Together they waded downstream, past willow and red-berried rowan mingled with balsam and reed mace, the trees closing in an arch over the stream waters. Small clouds of midges flitted in and out of the sun-patterned shade, disturbed by the progress of the two wading creatures. Cupping paws about his mouth Joseph called aloud, “Figgs! Where are you, Figgs?
Finnbarr tugged the edge of the Bellmakers jerkin urgently. “Dont turn around too fast, matey. Shes beind us.
Joseph turned slowly. Figgs was there, seated on the brawny shoulders of an otter who, with about fifty others, lined the stream holding javelins menacingly. Finnbarr glanced over his shoulder to see a similar number appear apparently from nowhere, merging between foliage, sunshine, and shadow.
Figgs scrambled down from the otters shoulders and swam to Joseph. The Bellmaker ignored the javelins hemming him in on both sides and clucked disapproval at the otter babe. “Teh, tch, look at your smock and bonnet, theyre saturated.
This seemed to relax the otters. The big one spoke:
“I am Blerun Downriver. What names do you go by?
“Joseph the Bellmaker. This is Finnbarr Galedeep, and there are more of us upstream.
Blerun leaned on his lance and nodded. “I know; we have watched you since you camped there. Do you serve Urgan Nagru the Fox wolf?
Before an otter could lift javelin, Finnbarrs twin swords had cleared their sheaths. He went into a fighting crouch, his single eye glittering hotly. “No, matey, weve come tdo battle with im, so if youre on the Foxwolf s side wed best start the party right ere!
Blerun left his javelin sticking in the streambed and extended a paw toward Joseph and Finnbarr. “Your enemy is our enemy. We will fight him together, Finnbarr Galedeep.
So it was that the Pearl Queens crew began the final stage of their march to Castle Floret.
32
Morning sunlight flooded a copse in the still-green depths of northeast Mossflower. Dewdrops hung heavy and bright on leaf and petal, plentiful as the tears shed by the former boatswain of Pearl Queen, Blaggut. Exhausted after a nighttime flight through dense woodland, Slipp had dozed a scarce hour when he was awakened by the sobs of his companion. Red eyed and irate, the searat Captain picked up the stolen badger chalice and snarled, “Yew keep snottin an slobberin like that and yll rot yer eyes. Now stow that wingein, dye hear?
Blaggut did not even try; his whole body shook as more tears poured forth. “Wot did yer kill the ole badger for, Capn ? She never did us any real arm. You shouldnt ave stayed er!
Slipp trampled the grass in a circle around Blaggut, speaking through clenched teeth. “I killed er cos she was tryin to kill me. Cant you get that through yer thick ead? Anyow, she needed killin*, treatin me like some kinda wet-eared galley slave. Look, wotcher goin tdo, sit round ere cryin until they catches up with us? Come on, stupid, we got travelin tdo.
Slipp punctuated his words with the usual kicks at Blaggut. He sat unmoved, head in paws, still heaving with grief. “If I traveled for the rest ome days itll still be with me, Capn. That pore creature lyin stabbed to the eart, the liddle uns screamin*, an ole Blind Simeon a wonderin what was goin on. You go without me, Capn. Im no good to nobeast anymore!
Slipp seized Blaggut roughly and, pulling him upright, he began shaking him furiously. “Lissen, deadbrains, Im still the Capn round ere, an if I sez yore goin then go yer will!
No sooner had Slipp released him than Blaggut slumped down and continued weeping. The searat Captains rage knew no boundshe stormed about the copse, destroying flowers and tearing at the foliage as he gave vent to his anger.
Blaggut carried on as if unaware of it all. “Theyre good an decent creatures at the hAbbey, I could ave been one, too, in time. Though a searat cant change is colors they say, and mebbe thats true. If wed never stopped at Redwall, everybeastd still be livin there peaceful an appy; twas no place fer bad uns such as us.
Slipp could stand no more. Snatching up a thick branch of dead wood, he laid into Blaggut. “Up on yer paws, oaf. Leave the thinkin tme; Im the Capn an yore the fool! Come on, gerrup, you blitherin empty eaded, no account, washed-up gobbet o flotsam!
Blaggut got up.
He came at Slipp with a strange light in his tear-stained eyes, paws outstretched and teeth bared, regardless of the blows that were being rained upon him. Slipp began backing away. The branch broke as he slashed and struck at Blagguts head and body. Slipp tripped and fell and Blaggut was on him, his paws tight about the Captains neck. The broken branch fell from Slipps nerveless grasp as Blagguts viselike grip tightened. They lay face-to-face, the searat boatswains voice coming in gasps as he shook Slipp like a rag doll.
“ Fool! Aye, yer right, Capn, I was a fool, an oaf, an idiot, an ail those other names you called me. Thats cos I took up with you, Capn. Yore bad right through, youll never change, thats why I gotta do this. Sony, Capn!
It was well into noontide. The mourners stood around the flower-strewn heap of earth at the southeast corner of Redwall Abbeys ramparts. Red wallers and Dibbuns alike gazed sadly at Mother Melluss last resting place. Simeon leaned upon the paw of his Father Abbot, who had gathered strength as the day progressed. At the start of the day Saxtus had moved about like a creature in a trance, doing things automatically. Gradually the realization of his position as Abbot took over. Duty could not be ignored, so with a great effort Saxtus pulled himself together. He patted Simeons paw comfortingly before turning to address the Abbey dwellers.
“My good friends, the poems have been recited, the prayers all said. Mother Mellus has moved on to sunnier pastures, quieter noontides, and more peaceful woodlands, though she will always live in our hearts. But I can hear her speaking to me now, guiding me as ever she did from the time I was a Dibbun, right through until I was chosen as Abbot. I always heeded the wise words of Mellus, as I do now. She is telling me that Redwall life must continue.
Saxtus paused to smile and tweak a leverets ear.
“Mellus says that there is fruit to be picked in our orchard, boats to be sailed on the pond, work and play for all. As the summer fades to autumn we will have a great feast one day, to celebrate the memory of our dear friend. Go now, think about this as you work hard and rest well!
There was a flash of sunlight and something glimmered through the air in a bright arc, falling to rest quietly on the fresh-dug earth of Melluss grave, where it lay unharmed.
The mousebabe was quicker than anybeast. He scurried forward and picked up the object. “Funtil, lookit, our badger cup wot we winned!
“Take it an live long in peace!
Every eye turned upward to the east walltop. Blaggut stood there looking unhappily down at where the badger lay buried. Oak Toms paw flew to his dagger and he moved toward the wall. Saxtus called out to Tarquin, “Stop him, I will not have that creature slain!
Tarquin intercepted Oak Tomas he began climbing. “Steady on, old lad. I know how yfeel, but the Father Abbot must be obeyed, wot? Lets hear what he has to say.
Blaggut walked around the ramparts and descended by the south wall steps, stopping on the final stair. His voice was raw and husky with sorrowing.
“I killed me own Capn this morn. Yore badger was a good creature,e did wrong to slay er. I wouldve stopped *im, but it all appened so quick. Anyow, I brought back the cup fer the liddle uns an thats that; you kin kill me now.
Saxtus took the dagger from Oak Tom and stowed it in his wide habit sleeve, then he turned to the mousebabe, “You saw what happened. I leave it to you. Does he deserve to die, or would you let him live?
There was a moments silence. Every Red waller looked on anxiously as the mousebabe trundled over to the wall steps and took Blagguts paw in his.
“Mister Blackguts is good, norra killer; he makes boats.
Funtil joined him, latching herself on to the searats other paw trustingly. “Hurr, that be roight, eem a gen-oelbeast, oi loikes im.