Have the little ones all growed up big’n’strong,

Is me father in the chair, do his snores ring through the air,

Now I’m goin’ to wake him up with this ould song.

Go t’the left right left! Go t’the left right left!

Seven seasons gone, oh seven seasons gone,

I’ve been fightin’ roarin’ marchin’ all the time,

But I’m comin’ home t’you, to give you a hug or two,

The moment that I’ve supped a jug o’ wine.

Go t’the left right left! Go t’the left right left!”

Bong boom! Bong boom! Bong boom!

The bells of Redwall Abbey tolled out like melodious rolling thunder. Chores, rest, recreation and duty were forgotten. Redwallers poured out onto the path outside the gates to see the brave sight. Aprons waved and cooks’ caps were flung into the air. Cregga seized Friar Butty and sat him upon her mighty shoulders, yelling, “What do you see, friend, tell me what you can see?”

The old Recorder’s voice squeaked with eagerness. “I see Song, Dann and the young Guosim, wotsisname, Dippler! There’s an old squirrel marchin’ alongside them, looks like a seasoned warrior t’me. I see a rank of hedgehogs, biggest I ever set eyes on, must be close to a score of ’em! Right behind them there’s squirrels, mice, moles—even some otters! They’re smiling, laughing, singing, pounding the dust up high as they come. Oh, Cregga marm, did you ever see such a sight?”

Cregga chuckled at the thought of a blind badger seeing any sight, but she understood her friend’s jubilation. “No, I never saw such a sight, Friar. What else do you see?”

“I see Martin the Warrior! They’ve done it! They’ve brought the great tapestry home to Redwall!”

*

Rusvul grabbed his son’s paws with a fierceness Dann could feel, dust settling on their faces as they stared intently at each other.

“Dann, that night, I’m sorry . . .”

Dann seemed to have grown taller and broader. “Forget it, Reguba!”

Rusvul held his son at paw’s length. “No, Dann, yore the Reguba now. Let me look at the son who’s made me proud t’see a warrior standin’ before me!”

Janglur and Rimrose hugged Song so hard she could scarcely breathe.

“Oh, Song, Song, thank the seasons you’re back safe!”

“Well, missie, I’ll bet you’ve sung some songs an’ been through a few adventures since you left yore ole dad’n’mum. Haha, yore even prettier’n when y’went away!”

Song found herself looking over Janglur’s shoulder at her grandpa and Ellayo, staring at one another like two creatures in a dream.

“Gawjo Swifteye, is it really you?”

“Aye, ’tis me, Ellayo me dear, older an’ grayer, though mebbe none the wiser. Bet I’m a sight t’make sore eyes sorer, eh?”

“Oh no, Gawjo, you look ’andsome, all silver-furred an’ well.”