!

He transferred his attention to the hordebeasts, who were leaping about in the shallows, trying to catch mackerel from a shoal that had ventured in too close. “Huh, will yer lookit that slab-sided lot o bumpkins, they make better fishers than fighters. See that the best of their catch is sent up to my fire. Where in the name o tripesntendons as that Wraith got to?

Silently the warriors of Salamandastron stood ready as the rough-timber gate at the main entrance creaked open. Sunflash the Mace led them out, clad only in his chain mail tunic and carrying the mace loosely at his side. Lady Firdance, the squirrel leader, took the left flank with Folrig and Ruddle. Log a Log took the right flank with Fleetrunn and Hedgepaw. Sabretache and Rockleg took the center slightly behind Sunflash. Javelins, bows, spears, slings, and rapiers were clutched tight in every paw as they skirted the deserted trench in front of the mountain. Quietly, grimly, they strode, squirrels, otters, hares, and shrews, hard-eyed, tight-jawed, their paws making no sound in the sand.

Swartt had turned away; he sat with his back against the rocks, eyes half closed, enjoying the warmth and gentle breezes after the mornings rain. A stoat was emerging from die shallows, a flapping silver-banded mackerel impaled on his spear-point. Suddenly, he glanced up the beach and froze. Fish and spear were forgotten as he stood pointing and yelling, “Look, theyre comin!

Swartt sprang upright, yanking out his sword. “Captains to me! Get out of that water! Everybeast stan to arms! Battle stations, the lot o yur!

Bradberry was marching alongside Forty. He heard the shouts lower down the beach and saw hordebeasts from afar, dashing hither and thither, and said, “Well, theyve seen us now, Potty old lad.

Keeping his eyes front, Sabretache gave orders calmly. “Dont run, me beauties, not yet. Shoulder tshoulder, thats the stuff, keep those weapons down, dont want tstab the chap in front of you. Ready, mLord?

Sunflashs deep grunt was heard throughout the ranks. “Ready! Follow me!

The horde massed on the tideline, spears bristling, drums banging, conch shells blowing, banners fluttering out on the noon breeze. Swartt moved to the rear and, climbing up on a rocky outcrop, he spoke down to the vixen. “Well, we lost some yesterday, but now I can see what their strength is. Hah! We still outnumber em three to one. I see the badger still lives, so I can stick tthe oath I swore. Itll be me, Swartt Sixclaw, who slays im, an no otherbeast!

Forty grasped Bradberrys paw firmly. “Here we go, Bradders. Good luck, old chap, give em what for!