Shogg stifled a giggle. "Aye, but not from yore side o' the family, mate!"

The stone moved without too much difficulty. When it would turn no further, Churk gave it a healthy shove southward. It slid aside. Triss peered down a dusty flight of steps into the darkness below.

"Welcome to Brockhall, friends!"

39.

Whidge had regained consciousness, finding himself bound to the stake in front of the serpents' lair. He moaned and whined piteously, until both Ratguards and Freebooters were tired of his whimpering.

Tazzin shook her head in disgust. "I "I wuz never too fond o' that ole misery. If'n 'e keeps that weepin' up, I'll finish 'imoff meself!" wuz never too fond o' that ole misery. If'n 'e keeps that weepin' up, I'll finish 'imoff meself!"

Kurda gave Riggan a sly wink before she answered Tazzin. "No, no, mine friend, ve need 'im alive or der serpents might lose de interest, den ve get no booty. Keep der rat quiet, but don't slay 'im."

Tazzin crept out from cover. Hurling herself on Whidge, she gagged the wretched searat with his own broad belt. "There, that'll keep ye quiet. You just lie there an' wiggle about a bitI'll see ye get yore share o' the loot!"

Whidge lay wide-eyed, staring into his former shipmate's hard features. The only noise he could make was "Mmfff!"

Tazzin patted him rea.s.suringly "Aye, that's the stuff, but mind now, if'n ye get much noisier'n that . . . well." She licked the blade of her knife, grinned wickedly at him and departed to hide behind a sycamore with Grubbage.

Kurda conferred with Riggan. "Get dem finking about loot und booty an' ve haff dose seasc.u.m on our side, yarr. You sure der serpents are in dere?"

Riggan watched the door in the oak trunk. "Oh, I'm sh.o.r.e, marm. Trackin' that 'ellish smell to yon oak was no trouble. Those snakes are in there, all right, I'd stake me life on it."

Kurda's pink eyes were as cold as ice as she tested her sabre edge. "You better hope you don't lose your stake."

The bright summer day drifted by with the pace of a leisurely snail, warm sun and humming insects combining to soften the menace that hovered over the still, green woodland. The stoat Sc.u.mmy spread out on some moss behind an elm and closed his eyes. A nearby Ratguard prodded the Freebooter with his spearb.u.t.t.

"Hoi, yore s'posed to be watchin', not snoozin'."

Sc.u.mmy opened one eye and glared balefully at the rat. "Mind yer own business, I'll do wot I like, see!"

The Ratguard was slightly taken aback. "Better not let Cap'n Vorto or Princess Kurda catch ye!"

Ripper the searat curled his lip at the speaker. "Wot are we supposed t'do, then, sit 'ere to attention all day? We've 'ad little sleep an' 'ardly a bite to eat. I'm gonna get some o' those whortleberries growin' over yonder. Yew stay awake an' keep guardyore a Ratguard, ain't yer? We're Freebooters, we do wot we like!"

As time meandered slowly by, summer cast its warm spell over the glade. Anybeast out of Kurda and Vorto's sight took advantage of the torpor and dozed off, crew-beasts and soldiers alike. Even Kurda could not halt her eyelids from drooping.

Vorto tried to remain attentive, whispering to Riggan, who was still watching through half-closed eyes, "Those serpents would've showed theirselves by now if'n they was really in there. You sure you saw 'em go in?"

The tracker gave Vorto a pitying look. "I trailed 'em 'ere. I never saw the snakes enter, I got 'ere too late fer that. But they're in there, all right."

Whidge was lying quite still. Vorto did not realise that the old searat had been suffocated by his own belt. "Look at 'im. Don't seem t'be too bothered by it all, does 'e?"

Down inside the dusty gloom of Brockhall, Za.s.saliss slithered forward, pulling his brother and sister along with him. "Ssssssoft now, sssssssilent! Let usssss sssssee what issss happening outssssside."

