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Maudie shrugged. "I suppose because the most highly sensible of us has to stay alert, to watch the foe."
Kachooch shook with silent mirth as she cast an eye over the snoring plateau defenders. "Don't say much for that lot, do it?"
Maudie smiled. "Indeed it doesn't. Let's hope the blinkin' vermin types are snorin' their thick heads off twice as flippin' hard, wot!"
At the vermin camp, the Brownrats were complying with Maudie's wish. However, Vizka and his cohorts were wide awake, the golden fox was explaining his plans for the battle. "Lissen, mateys, we've got der Brownrats on our side now. If'n we kin get dem up on dat rock tommorer dey'll slaughter dem Abbeybeasts, der Brownrats'll 'ave 'em far outnumbered."
Ragchin ventured an opinion. "I was t'inkin', Cap'n, wot if'n dis Gruntin' Kurly shows up before de attack, wot then?"
"Gudd question, bucko, 'ere's wot ya do. Yew keep Kurly talkin' 'til I gets be'ind 'im ..." Vizka brandished his mace and Martin's sword under Ragchin's scruffy beard. "Den jus' leave 'im t'me!"
The small crewrat Firty wanted to know more about his role in the coming fray. "Wot ja want us t'do, Cap'n, lead der charge?"
Vizka beckoned them closer, dropping his voice. "No, Firty, mate, I wants youse, dat's yerself, Dogleg, Ragchin, Patchy an' Bilger, ta stick close t'me. I've told de other crewbeasts ta go up the rock wid der Brownrats, dey should be able ta do der job." He looked from one to the other of the chosen five. "But jus' in case dey don't, or if'n everythin' goes wrong, youse are de ones I trusts, ter get me away safe, see!"
Bilger, who was the slowest witted, enquired, "Er, getcha away, Cap'n, where to?"
Vizka looked as if he were going to strike Bilger for his
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stupidity, but he smiled, patting the stoat's cheek good-naturedly. "Off through dese trees, to dat path we came down. Back up it dis time, to the BludgulletV
Bilger chuckled. "Oh, d'ship, I'd fergot about dat!"
Patchy nudged him roughly. "But der cap'n 'ad'nt."
Vizka winked at Patchy. "Right, mate. A good cap'n always takes care of 'is trusty crew, yore d'ones I chose ta go wid me. Now lissen, youse all keep t'der rear wid me, we'll take care of any backsliders wot doesn't join in der charge. Like I said, we should win 'cos we've got der numbers on our side. But, if'n somethin' does go wrong, ye'll 'ear me shout dis. 'Fight on, me brave buckoes!' Dat's der signal, we leaves 'em to it an' makes for der ship. Hah, dere's plenty of other ways to de easy life, we'll sail off to der far south t'see wot der pickin's are like, eh, mates?"
The five vermin agreed readily, happy they would not have to fight, and maybe die, with the rest.
Ragchin spoke for them all. "We're wid ya, Cap'n!"
Vizka nodded. "Right, we'll set off for der rock just afore dawn. One good chargeTl catch 'em still nappin'. Firty, tell Glurma to keep two Brownrats back. Dey can keep der fires goin' so 'twill look like we're layin' about eatin' brekkist."
Firty went off to find old Glurma, shaking his head in admiration at Vizka. The golden fox had thought of everything, he was a smartbeast sure enough.
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36
Dawn broke in a gray haze, without a single ray of sunlight, or wisp of breeze. It was like an autumn day instead of late summer. Swathes of fine drizzle dampened the woodlands, causing heavy mist to rise amid the trees. Maudie stood at the edge of the plateau with Rangval and Osbil, surveying the scene below, the rogue squirrel spoke in hushed tones.
"Shure, will ye look at it? I'll wager ye couldn't see yore paw behind ye in all that fog!"
Maudie reprimanded him smartly. "Yes sah, but we're not lookin' for that. If we're not jolly well wide awake an' alert, 'tis quite likely we'll find ourselves ambushed an' overrun by the bally enemy, wot. So keep those eyes peeled!"
