The javelins and sling stones whirred off into the night, wounding three and slaying a further two. Felldoh's troops immediately fell flat, blending with the landscape in the night.
As soon as they had launched their javelins, Ballaw's command dashed off to the right side wall and lay low. Badrang had left half his archers to fire at Felldoh's fighters, leading the other half around to the back, only to find the rear landscape deserted. He banged his sword handle hard against the wall.
"The scum, they've probably backed off into the marshes. Cringing curs, why don't they show themselves and fight!"
Boggs the ferret had served long in Clogg's crow's nest. He had the keenest eyes of any beast. Peering hard into the darkness, he stood stock still, straining his eyes. "There's creatures out there. I'm sure of it, Sire!"
"Where, Boggs? Can you see 'em?" Badrang's voice was low and excited.
"Aye, I can now, Sire. They're a good distance off, but comin' this way. Looks to be about six, no, five of 'em!"
Badrang took a bow from a nearby rat. "Give me your arrows. You there, give Boggs your bow and arrows.
The rest of you archers, notch up your shafts and lie low. Don't fire until I give the word!"
Plastered with mud, hungry and boneweary after trekking the country, lost since emerging from the marshes, Hisk and four survivors staggered through the darkness. The weasel Captain rubbed dirt from his tired eyes. Peering at the shape that loomed ahead in the night, he gasped in sheer relief, "It's Marshank! The fortress! We're safe. Come on!" They broke into a shambling run, cheering hoarsely.
To Badrang it appeared that the five figures were charging.
Mistaking them for enemies, he drew back the shaft on his taut bowstring. "Let 'em get a bit closer. Wait!"
Ballaw and his throwers released a salvo of javelins from over the right side of the fort.
The force on the left walltop had an idea where Felldoh and his troop were lying, they kept them well pinned down with arrows and slingstones. Ballaw's javelins caused disarray among them, and a weasel shrieked as he was struck in the side.
Young Juniper leaped up calling triumphantly, "Haha, that stopped
'em, they aaaargh!"
He fell with an arrow protruding from his chest. His friend, a young mouse named Yarrow, stood up, completely in shock. "They got Juniper. Look, there's an arrow sti-"
Keyla tackled him low around the footpaws. Yarrow fell, staring in amazement at the arrow that pierced his paw right through.
Felldoh was grim faced as he dragged Juniper's body to him. "Keep your heads down! Keyla, we've got to get out of here. Help Yarrow, I'll carry Juniper. Now all of you, crawl fast and stay low. Follow me!"
Badrang crouched below the parapet, straining the arrow against his taut bowstring as he watched Boggs scanning across the walltop.
The ferret dropped down by the Tyrant's side and nodded.
"They're very close now. We can pick 'em off like daisies!"
Badrang glared along at the archers ranged in a crouching row.
"We're not taking any prisoners. Kill them. Now!"
The five creatures went down like stones as the hail of barbed shafts hit them. Two more volleys followed, thudding into the bodies to make sure they were truly slain.
Badrang was shaking with exhilaration. "I only wish it had been day, then I could have watched the looks of surprise on their stupid faces!"
Ballaw took his fighters around the front and along the beach, meeting up with Felldoh and the others at the foot of the cliffs. The hare was in high good humor. "Top hole, wot! I think I could get to like this soldierin' life. We gave them a bally good lesson an' not one of us was harmed. How did it go with you, squirrel m'lad?"
Felldoh nodded towards the limp form on the ground. "Juniper was killed, Yarrow is wounded."
The exhilaration of victory left Ballaw and his command. "Poor little chap. Here I'll carry him."
It was a sad procession that made its way along the clifftops back to camp.
In the dawn light a group of horde soldiers gathered round the five carcasses shot full of arrows. Clogg watched the venomous look on Badrang's face and laughed humourlessly.
"You did well last night, matey. Slayed Hisk an' four of yer own.
Still, you could be forgiven fer the mistake. They're so covered in marshmud they could've been anybeast"
The Tyrant's paw shot to his sword, but then he thought better of it. Turning on his paw, he barked out an order as he stalked off. "Fleabane, Wulpp, make that slave dig five separate graves and bury that lot. Don't spare the rod, keep him busy!"
Rowanoak stood over the small grave that Felldoh and Ballaw had dug, as near to the cliff edge as the rocky ground would permit. Brome put the finishing touches to a herbal dressing and bandage on Yarrow's paw. "There, as good as new. How does that feel?" Yarrow lifted his paw up and down, wincing slightly. "Thank you, Brome. It still hurts a bit, but I'll live with it. Not like poor Juniper." He wiped away the bitter tears that flowed afresh on the bandage.
Brome threw a comforting paw around the young mouse. "Come on, let's go and say our farewells to him, Yarrow. Ballaw and Felldoh made him a nice resting place that will always stand free to the sunshine and wind, in sight of the sea."
The entire camp gathered round the grave. After a short ceremony, summer flowers were placed on the fresh filled in earth and Barkjon said some words.
"It is always sad when a young one who has not seen many seasons is taken from us. Juniper was such a mouse, cheerful and well loved by all. But he did not die in vain. This young one gave his life fighting tyranny, so that others in the seasons to come may live in peace and freedom. That is all I have to say. Would anybeast like to add a word or two?"
Felldoh stepped forward. He laid Juniper's sling and stones amid the flowers. "You were a brave fighter, Juniper. We will never forget you. Badrang and his horde will pay tenfold for your death!"
As the Fur and Freedom Fighters drifted away from the grave, Yarrow sat alone by the flowers, gazing numbly at the resting place of his friend. Brome caught up with Felldoh and motioned him to one side.
"That was not a goodbye to Juniper, it was an oath of vengeance.
How many more must die before you're satisfied?"
Felldoh's eyes were like rainswept pebbles as he answered, "As many as fate decrees, myself included. I will not rest until Badrang is dead and Marshank brought down!" He strode off in search of fresh lancewood.
Kastern watched them parting before going across to Brome. "Do not blame Felldoh, he feels for Juniper as much as you, Brome."
The young mouse shook his head. "No he doesn't, all he feels is that he must take revenge and carry on killing. He was my hero once, but now it's like talking to a strange beast. I don't know him any more."
Kastern watched the lone figure of Felldoh in the distance. "He is a warrior, and that is the way of warriors, just like the mouse Martin you are always talking about,"
Brome shouldered his healing kit. "If Martin is a warrior like Felldoh, then may the seasons help my sister Rose if she is still with him!"
33
It was as if the very air were enchanted. Martin, Grumm and Pallum followed Rose through serene woodlands quiet and high in the sun warmed afternoon. They had thankfully left the shrews in a backwater tributary of Broadstream. The creatures were arguing and squabbling over the remainder of the food and drink which Rose had given them because she wanted to travel fast and light. It was a forest as old as time, with a special feel about it, cool in the dark green shade, carpeted with a many flowered floor, shafted with golden rays casting their light on fern and bush. Velvety green moss was soft underpaw, and melodious birdsong was the only sound to filter through the variegated canopy of emerald and viridian green. Rose halted by a conical timeworn rock.