“Hayaaah, then make it soon, we will not wait around to be slain by Baliss!”
Korvus did not turn, aware that it was Frang who had spoken. The Great Doomwyte knew he had been challenged. In a short space of time he had three new troubles. First, Sicariss, and her hostile manner, which he could not fathom. Next came his own Raven Wytes and their ultimatum to leave him. And finally, the biggest problem of all, the blind monster, Baliss, and the pact he had thoughtlessly made with him.
Korvus flew inside, through the horrific cave, with its sulphur-laden atmosphere, boiling lake and dripping walls. Insects scuttled through the heaps of rotting offal and yellowing bones. Winging over the eyeless monolith of the Doomwyte, he glided into the inner chamber. There in the cooler dimness he landed by the deep pool. Purposely, Korvus alighted close to Sicariss, hunching himself, so the smoothsnake could climb up and coil around his brow. She slithered away from him, coiling further around the edge of the pool. Attempting to make conversation, the tyrant nodded at the watery depths. “Rakkah, has my Welzz been fed?”
Sicariss replied indolently, “A fat, old toad, jussst asss ye ordered.”
Puffing out his chest plumage, the big raven swaggered to the rim, staring down into the water. “Harrr, and did he tell ye any secrets that I should hear?”
The snake stretched, then coiled loosely, as though she was about to take a nap. “Welzzzzz had wordssss for you….” She paused, adding almost mockingly, “O Mighty One.”
On the high, wooded hillside, the dark beast stopped toiling at some tough, ancient hornbeam roots. The mysterious creature watched the Wytes quarreling with Korvus Skurr. Leaving the others still perched in the downy birch, Korvus strutted back into his caves. Wielding the double-bladed sword, the dark beast went back to work on the tree roots, glad that Korvus had not been injured, or slain by his own creatures. The fate of the Doomwyte Chieftain would be decided not by any bird. It was reserved for only one. The dark watcher.
Down in Redwall Abbey’s cellars, the jolly Sister Violet wielded a bung mallet, cautioning Brother Torilis as she swung it. “Now hold that spigot still, Brother, but mind yore paws. Hold it at the bottom, there, that’s right!”
They were broaching a fresh barrel of Corksnout Spikkle’s renowned Strawberry Fizz. Violet dealt the spigot a resounding thwack. Pink liquid sprayed everywhere as the barrel was broached. Speedily, she dealt the spigot several more blows, until the wide end was seated, and the spray halted.
Brother Torilis gasped, wiping liquid from his face, then stood with his paws widespread, and a look of dismay on his sombre features. “Ugh, just look at me, Sister, I’m saturated with that sweet, sticky cordial, absolutely soaked!”
The plump hedgehog Sister chuckled. “’Twas all in a good cause, Brother, our Dibbun heroes called for more, and so they shall have more, lots more. Thirsty liddle warriors!” She watched the effervescent pink drink bubbling into a wooden pail set beneath the spigot tap. “Golly goodness, I do like a sip o’ Strawberry Fizz m’self. Even though it tickles the throat on the way down. What about you, Brother?”
Torilis shuddered. “Dreadful stuff, far too sweet for my taste. I’d sooner have cold mint tea. Huh, after I’ve changed this robe and taken a bath. What are you looking at me like that for, Sister?”
Violet held up a paw for silence. “Shush, Brother, can you hear that booming noise?”
Torilis could hear the sound, he glanced nervously around the dimly lit cellar. “Probably something that only Cellarhog Spikkle knows about. Let’s not loiter down here, Sister, the Dibbuns will be waiting for their Fizz.”
Violet left the pail and hurried off to the rear chamber, holding up her lantern. “That’ll be Laird Bosie’s party, back from their search, Brother. Come and lend a paw with the doorbolt.”
Between them they dealt with the stout bolt, which Corksnout had fitted to the repaired door. The pair were bowled over by a big, tawny owl who rushed up the small flight of steps. He was followed by the others, with Umfry close behind, shouting, “Somebeast’s been pourin’ Straw-bee Fizz, h’I c’n smell h’it. Hoho, let me h’attit!”
