"There they go! Stop 'em!"

Pandemonium ensued. Ashleg screamed and lurched for- 46.

ward. The heavy screen went with him; it tottered and fell. Tsarmina managed to leap out of the way, but the vixen was not so lucky, she was struck by the screen. Half-stunned, she pushed it away. The c.u.mbersome screen toppled sideways into the fireplace, falling directly into the grate, which held the embers of a previous night's fire. In a trice the room was a thick choking mess of ashes, cinders, dust and smoldering embers.

Martin and Gonff pushed the door open. Two weasel guards who had heard the noise in pa.s.sing came thundering into the room as Martin and Gonff hurried past them out into the hall. Behind them the shouts reached a crescendo as unprotected paws came in contact with a floor strewn with red-hot embers.

This time Martin took the lead as they went straight down the hall and through the door at the opposite end.

They found themselves in an upper messroom full of soldiers, stoats, ferrets, and weasels, all eating breakfast at a long trestle table with a window at one end. Taken completely by surprise, the soldiers sat gaping at the two fugitives.

"Stop those mice! Kill them!" Tsarmina's enraged shouts reached them as she ran toward the mess.

Gonff sized up the situation at a glance: the unexpected was called for. Without a second thought he pulled Martin with him. They ran across the room, bounded from a vacant seat up onto the tabletop and dashed madly along it, scattering food, drink and vessels everywhere as they went. Together the thief and the warrior leaped through the open window into empty s.p.a.ce with a loud defiant shout.

' * Yaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!''

Skipper and Amber both heard the cry.

So did Argulor.

It came from the north side of Kotir, not far from where the woodlander squirrel scout stood perched in a tree. He bounded down and made his report to Amber. "It's Gonff, but there's another mouse with him. They jumped from the upper barracks window."

"We'd better get round there. Are they hurt?"

"No, but talk about lucky, they landed right in the foliage of a big old yew growing on that side."

Amber leaped up. "Get Beech and the others. We'll have 47.

to get them out of there double quick. Skipper, you bring the crew and give us cover."

Argulor launched himself from his spruce, flapping ponderously. Once he was airborne his natural grace and ability took over. Circling to gain height, he squinted over to where the sounds had come from. The yew's upper foliage was shaking. The eagle soared downward to see if it was anything edible.

Inside the messroom, Tsarmina laid about herself with a st.u.r.dy wooden ladle. "Don't stand gawping, you dimwitted toads! Someone get out there and capture them!"

There was an immediate stampede to grab weapons and buckle armor on. n.o.body seemed disposed to leap out of the window, though they all tried to look as if they were helping in some way.

Tsarmina Hailed the ladle about in a fury. Suddenly a bright young stoat, more reckless than his comrades, saw a chance to distinguish himself in the eyes of his mistress. He bounded up onto the table.

"Leave it to me, Milady. I'll stop them." Striking a gallant pose, the stoat ran to the window ledge and stood nerving himself for the leap.

Argulor soared low, close to the yew. His rheumy eyes could not distinguish much between the crisscross branches. He was about to abandon hope of a quick meal and turning away on his huge wing span, when suddenly a fat juicy stoat with an expression of heroic duty upon its face jumped out into midair, straight into the talons of the wheeling eagle.

Argulor gave a screech of delight, which contrasted jarringly with the stoat's ragged squeal of dismay. The old eagle flapped joyfully off to his spruce branch with the tasty burden.

Gonff wiped perspiration from his whiskers. "In the name of mice and crab apples, that big feller nearly had us there, matey!"

Martin pointed to the open window. "It's not over yet. Look!"

Tsarmina stood glaring at them. The mess was crowded with frightened creatures, none of whom would venture near the window.

Ashleg shuddered and clutched at his clammy fur.

"Did you see those claws, ugh, the size of its beak!"

48.

Tsarmina swung him round by his cloak. "Shut your blathering face and get me my bow and arrows. Just look at that for a prize piece of impudence."

Gonff was pulling faces at the wildcat Queen. He blew out his cheeks, stuck a paw to his nose and rolled his eyes in the most ridiculous manner.

Tsarmina s.n.a.t.c.hed up a spear and flung it, but the weapon was deflected by the close-knit yew branches. A well-aimed arrow would do the trick, she thought. "Where's that dithering woodenleg with my bow and arrows?"

Eight st.u.r.dy red squirrels came bounding through the yew branches as easily as walking a paved path. They split into two groups of four, each taking charge of the two escapers.

