Brian Jacques - Redwall #22 - The Sable Quean

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It was the fat stoat who discovered the loss of the captives. Fearful of the consequences, he searched the deserted cave in silence. His lantern revealed nothing but shadows. Realising that this would mean an instant death sentence from the ruthless Sable Quean, he kept quiet. Strolling out, he hung up his lantern at the entrance, then spoke casually to the other three vermin who were posted outside.

"All quiet in there. They won't wake 'til they're called fer vittles. We'll let the relief guard do that."

When the next four vermin marched up, the fat stoat reassured them in a routine manner. "The brats are still takin' their shuteye. No rush to feed 'em yet. They'll let ye know when they wakes up, 'ungry, noisy liddle nuisances!"

The fat stoat hurried off, satisfied with his pretence. He would not be the one to take the blame if questions were asked--his fellow guards would back him up, anything to avoid the wrath of Vilaya.

It was only when the guards wheeled the cauldrons of food and water in that they became aware something was wrong.

An older ferret called into the gloomy interior, "Wot's 'appened to the lanterns? It's dark in 'ere!" A lanky rat, who had not been paying attention, banged

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a ladle on the side of the cauldron. "Cumm an' gerrit! 'Ere's yer vi--oof!"

The ferret had whacked him in the stomach with his spearbutt. He grabbed the ladle and flung it at the rat.

"Idjit, can't yer see there's nobeast 'ere?"

Another rat, who was in charge of the water, blurted out, "Wotjer mean, not 'ere? Where've they gone?"

There was panic in the ferret's voice as he shouted, "I dunno, do you? Look, see fer yerself!"

The lanky rat staggered up off the floor, yelling, "Escape! Escape! The prisoners've escaped!"

Vilaya and Dirva arrived hurriedly, with an armed guard of Ravagers which included the four who had been on duty previously. Lanterns flooded into the cavern, illuminating it brightly.

Dirva set about the closest vermin with a stick. "Search this place. Find 'em. Now!"

"No. Everybeast stand still--stay where you are!"

They froze at the high-pitched, imperious tone of the Sable Quean, who stood where they could all see her.

Many of the vermin were bigger than she, brawnier, more hefty, but they all feared Vilaya. Even Dirva, her aged soothsayer, could sense the foreboding in the air. The sable's bright eyes glittered. Her small, sharp teeth showed as she hissed softly. Every eye was riveted on the sleek barbaric figure with her silken purple cloak and her necklace of snake fangs. Vilaya was every inch a ruler who had to be obeyed under pain of death.

She spoke slowly and distinctively. "Who are the guards on duty here?"

The older ferret stood forward, accompanied by the lanky rat and two others, both rats.

Vilaya nodded to the ferret. "Make your report to me."

The ferret swallowed several times before he found his voice. "Majesty, we had just taken over from the last guards. We went in with the vittles, but they was all gone--the lanterns was gone, too, it was dark."

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The Sable Quean allowed an agonising moment to pass before she spoke. "Before you went in, could you hear the prisoners talking or moving around?"

The four shook their heads, with the ferret answering for them. "There wasn't any sound at all from in there, Majesty. We thought they was all asleep. The others we took over from said they was afore they went off duty."

Vilaya toyed with the crystal vial hanging about her neck. "Bring them here to me."

Dirva had the previous guard line up quickly--the fat stoat, a pair of weasels and a rat. They stood quaking, with their eyes fixed on the ground, not even daring to look at each other.

The silence became almost deafening as Vilaya gazed from one to the other. She spoke suddenly and sharply, snapping the words out. "Who was the last beast to see the prisoners?"

They were too frightened to reply, but she noticed that three of them shot a swift glance at the stoat. She beckoned him to her with one claw, continuing the movement until he was so close that he could feel her breath upon his snout. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Look at me and speak truly. When did ye last see them?"

The fat stoat's face was trembling so hard that he could only stammer. "M-m-m-maj--"

The savage, fiery eyes penetrated his very being. "You never saw them at all, did you? The prisoners were already gone. I know they were. Tell me I'm right."

The fat stoat had totally lost the power of speech. He was only able to nod his head. She turned her gaze on his three companions, selecting the rat.

"What did he tell you? Have no fear, speak."

The rat was so relieved that he gabbled hurriedly, "Majesty, 'e said that they was asleep an' ter let the new guards wake 'em when they serves vittles."

She glanced at both the weasels, who were nodding furiously. Having heard what she wanted, Vilaya summed the

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situation up. "So, our prisoners have escaped. They never left this cave by the entrance. With sentries posted all over Althier, they would have been noticed right away. That means they left here by another way. What were they attempting last time, a tunnel? Search this cave for tunnels!"

The guards hastened forward but were halted by their ruler's upraised paw and her scornful voice.

"Fools, stay where you are. Dirva, you do it."

The old rat cackled as she toured the area, tapping the walls with a stick. "All solid rock. Ye said yoreself to put 'em in one where they couldn't tunnel out. So where've the liddle uns gone, eh?"

Dirva carried on around the walls, tapping high and low. "Like ye said, Mighty One, they ain't left by the entrance. So where ... where ... where ... ahaah!"

Dirva stopped at the disguised rift, beckoning lanterns to the spot. "This must be it!" She rooted amongst the loose rubble which was blocking the exit. "I was right--lookit this!"

The ancient rat was holding up a small wooden spoon, which had belonged to one of the young fugitives.

Vilaya inspected the escape exit. "Unblock it. Use your spearpoints and knives, quickly!"

The fat stoat, thinking he could redeem himself by helping with the work, grabbed his spear.

Vilaya shook her head. "Not you. Give me that spear."

The stoat passed her the spear, pleading, "But, Majesty, I'll find 'em for ye. Forgive me, Mighty One!"

The other Ravagers present turned their eyes away as the Quean lunged with the weapon. Vilaya looked down impassively at the dying stoat. "Now you are forgiven. How does it feel?"

The fat stoat died without saying a single word.

Vilaya sensed rather than saw Zwilt the Shade enter the cave.

Old Dirva watched him sweep by. "Well, lookit who's back!"

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The tall sable surveyed the scene quickly "What's been going on here?"

Vilaya countered the question with one of her own. "Where are the runaways you said you'd bring back?"

Zwilt had his story ready. He could not tell his Quean what really happened.

"The runaways are all dead. I caught up with them out in the woodlands. They fought, but I slew them all."

Dirva sniggered. "An' what of the four Ravagers who were with ye? I see they haven't returned."

Zwilt did his best to ignore her whilst continuing with his original enquiry. "They were slain in the fight. Where are the captives?"

Vilaya nodded toward the rear wall, where the guards were trying to break through with their weapons. "Somewhere, at the back of there--we'll soon find out. Come on, you idiots, a few woodland babes did that. Put your backs into it, weaklings!"

Zwilt inspected the congested gap, noting the bent spearpoints and blades of the workers. "Hmm, that's because it was blocked from the other side. Instead of trying to pull those rocks out, why don't you try to push them back?"