The Lutra - Jacques, Brian - Redwall 09 - The Pearls Of Lutra

Ublaz chanced another peek at the enemy camp before turning to the Monitor and saying, "When I give the order, and only then. Have your lizards lift the bales clear of my woodpile to the walltop, light them and drop them over onto the vermin. That field is as dry as tinder, the flames will race across it and engulf Rasconza's camp. If it does sufficient damage, wait again for my command. We should be able to charge around the ashes and finish them off in the confusion that will follow. But await my orders, Zurgat."

The Monitor bowed after her Emperor's retreating figure. "Mightinezz, I wait your commandz!"

She called sibilantly to the other reptiles guarding the walls. "Victory will bring uz lotz of meat... roazted by the firez!"

Dark forked tongues slithered in and out as the lizards hissed wildly.

Leaning over the rail of Waveworm,Martin watched the sun start to dip towards the western horizon.

Inbar checked the tension of his bowstring and said, “Grath should be starting an uproar about now."

A green-flighted arrow stretched its length on Grath Long-fletch's bowstring; the supple yew arched back as her powerful paw pulled against the beeswaxed string. Dipping the arrowhead into the fire, she watched it burst into flame. Sighting swiftly as she brought up the bow, Grath gave an extra heave against the yew and fired.

Zzzzzzzzssssssssttt!

Like a burning comet the shaft sped upwards, bending in a long arc, down to the palace courtyard. It struck the first firebale, which went up with a dull whump into a blazing mass.

As soon as the first arrow was in the air, Grath had another one zipping viciously from her bowstring, followed by another and yet another. The fiery messengers sped off to find their targets.

A Monitor pointed with his spear, hissing, “The firebalez, the f" and fell, clutching the green-flighted arrow which had slain him.

Now Grath was moving, changing position. Some arrows she sent to slay Monitors, others to lay Wave Brethren low. The pandemonium she caused was instantaneous. Ublaz came roaring into the courtyard, lashing about with a spearhaft at the terrified lizards. “Pull those bales away, tip them over the wall, save my timber!" he yelled.

The tremendous woodpile, having lain in tropical dryness for long seasons, was going up like a bonfire. Panic-stricken lizards leapt away from the inferno and cowered back against the palace, their fearful eyes glittering in the firelight. Ublaz dashed to and fro like a madbeast, unable to get near his precious timber because of the pulsating heat of the flames.

"Do something! Fetch water! Pull away the bits that aren't burning! Get wet sailcloths and beat at the flames!"

He rushed about belaboring the dull-witted Monitors until his spearhaft broke on their thick-scaled hides.

Rasconza ducked behind his canvas awning, grabbing Buckla and Deddgutt as they passed. "Send some o' those Trident-rats, see if they can find the swab who's firin' those green arrows afore any more crewbeasts are killed!"

Baltur and Gancho wriggled up through the sand, keeping their heads low. Gancho pointed miserably at the blaze crackling high above the rear palace wall. "Lookit that, will yer, there goes our chance to repair the fleet!"

Rasconza did not seem unduly worried. “Never fear, mates, as long as we got one ship that kin sail we can always bring wood to Sampetra. Pretty soon that wall's goin' to collapse under the 'eat o' that blaze. Then we'll march in there an' drag Mad Eyes out. Muster the rest o' the Brethren an' tell 'em to stand ready."

Plogg jumped onto the jetty and secured Wavewormby a stern line. Martin had drifted her in backward, so that they could cut and run at a moment's notice. Night was falling fast, the palace up on the escarpment silhouetted by the fire that raged behind it. Clecky noted that the harbor area was still deserted and silent.

Plogg watched his three friends climb down onto the jetty. "Let me go with you, Martin, I'm good with a shrew rapier."

Martin pointed sternly to the ship. "Sorry, but you know your orders. Now back aboard and have her ready to take off like an arrow the moment you see us coming back."

Crestfallen but obedient, the young Guosim shrew did as he was told.

Before Martin, Clecky and Inbar were halfway across the harbor area, Grath popped out from behind a tavern and joined them.

"All goin' accordin' to plan, mates," she said, nodding at the fireglow, "that little lot's keepinem busy at the moment. Now for the palace!"

They raced to the double wooden door at the top of a winding hill. Clecky sized it up before commenting, "How's a chap supposed to get inside? Looks like we're stumped!"

Martin located the center jamb and thrust his sword through it. "Lend a paw here, Inbar, it's only a wooden bar across these doors holding them shut. When I give the word, lift the sword up hard."

The big otter gently ushered Martin aside and gripped the sword handle in both paws. “Not enough room for both of us to hold this handle, let me try." Bracing himself squarely on the stones, Inbar bent slightly; the long muscles on his sleek back stood out as he swept the swordblade up. There was a clunk from the other side and, as Inbar pushed the doors, they creaked and opened inward.

Clecky nodded in admiration. "Good idea that, I was about to suggest it m'self, wot!"

As they passed through the portals into the silent palace, Grath murmured in Clecky's brass-ringed ear, "Remember, we're searching for an Abbot, not a dining room!"

Ublaz finally saw that the timber was hopelessly lost. As he peered through the flames, he also noticed a sagging dip in the walltop. Soon the rear wall would start to crumble, its mortar turned to dust and its stones cracked and burst by the constant searing heat off the blaze. There was only one option left now.

"Retreat into the palace," he called to his Monitors. "The vermin will charge once the wall falls. Retreat and we'll hold out there."

Chapter 52

In his fevered dreams, Abbot Durral was helping to carry a table out into the orchard at Redwall Abbey. He imagined it was autumn and a harvest feast would be laid out under the trees. The old mouse rambled on deliriously.

"Lift higher, Sister Cicely, we'll never get it out over the doorstep. What a heavy table this is! Where's everybeast gone?"

A voice came through his fogged mind. "Father Abbot, 'tis your friend Martin!"

Feebly, Durral squinted one eye open. "Ah, Martin, but which Martin are you?"

With tears in his eyes, Martin cradled his old friend's head. "Durral, it's me, Martin!"

Opening both eyes briefly, the Abbot smiled. "Yes, my son, but are you the Martin from the tapestry or my Martin who lives at Redwall? I can't tell, you see."

The Warriormouse realized how ill the old fellow was. "I'm your friend Martin who lives at Redwall with all our Brothers and Sisters. I've come to help you, Father Abbot."

Durral lifted a wizened paw and stroked Martin's face. "I knew you would. This table is so heavy and Cicely is too small to lift it. Will you help us, please?"

Then Grath called urgently from the doorway she was guarding. "Hurry and get him out o' here, mate, somebeast's comin'!"

Viola was first to spot the glow lighting the night sky from the southwest. "There goes the signal, burn the ships!" she yelled to Welko.

The shrew already had a fire lit in a brazier aboard Barranca's former vessel, Freebooter.Holding five torches ready, he shouted back to Viola who was descending from the hilltop. "Hurry up, miss, get aboard Freebooterwith me!"

The bankvole did as she was bidden, though slightly mystified by the odd procedure. "We shouldn't be hanging about aboard this craft," she said. "You've got to set fire to it. What are you up to, Welko?"