As they pa.s.sed the mummified remains of their mother and King Sarengo, locked together in death's eternal embrace, Sesstra hissed malevolently, "The time ha.s.ssss come to make them pay for thisssss!"

Leaving a rearguard of Guosim shrews aboveground, Triss led the woodlanders down the steps into Brockhall. It was gloomy and musty, with the awful odour hanging thick upon the still air. Sagax tried to keep his voice from echoing into the tunnel as he murmured to Skipper, "D'you think we should chance a light?"

The otter Chieftain mentally debated the point for a moment. "A light could get us seen. But I think we should 'ave one down 'ere, 'cos we need to see. Hmm, we'd be best off with a small 'un that don't flare up too bright."

Churk felt along the rough rock wall until she encountered a bend. "There's one here, will this do?"

It was a candle lamp, with a good thick candle stump in it. Log a Log set flint to tinder and lit it. "Aye, this'll do fine. The crystal gla.s.s is all dusty, but it'll give us enough light t'see wot we're doin'."

The lamp gave off a soft golden light upon an eerie scene. Brockhall, the once-legendary home of badgers and their woodland friends, was in a sad state of neglect. Cobwebs clung everywhere and tree roots hung like tentacles from wall and ceiling. The whole ancient place was deeply coated in dust, with sinister drag marks down the centre of each winding pa.s.sage. There were side chambers, some with the doors broken down, others screened by curtains, which crumbled and disintegrated at a touch. Sagax and Shogg entered one and looked around. It had once been a comfortable bedchamber, but now the wonderfully carved furniture was woodworm-riddled and broken. Snake-skins, shed in previous seasons, caused revulsion among the seekers as they burst and crinkled underpaw.

Out in the corridor, Triss called in an echoing whisper, "Stay together, don't anybeast stray off alone."

Mokug shuddered. "Good advice, missy, I'm all fer that!"

Log a Log placed a paw against the hamster's mouth. "An' don't speak lessen ye have to, t'ain't safe in 'ere!"

Scarum strode blithely up the path, munching on a hefty apple-and-blackcurrant flan. Chuckling to himself, he cut off into the woodlands. "Dozy old bunch, wot! Jolly impudent, too, I'd say. Fancy thinkin' y'could demote a garrison commander to a drudge of all work, cads! Chap of my blinkin' skills, wot? Didn't take me a bloomin' tick to escape that lot. Huh, starvin' for three days on lettuce leaves an' water, fat chance! They'd find my young wasted body dead after just two flamin' days o' that nonsense. Hey ho for the open air an' fiddle dee dee for those old buffers. Join up with the chaps, that's the ticket! Comrades staunch an' true, with lots of rations an' so forth. Y'can't go paw-sloggin' without loads of fodder t'keep fur'n'scut together, no sah!"

The incorrigible young hare strode jauntily along, armed with a pillowcase full of food from Red wall's kitchens and a window pole with a metal hook on one end, his chosen weapon. With neither care nor conscience, he composed a marching song as he went on his way: "I'm a one chap regiment, Don't y'dare stand in me way, No Abbey cell could suit me well, On such a jolly day.

O trampitty tramp I'm marchin', Stand fast the Buffs, I sing.

If I had a drum I'd go rumpetty turn, I'd biff it like anything.

I'm a perilous hare y'know, Just like me dear old dad, A word's as good as a blow, hoho, Though some may think me mad ..."

He paused and pulled a face. "Mad? No, no, not the right word at allhave t'change it. Let's see, mad, bad, glad, sad, old lad? Hmm, I'll have to think about that one."

In the midst of still-shimmering noontide, the trio of serpents struck. Everybeast was unprepared for the lightning move. One moment the glade was quiet and peaceful, save for an occasional muted snore. Then, in the blink of an eye, the whole scene changed. Za.s.saliss had spent the last hour inching the oak tree door open, fraction by fraction. Suddenly the adder saw that the way was clear. He hissed, "Sssssstrike!"

