Aye, right, friend. Kurda lived and died like a coward: running away.
Think about it, Triss, you wouldn’t allow yourself to dishonour Martin’s sword by using it to slay that gutless craven when she wasn’t properly armed. You aren’t a killerÑthere’s a lot more to you than that. Martin chose you for the creature you are, right?
Triss tucked the crown into her belt. Thank you for your kind words, SagaxÑyou are right!
Log a Log threw a paw about her shoulders. Of course’e is. Come on, let’s go home, Trisscar Swordmaid.
Scarum came hopping up, rubbing a bruised forehead. I say, chaps, would somebeast mind cuttin’ this confounded rope off me footpaws? It’s tight as blazes!
Sagax took a mighty swing with his battle-axe. Eulali-iiaaa!
The hare closed his eyes and winced as the axe chopped clean through the ropes that bound his footpaws together. He tossed the rope ends huffily into the lake. Great big showoff, y’nearly left me pawless.
Oh, an’ you, too, miss. Y’might have taken the trouble to cut a chap down properly. Leapin’ about an’ choppin’ with that sword. Just look at this bloomin’ wound on me bonceÑI fell right on top of that vermin, she had a blinkin’ skull like a rock. Oh, woe is me, chaps, only half a flamin’ set o’ whiskers an’ my young good looks ruined by this enormous bump!
Sagax caught Scarum, none too gently, by his ear. I thought we left you to guard the Abbey. What are you doing out here in the middle of the woodlands?
Scarum suddenly forgot his injuries. What, er, oh that! Long an’
complicated tale, had whacking great injustices done to me, y’know.
Thought it best to relinquish command an’ join me old comrades, couldn’t let you lot face those vermin alone, wot!
Sagax growled menacingly. I hope you’re telling the truth.
The incorrigible hare put on his noblest face. Shame on you for thinkin’
otherwise, sah! Oh, er, I say, Triss, you’re a good-hearted type. Would you like to put in a word or two for me when we get back? Talk to the Abbot an’ Memm, an’ those other old fogeys. Tell’em how I found you three strung up by the footpaws an’ risked life’n’limb to rescue you.
Pretty maid with an honest face, they’ll believe you, I bet. But don’t get too jolly fancy about it, just picture me as a modest type doin’
me duty.
Triss could not help laughing at the horrified look on the face of Sagax.
She winked reassuringly at Scarum. Of course I will. And what about the three serpents you slew? Shall I mention them also?
Scarum clapped Log a Log on the back cheerfully. No no, old Log’ll do that, won’t you, me stout shrewchap. No need to go into detail, just mutter somethin’ about me tyinem up in knots an’ pullin’ their fangs out, that should do the trick. Er, Sagax, old pal of my Dibbun days, don’t you say anything. Lips sealed, keep mum, nod’s as good as a wink an’ all that. Be a strong silent badger type, wot, don’t say a blinkin’
word!
Both Triss and Log a Log nearly collapsed laughing. Hohoho, don’t say a blinkin’ word, eh?
Heeheehee, he’s speechless now. Just look at his face!
Scarum did. Huh, looks like a toad chokin’ on a tadpole, if y’ask me.
Yowchyow! Gerroff, y’big brute!
Triss and Log a Log sat dabbling their paws at the lake edge. They watched Sagax chasing Scarum, aiming hefty kicks at his tailscut as the hare fled, complaining loudly.
Wowch! Some pal you are, what’ve I done now? Woop! Where’s your jolly old sense of humour, wot? Owch, ger-roff!
41
Extract from the journal ofMalbun Grimp, Healer and Recorder of Redwall Abbey.
Joy and sorrow, sorrow and joy. There are times when the two go paw in paw. Sorrow for the goodbeasts we lost in battle, Redwallers and our friends, the Guosim shrews. There is always a price to be paid for peace. Though by Skipper’s account, the vermin paid the heavier priceÑvery few of them escaped to tell of their defeat. Yet the saddest picture that remains in my mind is that of Kroova, the otter who stayed behind to guard our Abbey. He and Shogg had become close friends. I was standing beside him on the walltops as Shogg marched off after the vermin. He waved to Shogg and shouted that he would ask Friar Gooch to make some shrimp’n’hotroot soup for them to share on his friend’s return. Poor Kroova, when he saw Shogg’s body being borne back on the shoulders of Skipper and Churk, my heart went out to him. Though Shogg was only a visitor to Redwall, that brave otter will be with us always now, resting beneath a shady willow by the pond. I awoke this morning and watched the sun rise over Redwall. In that stillness I felt the joy that peace brings. Our home, free from the threat of serpents and roving vermin bands. There is no feeling on earth to equal it!
Now, let me tell you of some extraordinary events. My friend, Abbot Apodemus, told me that he is allowing Martin the Warrior’s sword to leave Redwall! I could see clearly that Apodemus had been touched by the Warrior’s spirit. He assured me that one day the sword would come backÑhe was quite positive of it in his quiet way. So here is what will happen. Trisscar Swordmaid, accompanied by Kroova, Sagax, that rascal Scarum, Log a Log, Skipper and Mokug, together with a few chosen others, are embarking on a voyage. Before the summer is out they will sail to that land called Riftgard in the Northlands, far across the wide seas.
Churk the ottermaid, splendid young creature, is to take Skipper’s place at the Abbey. Her brother Rumbol has recruited ten other otters, all huge trustworthy beasts, to hold Redwall safe. These and a full regiment of Guosim shrews, commanded in Log a Log’s absence by Gulif, will stay with us until Skipper returns. I do not normally take to vermin, but the sole captive whom Redwallers took is a jolly fellow, and not at all unlikeable. His name is Grubbage. He is an excellent navigator, and will be going along on the voyage. Trisscar Swordmaid has sworn to free every slave in Riftgard. She has the bravest and best of companions to aid her. Good fortune go with them all.
Extract from the diary of Churk, ottermaid and Head Scholar to Redwall Abbey:
The feasting is done and our friends have departed. But what feasting!
Four nights and three days, the food, the fun, the poems and the singing.
Even the Dibbuns will remember it for as long as they live. Gulif and I accompanied the voyagers to the coast. We rose quietly and left in the hours before dawn. Uncle Skipper said that if we had not, it would have taken another three days to say our goodbyes and have even more supplies of food loaded onto the travellers.
Gulif is the proudest Guosim shrew alive. Just up the stream from where the ford crosses the path, Triss uncovered the most beautifully crafted small ship from its hiding place in a backwater. She presented it to the Guosim tribe, promoting Gulif to captain. It now goes under a new name; the strange writings have been blotted from its stem. Triss renamed it with one single word: Shogg! We journeyed down to the sand shores that fringe the wide blue seas. Grubbage took us to where a huge vessel was moored. We let Mokug rename it Freedom. So much food went aboard that Scarum wanted it called Scofftub. He was most disappointed not to be made cook, but Sagax would not permit it. It took a day to get the Freedom cleaned up and seaworthy again. She sailed on the evening tide. Gulif and I watched her go. We stood in the shallows and waved until she was out of sight, sailing over the deeps with a fiery setting sun turning her sails to crimson. May the wind be at their backs and the weather fair to speed them homeward one day.