The Abbess, Sumin, and Ole Hoffy stayed to assist Bella.
All the other Redwallers clattered down the wallstairs to the main threshold gate, where they stood on the path, waiting until Bella arrived, because it was her special day above all days. The Abbey dwellers raised a cheer as Bella stood out on the path, ready to lead them. She turned, smiling.
“Well, would you like to hear the war cry of a Badger Lord? When I give the signal, shout out the word Eeulalia, but make it loud and long. Ready, set, go!
“Eeulaliaaaaaa!
Sunflash swung his mace in circles above his head and, drawing air into his cavernous chest, he bellowed back the badger war cry.
“Eeulaliaaaaa!
Foremole clapped paws over both ears. “Whurr, et sounden loik thunder afore ee storm! Lookit, yurr hem a comen!
Sunflash had caught sight of the silver badger leading the Redwallers along the path. He knew it could only be one creature, his mother, Bella. Passing the mace to Skipperjo, he ran the final distance, paws pounding the path like hammers, spurting dust up in a cloud, to the accompaniment of loud cheers from both groups.
He skidded to a halt and walked the last three paces slowly. There before him was the gentle old face he had seen in dreams. In the silence that followed, only two words were spoken.
“Mother.
“Son.
And that is how Sunflash the Mace, Lord of Salamandastron, came to Redwall Abbey and found his mother, Bella of Brocktree.
48?
On that same hour of the next day, the feast was still in progress and showed no signs of slackening.
Bryony sat beneath her favorite old apple tree in the orchard with Barlom and Abbess Meriam. The Redwall Recorder had brought quill and parchment to document the mousemaids story. She told it frankly, leaving out no detail. Abbess Meriam sat in silence until the recital was at an end.
The calm kind eyes of Redwalls Abbess met those of the mousemaid. “So, Bella and I were wrong, there was some good in Veil, even though it cost him his life to show it. Can you accept my apologies, Bryony?
The mousemaid kissed her Mother Abbesss paw respectfully. “There is no need for your apology. Veil was bad, I know that now. Bella was right. Some creatures cannot help being the way they are. In all the time we knew him, Veil did not perform one act of kindness to any living creature. I have thought a great deal since he died and wondered if he would have saved me if he knew his father was really going to throw that javelin. I couldnt help loving him, because thats the way I am, but I know that the world is a better place without Veil or Swartt bringing death and misery to it.
Meriam cast a knowing glance at Barlom before she replied, “You have grown, Bryony. Your courage and compassion were never in doubt, but you have returned to us wiser and more sensible, far more mature than I ever was at your age. What do you think, Barlom?
The Recorder finished rolling his scrolls. “I think in the seasons to come, Redwall will not lack a good Mother Abbess; that is, of course, marm, when you feel the need to pass on your title.
Meriam placed a paw around Bryonys shoulders. “I could think of no one better to be Mother of Redwall some day.
Bryony could scarce believe what she was hearing. “MeAbbess of Redwall?
“The same as Togget will be made Foremole when the time comes. You have earned both admiration and respect from many elders.
Myrtle the hogwife trundled a fresh cart laden with hot scones, cheese, and salad vegetables from the kitchens to the dining tables of Great Hall. Most of the feasters were resting, or playing with the young ones, but the die-hard core of trencher-beasts remained.
“Aint you lot finished yet? Myrtle groaned.
Rockleg smiled winningly at her. “Not as long as theres such splendid food bein served!
Myrtle sighed, then sat down with them. “Then I might as well join you; pass the mint tea, please.
Duddle Pollspike pushed it across obligingly. “Mint tea, there you are, my chubby-cheeked chaffwarbler. It almost makes me wish I was a landlubber, dinin in this wunnerful Abbey. What say you, my liddle larkspur?
Tutty Pollspike looked up from a raspberry crumble. “Landsnlakes! Tis all very nice, but weve been waterbeasts too long to change our ways now.
Redfarl broke the crust of a pastie, letting the gravy spill out. “Wot about you, longshanksthinkin of changin yore ways?
Jodd cut himself a slice of fruitcake, a silly grin all over his face as he twisted his ears at Fleetrunn. “Whazzat? Oh, er, rather! Id sooner be a square any time than a hirrel!
Fleetrunn giggled. “Dont you mean youd sooner be a hare than a squirrel, you great duffer? Fancy bein called a squir-relhare, daft name!
Jodd bolted the fruitcake reflectively. “Oh, I dunno really. I dont mind daft names as long as a chap has a good sensible real name. By the way, Fleetrunn, I never told you my real name, did I? Well, its actually Wilthurio Longbarrow Sack-firth Toxophola Fedlric ...
Outside on the sunlit lawns of Redwall Abbey, the happy laughter of old and young alike rose to mingle with high lark-song on the warm autumn afternoon.
Epilogue
The young hare Burrbob twitched his nose inquisitively at Rillbrook the Wanderer.
“Is the tale finished? Oh, rats! I wanted it to go on an on an jolly well on frever!
The old otter stood and stretched, balancing back on his rudderlike tail. “Well, young cheekychops, yknow wot they say. Theres bread an cheese upon the shelf, want another story, tell it yself.
The harewife brought out rosehip-and-daisy cordial and some plum-and-damson cake. Together with the group of leverets, she had been listening spellbound to the story, only absenting herself occasionally to bring food. Placing the cake and cordial in front of the old otter, she questioned him. “What happened to Jodd and Fleetrunn? Did they marry?
“Aye, and stayed on at Redwall. Rockleg didnt, though. He came back to Salamandastron with Sunflash. But that was many seasons later, after old Bella had passed on to the Dark Forest. Sunflash would not leave the Abbey while his mother lived. She went peaceful and happy, long beyond her allotted seasons. They say no badger ever lived longer than Bella.
“And did Bryony ever become Abbess?
“Yes, she was in her middle seasons when Meriam retired and passed on the title to her. Togget became Foremole, too. Now can I get on with this food, or are you goin to ask me questions until I goes blue in me ole face answering?
“Just one more thing. Is it true that Sunflash gave up being a warrior after he returned here? I have heard old ones say that he did.
“No, he was always ready to defend the coastline or make war on searats and such vermin. Though he loved growing things so much that he was only known to his enemies as the Mace. Here at Salamandastron he cultivated the slopes of this mountain the way they are now, fertile and beautiful. As the seasons passed he became an expert farmer, and creatures traveled from far and wide to learn from his great wisdom. In time, he changed his warrior name from Sunflash to the more gentle Sunstripe. Also he was the first Badger Lord to write poetry, an unusual quality in anybeast who was ever possessed by the bloodwrath.
“Here, come with me and Ill show ye something.
Followed by a curious group of leverets, the harewife and Rillbrook made their way up a rocky path bordering a terraced garden. The otter halted at a stone slab seat. “Watch now, Ill show you something my father showed me, just as his father showed him....
The cheeky Burrbob muttered under his breath, “An his father showed him, just as his Auntie Bangtail showed him an ... Yowch!
The harewife tweaked his ear warningly, and he fell silent as Rillbrook continued.