Together the trio of snakes boiled out of the entrance. Straight across the glade they rushed, with the mace chain clanking behind, right past the carca.s.s of Whidge, whom they already knew to be dead. Crashing into the fern bed, they s.n.a.t.c.hed a plump sleeping Ratguard, who shrieked as they seized him.

Kurda came awake immediately. Grabbing her sabre, she yelled urgently, "Stop der shnakes! Arm der crew! Don't let de serpents get back inside der den. Hurry!"

To their credit, the Ratguards roused themselves swiftly. Vorto kicked the pile of weapons, scattering them as he ran by, shouting, "You 'eard the Princess, git yore swords, cut 'em off afore they escape!"

But the adders were faster. Bunching their coils jointly, they slithered backwards like lightning, dragging the feebly kicking Ratguard into Brockhall with them. Vorto paused momentarily, looking to Kurda for orders. Her eyes shone madly at the sight of the coveted Crown of Sarengo vanishing into the darkness.

"In! In! Get in after dem, kill de serpents! Get der booty! De cowards run, dey are scared of us! In! In!"

Tazzin swung a dagger about her head, fired by the mention of booty and the excitement of the chase. "Did ye 'ear that, mates? Booty! Chaaaaaarge!"

Both Ratguards and Freebooters piled into Brockhall, roaring and yelling after Za.s.saliss, Harssacss and Sesstra.

Skipper had just led the party into the big main cavern beneath the oak tree roots. Log a Log held the lantern up as the others stared in awe at the mighty structure. Then a deafening cacophony of noise filled the chamber: clanking chains, hissing, pounding paws and yelling vermin. Before they had a chance to group themselves, it broke in upon them like a dark tidal wave. The three snakes collided with the Redwallers, Mokug turned to run, his head b.u.t.ting Triss under her chin. She slipped and fell, the sword kicked from her grasp by the milling paws of shrews.

Za.s.saliss spat the dying Ratguard from his mouth and, pulling the other two adders up with him, reared over the fallen squirrelmaid and struck. Shogg hurled himself between them, slashing wildly with his spearpoint. Za.s.saliss pulled to one side, attacking the otter with his poisonous fangs as the spear struck Sesstra straight down her open mouth. There was a roar like thunder breaking over the sea, as Sagax swung his battle-axe, leaping into the fray. Za.s.saliss ducked his head, and the big axe slew his brother Harssacss. Triss rolled over as the adder's chin hit the floor. Her paws clasped about the sword hilt, she sprang upright, driving the keen blade straight through the throat of Za.s.saliss.

Then followed a scene of utter chaos as the Ratguards and Freebooters came tumbling on them in the wake of the snakes. Both sides were confused until Skipper took out a Ratguard with his javelin and gave the battle cry: "At 'em, mates! Redwaaaaaaallllll!"

Triss gathered in the vanguard with Churk, Sagax, Skipper and Log a Log. Backed by Guosim and Redwallers, they rushed the vermin, catching them off guard. Warcries rang out, echoing and bouncing off the walls of Brockhall as they drove the vermin back up the corridor.

"Eulaliaaaaaa! Redwaaaaaalll! Logalogalogalooooog!"

Spear cracked against javelin, sword clashed upon cutla.s.s, rapier rasped against daggerblade. But above it all, two stood out: the young badger wielding the fearsome battle-axe, and the squirrelmaid armed with the sword of Martin the Warrior. They were like twin whirlwinds, slaying and roaring as they went. Triss was wreaking retribution for the death of her father and Drufo. Vermin fell before her like chaff beneath a scythe. Sagax's eyes shone red in the gloomhe was possessed of the dreaded Blood-wrath, inherent to great Badger Lords of Salamandastron. Neither injury nor foebeast could hurt him as his awesome weapon swung into the vermin ranks like a windmill.

