"Who asked you? Keep your opinions to yourself, rushmouth!"
"Hah! Rushmouth is it? When was the last time you put paw to paddle, boatbottom!"
"Boatbottom yourself. I vote we run the logboats ash.o.r.e an" careen "em. The hulls are filthy with moss!"
"A good voyage"d take the moss off "em. You take my word!"
"I won"t take your word, but you"ll take the back o" my paw if you step on me tail again!"
The otters stayed on the Waterlily, shaking their heads sternly at the bad behavior of the little squabblers.
Grumm had been nosing around the fire, tasting the food from the various pans and cauldrons. He pulled a wry face, whispering to Rose, "Gurr, no wonder they be ill-tempered. "Ee food tastes tumble, Miz Roser. Oi wouldn"t feed et to a dead frog, burr no!"
The mousemaid took the foodpack from Martin"s 283.
shoulder. "I"ve just had an idea. Here, do as I do!" Breaking one of Grumm"s sweet invention cakes, she gave them a portion each and began eating her own piece with huge enjoyment. "Mmmm, this tastes good!" The others followed her example. Boldred snaffled hers in one bite and began pecking crumbs from her talons. "Delicious, can"t afford to waste a single crumb!" "Hoo aye, "tis vurry scrummy, "seedin"ly noice!" "Absolutely delightful, best I ever tasted!" "Oh yes, this is the stuff, pals. Great!" Gradually the shrews became silent, turning their attention to the friends as they praised the cake to the skies.
A shrew stabbed the air with his sword. "Gimme some, I want to try that stuff!"
Martin eyed him disdainfully. "Watch yourself, shrew. Don"t wave that sword in my face and make demands of me!"
Rose wagged a stern paw at the offender. "Put that weapon away this instant and ask properly. Didn"t your mother ever teach you to say please?"
The shrew was dumbstruck for a moment, then he put down his sword and lowered his voice. "Can I try your cake, please?"
Pallum took a reflective nibble and turned to Grumm. "What d"you think, is our cake too good for the likes of these?"
The mole licked a crumb from his chin. "Moight drive they"m mad, they"m on"y use to eatin" drefful swill."
Several of the shrews looked beseechingly to Boldred. The owl looked as if she were about to say yes, then shook her head. "No, I don"t think so. I would have given them all the cakes from our pack, but they"ve made up their minds not to sail tonight. You can"t make creatures go on the stream voyaging if they"re afraid of the dark."
The owl"s statement created uproar. Fights, scuffles and arguments broke out all over the shrew camp. Star- 284.
wort bounded through the melee. Giving the friends a huge wink he roared out, "Ahoy, you can"t talk about river creatures like that. My mates the stream shrews"ll sail anywheres at anytime, ain"t that right, lads?"
Immediately, the shrews stopped fighting and waved their swords. "Aye, we"ll sail anywhere, day or night!"
Rose put her head to one side and imitated a gruff shrew voice. "Give us the cakes and it"s a bargain!"
Boldred tossed the foodpack into a long shrew log-boat. "You shrews drive a hard bargain. Those are the last of our cakes. But so be it, you"ve won the argument. Let"s go!"
The short-eared owl had to take to the air to avoid being swept into the logboats with her four friends. In a very short time they were out in midstream, the shrews poling their canoe-shaped treetrunks hard, competing in a race between crews. The travellers barely had time to turn and wave at the cheering otters before they were swept out of sight. Water rushed by the bows of the six logboats as night fell. Grumm and Pallum gripped the sides tightly as the narrow craft shot along on the swift current, shaking and rocking from side to side. Rose held Martin"s paw, her face shining.
"We"re travelling downstream. I recognize this part of the water. If we take a turn off to a side channel on the right we can be in Noonvale tomorrow afternoon!"
As she spoke, the shrews backed water, wheeling their craft into an inlet and down a sidestream. It was narrower than the main water, but just as fast-running.
Rose laughed aloud with joy. "Ha, ha! See those knotty old willows drooping into the water? I sat under them when I was a little one. I knew it, we"re going home to Noonvale!"
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Cap"n Tramun Clogg had finished filling in the prison pit. His paws ached with weariness and his tawdry finery was coated in dust. Pushing the barrow to a corner of the courtyard, he lowered himself gently into it and let the enormous wooden clogs slip from his footpaws as he heaved a melancholy sigh.
"Harr, "tis an "ard life an" no mistake, but at least Badrang ain"t got me stannin" guard up on the wall like those fellers."
Clogg lay in the barrow, watching the guards on the walltop silhouetted against the early night sky, ruminating to himself. "Aye, "is "igh V mighty Lordship will be drinkin" wine an" dinin" off fish an" roasted fowl in that long"ouse, while I"ve got to bide "ere til mornin", waitin" fer a crust an" some water."
The corsair heard the thwock of the slingstones as the two wall sentries fell in a heap. He smiled wickedly in the darkness. "Hah, them slaves is learnin" fast. Now iffen me an" Badrang was still partners, I"d raise the alarm. But we ain"t, I"m only a slave, an" raisin" alarms is nought to do with slaves!"
