Brian Jacques - Mossflower

Are you ready?"

It took a few moments in the battle until Martin had mustered his comrades in

a group. There was a momentary lull as they stood ringed on all sides by sea

rats.

Like chain lightning, Boar made his move with a furious

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charge. The mad onslaught carried them forward to the edge of the horde.

Hewing ceaselessly, Martin and the rest broke through. They began running

toward the small advancing band of sea rats.

Pikes clashed with sickle swords as they met. The astounded vermin were so

taken aback by the ferocity of the attack that they broke and scattered.

Rushing onward, the friends made the water's edge.

Honeydew looked back. "We've left Boar behind!"

"No, he never came with us."

"Let's go back."

"Stay!" Martin's shout was a cold command.

They turned to stare at the warrior mouse.

"Remember your orders from Boar. Do as he said; it is the way of the warrior.

Boar has seen his own fate written, there is nothing we can do to stop it. We

must capture that ship."

They slid into the surf with the sounds of battle still ringing in their ears.

There was only a token watch left aboard to guard the galley slaves. They

leaped overboard at the sight of the roaring fighters who sprang dripping to

the deck of Bloodwake.

Panting with exertion, Martin turned to Log-a-Log, "Get this vessel under way

with all speed!''

The shrew rapped out commands to the new crew. "Slash that anchor cable. Hoist

those sails. Martin, take the tiller-steer her out to deep water. You below,

row for your lives if you want to taste freedom again.''

Pushing the tiller over, Martin felt Bloodwake respond. She turned on the

ebbing tide with a stiff breeze at her stern, riding the waves out toward the

open sea. The rest of them joined him as he stared over the after end, across

the smooth wake to the shore.

The silver badger's voice carried to them on the wind.

"Sail away, my warriors. Tell Bella and Mossflower of Boar the Fighter. Come

closer, sea rats. Let my blade kiss you to sleep. Ah, Ripfang, my old enemy,

got you! Now I embrace you as a friend. See."

They watched as Boar went down under a mob of sea rats who were howling and

screaming. The badger wielded his

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sword with a single paw, the other mighty paw held Ripfang close to his

studded metal armor, crushing him to death.

Martin turned away, blinded by tears. He could look no more.

Nor could his companions.

Before them lay the deep open sea. Behind them, the flames of Salamandastron

burned bright over a shore piled and littered with dead and wounded sea rats.

The spirit of Boar the Fighter lingered on the sands, reluctant to leave a

good battle and travel to the gates of Dark Forest.

The silver badger had seen the writing on the wall. He had fulfilled the

legend of the mountain!

Tsarmina and Bane watched each other like pike eyeing a water beetle, the

wildcat Queen from her high window, Bane from where he crouched shivering with

the troops, drenched in morning dew, completely dispirited after a fruitless

night spent in the forest. The rift was widening between cat and fox.

Bane squatted in the wet grass beside Brogg.

"See how your Queen treats us? We shiver out here all night while she lies in

luxury, warm and snug."

Brogg squinted dully. "She always has. Milady is a Queen, you know."

Bane spat at a small insect. "If I ruled Kotir, the troops would get the same

treatment as me. Ask my crew. We always had plenty to eat. I never hid in

safety and let them take all the risks."

"Is that why you pushed them out of doors, in front of all those arrows and

javelins?" Ratflank sniggered.

Bane cuffed him soundly across the snout. "Who asked your opinion,

snivelwhiskers? I didn't notice you volunteering to dash out and fight those

woodlanders."

Brogg stood up, brushing dewdrops from his cloak. "Ah well, they won't be

showing up this morning. Wonder how they knew we'd be lying in wait?"

Bane winked and tapped his muzzle. "Maybe she got word to them. That way she

could have Kotir and the rations to herself. There's enough supplies in there

to keep one cat happy forever."

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Brogg scratched his chin. "Really? Do you think she'd do that?"

"Well, look at the evidence." Bane laughed mirthlessly. "From what I hear, the

garrison was in a right old mess before I arrived with reinforcements and

rations. They say she was acting strange. You should know—she had you pulling

tails and checking whiskers. What normal creature does things like that?"

As the force moved back to Kotir, Bane and Brogg were deep in quiet, earnest

conversation.

Tsarmina watched them from her high window. She also scanned the surrounding

treetops for signs that the eagle might be abroad. An idea was forming in the

wildcat's mind.

Later that morning, while Bane was supervising a team to replace the burned

door and window timbers, Tsarmina had Brogg come to her room. She fed him on

cider and roasted woodpigeon as she wormed information from him.

The weasel Captain told his Queen all.

Tsarmina resumed her position at the window, watching the telltale quiver of a

spruce top. When she turned to Brogg her voice dripped sincerity.

"You have been a good and loyal Captain, Brogg. Make no mistake, your Queen

will reward you. This fox forced his way in here while we were distracted by

the woodlanders. He countermands my orders and whispers lies about me to my

soldiers. Do you realize that if he had not barged his way in with his ragged

mob, I was going to promote you to act as Supreme General?"

"Me, Milady?" Brogg could hardly believe his ears.

"Yes, you. Say nothing of this to any creature, especially Bane. Let him carry

on repairing our woodwork. He thinks he will rule Kotir one day. You stick to

doing your job, Brogg. Keep my Thousand Eye soldiers loyal to me. As for Bane,

leave him to me. If he speaks to you, tell him that I wish to see him, up here

in my chamber."

"I will, Milady. You can trust me."

"I do, Brogg my good friend. Now go."

The weasel did not stop backing up and bowing until after he was outside the

room.

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* * *

By midafternoon most of the repair work was well under way. Bane strolled up

to the high chamber and slouched against the table where Tsarmina sat.

"Well, what d'you want me for now, cat?" he asked insolently.

Tsarmina pushed a beaker of elderberry wine across the table to Bane, and

poured one for herself.

"lb you, Bane. A good job well done on the doors and windows. I could not have

done better myself."

The fox watched carefully, not taking a sip of the wine until the wildcat had

drunk from her beaker.

"Why this sudden honor, Tsarmina? What are you up to?"

The wildcat Queen shook her head sadly. "How did we ever come to this mistrust

and enmity, Bane?" She pointed a dramatic claw to the open window. "Out there

is where the enemy is. The woodlanders are the ones we should be fighting, not

each other."

The fox took a mouthful of the rich dark wine. "I'll agree with that, but

what's brought about this sudden change? Tell me, if we are to trust each

other."

Tsarmina passed a weary paw across her brow. "Until you came, I had not won a

single victory over the woodlanders. Even when they attacked us yesterday you

did all you could, but still I did not trust you," she confessed. "I made you

wait out in the open all night and you never complained once. Today I looked