Tripping and stumbling, the vermin broke and ran in defeat, the Redwallers swarming after them. Their cries echoed off down the gloomy pa.s.sage as Kurda, Vorto and Riggan sneaked out of a side chamber. Leaping over the carnage of dead and mortally wounded creatures, Kurda grabbed the crown from the head of Za.s.saliss. She slashed cruelly at the dead snakes, growling frantically, "Vere is der pa wring, dat is mine birthright!"

Riggan jumped aside, narrowly missing the sweeping blade. "It ain't'ereye can see thatforyoreself,marm. Leave it, we got to get goin' afore those Redwallers come back!"

Kurda leaned on her sabre, breathing hard. "Yarr, you are right, but I must find mine pawring!"

Vorto, catching Riggan's glance, interrupted. "Yore 'igh-ness, we can come back 'ere when they've gone. Me 'n' Riggan'll find yore pawring for ye. Come on, Princess, there must be a way out the back, or 'ow did the Red-wallers get in? Can ye get us out safe, Riggan?"

The slavecatcher nodded. "Just follow the trail backwards where they've disturbed the dust an' broke the cobwebs. C'mon!"

Taking their advice reluctantly, Kurda put up her sabre and followed them to the rear exit.

Triss and Sagax threw themselves on the gra.s.s to regain their breath. Vermin could be heard in the distance, pursued by Redwallers as they fled in ignominious retreat, scattering widespread.

Sagax picked up a fallen water flask. Taking a deep swig, he pa.s.sed it to Triss. "Whew, I can't remember half of what went on in there. Don't think I want to, really."

Triss stared bleakly in front of her. "I can. I still remember the whip strokes I received from some of those Rat-guards when I was a slave. I grew up with them!"

"Triss, Trissy mate, 'elp me!"

Dragging himself along on his stomach, Shogg emerged through the open door. Triss was at his side in an instant. "Shogg, what happened, where have you been, are you hurt?"

Without allowing him the time to answer, Triss poured water into the otter's mouth as Sagax held his head up. The otter drank a drop, the rest trickling from his lips as he gasped, "Snake ... the big 'un... bit me neck... Triss, lis-sen. Kurda, still alive... Vorto an' the slavecatcher, too... She got the crown... Gone out the back... Get 'em, Triss!"

The squirrelmaid saw her friend's eyes beginning to mist over. She hugged him close, rocking to and fro, murmuring, "We'll get them, mate, together, when you're bet- ter. But first we've got to get you to the Abbey. Malbun and the Abbot will know what to do. You'll be all right, my Shogg."

Slowly the otter raised his paws until they held either side of the squirrelmaid's face. His voice sounded tired. "Too late fer that, me old matey. . . . Promise me, Triss, promise me ye'll go back to Riftgard an' free the slaves. That's wot we were always goin' t'do, wasn't it?"

Her tears spilled onto his paws as she looked into his eyes. "Aye, right from that day we stole the boat and escaped. That's what we vowed and that's what I'll do, you know that."

Shogg smiled. "That was a day to remember, eh, Triss? The first slaves ever to escape from Riftgard." The otter's eyes looked away from Triss, over her shoulder. "Welfo, liddle maid, wot are ye doin' 'ere? Did ye come all the way from Peace Island t'see me? 'Tis kind of ye, mate."

Shogg's eyes closed and his head lolled loosely to one side. Sagax gently prised the otter's paws from Triss's cheeks.

Triss stared in disbelief at the badger. "Shogg ... you're not..."

The young badger picked Shogg carefully up. He held him like a babe, blinking back huge tears. "I'll let him rest in the shade of that oak. When the others get back, we'll take him to Redwall. Triss, I'm sorry."

The squirrelmaid just sat there and wept. Sagax came back from his task and placed a paw about her shoulders. "His heart has gone out across the seas to visit your friend on that beautiful isle you told us of."

Triss wiped her eyes with the back of a paw. "I've known Shogg ever since I can recallwe were slaves together. First I lost my father, then Drufo, and now Shogg, the best friend I ever had, is gone. Stay away from me, Sagax, I'm bad luck to know!"

