Loamhedge

Loamhedge

UK first edition cover
Author	Brian Jacques
Illustrator	David Elliot
Cover artist	David Wyatt
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Series	Redwall
Genre	Fantasy novel
Publisher	Viking (UK) & Philomel (US)
Publication date	2003
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	432 (UK Hardback) & 432 (US Hardback)
ISBN	(UK Hardback) & (US Hardback)
OCLC	53390567
Preceded by	Triss
Followed by	Rakkety Tam

Loamhedge is a fantasy novel by Brian Jacques, published in 2003. It is the 16th book in the Redwall series.

In the book, young haremaid Martha Braebuck has been chair-bound since Dibbun-hood and nobeast has any idea why. Martin the Warrior's spirit sends two former Redwall warriors, Bragoon and Saro, to the old Loamhedge Abbey to discover a secret that could change Martha's life. Meanwhile, the badger Lonna Bowstripe hunts the pirate Raga Bol and his horde for vengeance.

One day while Abruc the otter and his son Stugg are out foraging for food, they find two badgers; an old one, dead, and a giant one who is barely clinging to life. The otters take the giant back to their colony, where he is revived and reveals himself to be called Lonna Bowstripe. He is told that his attacker was most likely the pirate Raga Bol, whose ship has been lost, and his crew of sea-rats, who are moving inland. Lonna vows to hunt down and kill the entire crew. Armed with his bow and arrows, he sets out to exact his revenge.

Meanwhile, at Redwall Abbey, there is a young hare maid named Martha Braebuck, who is totally incapable of walking, thus restricting her to a wheelchair. She is wheeled around by her very hyperactive brother Hortwill Braebuck (Horty) and his friends, Springald and Fenna. While napping in front of the tapestry of Martin the Warrior, Martin and Sister Amyl appear to Martha in a dream, and she is told that the secret to make her able to walk can be found within the ancient walls of Loamhedge Abbey and that two individuals are coming that can help her.

As it so happens, the two in question are Bragoon and Sarobando, two lifelong friends who ran away from the Abbey as Dibbuns. They survive by tricking small vermin bands and taking their food. This time, it's the gang of the weasel Burrad, whose numbers are at about 13. After Bragoon enters the camp (and Skrodd accidentally kills Burrad) they tell the gang that they must leave Mossflower Woods and never return. Skrodd has other plans, however, and convinces the gang to head to Redwall, where there is a rumor of a magical sword. One night, Skrodd is killed by the rat Dargle, who gets decapitated during Skrodd's death throes. The bodies are discovered by a young fox named Little Redd (Later named Badredd), who convinces the gang he was the one who had killed Dargle. They continue on to Redwall, though no one really takes the fox seriously.

Bragoon and Sarobando arrive at the Abbey during the Summer festival and are told Martha's sad story and where the cure can be found. They decide to set out to Loamhedge, but not before Horty's group asks if they can go too. When Abbot Carrul refuses, the trio create a distraction and escape the Abbey. Though they wind up being captured by Darrats, they are rescued by Bragoon and Saro, who are not too entirely pleased to see them. Since they are already fairly far from the Abbey and could risk recapture, however, they are allowed to join the quest.