High Rhulain

infobox Book |
name = High Rhulain
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = UK 1st Edition Cover
author = Brian Jacques
illustrator = David Elliot
cover_artist = David Wyatt
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series = Redwall
genre = Fantasy novel
publisher = Puffin (UK) & Philomel (US)
release_date = 2005
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages = 352 (UK Hardback) & 341 (US Hardback)
isbn = ISBN 0-14-138160-4 (UK Hardback) & ISBN 0-399-24208-2 (US Hardback)
preceded_by = Rakkety Tam
followed_by = Eulalia

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

Plot introduction

When young Tiria Wildlough receives a vision and riddle from the legendary Martin the Warrior, she sets out accompanied by Cuthbert Blanedale Frunk in search of the Green Isle on a journey to fight Riggu Felis the wildcat and lead her otterfolk to freedom.

Plot summary

The novel begins with Riggu Felis, 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, attepting 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, however, Brinty is killed when the 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 (descended from Finnbarr Galedeep of "The Bellmaker"), Streambattle (descended from Rab of "The Bellmaker"), and Wavedog (descended from Kroova of "Triss"). However, Finnbarr and Kroova were sea otters, and Finnbarr had no living kin.

Log-a-Log Urfa takes Tiria to Cuthbert Blanedale Frunk, a 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 the 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. With the help of Leatho Shellhound, Lorgo Galedeep, Kolun Galedeep, and Banya Streamdog, Tiria routes the remaining vermin forces. However sadly, Cuthbert dies bringing down the 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.