Lady Amber came swinging in. She spoke sternly to Gonff. **Now none of your shenanigans, young thief. You, whoever you are, just relax and leave the rest to us. You're in safe Before he could say a word, Martin was seized by paws and tail. He felt himself tossed about like a shuttlec.o.c.k. Never in his life had he descended from a height so swiftly, or with such ease; it was like being a flower petal on a gentle breeze. In a trice he and Gonff were on firm ground.

A horde of armed soldiers poured out of Kotir. Martin sought about for a weapon, anything to defend himself with. There was a whirring sound, and the first four soldiers running forward seemed to relax, lying down upon the gra.s.s as if they were taking a nap. Two more went down. Martin saw a line of otters swinging slings; they were hurling large river pebbles with deadly accuracy.

A big burly otter came running to them. GonfF clasped his strong tattooed paws. "Skipper, I knew me old messmate wouldn't leave his favorite thief in the lurch. Oh, by the way, this is Martin the Warrior. He's my friend, y'know."

Skipper signaled his crew to retreat, waving to Lady Amber as he lifted another stone to his slingshot. "Ha, welcome aboard, Martin. Though how an honest fellow like you came to be mixed up with this little buccaneer, I don't know."

Skipper introduced Martin to Lady Amber, who said rapidly, glancing anxiously about her, "Pleased to meet you, I'm sure, Martin. Skipper, I don't like this, they're planning something ..."

49.

As Amber spoke, a horde of soldiers bearing Thousand Eye shields came streaming out of the main door with Tsar-mina leading them. There were far too many to contend with.

Amber muttered to Skipper, "Take Martin and Gonff. Break and run for it. We'll cover you."

Tsarmina was furious. She guessed what was happening: the squirrels were taking a stand while the otters slipped off into Mossflower with the fugitives. She issued orders to a ferret Captain named Raker. * 'Stop here with a platoon and face the squirrels. I'll take the rest and circle around them, and we'll cut them off. They won't realize I'm following, so they'll slow down a bit when they think they're in the clear."

Raker saluted. "As you say, Milady. Here you, Scratch, and you, ThicktaU, take your squads and follow the Queen."

The two weasel Captains saluted with their spears, then detailed their creatures to follow Tsarmina. The wildcat had bounded off alone, taking a wide loop south and back east.

Nothing aggravated Raker more than squirrel resistance fighters; they were like smoke in a breeze, here and gone. He took aim and heaved his spear at their leader, but it was a complete waste of time. Amber stood back drily, twirling her sling, and ducking as she let the spear graze harmlessly past. Directing her troops back across the open ground, she loosed a heavy pebble at tremendous speed. Raker threw his shield up in the nick of time, staggering backward as the stone struck his shield and bounced off. When the ferret lowered his shield it was as if there had never been a squirrel inside Kotir's grounds.

They were gone into Mossflower.

High in the branches of the trees that fringed the woodland, squirrels shook with silent laughter at the dumbfounded expression on Raker's face. He shook a mailed paw at the trees. "Come out and fight, you cowards!"

One last thunderous hail of stones, arrows and javelins sent the Kotir soldiery scurrying for cover.

The treetops rustled and swayed. Distant laughter told the enemy that the squirrels were swinging away through the sunlit upper terraces of leafy Mossflower.

50.

Bella of Brockhall's huge striped face lit up with pleasure. "Well, this is a rare and unexpected pleasure, Abbess Ger-maine. Come in, all of you, welcome to Brockhall."

Abbess Germaine led me Brothers and Sisters of Loam-hedge into Bella's ancestral home, down the long twisting pa.s.sage into the ma.s.sive cavelike main hall, whose ceiling was the arched roots of the great oak above Brockhall. They made themselves at home around the wide hearth, whilst Bula die otter and Pear the squirrel, who had acted as their guides, explained to Bella what had taken place.

The badger listened carefully, settling back in her old armchair. "I had an idea something like this would happen. That's why I left Goody Stickle's and came home here. Nothing ever goes as planned with Gonff. Still, not to worry, that young *lip will be as right as rain, you'll see. First things first. Let's 'get you all fed. You must be famished. I was baking a batch of chestnut bread. It'll be ready soon. I'll make some celery and fennel stew with hazelnut dumplings and get a cheese up from the storeroom. Now stop looking n.o.ble, the pair of you. I know what growing otters and squirrels are like. You can *ait here after you've eaten until the rest get back. Fetch bowls from the shelf for our guests. That's it, make yourselves useful."

Eagerly the woodlanders did as they were bid, then they Sat with the Loamhedge Brothers and Sisters.

51.

Bella rose and embraced Abbess Germaine. "My old friend, we were many summers younger when last we ate together."

The Abbess placed a thin, worn paw over Bella's h.o.a.ry pad. "Yes, the seasons are born anew, but alas we grow older, my friend."

