Tell me, how are my dad and Brink and all my dear friends at the Abbey? Some of those Dibbuns must be growing into young ones now, Grumby, Taggle, Irgle and Ralg. Do they still remember me?
Sometimes I feel sad when I think of Redwall and poor young Brinty. I’ve never seen his resting place, but I’d love to visit it. How are Girry and Tribsy and Friar Bibble? I’ll wager Sister Snowdrop hasn’t changed a hair nor old Friar Quelt. And you, Lycian, the youngest, prettiest and wisest Abbess Redwall has ever seen. I hope you know I learned a lot from just watching you when I was an Abbeymaid. When I am facing a problem, I always ask myself, “How would Lycian have dealt with this?” Happily, I can tell you I haven’t put a paw wrong thus far!
I must finish now. Queenly affairs calling me away, you know. Don’t let that barnacle goose stuff himself until he can’t fly. Send him back with a nice long letter to me.
Your lifelong friend,
Tiria
P.S. Don’t forget about the coloured water lanterns. Tell Dad and Brink I need them soon!
P.P.S. Could you also ask Brink to send the recipe for October Ale? It’s for our Brew Otter, Birl Gully. He makes something called Gullyplug Punch, and it’s far too strong!
Love, Tiria
To the High Rhulain of Green Isle
From Lycian, Mother Abbess of Redwall Abbey
Dearest Tiria,
I take quill in paw to thank you for your informative letter. Well, my friend, things seem to be thriving in your Queendom. (It is Queendom, isn’t it? Anyway, I like the sound of that title.)
So you’ll soon have your own army, the Green Clan Regiment no less! It all sounds so exciting. I was going to add that I’d love to see it, but more of that later.
Your Banya and Deedero seem real treasures. There’s nothing like having faithful friends around you, is there? Tiria, you are really fortunate in having such a wonderful life. Enjoy it, my friend, you richly deserve all the good things in your life!
Now let me tell you my news. Old Quelt has expressed a desire to retire, so his duties are to be split: Little Sister Snowdrop will be our new Librarian, and your friend Girry is to be Recorder of Redwall Abbey. I’ve no need to tell you he is delighted at the prospect. Who would have thought that Girry had a yearning for the scholarly life?
As for that rogue Tribsy, he doesn’t know it yet but Foremole Grudd wants Tribsy to succeed him when he retires from being mole chieftain this winter. Molemum Burbee confided this to me over a pot of tea yesterday afternoon, requesting that I not speak of it to anybeast at Redwall. So I’m not speaking, I am writing! Besides, you’re not at Redwall at the moment.
Enclosed with this scroll you’ll find a letter from your dad and Brink, which includes the directions for making the coloured water lanterns that you requested.
After you told me in your first letter about poor Pandion, I relayed the sad news to your dad and Brink. They have made him a beautiful little monument, right alongside Brinty’s resting place. I visit Brinty and read him your letters, you know. I also picked out a special stone for Brinty, just as you told me to. We must never forget our brave friends, ever!
So, Tiria Wildlough, on to my surprise news (I’ve been keeping the best for last)! Recently I met some old friends of yours—a whole group in fact of Long Patrol hares! Captain Rafe Granden, Colour Sergeant O’Cragg, Corporal Drubblewick, Quarters and Porters (Aren’t those two an absolute hoot?) and more besides. They came marching up in their smart red tunics, armed to the teeth and ravenous as a horde of wild beasts. They were bearing with them a lengthy scroll from Lord Mandoral himself. Every creature at Redwall was delighted with its tidings. The Badger Lord of Salamandastron had written to inform me that he is now the owner of two ships: One is the Purloined Petunia (which you already told me of); the other is over twice its size, a three-masted vessel which, to use Lord Mandoral’s phrase, “was liberated from certain seascum not worthy to walk its decks.” It is now renamed the Fearless Frunk!
Next spring, both ships will anchor in the River Moss under the command of captains Quartle and Porter. From there they will sail for Salamandastron and thence, after a suitable visit, they sail for Green Isle! And guess what? I have been requested to select threescore of our Redwallers to sail with them! So, Your Majesty, be sure to have your regiments watching the coasts of Green Isle in late spring! We are coming!
Now, may I invite you and any of your friends you wish to accompany you to visit us for a full summer season? You also may bring along your brewbeast, Mr. Gully. Brink will teach him to brew fine October Ale. We will feast, we will sing, we will talk and laugh together.
Hares from Salamandastron, otters from Green Isle, and Redwallers will meet here in comradeship and peace. For you know, my dear friend, the gates of Redwall Abbey in Mossflower Country are always open to all good hearts, young and old.
Fondly yours,
Abbess Lycian
Also by Brian Jacques
REDWALL
MOSSFLOWER
MATTIMEO
MARIEL OF REDWALL
SALAMANDASTRON
MARTIN THE WARRIOR
THE BELLMAKER
OUTCAST OF REDWALL
PEARLS OF LUTRA
THE LONG PATROL
MARLFOX
THE LEGEND OF LUKE
LORD BROCKTREE
TAGGERUNG
TRISS
LOAMHEDGE
RAKKETY TAM
HIGH RHULAIN
CASTAWAYS OF THE FLYING DUTCHMAN
THE ANGEL’S COMMAND
VOYAGE OF SLAVES
THE GREAT REDWALL FEAST
A REDWALL WINTER’S TALE
SEVEN STRANGE AND GHOSTLY TALES
THE RIBBAJACK
THE TALE OF URSO BRUNOV
THE TRIBES OF REDWALL: BADGERS
THE TRIBES OF REDWALL: OTTERS
THE TRIBES OF REDWALL: MICE
REDWALL MAP AND RIDDLER
BUILD YOUR OWN REDWALL ABBEY
REDWALL FRIEND AND FOE
A REDWALL JOURNAL
THE REDWALL COOKBOOK
1
Rhulain (pronounced Roolayn)