Martin countered Lupin's blade as Boar roared out instructions.

"That's how to block the downward chop. Now let go of die blade. Sweep it down and under. Two paws on the haft, straight up and slice. Quickly, turn in and slice again at head height."

It took Lupin all her skill to duck Martin's blade. She backed off, panting as she leaned on her sword.

"Whew. Golly, there's not a lot you can teach this warrior."

"Can't I, though." Boar smiled. "Watch this!"

The badger picked up a fire iron from the forge. Thrusting one paw into his blacksmith's ap.r.o.n, he adopted a ready stance.

"On guard, Martin," he called. "Go for a direct thrust."

Martin came on guard. Moving in swiftly to take the badger by surprise, he lunged and stabbed forward.

Boar hardly seemed to move. With a flick of his fire iron he disarmed Martin, sending the sword spinning and pinning Martin against the wall in the same movement, the fire iron hovering a fraction away from the warrior mouse's right eye.

"How did you do that?" Martin gasped with shock.

279.

Trubbs and company were watching from the sidelines.

"Oh, he does it easily, old sport."

"No trouble to the jolly old boss."

"Quick as a wink, doncha know."

Boar laughed aloud. "It's only a trick, Martin. Don't get discouraged. I'll show you a dozen more like it before this day's through. Pick up your sword, on guard again."

This time the silver badger ducked in under die blade, catching Martin's sword paw. Locking the point with the flat of the fire iron, he flattened the warrior mouse against the wall with the edge of the sword across his throat.

"See, just another bit of trickery."

That second day of summer, Martin learned more of swordplay than in his whole life. n.o.body was more adept with a blade than Boar the Fighter.

Dinny, Log-a-Log and Gonff tried jointly to lift Boar's own sword, but they could hardly manage to get the big battle blade off the floor. It was immense, a real full-grown male badger's war sword, with double crosstrees and a ripping edge that had two sets of curved p.r.o.ngs halfway down die length of the extra-wide blade.

Boar performed tricks with it, slicing apples in the air and taking a whiskertip from Lupin as she stood stock-still. Martin noticed that the badger's mood became more light-hearted and jovial when he was around weapons, even allowing himself to be flattered by Harebell, Honeydew and Willow, who imitated Trubbs and company by speaking alternately.

"Ooh, you are clever, Boar old chap."

"And strong. My word!"

"We ladies would never be able to lift your big heavy sword."

Three special daggers had been forged for Gonff, Log-a-Log and Dinny, who wore them proudly about their waists. Gonff delighted the occupants of Salamandastron with his impromptu ballads.

Harebell, Honeydew and Willow, Each a pretty thing; Bold, brave and fearless, Wother, Trubbs and Ffring; Lupin, Buffheart, Starbuck, Breeze, 280.

Swift as winds across the trees; Rule o'er land and sea herefrom, Sala-manda-stron.

Harebell and company fluttered their eyelids madly.

"Oh, Mr. Gonff, you are clever."

"And so handsome, too."

"You have a lovely voice."

Gonff waved a modest paw. "Save it for Trubbs and company, ladies. I'm promised to my Columbine."

"Is she pretty?"

"Very pretty?"

"Prettier than us?"

"Well, she's certainly prettier than Gonff," Martin, Dinny and Log-a-Log chimed in impudently.

"I'd say half as pretty again."

"Oi'd say twoice as pri'ee, hurr hurr."

Boar roared with laughter and raised his battle sword. "Cheek, shall I chop off their heads, Gonff?"

The mousethief flushed scarlet beneath his fur. "No, just their legs will do, Boar. They need their mouths to eat and make silly remarks with."

To ease Gonff's embarra.s.sment, Buffheart beckoned the friends.

"Have you seen our fire lizard?"

"Fire lizard? No," Gonff chipped in quickly. "Let's go and have a look!"

They followed Boar and the hares, trooping up more flights of stairs until they were somewhere near the echo cave. Buffheart took them into a side cave that had a big open window slot. By the side of the window lay a great stone carving of a fearsome head, a grotesque parody of what its maker had imagined a dragon should look like.

"n.o.body knows how it came here," Starbuck said, stroking it fondly. "Sometimes Boar lifts it up to the window at night and lights a fire in its mouth to frighten off the sea rats."

Boar exerted his great strength and picked up the stone head. "Yes, I put it about here, facing out to sea."

He rested the head on the window sill, then went strangely 281.

quiet. Boar the Fighter stared hard to seaward. The rest joined him at the window to see what it was.

Halfway between the skyline and the sh.o.r.e, a ship was sailing in toward land. It was a large black galley with double oarbanks and twin square-rigged sails. At the tip of the prow was the bleached skull and fin of some large sea fish, standing out like a figurehead.

