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Railery was small for a badger. He was especially small for a mighty Badger Lord. But nobeast under his command dared to speak ill of his prowess in battle. After his mother Seras had been crippled in battle against Rockpaw, he had taken up her weapon of choice: a massive spiked flail, so heavy it took two hares to carry it. At first even he couldn't lift it, and under his mother's eye endured brutal training until he could weild it proficiently. She had then left for Redwall, leaving the mountain to him.

Lieutenant Major Wilhelm Drumhammer was an elegant, if somewhat self-important, hare. He rapped neatly at the door to Railery's chamber, throwing his shoulders back to announce himself. "Lieutenant Major Wilhelm Tanerol Greenchime..."

"Oh, shut your silly face, Drumhammer, and come in here!"

"Rather rude for a badger lord, interrupting a soldier what's presentin' 'imself, wot!" Sniffing haughtily, Drumhammer opened the door and stepped into the chamber, saluting smartly to the young badger. "Report for you, sah! Rotten lot o' vermin have been spied within the borders. Foxes all of them, Rockpaw's dirty offspring."

"Rockpaw?" Railery stood, striding to the window and peering out as if expecting the shattered ships on the shore to raise sail. "How many of them?"

"Five, sah! All of them scrawny and mangy with no sense between them!"

Railery sighed deeply. "I see. Were they discussing anything of significance."

"Four of them are looking to take to the sea like their ol' mater! The runt of the lot was on her way off after some scuffle with the biggers when we came across them. Stayed hidden and quietlike, listened to the biggers talking. Grand schemes to build a fleet and ride the seas. Arrogant lot with no real seamanship, so they're welcome to it. They'd sink their own ships before we lifted a paw against them!"

Railery smiled, then laughed, turning to face the hare. "You talk too much for your own good, Drumhammer." He raised a paw to stall the offended hare's protest. "But you cheer me more than anybeast I've ever met. Come, I'll see if I can't convince the kitchens that I'm in one of my 'rare moods' and need a snack with a good friend to lighten my spirits."

Drumhammer saluted smartly. "It'd be an honor, sah!"