"But not you, Germaine," Bella chuckled. "You look as young as ever. What news of Loamhedge?"

The Abbess could not prevent a tear trickling onto her gray whiskers. "Loamhedge, what magic in that name. But the happy times there are gone like leaves down a stream. You heard of the great sickness?"

Bella nodded. "I had heard something from travelers, but I thought it was far south. I did not think it had found its way to your home."

Germaine shook and closed her eyes as if trying to ward off the memory. "Only those you see here escaped. It was horrible. Everything it touched withered and died, I could not . . ."

Bella patted the old mouse gently. "There, there, no need to say more. Try to forget it. You can call my home your own, for you and your mice, as long as you like, and please don't thank me-you'd do exactly the same if I needed shelter. In feet you did, many years ago, when I was young and liked to travel.''

The two old friends went to the kitchen and began preparing the meal. Bella told Germaine of all that had taken place in Mossflower. "This is a sad and oppressed place you have come to, though once it was happy under the rule of my father, Boar the Fighter. I was still young then. I returned from my wanderings with Barkstripe-he was my mate; we met far to the southeast and returned to stay with my father at Brockhall. I think that rather was waiting for this to happen. My mother was long ago gone to the gates of Dark Forest; she died when I was a cub. Boar the Fighter was a good lather, but a restless spirit. He had tired of ruling Moss-flower and wanted to go questing, just as his father, Old Lord Brocktree, did before him. One day he left here and Bark-stripe ruled in his stead. Those were good seasons. We had a cub, a little male called Sunflash because of his forestripe, which had an odd golden tinge. He was a st.u.r.dy little fellow.

52.

"In the autumn of that year the wildcats arrived. Verdauga and his brood took over that old ruin of a fortress. There was no one to oppose him, and he brought with him a vast horde of wicked vermin. At first we tried to fight back, but they were so cruel and merciless that they completely crushed us. Barkstripe led a great attack upon Kotir, but he was slain, along with many others. Those who did not escape into Mossflower were caught and left to rot in Verdauga's prisons. Alas, that was all long ago. We have learned to keep ourselves safe here in the thick woodlands now."

Germaine drew loaves from the oven on a long paddle. "Where is your son, Sunflash? He must be quite big now."

Bella paused as she laid the bread to cool. "While I was ill and grieving for Barkstripe, our son stole out of here one night. They say he went to Kotir to avenge his father's death, but he was far too young. Sunflash has never been seen or heard of since. Many, many seasons have gone by since then, 90 I think that one way or another my son ended up at the gates of Dark Forest with his father."

Outside in Mossflower the afternoon shadows began to lengthen over the trees that were budding and leafing, promising a thick emerald foliage for the summer. In another part of Mossflower not far from Kotir, a mailed tunic and tabard bearing the Thousand Eye device slipped carelessly from a high spruce branch and landed in a crumpled heap on the forest floor. Argulor shifted from claw to claw as he preened his pinions, carefully arranging his long wing feathers. A good fat stoat would be extremely welcome, but pine marten ... ah, that was a delight he had yet to savor. Argulor would wait. His time would come; a marten with a wooden leg could only run so fast in any direction. The eagle snuggled down into his plumage, glad that the spring nights were kind to young and old alike. It was good to visit old hunting grounds again.

53.

The evening chorus of birdsong fell sweetly upon Martin's ears as he strolled along through the woodlands with Skipper and Gonff, reveling in his new-found freedom after the long winter in Kotir prison. The otters were never still; they were playful as puppies, bounding and cavorting through the trees and bushes. Skipper was instructing Martin in the art of the slingshot. He was delighted to have such a keen pupil and took every opportunity of amazing the warrior mouse with his expertise. Casting a pebble high into the air, Skipper re-slung a second pebble and shot it, hitting the first one before it had time to fall to earth. The otter shrugged modestly. "It's only tricks, me hearty. I can teach you them anytime. Ha, I'll bet afore the summer's through you'll be able to sling a pebble across any villain's bows."

Gonff was great friends with the otters. He wholeheartedly shared their recklessness and sense of madcap fun. The little thief imitated their nautical mode of speech perfectly, telling Martin that he was, "As likely a cove as ever pirated vittles from Kotir's galley."

Martin enjoyed himself. Having been a solitary warrior for so long, he found it a pleasant change to be in the company of such gregarious friends. Skipper presented him with his own personal sling and pouch of throwing pebbles. He accepted the gift gratefully. The otters were naturally curious about the broken sword hilt Martin kept strung about his 54.

neck, so he told them the story, and was taken aback by their hatred of Tsarmina. Though, as Skipper remarked, "Wildcats never bothered us. Once our crew is together, there ain't nothin' on land or afloat that'll trouble otterfblk."