Boar whispered a single chilling word.

' 'Bloodwake!''

He was oblivious of all about him, remaining with his gaze riveted on the craft in the water.

Martin turned to Lupin. "Is that Ripfang's ship?" he asked.

She nodded distractedly, pulling at Boar's heavy paw. "Come away, Boar, please. Can't you see he's taunting you again?"

The silver badger shook her off and dashed through to the echo cave.

Even though they shielded their ears, they could hear Boar in the other room, roaring out like thunder at the vessel, "Ahoy, Bloodwake. Ripfang, are you there? This is Boar the Fighter. Why don't you show your rotten hide near my mountain again? How about tonight? I'll be waiting, seasc.u.m!"

As they watched, a red flag embellished with a scourge was hauled to the foremast peak. It dipped up and down twice.

Buffheart's teeth ground angrily together. "He'll be here, make no mistake about that."

Boar strode heavily in from the echo cave, stretching himself up until his head brushed the ceiling. He gave a huge sigh of satisfaction then recited aloud, The second night of summer, The second visit since spring, The rat from the seas Meets the Lord of the rock, To settle everything.

Martin saw the wild light of battle in Boar's eye. "Then you're going to fight Ripfang tonight?" he surmised.

Boar departed from the cave, calling as he went, "No, I'm going to kill him!''

282.

They pursued him down the stairs to the forge hall. Taking a rough file, the badger began putting a slashing edge to his war sword.

The happy time was at an end.

Martin picked up his own sword. "We're coming with you, Boar."

The badger shook his head. "No. This is not your fight. This one was written long ago on the wall behind my father. It must be."

Martin was obdurate. "Say what you like. Boar. When night falls, I'll be there at your side."

"Aye, and I."

"Me too."

"I'm coming with you."

"And me, matey." " "Boi 'okey, an' oi too."

"Count me in, old chap." 'j "Rather, what ho!"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world, what?" . Boar put the file aside. "So be it. Come if you feel you Imust, and thank you, my friends. But you, Buffheart, and -j you, Lupin-you must remain here with your young ones. '*The fires must be kept burning, you understand?"

Buffheart nodded, biting his lip so fiercely that a trickle of blood coursed from the side of his mouth.

"As you say, Boar," Lupin spoke for both of them.

*- The silver badger stood with his paws resting on the top crosstree of his sword, every inch the commander.

"The rest of you, listen to me. No matter what happens, you must obey the warrior's code. I give the orders, no one else. I know it may be difficult for you to understand, but you must trust me completely. If you obey me, then you are my true friends; disobey, and you are my enemy. Do you understand what I say?"

The heads nodded in silence. ' Boar hung the great sword back on its wall spikes.

"Good. Now go and rest," Boar told them. "But first see ; to your weapons and eat.' * ; When they had gone, Martin lingered awhile with Boar.

*: "That verse you spoke," he said curiously. "It was writ-.ten on the wall. Did you recite it all?"

V 283.

Boar shook his head. "Not all. The last lines are only for me to know. Once again, Martin, thank you. It will be good to have a real warrior at my side tonight."

They clasped paws, the mouse's dwarfed by the badger's.

"Good luck, Boar, my friend."

"Luck has little to do with fate, Martin. You follow the warrior's star. Be true to yourself and your friends."

So the creatures of Salamandastron lay down to rest, each one with their own thoughts.

The second glorious day of summer rolled on toward night.

The black ship Bloodwake sailed closer with every wave.

284.

Bane had an idea.

"Now that the woodlanders have gone," he suggested cunningly, "why don't we sneak out of Kotir and hide ourselves in the bushes at the edge of the forest? We could hide right behind the position they held this morning. That way, we'll be able to turn the ambush on them if they come back tomorrow for another dawn attack."

"Huh huhuhu, good idea, fox," Brogg chuckled encouragingly.

Tsarmina turned a frosty stare upon the Captain; the chuckle died to a gurgle in his throat. Near open enmity was the order of the day now between her and Bane. She was sorry she had ever let him and his band inside her gates.

"Fool, Brogg," she snarled. "Can't you see this fox only wants us out of Kotir so that he and his raggedy band can slip in behind our backs?"

Bane spread his paws wide disarmingly. "Hoho, if that's what you think, lady."

"Yes, that's exactly what I think, fox!" Tsarmina snapped back.

"That's a problem easily solved." Bane shrugged. "You stay in here with your deadhead Captain; I take the forces out into the woods. In fact, I'll take them tonight, so that we can be well hidden by the time the woodlanders arrive."

285.

Tsarmina sniffed. "That's a better idea. I'll agree to that, Bane."

The fox laughed. He drew his sword and held it out. "Think you can trust me, or would you like to confiscate my sword?"