Mariel of Redwall
UK first edition cover
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| Author | Brian Jacques |
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| Illustrator | Gary Chalk |
| Cover artist | Pete Lyon |
| Language | English |
| Series | Redwall |
| Genre | Fantasy novel |
| Published | 1991 (Hutchinson (UK) & Philomel (US)) |
| Media type | Print (hardback and paperback) |
| Pages | 390 (UK Hardback) & 387 (US Hardback) |
| ISBN | (UK Hardback) & ISBN (US Hardback) |
| OCLC | 24742557 |
| Preceded by | Mattimeo |
| Followed by | Salamandastron |
Mariel of Redwall is a fantasy novel by Brian Jacques, published in 1991. It is the fourth book published and sixth chronologically in the Redwall series.
When a young mousemaid loses her memory in a shipwreck, she takes the name "Storm Gullwhacker" after a successful encounter with a seagull. As she regains her memory while at Redwall Abbey, however, she swears vengeance against Gabool the Wild, the searat who had tried to slay her, and had taken her father captive.
The story opens by introducing Gabool the Wild, the nefarious King of Searats, who stands at the top of a cliff and watches as a small mousemaid frantically tries to survive in the seas at the bottom of the cliff. The pirate king returns to his fortress, Fort Bladegirt, where one of his captains named Bludrigg demands plunder. Gabool feigns an air of compliance, but suddenly beheads Bludrigg. After this short incident, he interrogates Joseph the Bellmaker and attempts to force him to build a bell tower for the enormous bell he captured. Failing in this, he successfully persuades the Bellmaker to interpret the symbols on the bell in exchange for the latter's daughter. He then shoves the old mouse off of a cliff.
In the meantime, the mousemaid is rendered unconscious when a piece of flotsam strikes her on the head. She washes up onto the shores, wakes up, and unties the rope around her neck. Suffering from severe thirst, the mousemaid searches for water, finds a small pool of it, and fends off another gull with her trusty rope. Cogitating on her forgotten identity, the amnesiac mouse names herself Storm Gullwhacker.
When weary Storm awakens, she finds herself surrounded by trident-wielding toads, led by one disgruntled Oykamon. The mousemaid launches a trenchant attack, but is stabbed. She is rescued by Colonel Clary, Brigadier Thyme, and Hon Rosie, hares of the Long Patrol. They decide to bring her to Redwall. A reclusive, pedant squirrel, Pakatugg is concerned about security and secrecy to an extreme degree.
At Terramort Isle, Saltar the corsair, brother of Bludrigg, arrives with the Darkqueen. Saltar duels Gabool, but is treacherously killed in a trap. Immediately afterward, the report comes in that Captain Greypatch has stolen the Darkqueen, Gabool's flagship. Gabool tells his captains that whoever kills Greypatch will be made second-in-command of all searats.
Storm and Pakatugg are obdurate and intransigent creatures, and they soon part ways, none too peacefully. She attempts to find the way to Redwall by herself, and meets an eccentric hare named Tarquin L. Woodsorrel.
The two reach Redwall without further incident, and Tarquin converses with the badger mother Mellus while Storm gets acquainted with Dandin and Saxtus, two mice. Despite the mousemaid's aversion of baths, Storm quickly grows accustomed to life at Redwall. That night, Dandin, Saxtus, and Storm enjoy themselves at the Abbot's Jubilee Feast until Saxtus recites a strange, prophetic poem. The mousemaid lets out a sudden cry and falls unconscious. The poem, coincidentally, told the story of Storm's life.
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