Eulalia! (40 page)

The ancient badger raised his battleaxe to the incoming vessel. Wild cheering broke out on the shoreline. Not to be outdone, the crew of
Eulalia
added to the din with their joyous shouts. As soon as it was possible, mooring lines were hurled to the vessel from the shore. Scores of willing paws hauled the ship to land. Osbil and his Guosim furled sail, slacking off all rigging. The prow nosed up through the shallows until the entire craft lay heeled onshore.

Maudie leapt down onto the beach, closely followed by Gorath and Salixa. The ranks of warrior hares parted as Lord Asheye and Major Mullein walked to meet them. The haremaid threw a smart salute.

“Hon. Maudie Mugsberry Thropple reportin' back as ordered, sah! Mission accomplished, found Gorath the Flame, er, an' one other, Salixa, very pretty maid. Hopin' you approve. Sah!”

Major Mullein returned the salute. “Well done, Miss Thropple, you're to be commended on an exemplary completion of a difficult assignment.”

The ancient Badger Lord confronted the two young badgers. Reaching out, he found the badgermaid's face, smiling as he ran his paw gently across her features. “Salixa, the slender willow tree. At times like this I would wish to have my sight for a moment. Truly I can tell you are as beautiful as your name implies. Salamandastron bids you welcome, young one, it is your home for as long as you wish it to be.”

Salixa placed her brow against the lord's paw. “Thank you, sire, I will never leave this place as long as I can stand at Gorath's side.”

Both the Badger Lord's paws now found Gorath's face. He stood silent as the blind one inspected his features thoroughly. Asheye nodded as if in confirmation. “So, you are Gorath the Flame, I have seen you in my dreams many times. Though now you stand before me I feel you are bigger than in the visions, taller. Truly you are marked deep by the flame, the forge of life branded you thus. Let me touch the weapon you call Tung.”

Gorath placed Asheye's paw on the pitchfork, he familiarised himself with it from butt to tines. “A stout and honest implement, Gorath, it can be used either in combat, or to tend growing crops. Which do you prefer?”

The young badger thought for a moment. “I would sooner grow food from the land than dig graves for our enemies. But I can do both if need be, sire.”

Asheye gave him back the pitchfork. “Welcome to your mountain, Lord Gorath!”

The crimson westering sun cast long shadows on the three badgers. Gorath and Salixa took Asheye's paws, allowing him to lead them into the mountain fortress of Salamandastron. Maudie borrowed Martin's sword from Orkwil, it flashed scarlet in the last rays as the shores resounded to the mass roar of a single word…

“Eulaliaaaaaaaaaaa!”

“Extract from the writings of a badgermaid.”

Fourteen seasons is no great length of time to most elders, but to me it is the sum of my entire life so far. A few days ago I finished reading the Family Chronicle, which was written by my mother, Lady Salixa of Salamandastron. Maybe I have not lived through the adventures of my parents and their friends, but I have a lifetime ahead. So this morning I started to write my own Chronicle. Who knows, mayhaps I have inherited some writing skill from my mother.

However, with all the goings on around here, it is hard to concentrate. Did I tell you, tonight is the Great Midsummer Eve Feast. The shore in front of our mountain will be decked with lanterns, and garlanded with blossoms. It's going to be a time for wonderful food, happy music and great entertainment. Then guess what? Tomorrow afternoon I will be boarding the good ship
Eulalia,
bound on a voyage to Redwall Abbey. Such excitement!

But let me tell you how all this came to be, back to my Chronicle. You must remember that being young, I rely on family and friends for certain information about events that occurred when I was a mere babe, or even farther back, before I was born. I have a few to thank for their time and patience in assisting me. My mother, Salixa, and my father, Gorath, Lord of Salamandastron. My Grand Uncle, General Mull; Aunt Maudie, the regimental Colonel Cook and Caterer; and rascally old Uncle Rangval, unofficial Scout in Charge to the Long Patrol. Also the various Guosim shrews, otters and Redwallers I have encountered when the
Eulalia
makes her annual voyage from the River Moss, which they tell me is not far from the Abbey.