Kachooch came hurrying over, from where she had been standing with the haremaid during the night. "Miz Maud, I can see the campfires glowin' bright, even through this mist!"
Osbil scowled sourly as his stomach rumbled. "Aye, that's 'cos that scum down there ain't short o' vittles, they're prob'ly cookin' brekkist."
Maudie licked at the drizzling rain which clung to her lips. "No such thing, bucko, this is it, stand fast the buffs,
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'tis death before dinner. Right, now, you chaps have a word with our badger chums, then put the word about quietly. Muster to the edges in full fightin' order. Let's see if we can't turn the ambush on the confounded vermin, wot!"
Vizka Longtooth drew his cloak close, against the prevailing drizzle. He sheltered in the bushes, surrounded by his chosen aides. Raindrops glistened on his fangs. "Dis is perfect for der surprise attack, no wind, rain, fog. Dey won't know wot hit 'em. Dogleg, Patchy, go an' tell 'em t'start the first wave climbin'. Once dey're outta sight, send der second lot up. Don't fergit, tell 'em ta keep silent. Now go!"
With ten of the Bludgullet's crew to lead them, and another ten at the rear to urge them on, half of the Brownrat horde began scrambling up toward the plateau. They were a barbaric sight, daubed with plant dyes, armed with primitive spears and clubs, escorted by the vermin Sea Raiders. Once they were about a third of the way up, the second wave came in their wake, with the remainder of Vizka's crew shepherding them.
The going was not easy, with rocks made slippery by the drizzle, and any patches of earth rendered slick and muddy. The Sea Raiders, fearing their captain's wrath, urged the Brownrats on. Trying not to betray their position by shouting, they swiped out with the flats of their blades, muttering, "Git movin', ya big, dumb savages, c'mon, shift yer paws!" and "Ahoy there, bucko, no back-slidin', up y'go!"
Gorath patrolled the defenders on the plateau rim, checking that their weapons were at the ready. He was accompanied by Salixa and Maudie, both of whom had armed themselves with slings. The haremaid could see that the Guosim were eager for action, so she constantly cautioned them.
"Don't go hurlin' stones, spears or arrows until you can
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actually see the blighters. All this fog an' mist can create false impressions, y'know."
A young shrew twirled his sling restlessly. "I know, marm, I keep thinkin' I kin see their ugly mugs comin' at me through the mist, but it ain't nothin'. Plays tricks wid the eyes, all this fog."
Maudie patted the young warrior's shoulder. "You'll be alright, just trust your own best judgement. Don't worry, we're all a bit edgy, wot!"
Rangval loomed up chuckling. "Ah well, 'tis no surprise we're edgy. Sure, aren't we standin' on the edge here?"
The haremaid half-grinned. "Oh, very droll indeed, sah ..." At the sight of a painted Brownrat face materialising out of the fog behind Rangval, she whirled her sling.
However, Gorath the Flame was even quicker. Leaping forward he thrust his pitchfork, catching the Brownrat in the throat. The vermin vanished with a horrible gurgle.
Like lightning, the war cries of the defenders rang out. "Eulaliiiiaaaaa! Logalogalogaloooooog!"
They were echoed by the advancing horde. "Kurdly Kurdly kill kill kill! Blood'n'bones! Hahaaaarr!"
The battle was on.
Maudie was everywhere at once, swinging a loaded sling at vermin heads, stamping and kicking at paws that came over the top, yelling like a wildbeast. "Yaaarrr! Blood'n'vinegar, chaps!"
Rangval, with a dagger in either paw, scuttled, crouching crablike as he circled the rim, stabbing out left and right. "Arrah, step up, ye villains, an' meet the rogue!"
Osbil saw a shrew take a spear through his heart, the Guosim chieftain ran to fill the gap as his comrade fell. His rapier weaved a flashing pattern in the ceaseless drizzle as he carved and thrust, howling aloud. "S'death to ye, vermin, an' I'm the beast to bring it! Logalogalooooog!"
Salixa tried to keep at Gorath's side, fearing that he might take the Bloodwrath and fling himself over at the
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