The powerful badger heaved her upright and brought his face close to hers. "I'm not leaving you anywhere, Trisscar. When you return to Riftgard and free the slaves, I'll be at your side. You can take my word as a warrior on that!"

Mokug and Log a Log returned first. With them they had an unhappy Grubbage. The hamster and the Guosim Chieftain were desolated by the news of Shogg's death, but Log a Log was not a beast to sit around grieving for long. He took charge immediately.

"Mokug, tie our prisoner to a tree. Then stand by pore young Shogg 'til our friends get backtogether ye can take our mate 'ome to the Abbey. Come on, Triss me dar-lin', an' you, too, Sagax. We got business t'finish wid that white polecat an' 'er cronies. Weepin' won't git the job done. If'n our matey Shogg was alive, 'e'd be 'ard on the paws o' those sc.u.m right now. Wot d'ye say?"

With her eyes blazing hotly through the tears, Triss tightened her grip around Martin the Warrior's sword. "You're right, friend. What are we wasting time for?"

Sagax shouldered his formidable battle-axe. "I'm with you!"

Throwing caution to the winds, they lit a torch of pine and brushwood and marched boldly into Brockhall. Through the carnage of the battle they strode, ready for anything.

As Log a Log pa.s.sed the trio of slain serpents, he commented harshly, "Yore killin' seasons are done. Moss-flower's air will smell sweeter without ye!"

As Sagax mounted the steps to the greenstone exit, a shrew voice challenged him gruffly: "Who goes there? Show yoreself!"

The four Guosim guards they had left behind were in a sorry state. One lay dead, two were unconscious and the remaining shrew was wounded, though not badly. He pointed west into the woodlands.

"Three of 'em, Chief, the white 'un an' two rats. They pretended they was surrenderin' an' tricked us. Let me go with ye."

Log a Log applied a hasty bandage of dockleaves and gra.s.s to his clanbeast's injured side and made him comfortable. "You stay 'ere an' do wot ye can for yore mates. You'd only slow us down. Don't fret, well get 'em for ye!"

Riggan halted on the bank of a small, shady lake and sat down gratefully. "This'll do, we'll rest 'til nightfall. Then if'n you still want t'go back for that pawring, things should be quieter at that Brock'all place, marm. That's if'n ye want t'go, of course."

Kurda was polishing the crown with some dried moss. She breathed on it and rubbed busily, admiring the way the light caught the heavy gold circlet with its two large jetstones. The Pure Ferret paused and glared regally at her slavecatcher. "Dere is no question, I must return to dat place und find mine pawring. Vorto, go und get somet'ink for your queen to eat. I am hungry!"

Saluting with his spear, the Ratguard Captain obeyed. Riggan, the more forward of the two, commented drily, "So ye ain't a princess no more, marm'tis Queen now, eh?"

Kurda drew her sabre. Sliding the crown over its blade, she held them both out to Riggan. "I am Queen by right und conquest. If you vant to be Queen, all you haff to do is lift der crown from dis sabre blade."

Riggan chuckled nervously, knowing what would happen the second she reached out to touch the crown. "Wot gave ye the idea I want t'be Queen, marm? My duty is to serve you an' yore father, Agarnu. Er, wot about 'im?"

Kurda's eyes narrowed, and she giggled like a naughty infant. "Dat von-legged fool? I giff him der same offer I make to you, mine friend. Yarr, I vill be Queen of all Rift-gard!"

Vorto came stealing furtively back to the lake bank.

Kurda gave him a questioning look. "Vere is der food I send you for?"

The Ratguard Captain placed a paw to his lips. "Not so loud, yore 'ighness, I just seen somethin'. D'yer remember that big rabbit at Redwall Abbey, the one who snared our guards in a net an' whacked 'em? I saw 'im by chance out in the woodlands, but 'e didn't see me, an' 'e's comin' this way!"

Kurda's face was the picture of smug self-satisfaction. "I remember dat von. Hide now, ve vill ambush 'im!"

40.