Brian Jacques - Redwall #07 - Mariel of Redwall

that, m'lad."

oo

The excitement of events to come increased with the advance of late afternoon. A pleasant breeze ruffled the grass, taking the edge off the intense summer heat. The young Redwallers and woodland creatures, joined by some of the more active elders, began an impromptu sports day in the Abbey grounds. Dandin and Saxtus, however, stayed faithfully patrolling the walltops, peering over battlements, scanning woodland, path and flatland, highly conscious of their responsible position. Several times that day they had unbarred the main gates to assist with carrying babies, helping the old ones and other useful tasks. Now they rested awhile together on the northern corner of the west wall, watching their companions at play.

"Haha, look at Bagg and Runn. Trust two otters to win the three-legged race. What a pair of scallywags, eh, Dandin."

Dandin had turned. He was shielding his eyes, gazing up the path to the north.

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"Here, look at this, Saxtus. There's two creatures coming toward the Abbey. D'you know them?"

Saxtus peered at the odd pair of figures dogtrotting along the dusty path. "Hmm, can't say I've ever seen them before. Looks like a hare and a mouse dressed as a ragbag."

"Go and tell Mother Mellus, will you, Saxtus. I'll stand by with the gate open. She'll prob'ly want to

speak with them."

oo

Trudging silently along beside Tarquin, the mousemaid had her first view of Redwall Abbey. She liked what she saw. With the dusty brown path running across its front, the late afternoon sunlight played over the structure, giving it a faded rosy glow. Behind the stout outer wall with its battlements and ramparts, she could see the high spired Abbey roof, flanked by lower sloping ones, peaceful and serene, standing homely and solid with the summer green forest at its back. Redwall. Now she knew why creatures talked of it with a reverence; it appeared to blend with the surrounding Mossflower country as a haven of rest and tranquillity, in harmony with all nature, like some gentle giant of a mother, sheltering and protecting her children.

The badger and the two young mice stood out upon the path as Tarquin and Storm walked up. Mother Mellus and the hare clasped paws.

"Well well, Tarquin Longleap Woodsorrel, you old bounder!"

"Stap me vitals, Mellus, are you still alive and grow-lin', you old stripedog?"

Saxtus and Dandin stood watching as the twro old friends greeted each other. Dandin eyed the ragged mousemaid. She stood by, swinging a thick knotted length of rope. Unconcerned by her filthy appearance or the sea-scoured, sand-worn, forest-torn, loose burlap sacking dress she wore, the maid stared boldly back at Dandin as badger and hare conversed.

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"So, how goes it at Salamandastron? Who rules there now?"

"Oh, the old fire mountain's still there y'know, strong as ever. The Lord badger there is Rawnblade, biggest dog badger you've ever set eyes upon. Some say he's the image of his great-grandsire Sunstripe the Mace. Ha, what a warrior! He can flay a crew of searats before breakfast, and that's on a bad day. But enough of all this fiddle faddle, old stripehead. You'd remember me at old Abbot Thomas's final jubileeI was only a bobtailed leveret then."

"Of course, I remember it well. You were with your father Lorquin. Ah, those were the seasons, eh. Who's your young friend?"

The mousemaid stepped up and spoke for herself. "I'm Storm Gullwhacker. This is my weapon, the Gullwhacker."

Mellus nodded courteously, hiding her amusement at the newcomer's confident and forthright manner. "Welcome to Redwall Abbey, Storm Gullwhacker. Perhaps you'd like to be shown around our home. Dandin, Saxtus, take this young mousemaid inside and see if you can get her some decent clothing and a bath."

oo

While Mellus and Tarquin continued their conversation in the open gateway, Dandin and Saxtus walked inside, accompanied by Storm. Saxtus noticed some of the young ones staring open-mouthed at Storm.

"Er, I say, Storm, we'd best go and find Sister Sage. She'll get you cleaned up and dressed nicely."

Storm swung Gullwhacker deftly, flicking the head off a daisy. "Nobody's washin' an' dressin' me up, mouse. I'm all right as I am."

Saxtus disagreed. "No no, you must do as Mother Mellus says!"

Dandin saw something in the mousemaid's face, something which reminded him of himself. He turned to Saxtus.

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"Leave Storm alone, friend. If she says she's all right, then she is. Let her be."

As they strolled through the grounds together, young Red wallers sported and cavorted everywhere. Storm watched them with amusement in her eyes.

"What are they doing, Dandin?"

"They're playing. It's a sort of sports day."

"Sports day, playingwhat's that mean?"

Saxtus was about to explain when a twine-tied leaf-ball rolled in front of them. A baby hedgehog came chasing it. Storm picked up the ball.

"Is this something for playing?"

The little hedgehog stood smiling at her with all the innocence of a Dibbun. "Gorra see how high you c'n frow it."

Storm spun the ball in her paw. "How high I can throw it ... let's see." She tossed the ball into the air. As it came down, she swung with the knotted end of Gullwhacker. It struck the ball spot on, sending it soaring into the sky until it was a mere dot.

Dandin, Saxtus and the Dibbun hedgehog gasped in admiration. Storm smiled.

"Good. I like playing. WhatTl we play next?"

"Yeek!"

Some distance away, Treerose was struck on the back by the falling ball.

Rufe Brush came sauntering over. "What's the matter, squirrel?"

Treerose was furious. She grabbed the ball and came marching over to where the three mice stood. Holding the ball out, she chattered fiercely.

"Who did that? Come on, own up."

Storm did not realize the ball had struck Treerose. She stood forward, grinning cheerfully, and nodded at the squirrel in a friendly way. "I hit the ball high. It's called playing. D'you want to play?"

Treerose went red with temper. "You dirty filthy little ragamuffin, I'll teach you a lesson!"

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Swiftly she lashed out, scratching the side of Storm's face with her sharp little dewclaws. Before anybeast could stop her, Storm whacked the knotted rope squarely between Treerose's ears. The squirrel sat flat on her tail in the dust, tears pouring from her eyes.

Storm was perplexed, she rubbed her cheek as she turned to Saxtus. "What's the matter with her? What did she scratch me for?"

Treerose saw Rufe Brush watching and set up a wail. "Waah! She hit me! What are you going to do about it, Rufe Brush?"

Rufe shrugged. "Dunno really. S'pose I'd better shake 'er paw!"

"Boohoohoo! That dirty little scruffbag has broken my skull. Boohoohoo!"

Mother Mellus's huge paw swept Treerose upright and dusted her down. "Stop that wailing or you'll bring on the rain, miss. Stoppit! You're not really hurt, and if I ever hear you insulting a guest of Redwall I'll dust your tail so hard you won't sit down for a season. Now go and get washed with cold water. Your eyes are all squidgy with whining. Be off with you!"

Mother Mellus turned on Dandin and Saxtus. "And as for you two pickles, didn't I tell you to get this mousemaid a bath and some proper clothes?"

"She said she doesn't want any," Dandin protested.

Mother Mellus eyed the rebellious Storm. "Oh, doesn't she. Well, we'll see about that!"

Mellus took a step forward; the mousemaid took a step backward.

"Keep your paws off me, y'great stripy lump, or I'll Gullwhack you!"

"You'll what?"

Storm swung the Gullwhacker. "You heard me, badger. Now back off!"

Mother Mellus looked over Storm's shoulder. She smiled and curtsied. "Good afternoon, Father Abbot."

Storm turned to see who the badger was addressing.