A volley of flaming javelins whooshed in over the walls. Clogg was well out of their range. He watched with great interest as they hit the longhouse, two or three missing, some falling flat on the roof. But the majority thudded into the timber walls, blazing merrily. Another wave of burning javelins streaked through the night sky like comets, finding the wooden palisade fence of the slave compound. A mighty roar rose from the sh.o.r.es outside Marshank.
"Fur and freeeedooooom!"
Badrang came tearing out of the longhouse, stood on a lighted javelin by accident and hopped about on one paw yelling, "Attack, attack! Stand to arms! Walltop stations!" He grabbed two scurrying half-asleep soldiers. "Put that fire out, quick!"
They stood undecided. "But we ain"t got water, Sire!" The enraged Tyrant knocked their heads sharply together. "Addlepates, use sand, earth, dust!" He dashed off to the walltop, drawing his sword as he shouted orders to the horde milling in the courtyard. "Archers, slingthrowers, follow me!"
Ballaw and Felldoh doused the fire they had used to ignite the javelins. They split up, each taking half the force, Ballaw to the back of the fort, Felldoh to the left side.
Felldoh"s attackers flattened themselves against the earth and lay quite still. The squirrel pa.s.sed the order along to his group. "After Ballaw"s troops send their javelins off, be ready!"
Badrang peered out across the deserted sh.o.r.e. The archers and slingthrowers stood ready for his command.
Crosstooth stood beside the Tyrant, watching. "They"ll be hidin" behind those rocks on the sh.o.r.e."
Badrang could see what the fox said was true. He raised a paw. "Archers, put a volley or two over the back of those rocks. That should flush them out. Ready, fire!"
The shafts clattered harmlessly off the rocks, leaving 286.
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the beach still silent. There was a hissing noise in the air. Instinctively Badrang threw himself flat on the walltop. "Down! Get down!"
Too late. Three hordebeasts fell to the javelins that sped in over the back walls. Propelled by the throwing sticks, they smashed and splintered on the fort side of the walltop.
Badrang was up and running around the rampart. "The slimy tricksters, they"re round the back. Come on!"
Felldoh crouched low, watching the walltop, his javelins and slings ready "Here they come. Wait for it now, let them get to the middle of the wall. Wait for it, steady, steady. .. . Now!"
The javelins and sling stones whirred off into the night, wounding three and slaying a further two. Felldoh"s troops immediately fell flat, blending with the landscape in the night.
As soon as they had launched their javelins, Ballaw"s command dashed off to the right side wall and lay low. Badrang had left half his archers to fire at Felldoh"s fighters, leading the other half around to the back, only to find the rear landscape deserted. He banged his sword handle hard against the wall.
"The sc.u.m, they"ve probably backed off into the marshes. Cringing curs, why don"t they show themselves and fight!"
Boggs the ferret had served long in Clogg"s crow"s-nest. He had the keenest eyes of any beast. Peering hard into the darkness, he stood stock still, straining his eyes. "There"s creatures out there. I"m sure of it, Sire!"
"Where, Boggs? Can you see "em?" Badrang"s voice was low and excited.
"Aye, I can now, Sire. They"re a good distance off, but comin" this way. Looks to be about six, no, five of "em!"
Badrang took a bow from a nearby rat. "Give me your arrows. You there, give Boggs your bow and arrows.
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The rest of you archers, notch up your shafts and lie low. Don"t fire until I give the word!"
Plastered with mud, hungry and boneweary after trekking the country, lost since emerging from the marshes, Hisk and four survivors staggered through the darkness. The weasel Captain rubbed dirt from his tired eyes. Peering at the shape that loomed ahead in the night, he gasped in sheer relief, "It"s Marshank! The fortress! We"re safe. Come on!" They broke into a shambling run, cheering hoa.r.s.ely.
To Badrang it appeared that the five figures were charging. Mistaking them for enemies, he drew back the shaft on his taut bowstring. "Let "em get a bit closer. Wait!"
Ballaw and his throwers released a salvo of javelins from over the right side of the fort.
The force on the left walltop had an idea where Felldoh and his troop were lying, they kept them well pinned down with arrows and slingstones. Ballaw"s javelins caused disarray among them, and a weasel shrieked as he was struck in the side.
Young Juniper leaped up calling triumphantly, "Haha, that stopped "em, they aaaargh!"
He fell with an arrow protruding from his chest. His friend, a young mouse named Yarrow, stood up, completely in shock. "They got Juniper. Look, there"s an arrow sti-"
Keyla tackled him low around the footpaws. Yarrow fell, staring in amazement at the arrow that pierced his paw right through.
Felldoh was grim-faced as he dragged Juniper"s body to him. "Keep your heads down! Keyla, we"ve got to get out of here. Help Yarrow, I"ll carry Juniper. Now all of you, crawl fast and stay low. Follow me!"
Badrang crouched below the parapet, straining the 289.
r arrow against his taut bowstring as he watched Boggs scanning across the walltop. The ferret dropped down by the Tyrant"s side and nodded.
"They"re very close now. We can pick "em off like daisies!"
Badrang glared along at the archers ranged in a crouching row. "We"re not taking any prisoners. Kill them. Now!"
