damson preserve and mugs of cold creamy milk.
"Mmmff, lookit those otters and squirrels packin* it away. You'd think they
was a-goin' away nigh on three seasons," Ben Stickle mumbled through a
mouthful of hot scone.
Goody topped up his beaker with milk. "Listen to the leaf a-callin* the grass
green. You're worse'n any of 'em, Ben Stickle. Just you mind those two liddle
'ogs of mine don't go 'ungry. See they gets their rations."
Skipper tucked a spare scone in his sling pouch. "Don't
126
fret your head, marm. They'll both take on a cargo of vittles afore evenin'
bell."
Lady Amber raised her tail and waved it. "Righto. Form up, woodlanders
carrying provisions in the center, squirrels and otters forming guard on
flanks and scouting ahead. Martin, your party can walk with us part of the
way."
The sun was not yet up as they left Brockhall through the still slumbering
forest. Both parties stole silently into the trees, waving goodbye to Bella,
Abbess Germaine and Goody Stickle, who stood on the sward outside Brockhall.
The old Abbess tucked her paws into the long sleeves of her habit. "Let us
hope that both parties are successful."
Goody Stickle blinked back a tear. "Let's 'ope my Ferdy and Coggs gets their
proper nourishment."
Bella watched the last of the party vanishing into the thicknesses of
Mossflower.
"Aye, and let us hope that Martin can bring back my father, Boar the Fighter,
to save us all and free us from the vermin of Kotir."
It was close to midday. Scratch and Ciudd lay beneath an old hornbeam. All
around the troops lay hidden, most of them sleeping soundly. Cludd had spotted
one or two soldiers and was about to recall them to duty with his spearbutt,
when Scratch suddenly put a claw to his lips for silence and pointed to a
break in the trees.
The woodlanders marched by the sleeping soldiers, unaware that they were being
watched. Skipper strode boldly in the lead, twirling his sling. Some of the
otters had relieved the carriers of their loads. They strolled along,
conversing with the Loarahedge mice. In the middle terraces of sycamore, plane
and elm, Lady Amber swung from bough to limb with her archers.
Scratch and Cludd watched the passage of the curious band in silence. Cludd
hoped that none of the soldiers would waken noisily; he could practically
taste reward and promotion. Rubbing his paws together in excitement, he nudged
his companion.
"By the claw, that lot can only be headed to one place— Rotir. Wait'11 the
Queen hears about this, eh, Scratch."
127
As he rose, Scratch shoved him roughly back down. "Ssshh! Look over there."
Coming through the trees in a slightly different direction, Martin, Dinny and
Gonff marched along a path that would take them due west, skirting Kotir on
its south side. Columbine had walked with Gonff, but now their paths were to
part and she hurried away to join the others. As Cludd watched he made a
mental note to pay Scratch back for banging his nose down into the dirt.
Unaware of his Captain's displeasure, Scratch listened to the strains of Gonff
singing his farewell to Columbine as she waved to him with a kerchief.
Goodbye, Columbine.
Now your path and mine
Must part in the woods of Mossflow'r.
Keep a lookout each day,
For I '11 be back this way,
In the noontide or cool evening hour.
Scratch cackled. Fluttering his eyelids, he picked a daisy and sniffed it
gustily. "Aaahh, isn't that romantic, now? The young mouse singing farewell to
his sweetnear . . . ouch!"
Cludd rapped him smartly between the ears with the flat of his spearblade.
"Shut your trap, nitwit. D'you want the whole forest to hear you? Those three
aren't going to Kotir. Oh no, they're bound for somewhere else. Now listen,
greasy ears, here's what I want you to do. Take two others and follow them.
Don't let them out of your sight. Find out where they're going and why, then
report back to me."
Scratch rubbed the top of his head indignantly. "Oh yes. Go off and follow
those three. Who knows where they're going, or how long it'll take? Huh, you
must think all the acorns have dropped off my tree, Cludd. I know where you'll
be, mate—grabbing all the glory for yourself. 'Yes three, Milady, no Milady,
three bags full Milady. I saw them first. Milady, so IVe sent daft old Scratch
off chasing the odd three.' Hoho, I'm on to your little game, weasel."
Cludd seized Scratch roughly by the ear and began twisting savagely. "So! Open
rebellion, eh, Scratch. Now listen to me, you scruffy half-baked excuse for a
soldier, if I have to report your disobedience to Her Majesty, she'll have you
128
staked out on the parade ground for eagle meat, d'you hear me? Now get going,
wormbrain. Here, you two, Blacktooth ferret and Splitnose stoat, grab weapons
and supplies. Go with Scratch. Jump to it, that's a direct order from me." The
sulky-looking trio skulked off, muttering. "Old bossy boots Cludd, eh."
"Huh, how he ever got to be Captain, I'll never know." "Take that spear away
and he'd fall over flat on his nose." "Aye, Tsarmina's pet, the baby-hedgehog
catcher." Cludd waited until they were gone, then shouldered his spear.
"Right, me laddos. Up on your paws. We'll take the shortcut north back to the
garrison, then Milady can arrange a warm welcome for her woodland visitors."
Cludd put the remainder of his force into a swift jog trot. Soon the spot
where the three paths had crossed was deserted as the last soldier vanished
into the bright leafy shades of Mossflower.
Toward evening, Tsarmina grew restless. She had the two prisoners brought up
from the cells. The wildcat Queen was reluctant to admit to herself that she
could not get the better of two little hedgehogs. Hunger, she decided, was a
great tongue-loosener.
Ferdy and Coggs stood before her, their eyes riveted to the 1)ig tray of
crystallized fruit and nuts.
Tsarmina popped one neatly into her mouth, delicately licking the sticky sugar
coating from her claws one by one.
"Mmm, delicious! I'll wager that either one of you two young 'uns could eat
this entire tray in one go. Come on,
•BOW. Don't be shy. First to talk a bit of sense gets them all." Coggs licked
his lips. Ferdy grasped his paw and spoke
oat for them both.
"Huh, I'd swap all that lot for just one slice of our mum's
apple pie."
Tsarmina smiled winningly. "Of course you would. I sup-
|X)se your mum makes the best apple pie in all Mossflower?"
j; Coggs wiped his damp whiskers with the back of a paw.
^**Oh, I'll say she does. Hot out of the oven, with fresh cream
boured on until it floats."
I Tsarmina nodded agreeably. "Lovely. That's just the way
| like it. By the way, what do they call your mother?"
•
no
Ferdy was caught completely off guard. "Goody."
"Goody what?" The wildcat Queen kept up a friendly purr.
Coggs kicked Ferdy and interrupted, "Goody, goody. We love our mum's apple
pie, and that's all weVe got to say!"
Tsarmina scowled irritably and pushed the tray of sweetmeats away. "Guards!
Take these two little fools and lock them up again. They'll learn what hunger
is a week from now."
As they were marched off, Coggs shouted bravely, "Aye, and you'll see how
woodland warriors can still behave two weeks from now, cat."
Far below at the prison window bars, Chibb earnestly discussed the new plan
with Gingivere.