Redwall #02 - The Legend of Luke by Brian Jacques

Author:Brian Jacques [Jacques, Brian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-09-18T20:27:02+00:00

Chapter 21

It was a bitter winter noon when the ship Sayna, crewed by Luke and a score of his fighting mice, slid down its shale runway on the ice the season had provided. With one fluke buried in the sand, the anchor held the ship against an ebbing tide. Even though her sails were furled, the Sayna strained against the anchor rope, as if eager to be gone. All the farewells had been made, and the crew had sent their friends and families back into the caves, not wishing them to stand out tearful and freezing to wave the ship off. Luke was last to leave. Martin sat stone-faced outside the cave. Luke could not reason with him.

“Son, son, you would not last two moons out there on the high seas. I cannot risk your life pitting you in battle against the seascum I am sworn to do war with. Listen to me, I know what is best for you!”

But Martin would not listen. “I want to sail on the ship and be a warrior like you!”

Luke spread his paws wide and sighed with frustration. “What am I going to do with you, Martin? You have my warrior spirit and your mother's determination. Listen, son, take my sword.”

It was a fighting sword and well used. Luke pressed it into his son's paws. The young mouse gazed wide-eyed at the battle-scarred blade and gripped the handle tight as if he would never let go.

Luke smiled, recalling the time when his father had passed the sword on to him. Tapping a paw against the crosshilt, he said, “I can see it is in you to be a fighter, Martin. The first thing warriors must learn is discipline.”

Martin felt as though the sword were speaking for him. “Tell me what to do and I will obey.”

Relief surged through Luke, as he commanded the would-be warrior. “You will stay and help defend our cave against all comers, protect those weaker than yourself and honor our code. Always use the sword to stand for good and right, never do a thing you would be ashamed of, and never let your heart rule your mind.” He tapped the blade once more as its pitted edge glinted in the winter morning. “And never let another creature take this sword from you, not as long as you live. When the time comes, pass it on to another, maybe your own son. You will know instinctively if he is a warrior. If not, hide the sword where only a true warrior who is brave of heart would dare to go and find it. Swear this to me, Martin.”

“I swear it on my life!”

The young mouse's gray eyes reflected the wintry sea as he spoke. Luke saw that the tide would soon be turning.

“It might be some seasons before I return, but I'll be back, son. Meanwhile, Timballisto is a promising and sensible creature, with more seasons under his belt than you, and I have left him in charge of our tribe.

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