It took a few moments in the battle until Martin had mustered his comrades in a group. There was a momentary lull as they stood ringed on all sides by sea rats.

Like chain lightning, Boar made his move with a furious 293.

charge. The mad onslaught carried them forward to the edge of the horde. Hewing ceaselessly, Martin and the rest broke through. They began running toward the small advancing band of sea rats.

Pikes clashed with sickle swords as they met. The astounded vermin were so taken aback by the ferocity of the attack that they broke and scattered.

Rushing onward, the friends made the water's edge.

Honeydew looked back. "We've left Boar behind!"

"No, he never came with us."

"Let's go back."

"Stay!" Martin's shout was a cold command.

They turned to stare at the warrior mouse.

"Remember your orders from Boar. Do as he said; it is the way of the warrior. Boar has seen his own fate written, there is nothing we can do to stop it. We must capture that ship."

They slid into the surf with the sounds of battle still ringing in their ears.

There was only a token watch left aboard to guard the galley slaves. They leaped overboard at the sight of the roaring fighters who sprang dripping to the deck of Bloodwake.

Panting with exertion, Martin turned to Log-a-Log, "Get this vessel under way with all speed!''

The shrew rapped out commands to the new crew. "Slash that anchor cable. Hoist those sails. Martin, take the tiller-steer her out to deep water. You below, row for your lives if you want to taste freedom again.''

Pushing the tiller over, Martin felt Bloodwake respond. She turned on the ebbing tide with a stiff breeze at her stern, riding the waves out toward the open sea. The rest of them joined him as he stared over the after end, across the smooth wake to the sh.o.r.e.

The silver badger's voice carried to them on the wind.

"Sail away, my warriors. Tell Bella and Mossflower of Boar the Fighter. Come closer, sea rats. Let my blade kiss you to sleep. Ah, Ripfang, my old enemy, got you! Now I embrace you as a friend. See."

They watched as Boar went down under a mob of sea rats who were howling and screaming. The badger wielded his 294.

sword with a single paw, the other mighty paw held Ripfang close to his studded metal armor, crushing him to death.

Martin turned away, blinded by tears. He could look no more.

Nor could his companions.

Before them lay the deep open sea. Behind them, the flames of Salamandastron burned bright over a sh.o.r.e piled and littered with dead and wounded sea rats.

The spirit of Boar the Fighter lingered on the sands, reluctant to leave a good battle and travel to the gates of Dark Forest.

The silver badger had seen the writing on the wall. He had fulfilled the legend of the mountain!

Tsarmina and Bane watched each other like pike eyeing a water beetle, the wildcat Queen from her high window, Bane from where he crouched shivering with the troops, drenched in morning dew, completely dispirited after a fruitless night spent in the forest. The rift was widening between cat and fox.

Bane squatted in the wet gra.s.s beside Brogg.

"See how your Queen treats us? We shiver out here all night while she lies in luxury, warm and snug."

Brogg squinted dully. "She always has. Milady is a Queen, you know."

Bane spat at a small insect. "If I ruled Kotir, the troops would get the same treatment as me. Ask my crew. We always had plenty to eat. I never hid in safety and let them take all the risks."

"Is that why you pushed them out of doors, in front of all those arrows and javelins?" Ratflank sn.i.g.g.e.red.

Bane cuffed him soundly across the snout. "Who asked your opinion, snivelwhiskers? I didn't notice you volunteering to dash out and fight those woodlanders."

Brogg stood up, brushing dewdrops from his cloak. "Ah well, they won't be showing up this morning. Wonder how they knew we'd be lying in wait?"

Bane winked and tapped his muzzle. "Maybe she got word to them. That way she could have Kotir and the rations to herself. There's enough supplies in there to keep one cat happy forever."

295.

Brogg scratched his chin. "Really? Do you think she'd do that?"

"Well, look at the evidence." Bane laughed mirthlessly. "From what I hear, the garrison was in a right old mess before I arrived with reinforcements and rations. They say she was acting strange. You should know-she had you pulling tails and checking whiskers. What normal creature does things like that?"

As the force moved back to Kotir, Bane and Brogg were deep in quiet, earnest conversation.

Tsarmina watched them from her high window. She also scanned the surrounding treetops for signs that the eagle might be abroad. An idea was forming in the wildcat's mind.

Later that morning, while Bane was supervising a team to replace the burned door and window timbers, Tsarmina had Brogg come to her room. She fed him on cider and roasted woodpigeon as she wormed information from him.

The weasel Captain told his Queen all.

Tsarmina resumed her position at the window, watching the telltale quiver of a spruce top. When she turned to Brogg her voice dripped sincerity.

"You have been a good and loyal Captain, Brogg. Make no mistake, your Queen will reward you. This fox forced his way in here while we were distracted by the woodlanders. He countermands my orders and whispers lies about me to my soldiers. Do you realize that if he had not barged his way in with his ragged mob, I was going to promote you to act as Supreme General?"

"Me, Milady?" Brogg could hardly believe his ears.

"Yes, you. Say nothing of this to any creature, especially Bane. Let him carry on repairing our woodwork. He thinks he will rule Kotir one day. You stick to doing your job, Brogg. Keep my Thousand Eye soldiers loyal to me. As for Bane, leave him to me. If he speaks to you, tell him that I wish to see him, up here in my chamber."

"I will, Milady. You can trust me."

"I do, Brogg my good friend. Now go."

The weasel did not stop backing up and bowing until after he was outside the room.

296.

By midafternoon most of the repair work was well under way. Bane strolled up to the high chamber and slouched against the table where Tsarmina sat.

