High Rhulain (2005)

High Rhulain is a children's fantasy novel by Brian Jacques, published in 2005. It is the 18th book in the Redwall series.

Plot summary

The novel begins with Riggu Felis, European wildcat warlord of Green Isle, and his two sons, Jeefra and Pitru, attempting to kill an osprey, later known to be Pandion Piketalon. Riggu scorns his sons' attempts to kill the osprey and jumps into the fray himself, attempting to scare it into submission. The osprey is not intimidated and sinks his talons into the cat's face, flying into the air with him. The wildcat drops to the ground with half of his face torn off. Because of this incident, the wildcat orders all birds on Green Isle to be slain.

Tiria Wildlough is daughter of Banjon Wildlough, the Skipper of Otters at Redwall Abbey. One afternoon, she and a few friends go out into Mossflower Woods to gather some wood, and along the way they run into some trouble in the form of a small but ferocious vermin band terrorizing Pandion. Tiria and her friends manage to fight them off, but the vermin swear revenge.

When Tiria returns to Redwall, she and her father have a discussion, where Tiria learns that otter law allows only male otters to be Skippers. This upsets Tiria greatly, and she is quick to listen when Martin the Warrior and High Queen Rhulain Wildlough appear to her in a dream, telling her the otters of Green Isle need her assistance and leadership. After deciphering and scouring the Abbey for many clues with Old Quelt, Sister Snowdrop, Abbess Lycian, Brinty, Tribsy, and Girry, Tiria learns through another dream that she has to leave on her own, so she heads to Log-a-Log Urfa's encampment along with her father and Brink Greyspoke. Soon after, Brinty is killed when the aforementioned vermin band attacks Redwall, seeking vengeance.

At the same time, a rogue otter named Leatho Shellhound leads the free otter clans in various attacks against the ruling wildcats in an attempt to free their enslaved friends. Many famous otter clans take part, including Galedeep (related to Finnbarr Galedeep of The Bellmaker), Streambattle (related to Rab of The Bellmaker), and Wavedog (related to Kroova of Triss). However, Finnbarr and Kroova were sea otters, and Finnbarr had no known living kin.

Log-a-Log Urfa takes Tiria to Cuthbert Blanedale Frunk, an eccentric Long Patrol hare in the service of Lord Mandoral Highpeak at Salamandastron, where she receives a sling from the Badger Lord made of shark skin and the breastplate of the High Rhulain. Along with a number of hares of the Long Patrol, Tiria sails to Green Isle in Frunk's ship, the Purloined Petunia, and they meet up with Shellhound and his otter clans.

At the abbey, the Redwallers continue to solve riddles from Sister Geminya, finding Corriam Wildlough's lance and the High Rhulain's coronet. Brantalis Skyfurrow, a visiting goose, flies the crown to Tiria at Green Isle.

When Tiria reaches Green Isle, she finds the otter clans in a stand-off with Riggu. Leatho Shellhound is trapped in a burning tower, set afire by Riggu's mate, Lady Kaltag, who lost her mind after the loss of her son, Jeefra. The birds Pandion and Brantalis save Leatho, but Riggu shortly after slays Pandion, who had previously ripped off part of his face, forcing him to wear a mask. Tiria, seeing Pandion killed, hurls the barbed star that first injured Pandion at Riggu, and with amazing accuracy, she strikes and kills Riggu Felis.

Meanwhile, Riggu's other son Pitru had taken some forces and led them out of the burning fortress. Pitru establishes himself as the new warlord among the wildcats. Knowing the otters will now return to where their families are hiding, Pitru builds a barricade square in the route that the otter clans have to take in order to rejoin their families. With the help of newly freed Leatho Shellhound, Lorgo Galedeep, Kolun Galedeep, and Banya Streamdog, Tiria routes the remaining vermin forces. Sadly, however, Cuthbert dies bringing down a Nessie-type monster Slothunog, and Pitru with him. Recovering from this loss, Tiria is later proclaimed by all as the new High Rhulain of Green Isle.

Characters in High Rhulain

Tiria Wildlough

Banjon Wildlough

Old Quelt

Sister Snowdrop

Abbess Lycian

Brinty

Tribsy

Girry

Log-a-Log Urfa

Brink Greyspoke

Weilmark Scaut

Riggu Felis

His sons: Jeefra and Pitru

His wife: Lady Kaltag

Atunra, the first and only female pine marten of the series

Pandion Piketalon

Brantalis Skyfurrow

Scorecat Yund

Otter Warriors:

Leatho Shellhound

Lorgo Galedeep

Kolun Galedeep

Banya Streamdog

Runka Streamdog

Whulky Wildlough

Chab Wildlough

Roggan Streamdiver

Other Otters on Green Isle

Memsy

Deedero Galedeep

Birl Gully

Ould Zillo the Bard

Cuthbert Blanedale Frunk

Lord Mandoral Highpeak

Brother Perant

Burbee

Colour Sergeant O'Cragg

Raphael Granden

Gawra Hom, a common seal

Groffgut

Groodl

Groop

Threetooth

Whulky

Chab

Reviews

Anita Burkham of Horn Book said that Jacques' "trademark blend of folksy good humor and high-spirited action," and High Rhulain character's exhibits a "joie de vivre that earns them the loyalty of their many fans."

Book divisions (English)

Book 1: The Forgotten Tome

Book 2: The Fool of the Sea

Book 3: Across the Western Sea

Translations

(French) Rougemuraille

(Russian) Остров королевы