The makings of a Warrior

To Brian Jacques, the best storyteller I've ever known. Rest in peace.

Watercolor and ink.

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On first glance this may seem like the story of a mouse who took on the way of the sword. And in some ways it is. But really, this is about a man. A man who once said, “"Mice are my heroes because, like children, mice are little and have to learn to be courageous and use their wits." The sword, forged from a fallen star, could only be entrusted to one who is brave of heart, true, and just. It takes a man like Brian Jacques to recognize this strength in not the largest, fiercest creatures on earth, but in the most humble, most forsaken ones.

Not everyone can weave stories out of falling stars. But Jacques could put the blood n’ vinegar in battles, the dreams into heads of unsung heroes, and by god could he cook up a banquet with his words! And all his stories were about things like this. Creatures donned in tunics, kilts and battle armor, tales of friendship, betrayal and bloodlust. There are some things I will never, ever forget. Like the unbreakable friendship of Bragoon and Sarobando, the berserker ferocity of Ranguvar, the insatiable appetite of the hares. And of course, Martin the Warrior.

Redwall was never anything like Harry Potter, Twilight, or any of those high profile series (nothing against them). But they were, and still are, the books I turn to when I’m in the mood for a good adventure. No parallels drawn from the complex dramas in our world, no cliffhangers and obligatory sequels, no love triangles, no fuss or mess…just the classic good versus evil. Just a charming, beautiful world in which you KNOW justice reigns in the end. The leaves of Mossflower have turned as many times as the pages that tell of its indomitable characters.

And so, when I heard that Brian Jacques had passed away, it was like the striking of midnight on a fairy tale clock. Suddenly the spell was broken, and mice became mice once more. It was like the unweaving of the great tapestry. For a second all the magic had bled from the world. But I turned to my books, and I realized that what was left was something truly timeless. Whenever I wanted I could still revisit that world and the forges would always be burning at Salamandastron. Warlords will never be able to take down the sandstone walls of Redwall Abbey. And to all those weary travelers wandering inside and outside those pages, the abbey gates will always be open to them (and to us).

So let me end and begin here, with a story about this man. A long time ago he looked down and saw a bold little mouse. And in it he saw the strength and courage of a badger. So the man reached into his pocket and pulled out a wrapped sword, made from the metal of a fallen star. That mouse became a warrior, and his legacy lives on to this day.

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"A mouse is small and can go unnoticed: but there is no limit to what a brave heart and a fearless spirit can achieve."

~Brian Jacques