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 f"rever!"
The old otter stood and stretched, balancing back on his rudderlike tail. "Well, young cheekychops, y"know wot they say. There"s bread an" cheese upon the shelf, want another story, tell it y"self."
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 didn"t, though. He came back to Salamandastron with Sunflash. But that was many seasons later, after old Bella had pa.s.sed 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?""
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"Yes, she was in her middle seasons when Meriam retired and pa.s.sed on the t.i.tle 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 pa.s.sed 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 I"ll 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, I"ll 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.
"There"s not many seen this. My ancestors were showed it by an old Badger Lord who came after Sunflash. Here, watch now." The seat was made by two flat slabs placed one on top of the other. He lifted the top slab to reveal the bottom stone beautifully carved in fine badger script.
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Here I often gaze out o"er the seas, When winter snows have gone to spring so fair, Alone, except for b.u.t.terflies and bees, Remembering the times we used to share. Your spirit soars o"er places where I"d walk, Not holding any friend on earth so true, Upon my shoulder, good and faithful hawk, O Skarlath, there was never one like you! With heavy heart I sit alone in grief, Lord of the mountain, ruling over all, Wishing I could split a single leaf, To bring you back again, with our old call.
The harewife traced her paw over the letters carved countless seasons ago, saying quietly, "A great and wise badger with many unusual qualities."
The old otter leaned on his traveling staff, watching the young hares gathered around the stone, reading the poem. "Aye, Salamandastron flourished under his rule. It would be good for these young uns to learn from one like Sunflash."
Burrbob looked up from the carved seat. "There"s not been a jolly old Badger Lord here for absolute ages, sir-well, not in my lifetime there ain"t."
Rillbrook put his paw around the young hare"s shoulder, smiling and shaking his head. "Great seasons, not in your lifetime? That must be a fair old span of dusty days!"
Burrbob looked hopefully up at the old storyteller. "D"you think a badger will ever come to Salamandastron again, sir?"
Rillbrook sat the young hare down upon the stone seat. " "This mountain is never without a Badger Lord for too long. The warrior spirit seems to draw them here from afar. If you sit here for a short time each day and watch those sh.o.r.es below, some day you"ll see that badger come striding along. Grow up strong and honest, all of you, and serve that badger well. It is the duty of Salamandastron hares to do this."
Drawing his cloak about him, Rillbrook the Wanderer tapped his ash-pole staff on the rock and set off on his travels. "Farewell, my friends, and thank you for your hospitality, but the wayside beckons and the breezes call me away."
As Rillbrook picked his way slowly down the mountainside, the harewife called after him, "Wait on the sh.o.r.e below, I"ll bring you a haversack of food!"
Rillbrook waved his staff in acknowledgment.
Remembering their manners, Burrbob and the young hares scrambled to a.s.sist the old otter down the slope.
"What ho, sir, lean on me!"
" "Where do you journey to now, sir?""
Rillbrook winked at the pretty leveret who had asked the question. "Why, to Red wall Abbey, where else? It will take me several seasons to haul my old carca.s.s that far, but fate and friends have always been good to me. Never fear, I"ll make it by next autumn. It"s a pretty place to be at harvest time, and the door is always open to friends. Maybe someday you"ll visit there. I"m sure they"d make you welcome."
The young hares and the harewife stood on the beach, watching Rillbrook the Wanderer growing small as he trekked off east into the golden afternoon.
Burrbob raised his paw. "Let"s send the old "un on his way with a good oF war cry."
Throwing back their heads, they roared out the time-honored call of Salamandastron.
" "Eeulaliaaaaaaa!""