Looking about, Martin could quite believe it. Gonff danced on ahead with two otters who did a hornpipe as he sang.

I'm a mouse with a very long tail, With a heart and voice to match, I've escaped from the p.u.s.s.ycats gaol.

They'll find me hard to catch.

So, away, through the gra.s.s, the flow'rs and leaves, Like smoke on the breeze, the Prince of Thieves.

Let's cheer for the day when we will see The Mossflower country safe and free.

Martin was tapping the happy tune from paw to paw when be saw that Skipper had dropped back a few paces. The otter was standing with an air of intense concentration, swaying from side to side, sniffing the breeze. At a sign from him, Gonff stopped singing and the entire crew grew silent.

Skipper said in a gruff whisper, "Some beast's a-comin', mates. Not from astern, mind. Over yonder there. Birds stopped singin' over that way first. Ha, I'll wager it's the cat." Skipper pointed. They could soon make out shapes moving from tree to tree. As the intruders drew nearer, it was plain to see they were Kotir soldiers in full armor, led by Tsarmina, a barbaric figure wearing a splendid cloak and a helmet that covered her head completely except for slitted eye, ear and mouth apertures.

At Skipper's growl of command, the otter crew spread themselves out in fighting formation, faces grim, weapons at the ready. Skipper stood fearlessly out in the open where l&armina could see him, paws folded across his chest, a sling hanging from the right one, loaded and ready. Tsarmina halted a short distance away. She stretched out a paw, letting a wickedly sharp claw spring dramatically forth to point at Martin and/Gonff.

"The mice are mine, otter. I will take them from you."

Skipper's voice was hard as flint. "Back off, cat. You're pn my quarterdeck now. This is Mossflower, not Kotir."

55.

"All the land belongs to me," Tsarmina said imperiously. "I am Tsarmina, Queen of Kotir and Mossflower. These mice are escaped prisoners. Give them to me now, and I will not punish you. Yonr creatures will be allowed to go unharmed/'

A thin smile played about Skipper's mouth. "Go and chase your mangy tail, p.u.s.s.ycat!"

The breath hissed from between Tsarmina's teeth at the otter's fearless impudence. She raised a paw to her soldiers, who began fitting arrows to bowstrings. As they did, some sixth sense tingled through the wildcat and she looked up. Lady Amber stood in a tall elm, in her paw a light javelin poised for throwing. Reacting instinctively, Tsarmina grabbed the nearest soldier to her-a ferret.

There was a swish and a thud. She felt the impact as the luckless soldier took the javelin that was intended for her.

The squirrel Queen concealed her disappointment at the lost opportunity by aiming another javelin and calling out, "Unstring those bows quick, all of you. She can't hold him in front of her for long, and this next one will get her between the eyes if you don't obey me right now!"

Tsarmina, still holding the ferret with the spear protruding from his lifeless form, said urgently out of the side of her mouth, "Do as the squirrel says."

They obeyed instantly.

Tsarmina let the ferret fall, twisting the body as she let go of it. Skipper was backing off into the bushes with his crew. He waved up to Amber. "Thankee kindly, marm. D'you mind keepin' a weather eye clapped on 'em while we push off?"

Suddenly the wildcat plucked the javelin from the fallen soldier and flung it up at Lady Amber.

"Cut and run crew!" Skipper shouted as he bolted off with the rest. Amber had momentarily relaxed the javelin in her paw; she ducked in the nick of time as her weapon came hurtling back at her. Tsarmina did not wait to see if she had scored a hit but took off after Skipper and the crew, yelling, "This way! Cut them off through die bushes!"

Martin and Gonff ran with the otters, Skipper urging them on as they pounded through the undergrowth. "Hurry now, crew. Amber can't hold 'em off forever-there's too many of 'em. Hark, they're back on to us."

Tsarmina was no fool; she had sensed the direction they 56.

would take. Accordingly, she retreated then came back at a tangent to cut down the distance on an angle. Suddenly Martin and Gonff found themselves on the banks of a broad fast-flowing river with steep gra.s.sy sides. Skipper stamped his paws and sighed. "Belay, we nearly made it. Too late, here Ihey come!"

Tsarmina and her troops broke through the trees and came hurrying along the bank toward them.

Martin could see there would be no talking this time. He drew his sling, as did the otters around him. They let fly the first volley before their foes had time to notch arrows or raise spears. The hail of stone caught the enemy head-on. Rock clattered on armor as Tsarmina threw herself flat yelling at her soldiers, "Down, get down and return fire!"

Martin saw two otters felled by heavy spears. Now Skipper's crew was trapped between the open stretch of bank and the river. The otter crew rattled off another salvo of rocks.