"Well, what d'you want me for now, cat?" he asked insolently.

Tsarmina pushed a beaker of elderberry wine across the table to Bane, and poured one for herself.

"lb you, Bane. A good job well done on the doors and windows. I could not have done better myself."

The fox watched carefully, not taking a sip of the wine until the wildcat had drunk from her beaker.

"Why this sudden honor, Tsarmina? What are you up to?"

The wildcat Queen shook her head sadly. "How did we ever come to this mistrust and enmity, Bane?" She pointed a dramatic claw to the open window. "Out there is where the enemy is. The woodlanders are the ones we should be fighting, not each other."

The fox took a mouthful of the rich dark wine. "I'll agree with that, but what's brought about this sudden change? Tell me, if we are to trust each other."

Tsarmina pa.s.sed a weary paw across her brow. "Until you came, I had not won a single victory over the woodlanders. Even when they attacked us yesterday you did all you could, but still I did not trust you," she confessed. "I made you wait out in the open all night and you never complained once. Today I looked from my window and saw you helping your band to repair the damage to Kotir. That was when I changed my opinion of you."

Tsarmina refilled Bane's beaker with wine. When she spoke again there was something approaching a sob in her voice.

"Forgive me. I have misjudged you, Bane. You are a true friend."

The fox quaffed the wine, then took the liberty of pouring himself some more.

"You like the work that we are carrying out on the fire damage?"

Tsarmina pushed the wine jug so that Bane would not have to stretch when reaching for it.

"Indeed I do. It's ten times better than my b.u.mbling lot could have done," she a.s.sured him.

297.

Bane nodded agreement. "Aye, my band can turn their paw to most things. They're still working round at the larder and scullery entrance."

"Good," Tsarmina said over her shoulder as she rummaged in a wooden chest. "But what I'm worried about is the main gates between the courtyard and the woodland edge."

The fox finished his wine, banging the beaker down decisively. "Right, let's go and take a look at 'em, though I don't think they'll need much repair. They're a solid old pair of gates."

Tsarmina produced a cloak from the chest. It was a long trailing garment made from bright red velvet trimmed with woodpigeon feathers. Recently it had been cleaned and brushed.

"I want you to take this cloak, friend," she insisted smilingly. "Wear it as a token of our new alliance. s you can see, it is not the plain cloak of a Captain; this was made for a Lord."

Bane took the cloak. Twirling it round, he admired the color and weight of the velvet. He swept it up, draping it around his shoulders. Tsarmina fastened the clasp at his neck.

"There! How handsome you look. More like the Ruler of Kotir than I do."

Bane's paw stroked the feather edged velvet. "Thank you, Queen Tsarrnina. This is a splendid cloak. Hoho, wait'll my gang see their leader decked out in his finery. Come on, let's take a look at mat gate. '

There were many admiring and envious glances from Bane's mercenaries as he strode across the courtyard.

"By the fang. Look at old Bane. What a fine cloak!"

"He certainly cuts a dash in it. I'll bet he's been promoted."

"Haha, he looks more like the Chief here than the cat does."

Brogg and Ratflank leaned out of the barrack room window. The weasel Captain could not help remarking under his breath, "What d'you suppose the fox is doing, wearing Ash-leg's cloak?"

298.

Dawn brushed pale streaks of pink and gold through the gray mist on the calm sea waters.

Rasping sounds from a file could be heard on deck from the oarbanks below. Gonff was freeing the slaves.

Martin and Dinny a.s.sisted the pathetic creatures onto the deck. Some of them had not seen daylight in seasons. They were a mixed bunch, ragged shrews and emaciated mice, together with some bedraggled hedgehogs and the odd gaunt squirrel.

How could any creature treat another in this cruel manner? Martin wondered. It made his blood boil as he tended them.

Dinny was doling out food from Bloodwake's well-stocked pantry. "Yurr, get sum vittles down 'ee, us'ns fatten 'ee up."

Martin was supporting a tough mouse who seemed on the verge of collapse.

"Thank you, Martin son of Luke," he said, nodding gratefully at the young warrior.

Martin's paws gave way. He sank to the deck of Blood-wake, taking his burden with him. They sat staring at each other. Martin could find only one word to say.

"Timballisto?"

Tears ran freely down the mouse's whiskers. "Martin, my friend."

A shrew who was gnawing at a ship's biscuit came and sat 299.

by them. "Martin, the young warrior mouse, eh? Timballisto here was always talking about you." Timballisto threw a paw about his friend's shoulder. "How did you know I was aboard this floating rat trap?"

Martin hugged him. "I didn't, you old wardog. I thought you'd gone to the gates of Dark Forest long ago, fighting enemies off outside our caves in the northlands."

As they sat talking, Log-a-Log came from Ripfang's cabin aft. He was studying some sailcloth charts. Immediately a great shout went up from the shrews who had been freed.

"Log-a-Log! Chief, it's us, the old gang from the village!"

Preoccupied with something he had discovered among the maps, the Shrew Chief waved distractedly to them. "Ha, h.e.l.lo, you lot. Well, eat up and get fit again. The boss is back now. Told you I'd rescue you, didn't I."

Gonif heaved himself up from the galley banks below. "Whew, matey! It could do with a good scrub down there. Hey, Log-a-Log, found some booty?"

The shrew spread charts upon the deck. "Look, it's all here-the way home."

Martin could make little of the charts. "Show me."

"Righto. It's simple really. See here, that's Salamandas-tron," Log-a-Log explained. "Keep the setting sun to your left and follow the coastline until we sight a river flowing into the sea from the right. It's the River Moss, see, flowing from east to west."