Brian Jacques - Redwall #09 - Salamandastron

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Brian Jacques

SoJamandostron

49

"Show them out?" Mara placed a paw on Sapwood's arm. "But these are my friends, Sergeant!"

Sapwood stood stiffly to attention, avoiding her eyes. "Lord Urthstripe says they must leave. Don't worry, missie, they'll be given 'aversack rations and sent on their way unharmed. Come on, foller me, you two. Lively now!"

Goffa and Klitch rose, the latter smiling ruefully at Mara. "We'll be fine, don't bother your head about us. I wish you luck with Urthstripe. Goodbye, Mara. Maybe we'll meet again someday."

As Sapwood led them the length of the dining hall Mara could stand the tension no longer. The badger maid knew that Urthstripe loved and cared for her, as she did for him, but he was becoming like a dictator to her, ruling her life, saying how she should behave and conduct herself. Now in his usual heavy-pawed way he had insulted her newfound friends. It was too much! Without thinking, Mara suddenly found herself shouting angrily over the hushed assembly at Urthstripe:

"Go on, send my friends away. It's your mountain. You can do as you like and every beast has to obey!"

Every hare present jumped in their seats as the badger Lord's paws crashed forcefully on the tabletop.

"Mara, go to your room!"

But Mara was already up and hurrying from the hall, her mind finally made up as to what she would do. "I won't go to that room anymore. I'm leaving this mountain to go with my friends, and you can't stop me!"

Windpaw leaped up to intercept Mara, but Urthstripe shook his head. "Let her go!"

Pikkle dashed after his companion. "Mara, I say, wait, I'm comin' with you!"

When they had gone, Sapwood returned to his chair. The tough hare gazed imploringly at Urthstripe, whose face was set in a stony stare at Mara's empty seat. "She's gone, sir 'er an' Pikkle. Should I bring 'em back?" Urthstripe looked away, swiftly brushing a tear from his

;eye with a heavy paw. "No, I must let her go. She is not !3&ppy here anymore."

?-'' Big Oxeye stood up. The huge hare saluted his Lord. "Beg-

^gin* yer leave, sah! With or without permission from you, me

;;jfti* old Sappers here are goin' ter follow 'em. Watch that they

;don't get themselves in some bally scrape or other, keep an

eye on 'em. Wot?"

,- Urthstripe grasped both their paws. "Thank you, my /friends!"

gt;: Snatching a light throwing lance apiece from a weapon

jack, Sapwood and Oxeye set off at an easy lope on the track

"Of Mara and Pikkle. Urthstripe went to his forge. All that day

.vJfce mountain interior resounded with the pounding and bang-

;ing of his forge hammers, and chunks of red hot metal show-

'"*red sparks.as he battered them as flat as dead leaves.

Hiding among the dunes to the south of Salamandastron, IQitch and Goffa watched Mara and Pikkle getting nearer as ibey followed the trail.

.'; Klitch nudged his companion. "They'll be here any mo-Iftent, so listen. Don't you say a wordleave the talking to ^Ifte. My plan has worked well so far."

f; Goffa patted the two haversacks of food that lay nearby. ^lYour father won't think so. Two bags o' food isn't really .:$«l*dger's treasure, is it?"

He flinched slightly as Klitch elbowed him sharply in the "If brains were acorns you'd be a dead oak!" There was ||fcsneer in the weasel's voice. "We've been inside the moun-we've seen for ourselves, mere's about forty fighting ;s and Urthstripe, and they're not there for nothing. I'll my tail they're guarding a treasure. Now I've given Fer-an extra move in the gameI'm providing him with a stage, Lord Urthstripe's own precious little Mara. We could «ve done without that hare Pikkle, but if she wants to bring

along, the more the merrier!"

PTne light of understanding dawned in Goffa's eyes. fou're right! By the claw, you're a clever one, Klitch!" .Without taking his eyes from the two approaching crea-

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Brian Jacques

Salamandastron

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tures, the young weasel muttered fiercely, "Right, Goffa, I am clever. I'm smarter than Farran, Dethbrush, Migroo or any of that deadheaded bunch. That's why Ferahgo allows me to spy for him. But what my father doesn't realize is that he's getting old and I'm still young. I'll show him who's the more cunning one day soon. Stow it now, here they are!"

As Mara and Pikkle breasted the hill, Klitch feigned surprise. He turned to them, his open blue eyes shining happily. "Mara, Pikkle! What are you two doing here?"

Pikkle let his ears flop forward comically. "What ho, you chaps. Two more recruits for your rovin' band!"

Mara nodded agreement, her face alight with the joy of freedom. "I've done it, left Salamandastron for good! As you can see, Pikkle came with me. He's my only friend."

Klitch grasped her paw warmly. "Well, you've got two more good pals nowme and Goffa. We'll stick by you like true companions. Isn't that right, Goffa?"

The ferret leaned on his spear, echoing the words. "True companions!"

Mara could still see Salamandastron rising tall and grim in the distance. She looked away, banishing thoughts of it from her mind. Taking in her immediate surroundings, the badger maid quivered with delight. They were in a small hollow amid the dunes, basking in the heat of a fresh summer day. Beyond the grass-tufted hilltops she could see a distant mountain range rearing up ahead of them. It was framed majestically against a cloudless sky of vivid blue. Her heart sang within at the prospect of boundless freedom.

"Oh, isn't it exciting, Klitch! From now on Pikkle and I are going to be just like you two, traveling where we want, sleeping beneath the stars, eating when we feel like, and no one to boss or push us around. We're free!"

Goffa pulled a face and grunted. "Where's yer food?"

Pikkle spread his paws, chuckling. "Ask Mara the gallopin' badger there. She was in such a bally rush that she dashed off without a jolly crumb. Had to follow her, of course, so I didn't wait to stock up with tucker. But here we are, hale an' hungry!"

"You never brought anything?" Klitch looked concerned.

Mara waggled her paws in a carefree manner. "No, not a single scone. Still, I suppose we'll find something."

Goffa hefted his spear meaningly. "You mean you didn't even bring a weapon between you?"

"No weapons, eh!" Klitch's look of concern deepened.

Pikkle sat and drew doodles in the sand. "Who needs moldy ol* weapons? I mean, I can't see enemies to fight with round here. Wot, wot?"

The blue-eyed young weasel sat down beside him. "I wouldn't take it so lightly if I were you, Pikkle. Alone out in this country and unarmed, you never know what might happen. Mara, haven't you got anything that could be used as a bribe, something to buy your way with, perhaps a piece of badger treasure?"

"Badger treasure, what d'you mean, Klitch?" Mara was puzzled by the odd question.

The weasel shrugged as if it were not really important. "Oh, you know, gold or silver trinkets, medallions maybe, or jewels and such. I thought all badgers had some sort of treasure stowed away."

Mara scratched her stripes thoughtfully. "Hmm, I can't recall ever seeing treasure at Salamandastron. Can you, Pikkle?"

"Me? No, not a bloomin' bauble, old gel!" - Klitch smiled shrewdly. "I'll bet old Urthstripe has loads of it hidden away somewhere, but he wouldn't tell you about it, Mara. Oh no, he'd be more at home ordering and shoving you about like a slave. I reckon that he thinks any treasure stowed away in the mountain is his and none of your business, because you're too young to know about such things. But forgive me, you must be hungry. We'll share our supplies with you. Let's have an early lunchyour first one as a free creature, Mara, and you, Pikkle."

They gratefully accepted the wheatcakes, cheese and apples from the packs that had been given to the weasel and the ferret.-