Dotti ducked beneath Brocktree’s paw for protection. ‘Oh I say, sah, bit much, isn’t it? How in the name o’ seasons is a gel supposed to be bossess of your blinkin’ Long Patrol an’ whomp around the bloomin’ kitchens helpin’ Aunt Blench? What am I, Patrol Bossess or flippin’ cook?’
Brocktree hid a smile as he looked down at her. ‘The title is Patrol General, miss, not Bossess, and there’s a whole lifetime ahead of you, Dotti – you’re still young enough to learn lots of new things. Now, is everybeast here? I see they’ve hauled anchors. Brog’s bound south and Bucko’s bound north.’
Striding out on the sands, Brocktree looked about at the legions of hares, sitting on the mountain terraces and perched on the shore rocks. ‘Up on your paws now, my friends,’ he called. ‘Let’s give our departing comrades a real Salamandastron farewell. Ready? One, two . . .’
Leaning over the stems of their vessels, both Brogalaw and Bucko Bigbones could not help joining in with the thunderous roar from the shore. The ten ships sailed off into the golden afternoon, with the farewell war cry gladdening the hearts of all.
‘Eulaliiiiiiiaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!’
Epilogue
LORD RUSSANO PUT aside the final piece of parchment. His pail was empty, the tabletop covered in bundles of scrolls. He looked around the crowded dining hall.
‘So there you have it, my friends, how the great Lord Brocktree first came to our mountain, and the odd bond of comradeship which existed between him and a young haremaid. Dotti, as far as my researches show, became the first officer when our Long Patrol was formed. Thank you for listening to my account.’
The audience cheered him to the echo, standing to give the Badger Lord an appreciative ovation. There was only one creature not applauding, Russano’s son Snowstripe. He was three seasons younger than his sister Melanius and still a Dibbun in many ways. Snowstripe had been sitting on his mother’s lap, listening to the final episode of his father’s narrative, when he had drifted off into a slumber. Rosalaun had covered him with her shawl and let him sleep on. It was the noisy volume of the cheering that woke him.
Snowstripe yawned, rubbing sleep from his eyes. Russano gathered his little son up, still wrapped in the shawl. ‘Come on, matey, time you were in bed.’
Looking up at his father, the youngster murmured drowsily, ‘Is the story finished, Papa?’
The Badger Lord shook his head solemnly. ‘Only a part of it, my son, a small part. One day you and your sister will rule this mountain and you will find that the story carries on. Both of you will live through your own adventures, make good friends of honest creatures. The defence of our coasts will be your responsibility, though fate and seasons forbid that you will have to face vermin invasion and war. Salamandastron’s story will continue, as long as there are brave badgers to rule the mountain wisely. Your mother and I have often told you and Melanius the law of Badger Lords. Can you remember what we said?’
As they mounted the stairs, Snowstripe’s eyelids began to droop, but he recited by heart the lessons he had been taught.
‘Defend the weak, protect both young and old, never desert your friends. Give justice to all, be fearless in battle and always ready to defend the right.’
Snowstripe gave out with a yawn, and his eyelids fluttered, gradually closing.
‘Anything more?’ Russano whispered in his ear.
As sleep overcame the little badger, he nodded. ‘Hmm, the Badger Lord of Salamandastron must always show a welcome an’ good cheer to all of true heart who come to visit here in peace. Our gates will be ever open to them . . .’
‘For this is the word of the Badger Lord and the law of Salamandastron, passed down to us from Lord Brocktree!’
About the Author
Brian Jacques was born and bred in Liverpool. At the age of fifteen he went to sea and travelled the world. He worked as a stand-up comedian and playwright and hosted his own programme, Jakestown, on Radio Merseyside. His bestselling Redwall books have captured readers all over the world and won universal praise. He died in 2011.
Also by Brian Jacques
Lord Brocktree
Martin the Warrior
Mossflower
The Legend of Luke
Outcast of Redwall
Mariel of Redwall
The Bellmaker
Salamandastron
Redwall
Mattimeo
The Pearls of Lutra
The Long Patrol
The Taggerung
Triss
Loamhedge
Rakkety Tam
High Rhulain
Click onto the Redwall website and find out more about your favourite characters from the legendary world of Redwall, and their creator, Brian Jacques!
www.redwall.org
LORD BROCKTREE
AN RHCP DIGITAL EBOOK 9781448158430
Published in Great Britain by RHCP Digital,
an imprint of Random House Children’s Publishers UK
A Random House Group Company
This ebook edition published 2012
Text copyright © The Redwall Abbey Company Ltd, 2000
Illustrations copyright © Fangorn, 2000
Map illustration copyright © Andrew Warrington, 2000
Red Fox 2000
The right of Brian Jacques, Fangorn and Andrew Warrington to be identified as the author and illustrator of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
RANDOM HOUSE CHILDREN’S PUBLISHERS UK
61–63 Uxbridge Road, London W5 5SA
www.randomhousechildrens.co.uk
www.totallyrandombooks.co.uk
www.randomhouse.co.uk
Addresses for companies within The Random House Group Limited can be found at:
www.randomhouse.co.uk/offices.htm
THE RANDOM HOUSE GROUP Limited Reg. No. 954009
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.