Brian Jacques - Mossflower

so much. He was so understanding." "How could we forget such a dear friend."

Before they slept, the travelers were closeted with the Corim leaders to hear

how Mossflower had fared in their absence. When they had learned all, they

went out onto the deck. The little ones had been bedded down in the cabins,

but the novelty of hammock sleeping lost out to weariness. Outside on the

deck, every creature was assembled, packing the rails and rigging.

Bella stood with her paw upon the tiller, red-eyed with grief but calm and

composed.

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Martin took command instinctively. The warrior mouse seemed to have grown in

stature and confidence since his return, every woodlander now looked upon him

with a respect that bordered upon awe. He stood on the peak of the after end

gallery, the sword glinting under a full moon.

"Friends, I have heard all, and my companions have told you everything that

happened to us on our quest. Now I am back."

Abbess Germaine nodded approvingly at the commanding figure. "Tell us what you

want us to do, Martin."

The warrior mouse drew his sword and leaned on the pommel stone as his blade

pierced the deck timbers.

"Trust me, Mossflower will be saved. I have been thinking of a plan that I

will not explain at present. First I must see certain things before I know it

can be executed properly. Now we must sleep until the morning. Tomorrow, after

the little ones are somewhere safe, you will see what I intend. Do not worry

any more. Our force has been doubled by the numbers who have sailed back with

us, and we have seasoned warriors with us now. Boar the Fighter cannot be here

tonight, but I know that his strong spirit watches over us. From beyond the

gates of Dark Forest he has sent me with this sword to make an end of Tsarmina

and all who follow her. I promise you that I will."

Every creature who saw Martin the Warrior that night knew, without a shadow of

doubt: he was the one chosen to keep that promise.

BOOK THREE

Of Water and Warriors

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Deep beneath Kotir the water level had risen gradually. Now it was above the

rock sections removed by the moles.

Hour by hour it had risen fractionally. To the casual ear the trickling had

stopped, but it was still adding silently to the volume, as it seeped in from

below the surface of the gradually rising lake.

Standing at her high window, Tsarrnina breathed deeply, filling her lungs with

the soothing summer breeze that blew in from Mossflower Woods.

At last the accursed dripping had stopped!

She felt light-headedly happy. Dark, fearful night had given way to this

beautiful calm sunlit morning, taking with it the haunting sounds of the

water.

Brogg was right, she thought, even though he was only an oafish weasel. There

was a certain sense to his logic. Imagination was a strange thing, which

played odd tricks upon an overwrought mind.

Now a new resolution was forming in Tsarmina's devious brain, one she

considered worthy of her talents.

Mossflower must be conquered!

The eagle was gone; Bane too. And her forces were stronger now with the

addition of his one-time mercenaries.

Tsarmina allowed herself an audible snigger. That Bane! He had even taken the

trouble to restore and repair all the

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Kotir woodwork, in anticipation of taking over from her, the Queen of

Mossflower. Stupid fox!

Furnishing herself with a bowl of milk and a roasted woodpi-geon, she mentally

thanked Bane for his supplies, adding another point to her favor. She sat down

to breakfast and some earnest thought as to the final solution of the

woodlanders.

Tsarmina rang the bell to summon Brogg.

"Your Majesty?"

"Ah, Brogg. Put aside that sword and sit over here at my table."

4Thankyou, Milady."

"This morning I was thinking of appointing some new Captains. However, I have

since changed my mind, Brogg. You will remain as the one and only officer,

giving out my orders, of course."

Brogg sat to attention, his chest puffed out proudly. "Oh, thank you, Milady,

thank you. I'll make you proud of me. You won't regret this. Wait and see,

I'll—"

Tsarmina silenced the babbling Captain with a wave of the woodpigeon carcass.

"Enough chattering, Brogg. Let me tell you what you must do to earn this great

honor."

"I am yours to command, my Queen."

*'Good. I want traps, lots of traps. Snares, nets, pits— anything we can think

up."

"Traps, Milady?"

"Yes, traps, you great buffoon. I want traps laid all over that forest out

there."

Brogg grinned as recognition dawned. "We'll capture some woodland prisoners."

"Capture, kill, maim—I don't care, as long as it makes those creatures afraid

to set paw outside their hiding place, wherever they may be. I'll turn the

tables on them, and they'll never pen us in again. Give them a good long

summer of my scheme, and they'll be only too willing to accept my terms— those

who are left after the traps begin their work."

"Right, Milady. I'll start today. How about some covered pits with sharpened

stakes at the bottom?"

"Excellent, Brogg. At last you're talking my language. Also, we could arrange

some thin strangling nooses concealed in the deep loam."

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"Great idea, Milady. How about some big nets and trip ropes?"

"Splendid. Make sure you have lots of poisoned hooks tied in the net meshes.

Oh, and don't forget the old bent sapling trick with the hidden noose. You can

always bank on some lumbering badger or hopping squirrel to step into it, eh,

Brogg."

"Yes, Milady. Imagine all those woodlanders dangling upside down by their back

paws. Huhuhu!"

"Hmm, just like apples waiting to be picked."

"Oh, huhuhu. We might just leave them to ripen until autumn before we pick

'em, Milady."

"Heehee. Very good Brogg. I never imagined you had such a sense of humor.''

"Oh, I have my moments, Milady."

"Well, make sure your moments are all victorious ones from now on, my one and

only Captain."

Brogg saluted awkwardly, knocking the chair over as he rose. "Yes, Majesty.

I'll get right down to h this very morning."

Tsarmina caught the end of his cloak, pulling him back. "There you go, rushing

and dashing about like a sparrow after a fly. Priorities, Brogg. If you must

do a job, do it properly. Take your time. Gather the right equipment together,

organize the troops into squads, give each one a team leader and offer rewards

for the most ingenious traps and the best results. Do you see the idea?"

Brogg's face brightened at the power he was about to wield. "You're right,

Milady. I'll spend all today organizing, then we can make a start first thing

tomorrow.''

He departed, leaving Tsarmina back at her high window, still clutching the

woodpigeon. She destroyed the carcass by crushing it with a single blow and

hurled it out of the window toward the forest.

"Here, have something to eat, woodlanders," she shrieked. "You'll need it by

the time autumn comes. I'll keep you penned up in your holes. We'll see who

runs out of supplies first."

Abbess Germaine and Columbine were taking the little ones to stay with

Gingivere and Sandingomm. Bella drew a map to direct them. Ferdy and Coggs

were torn between visiting

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their uncle Gingivere and staying behind to become warrior seadogs. Gonff had

a word with them.

"Listen, mateys, Martin and I can't be spared to guard the little unst that's