Janglur shouldered the tentpack, settling it comfortably on his back. “The Abbey of Redwall.”

The young squirrelmaid’s eyes grew wide with delight. She had never visited there, though she had heard tales of the fabulous place. “Redwall Abbey! How wonderful! Oh, Mamma, will it be as nice as you told me it was when I was little?”

Rimrose smiled at her daughter’s excitement. “Even nicer, I imagine. Words can’t fully describe a place like Redwall.”

Song took Grandma Ellayo’s paw, supporting her as they walked. With Janglur in the lead, they set off as dawn was breaking. It promised to be another hot summer day, but the tree canopy was thick and would shade them as the sun rose higher. Song could not resist a final question to her father. “Why are we going to Redwall?”

Janglur tucked the reed flute into his broad belt. “Because we must warn whoever rules at the Abbey that there are Marlfoxes roaming the land.”

2

2

Farther south, on the flatlands close to the woodland fringe, a gaily painted cart stood propped straight on its two large wheels. It had a single shaft, crosstreed at the end by a well-worn pushing bar. Stretched over willow hoops a canvas cover was copiously painted in once bright colors, now faded by sun and seasons, though the lettering still read clearly.

“The Sensational Wandering Noonvale Companions Troupe!”

On the nearby streambank a motley collection of creatures were preparing for a rehearsal. One of them, a theatrical-looking hare, stood forward. He was clad in a rumpled frock coat of lilac silk and a wide-brimmed straw hat, through which his enormous ears poked. He wore floppy yellow boots and carried a silver-tipped cane. The hare’s outfit had obviously seen better seasons, as had the cart and the entire troupe. Nevertheless, the hare twirled his cane and boomed out in fine dramatic fashion as if addressing a vast audience.

“Good morrow, one an’ all. I am Florian Dugglewoof Wilffachop, h’impresario an’ h’actor manager. I preesent to you the Sensational Wanderin’ Noonvale Companions Troupe! Descendants of a talented tradition! Unrivaled throughout the entire land! Death-defyin’ feats! Hilarious comical plays! Music an’ magical virtuosity, jocular jigs an’ deelightful dancin’! Come one, come all! Witness our mellifluously marvelous, perfectly pleasurable educational entertainment! Entirely free of charge!” He smiled winningly and continued in a loud stage whisper: “Homemade cakes, pasties an’ sundry comestibles, purely for the nourishment of the artistes, gladly accepted with profuse thanks. Ahem!”

From the cover of the cart a gruff voice interrupted Florian’s speech impatiently. “Oh, gerron wiv it afore us all falls asleep!”