Predak signaled the archers to cease firing, and called back to the Abbeydwellers, "Come out unarmed, all of you, right now, or I'll order the archers to double their fire!"
Florian's head popped into the frame of a broken window. "Keep y'shirt on, Marlfox, we've got wounded an' young 'uns to carry out. Just give us a tick an' we'll be there!"
A pitifully small group had gathered by the door, armed with anything that came to paw. Cregga placed her paws about Janglur and Rusvul. "You're sure you want to do this, my friends?"
Janglur's hooded eyes gazed levelly at the big blind badger. "Wouldn't 'ave it no other way, marm. You just hold that door an' stop 'em gettin' to those inside 'ere."
Cregga's great striped head nodded solemnly. "Never fear, Janglur Swifteye, I'll hold the door as long as Redwall Abbey stands. It has been a pleasure knowing you."
Janglur bowed gallantly. "The pleasure was all mine, marm. Open the door, Reguba!"
Raventail watched as the Abbey door opened slowly. No more than twoscore Redwallers filed out, but he saw the glint of weaponry as the door closed behind them. There they stood, facing the foebeast in the morning sun. The barbarian ferret grinned in anticipation. "Kye arr, theybeasts come out to makefight!"
Florian Dugglewoof Wilffachop had momentarily forgotten all his dramatic eloquence and posturing. He raised a sharpened window pole and roared as he began to dash forward.
"Chaaaaaaarge!"
And charge they did, giving full voice to the time-honored war cries as they hurtled toward the vermin army.
"Regubaaaa! Logalogalogaloooggg! Redwaaaaaallll!"
Vannan stood confidently, watching them come. The vixen drew her ax, remarking to Predak, "So the day of reckoning has finally come. Now they will pay with their miserable lives..."
The Marlfox fell halfway to the ground, propped up by the otter javelin that had slain her.
Otter crews from far and wide charged over the Abbey lawns, headed by Skipper.
"Give 'em blood'n'vinegar, mates! Redwaaaaaaall!"
They flung themselves upon the foebeast like a mighty tidal wave, engulfing all in its path. Big brawny otters, both male and female, tribal tattoos decorating the sinewy paws that wielded sling, javelin and longblade. A rousing cheer rang from the Abbey's dormitory windows, as Dibbuns and elders shouted their heroes on to victory.
"Give um glugg'n'binnaga, mista Florey!"
"Come on, Janglur, me big fat son, show 'em yore a Swifteye!"
"Hurr, you'm give umm billyo, zurr Skip!"
"Rusvul matey, that Marlfox is sneakin' away. Quick!"
Predak had almost made it to the gatehouse when Rusvul came pounding up. The vixen slipped up the west wallsteps, shedding her cloak and causing the squirrel warrior to trip on it. She dashed along the battlements, straight into the waiting grasp of the otter Borrakul. He set his paws in a death grip around the Marlfox's neck. "Now y'must pay for killin' my brother Elachim!"
Raventail fought like a demon, until he was backed up against the Abbey door. Florian could not resist stretching past the ferret Chieftain and striking the door with his pole. "Vermin leader outside, come to call on ye, marm, wot!"
The door opened slightly. Raventail managed a whimper of fear as Cregga's paws shot out and snatched him inside. That was the last anybeast ever saw of the barbarian Raventail, alive.
Skipper dashed up to the walltop and waved his ' javelin. "You vermin, throw down yer weapons an' you'll be spared. Right, mates, surround 'em an' pen 'em at the northwest corner. Slay any who still want t'fight!"
The remaining vermin hastily threw away their weapons. They were herded into the wallcorner, where they sat, paws upon heads. Skipper was about to come downstairs when he noticed Borrakul lounging against the battlements.
"Aye aye, matey, wot 'appened to yore Marlfox?"
The Noonvale otter shrugged, glancing over the wall. "Vanished! You know the way Marlfoxes can disappear, Skip."
Skipper knew it was a long drop from the battlements to the ground below. He nodded at Borrakul, straightfaced. "Aye, I know 'ow Marlfoxes disappear!"
Friar Butty watched the apprehensive faces of the twoscore wretched vermin who had thrown down their arms. The Recorder's voice was stern. "You have no need to fear. We at Redwall keep our word. Your lives are spared, which is more than you or your masters would have done for us, had you won the battle. We do not have prisoners or slaves at our Abbey, so you will be released. You will be split up into eight groups and let free at different times, five to go one way, five to go another, until Redwall is rid of your presence. Brother Melilot will give you each two days' provisions. That is all."
Florian Dugglewoof Wilffachop, restored to his ebullient self, checked Butty. "Oh no it ain't, beggin' y'pardon, Friar sir. Allow me a word with these malicious miscreants, will you? My thanks! Right, listen up, scurvy vermin types, pay attention at the back there! You will clean this Abbey an' its grounds thoroughly before I allow y'to leave, understood? All t'gether now, say yes sir."
The reply was halfhearted. Florian wagged his cane at them. "Not good enough, you villainous chaps. Now speak up or I'll come amongst ye an' liven your ideas up a bit, wot wot!"
Mayon stumped up, a poultice bandage on his shoulder. The tough Guosim shrew winked at Florian. "I'll lend yer a paw, sir. I can see one or two rascals 'ere who aimed kicks'n'blows upon me earlier today. Now lissen t'me, you cowardly lot, I ain't tender-'earted like mister Florian, so if I gives you an order you'd best jump to it or I'll make y'wish you'd been slayed in the battle, understood? Let me 'ear you all say yes sir!"
The mass reply was crisp and clear, as if with one voice. "Yessir!"
Janglur and Rusvul sat with Rimrose and Ellayo in the orchard, listening as Cregga explained everything to the Abbey Dibbuns. "You are all safe now, my little ones, and so is Redwallonce again we can live in peace and good order. Bad creatures tried to take our Abbey from us and we had to do battle with them to preserve our way of life."
Dwopple wrinkled his tiny nose. "Tharra why mista Florey an' Jang an' Rusbul and T'agglo was slaydin' alia vermints out onna lawn. I no liked dat, I was frykinned. Good job Skip corned wiv all h'otters."
Cregga nodded in the mousebabe's direction. "None of us liked it, Dwopple, but we had to do it. Either that or let those evil creatures capture our Abbey. But now there is a lot of mending to do."
Wugger the molebabe piped up helpfully. "Us'n's do ee mendin', marm, me'n'D'opple get big 'ammer an' ee nailers, fix h'Abbey all gudd. Bangitty bang bang!"
Reaching out, Cregga took Wugger upon her lap. "That's very kind of you, sir, but there are lots of different kinds of mending, broken hearts, bad memories, hasty tempers and departed friends. All of these need seeing to before the peace and the seasons grow upon us like soft moss and smooth all the edges of war away, so that you may sleep safe and calm in your beds at night."
Rimrose sat holding Janglur and Ellayo's paws. She sniffed, unable to check the tear that strayed from her eye. "If only our Song were here. Where d'you suppose she an' her young friends are now?"
Cregga lifted her head in the direction of the squirrel wife's voice. "I have dreamed that they will be back before the autumn leaves come down. Don't worry. Wherever your daughter and Dann are, and young Dippler too, I'll wager they're either impressin' somebeast with their good manners or giving a fine account of themselves. Those three are a tribute to their upbringing, wherever they are!"
Chapter 30
It was night at the margin of the watermeadow. Dann lay crushed beneath the rotten elm trunk, listening to the noise above. It became so loud that he was able to whisper to his friends, "I wonder what all the din's about?"