Well, it seems that when
Eulalia
first came to our mountain, in the final days of that long-gone summer, there was widespread rejoicing. A feast, which lasted four days, took place. It was during the final evening of the celebrations, everybeast was seated around a fire on the shore, singing, feasting and enjoying those last warm days of the season. A young hedgehog, Orkwil Prink, made the remark that soon the falling leaves of autumn would be sticking to his headspikes. This seemed to affect Old Lord Asheye greatly, his jovial mood deserted him, and he sat there in a state of deep depression. Everybeast present thought the ancient badger had merely fallen asleep, because he was very old, and it was getting quite late. Not wishing to waken Lord Asheye, the Long Patrol hares stopped roaring out rowdy barrack room ditties. My father turned to my mother, who had not sung thus far. Knowing she possessed a sweet, gentle voice, he persuaded her to give a rendition of the little ballad she had performed for him that night beneath the stars on the plateau. Obligingly, she began singing.

She was interrupted by Lord Asheye, who rose up calling, “I know that song, Melutar composed it! How do you know it, lady, tell me, please?”

My mother was startled, but she answered readily. “Lord, I learned it from a good and wise old badger, but his name was not Melutar, they call him the Tabura.”

Asheye clutched my mother's paws and wept. “Did you know this Tabura, does he still live?”

Gorath my father answered for her. “Aye, Lord, like you he is heavy with seasons, but he is alive and well at Redwall Abbey. Why do you ask?”

A hush fell over the assembly as Asheye began speaking. “Long ago in another life, there were two brothers, Melutar and Ferlon. They were like the sun and moon. Ferlon, the eldest, was big and strong, silver-coated, hot-tempered and wild. Melutar, the younger, was of medium size, dark-coated and placid. He was a dreamer, a seeker of knowledge, a writer of poems and songs. They were destined to walk different paths. Melutar stayed home, caring for their aged parents, and growing in wisdom. Ferlon followed the drums of war, his road took him to Salamandastron, and his savage reputation grew by the seasons. Vermin foebeast feared Ferlon, wherever he cast his wild gray eyes, death and destruction came like a roaring fire, leaving only ashes. That badger was me, I became known as Lord Asheye, the beast cursed by Bloodwrath. Melutar was my younger brother, I thought he had long gone to the land beyond the seasons. Something told me that soon I would be joining him.”

Asheye turned his face toward the recently promoted General Mullein, his constant companion. “Remember I told you of the voices that haunted my dreams? They said that never again would I be seen at Salamandastron, once the autumn leaves fall. Well, old friend, it looks like the shadow of fate has finally fallen upon me.”

Mullein nodded sadly. “Aye, sah, who can escape it?”

That was when my father said his piece. “When I was taken captive I thought many times that I would die never having seen Redwall, or Salamandastron. But I was mistaken, as I believe you are, Lord. There is a ship lying in the bay, it will take you to be united with your long-lost brother, whom you thought dead. When autumn leaves fall, you will be far from this mountain, bound for the Abbey of Redwall. I think that is what your voices were trying to tell you, sir. The fates are being kind to you!”

Mullein helped the ancient badger to stand upright. “Well, stap me, sah, I believe Lord Gorath's right. I'll jolly well wager your brother, the Tabowot'sisname, will be over the blinkin' moon t'see ye, wot!”

Lord Asheye clasped his friend's paw. “It would be a pleasure if you were to accompany me, Mull.”

The General saluted gallantly with his free paw. “Hah, t'would be an honour to travel at y'side, sah!”

 

I have heard that story many times from my father, he calls it the happy fate of Lord Asheye. My mother also related how Asheye, and Mullein, sailed away on the
Eulalia,
bound on a rosy dawn tide for Redwall, to meet again his brother, the Tabura.

I think this is a fitting start to my Chronicle. Redwall Abbey is a place of my dreams, many times I have pleaded to visit there. However, my father always said I was too young, until this season, my fourteenth. With the aid of Aunt Maudie, Rangval and my mother, he was finally persuaded. I am to spend four seasons at the Abbey. Can you imagine it, four whole seasons! Mother has given me to understand that I will spend time being educated by my two adopted grandfathers, Asheye and the Tabura. Father says that education is the key to both happiness and wisdom, I am sure this is true.

But Auntie Maudie and Uncle Rangval told me there is lots of fun to be found at Redwall, and lots of new friends to be made. There'll be feasting, singing, sporting, logboating with Guosim, ranging the streams with Barbowla and his otters…. And I'm actually sailing tomorrow atnoon, I'll be lucky if I sleep a wink tonight!

I know I'm repeating myself, but Redwall really is the place of my dreams. They say that there is always a welcome there for those who are good of heart, and true to their friends. Who knows, perhaps we'll meet there one sunny day?

 

Rowanbloom, daughter of Lady Salixa and Lord Gorath of Salamandastron