The five creatures went down like stones as the hail of barbed shafts. .h.i.t them. Two more volleys followed, thudding into the bodies to make sure they were truly slain.
Badrang was shaking with exhilaration. "I only wish it had been day, then I could have watched the looks of surprise on their stupid faces!"
Ballaw took his fighters around the front and along the beach, meeting up with Felldoh and the others at the foot of the cliffs. The hare was in high good humor. "Top hole, wot! I think I could get to like this soldierin" life. We gave them a bally good lesson an" not one of us was harmed. How did it go with you, squirrel m"lad?"
Felldoh nodded towards the limp form on the ground. "Juniper was killed, Yarrow is wounded."
The exhilaration of victory left Ballaw and his command. "Poor little chap. Here I"ll carry him."
It was a sad procession that made its way along the clifftops back to camp.
In the dawn light a group of horde soldiers gathered round the five carca.s.ses shot full of arrows. Clogg watched the venomous look on Badrang"s face and laughed humourlessly.
"You did well last night, matey. Slayed Hisk an" four of yer own. Still, you could be forgiven fer the mistake. They"re so covered in marshmud they could"ve been anybeast"
The Tyrant"s paw shot to his sword, but then he thought better of it. Turning on his paw, he barked out an order as he stalked off. "Fleabane, Wulpp, make that slave dig five separate graves and bury that lot. Don"t spare the rod, keep him busy!"
Rowanoak stood over the small grave that Felldoh and Ballaw had dug, as near to the cliff edge as the rocky ground would permit. Brome put the finishing touches to a herbal dressing and bandage on Yarrow"s paw. "There, as good as new. How does that feel?" Yarrow lifted his paw up and down, wincing slightly. "Thank you, Brome. It still hurts a bit, but I"ll live with it. Not like poor Juniper." He wiped away the bitter tears that flowed afresh on the bandage.
Brome threw a comforting paw around the young mouse. "Come on, let"s go and say our farewells to him, Yarrow. Ballaw and Felldoh made him a nice resting place that will always stand free to the sunshine and wind, in sight of the sea."
The entire camp gathered round the grave. After a short ceremony, summer flowers were placed on the fresh filled-in earth and Barkjon said some words.
"It is always sad when a young one who has not seen many seasons is taken from us. Juniper was such a mouse, cheerful and well loved by all. But he did not die in vain. This young one gave his life fighting tyranny, so that others in the seasons to come may live in peace and freedom. That is all I have to say. Would anybeast like to add a word or two?"
Felldoh stepped forward. He laid Juniper"s sling and stones amid the flowers. "You were a brave fighter, Juniper. We will never forget you. Badrang and his horde will pay tenfold for your death!"
As the Fur and Freedom Fighters drifted away from the grave, Yarrow sat alone by the flowers, gazing numbly at the resting place of his friend. Brome caught up with Felldoh and motioned him to one side.
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"That was not a goodbye to Juniper, it was an oath of vengeance. How many more must die before you"re satisfied?"
Felldoh"s eyes were like rainswept pebbles as he answered, "As many as fate decrees, myself included. I will not rest until Badrang is dead and Marshank brought down!" He strode off in search of fresh lancewood.
Kastern watched them parting before going across to Brome. "Do not blame Felldoh, he feels for Juniper as much as you, Brome."
The young mouse shook his head. "No he doesn"t, all he feels is that he must take revenge and carry on killing. He was my hero once, but now it"s like talking to a strange beast. I don"t know him any more."
Kastern watched the lone figure of Felldoh in the distance. "He is a warrior, and that is the way of warriors, just like the mouse Martin you are always talking about,"
Brome shouldered his healing kit. "If Martin is a warrior like Felldoh, then may the seasons help my sister Rose if she is still with him!"
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It was as if the very air were enchanted. Martin, Grumm and Pallum followed Rose through serene woodlands quiet and high in the sun-warmed afternoon. They had thankfully left the shrews in a backwater tributary of Broadstream. The creatures were arguing and squabbling over the remainder of the food and drink which Rose had given them because she wanted to travel fast and light. It was a forest as old as time, with a special feel about it, cool in the dark green shade, carpeted with a many flowered floor, shafted with golden rays casting their light on fern and bush. Velvety green moss was soft underpaw, and melodious birdsong was the only sound to filter through the variegated canopy of emerald and viridian green. Rose halted by a conical timeworn rock.
"Rose, what is it?" Martin felt his own voice ringing strangely in the stillness.
She stroked the monolithic stone and pointed downwards.
"Noonvale!"
Through the trees, Martin saw the land dip down into a huge valley. The blue smoke of cooking fires rose in a lazy spiral above the foliage, and small thatched rooftops 293.
could be seen here and there. An aura of time forgotten hung over the beautiful scene. The softly colored patches of flower gardens mixed with the unmarked boundaries of brightly hued orchards, while the light and sparkle of a stream cascaded into full bloom of a waterfall below. High above them, Boldred circled and wheeled on the thermals, casting her great wingshadow over them as she soared gracefully downward.
"See you in Noonvale, friends!"
They stood looking at one another for a moment, happiness br.i.m.m.i.n.g between them.