Flourishing Martin’s sword, Bosie bowed elegantly. “Guid tae be back hame, marm, yer well, Ah trust.”
Sister Violet was all a-fluster at the hare’s gallantry. “Oh, indeed we are, sir, ye’ve arrived just in time. They’re holdin’ a feast in the orchard for the Dibbuns, two of ’em slew one o’ those big birds!”
Skipper Rorgus smote the floor with his rudder. “Well bully for ’em, I says. Come on, Aluco, mate, let’s get ye vittled up with good Redwall fare!”
Brother Torilis addressed Samolus. “Where’s Bisky? I don’t see him with you.”
Bosie put up his sword. “Och, cheer up, laddie, we’ll be goin’ tae rescue him as soon as we’ve taken a wee bite tae eat. Right, lead me tae the feast!”
They had just emerged from the main door of the Abbey when they heard the big west wallgate slam shut as Corksnout Spikkle came bounding across the lawns, roaring and shouting. “Wahoooow! Get Brother Torilis! Ooooooh, hurry, quick! I’ve just been bitten by a monster serpent! Yawooooh!” The big Cellarhog was totally hysterical; his false nose had moved around on its cord, and was dangling from the back of his head. He was stampeding hither and thither, heedless of any fixed direction.
In his panic, Corksnout thundered over Torilis, not even noticing who he was. “Owowowoooh! The big snake bit me! Oooooh, it hurts! Wahaaah, I’m poisoned t’death!”
Skipper called to Bosie, “Quick, we’ve got to stop him afore he injures himself or any other beast. Get him, mate!”
Halting a large hedgehog of Corksnout’s size was no easy task. However, it was the swift action of the hare and otter which accomplished it.
In a swirl of kilt, tunic and lace ruffs, Bosie threw himself flat in the charging beast’s path, tripping Corksnout. The huge Cellarhog went headlong, scoring a path through grass and herbaceous border. Skipper fell upon the unfortunate, landing upon the big fellow’s head. Corksnout was blowing out mouthfuls of grass, buttercups and daisies as he wailed aloud, “Gerroff me, can’t ye see I’m dyin’? Ouchouch! The sting’n’the pain! Yaaaaaargh!”
Regardless of the bristling spikes, Skipper held on to the runaway bravely. He was joined by Bosie, Dwink, Umfry and Samolus, whilst Aluco hopped around them, hooting alarmingly. Brother Torilis sat down beside Corksnout’s head, speaking calmly.
“Please stop all this howling and yowling, Mister Spikkle. If you’ve been really bitten by a poison snake, then the best thing to do is lie quite still. Dashing about will only make the venom circulate through your body quicker. So be a goodbeast and tell me how you were bitten, and where. Only then can I attend to you, sir!”
Through despairing sobs, the hedgehog managed some self-control as he explained, “I was just droppin’ the slain bird into the ditch, outside the gate. Well, I managed to get him across the path, an’ into the ditch, then I was turnin’ away to come back inside, when bang! I was struck right on the rear, I was hit so bloomin’ hard that I was shot forward, right through the gateway. The pain was like redhot needles, I’ve never felt ought like it, Brother. I turned around an’ guess wot I saw!”
Bosie shouted, “Tell us, laddie, tell us!”
Corksnout shut his eyes tight, as if trying to blot out the memory of the dreadful sight. “It was a great monster serpent, with ’orrible milky blue eyes, an’ the dead raven hangin’ from its mouth. I slammed the gate fast as I could!”
Brother Torilis nodded sagely, moving down to inspect his patient’s rear end, which had a bald patch, devoid of spikes. He took a closer look, patting the area lightly.
Corksnout cried out piteously, “Eeyowch! That hurts somethin’ fierce. Brother, I beg ye, let a pore ole beast die peaceable, I’ve been through enough torture, let me alone, please!”