Friar Bunfold drew back fearfully from the grinning ferret; Skipperjo shepherded him out and turned the key in the lock, saying, “Something11 ave to be done about that beast, es crazy!
Midnoon saw a visitor to the Abbey, a tawny female owl called Wudbeak. She visited Redwall every summer to exchange news and gossip with her Abbey friends, but also to satisfy her craving for candied chestnuts. Abbess Meriam, assisted by Jodd, Redfarl, and Sister Withe, had helped Bella , down from her room, and along with many other Redwallers ; tbey sat on the banks of the Abbey pond. Wudbeak ate a great many of her favorite nuts from the improvised picnic that had , been spread in her honor.
Jodd watched her, frowning slightly. “By the left an center! Wheres she puttin them all?
Redfarl whacked him in the stomach with her bushy tail. “Exacly the same place youd be stowin em if we let you loose on those nuts, you great walkin stomach!
Having finished eating, the owl sucked dandelion fizz through a hollow cornstalk to clear her mouth for speaking. “Ah, very nice, so twas indeed! Now, me fine Abbess, tis yerself sittin there tike an ould stone wid ears, waitin on me news.
Meriam was used to Wudbeaks odd accent, and she nodded quietly as the owl took another suck at the straw before continuing. “Dye not know a fierce-lookin kestrel bird called Skarlath?
“Yes, he has visited here once before to warn us of an attack.
“By the faithnfeathers, thats the very feller, a fine hawk-bird. Well, now, not five days since, no, I tell a lie twas six. Anyhow, theres meself, sittin on an ould mossy log countirf me feathers an who should fly up but himself, the hawk that is. Sez he tme, are there many ottersnsquirrels in this part of the woodlands? So sez I thim, well yesVno in a roundabout sort o way; theres treejumpersnwaterdogs aplenty, if you was ttake the time tbe iookin for the beasts. Why dyou ask? Well sez he, because I carry this amulet round me neck, tshow them, theyre tcome tthe aid of my Lord Sunflash at the mountain of Salamandastron on the far west shores. Well now, isnt that the wonderful thing, sez I thim, an who, me bold bird, is yer Lord Sunflash when hes at home? Marm, sez the hawk tme, he is the great and mighty Badger Lord Sun-flash the Mace!
Bella cast off her shawl and stood up. “Sunflash the Mace, Lord of Salamandastron! Oh, thanks be to fortunes and fates! Did the hawk say what he looked like?
Wudbeak cocked her head to one side thoughtfully. “Why no, ma, he didnt, but why dyou ask?
Bella sat back down, her great silver face wreathed in smiles. “Because he is my lost son. Now I know that my dreams were not just imagination. I have looked upon his face and talked with him as I slept.
Heartwood pulled Barlom to one side, whispering to him, “Stripe me! We forgot to tell er about Skarlaths last visit. E mentioned Sunflash to us then!
Barlom kept his voice low as he replied, “Aye, but Bella wasnt feeling too well at the time, and the Abbess told me not to mention Sunflash in case she got upset. It would have done Bella no good at all had it turned out that Sunflash was some other badger and not her son. No harm done, friend, at least she knows now for certain that he is.
From behind Bellas back, Meriam winked slowly at them and held a paw to her lips, before turning back to the owl. “Pray continue, my friend.
“Right, where was I? Oh aye, well it seems that theres this dreadful ould ferret, a six-clawed vermin they call Swartt. Do ye know what the villains up tdohV? Ill tell yer, so I will. This Swartt has gathered a mighty horde of vermin, oh, the rakinsn scrapins of the earth, they are, and hes after at-, tackin the mountain of Salamandastron! Thats why the hawk was Iookin for otters nsquirreis, thelp out his Lord the badger. So, thats me news, Ma.
Wudbeak went back to devouring candied chestnuts as the Abbess bowed to her. “Thank you, my friend, you are welcome to stay as our guest. When you are ready to leave I will have Friar Bunfold pack a good supply of chestnuts for you; the harvest was very good to us last autumn. Wonderful news : for you, Bella?
The silver badger was nodding as Skipperjo and Redfarl helped her to her feet. “Nobeast can know just how wonderful, Meriam. So, my son fights a war against some vermin “ horde, that is the way of the warrior. Badger Lords are never satisfied until warfare touches them. This Swartt, no matter how great his army, will be defeated and slain by Sunflash. My son carries the blood of Boar the Fighter in his veins, and it was he who helped our warrior Martin.
Abbess Meriam walked alongside her old companion. “But do you not fear or worry for him? she asked.
“AH my life, Meriam. He is too far away for us to do anything for him, but I can dream, and the spirit of Boar will aid him, and that of his sire and great grandsire. Who knows, maybe even the voice of our own warrior Martin may reach my son. How can he lose with such allies to advise him? My only wish is that one day he might walk through our Abbey gates before my seasons have run.
The Abbess felt immensely relieved. “Dont go up to your room yet, Bella, she said. “Stay down for afternoon tea. I will need you to support me in the unpleasant task I must carry out.
Bella stared at Meriam through her crystal glasses. “You have enough to worry about as Abbess of Red wall. 1 feel better today, stronger. Leave the business to me; you will need to comfort and reason with Bryony.
Throughout the afternoon tea, Togget tried his level best to cheer Bryony up, but to no avail. The mousemaid sat stone-faced, neither touching food nor talking to anybeast. There was only Veil that she wanted to see, but the otter Skipperjo had banned all from seeing the ferret, save for himself and those who brought him his meals. Platters of fruit scones, wedges of white nut-studded cheese, blackberry tarts, honey, meadow-cream, new cider, and mint tea passed in front of Bryony, their delicious aromas not even tantalizing her. Two of Redfarls squirrels did a hobjig with a pair of Skipperjos otters, while the molemaid Figgul beat a small drum in time with Sister Withes herbsong. It was all done for the mousemaids benefit, though Bryony paid no attention. Sister Withe got her voice around the tongue twister admirably:
“See all the plants of the woodland are mine,
Gillifiowr, nettle, dock, and columbine;
Good Nature provided these things for my own,
The speedwell, fine cottongrass, and the cockscomb;
They grow and they flourish in sunshine or rain,
Groundsel, rush, hemlock, soapwort, and verbane;
Some in the summer and others in spring,
Whilst others in autumn do cause me to sing;
Yarrow and arrowroot, bracken and bramble,
Pennywort, chervil, marestail, and eyebright,
Teazel and thistle and ivy to ramble,
Whilst lily and violet await morning light.
Mint, borage, fennel, and basil are mine,
Like lavender, rosemary, thyme, and woodbine!
The good Sister took a deep drink of cold mint tea and held a paw to her heart. “Phew! Im glad I dont have to sing that twice!
Nothing seemed to cheer Bryony up, but she leapt to her feet immediately when Jodd poked his head around the doorway of Great Hall.
“Attention, chapsnchapesses, Abbess wants every beast out on the lawn by the gatehouse soon as yve finished vittles! There was an immediate exodus from the tables, with Bryony in the lead, her face a picture of anxiety.
Bella stood on the lower wallsteps by the gatehouse, supported by Abbess Meriam, the owl Wudbeak at their side. Ancient as Bella was, the recent events at her beloved Redwall had driven her to speak. Every Abbey creature sat on the lawn, facing the three. There was a profound silence over the gathering, then heads turned to see Skipperjo and Redfarl escorting Veil from the main Abbey building. Bryony drew in her breath sharply. Jodd was walking in front of the prisoner, but she could see Veils paws were bound in front of him. He jumped and snarled, biting at his guards as they hauled him along to the bottom step.