feller me mouse, I haven't got time to stop and gossip with you. WeVe left the
settlement at last and I'm lookin' for the little hut that the Corim keep for
the likes of us."
The mousethief winked at Urthclaw and kissed Goody cheekily. "Ha, that place,
follow me, matey. I'll have you there in two shakes of a cat's whisker."
Goody shuddered. "I wish you wouldn't say things like that, you little rogue."
, But Gonif was not listening, he was skipping ahead with die little ones, who
thought it was all a huge adventure.
**Is it a nice place, Mr. Gonff?"
"Oh, passable. Better than the last place you were in."
"What's that under your jerkin, Mr. Gonff?"
"Never you mind now, young Spike. It's a secret."
"Is it very far, Mr. Gonff? I'm tired."
"Not far now, Posy me little dear. I'd carry you if it weren't for your
spikes."
17
Goody Stickle shook her head and smiled. She had always had a special soft
spot for Gonff.
The Corim hut was well hidden, deep enough into the forest to avoid immediate
discovery. Urthclaw said his goodbyes and trundled off to find his own kind.
Ben watched him go as Gonff lit the fire. He nodded fondly. "Good old
Urthclaw, he only stayed at the settlement because of us, I'm sure of it."
When the fire was burning red, Goody sat around it with Gonff and Ben. The
four baby hedgehogs poked their snouts from under the blankets to one side of
the hearth.
"Have you been stealing from Kotir again, Gonff? What did you pinch this
time?"
The mousethief laughed at Goody's shocked expression. He threw a wedge of
cheese over to the little ones. "It's not pinching or stealing if it comes out
of Kotir, mateys. It's called liberating. Here, get your whiskers around that
lot and get some sleep, the four of you."
Ben Stickle sucked on an empty pipe and stirred the burning logs with a
branch. "Gonff, I do wish you'd be careful. We can live on what we have until
spring arrives, Goody and I would never forgive ourselves if you got caught
taking cheese and wine inside that cat's castle."
Goodwife Stickle wiped her eyes on her flowery pinafore. "No more we wouldn't,
you young scallawag. Oh my spikes, I dread to think what'd "appen if those
varmin catchered you, Gonff."
Gonff patted her very carefully. "There, there, Goody. What's a bite of food
and a warm drink between mateys? The young uns need their nourishment.
Besides, how could I ever forget the way that you and Ben brought me up and
cared for me when I was only a little woodland orphan?"
Ben took a sip of the wine and shook his head. "You be careful, all the same,
and remember what the Corim rule is; bide your time and don't let 'em catch
you. One day we'll win old Mossflower back."
Goody sighed as she went about making porridge for the next morning's
breakfast. "Fine words, but we're peaceable creatures. How we're ever goin* to
win our land back against all those trained soldiers is beyond me."
Gonff topped up Ben Stickle's beaker with elderberry wine
18
and gazed into the flickering flames, his normally cheerful face grim. "I'll
tell you this, mateys: the day will come when something will happen to change
all this, you wait and see. Some creature who isn't afraid of anything will
arrive in Mossflower, and when that day arrives we'll be ready. We'll pay that
filthy gang of vermin and their wildcat masters back so hard that they'll
think the sky has fallen on them."
Ben rubbed his-eyes tiredly. "A hero, eh. Funny you should say that. I thought
I saw just such a one earlier tonight. Ah, but he's probably dead or in the
dungeons by now. Let's get some sleep. I'm bone weary."
The little hut was an island of warmth and safety in the night, as the howling
north wind drove snowflakes before it, whining and keening around the gaunt
trees of winter-stricken Mossflower.
19
4
Struggling wildly between two stoats, the captive mouse was dragged into the
bedchamber. He was secured by a long rope, which the guards tried to keep taut
as he dodged and jumped, scratched and bit, first letting the rope go slack,
then dashing forward so the two guards were pulled together, as they collided
he leaped upon them, biting and kicking despite the rope that pinned his paws
to his sides. A ferret guard from the door came running in to help. Between
the three of them they managed to pin the warlike mouse upon the floor. They
lay on top of him, trying to avoid the butting head and nipping teeth. The
mouse was breathing heavily, his eyes flashing reckless defiance at his
captors.
Verdauga sat up straight, sleep forgotten as he questioned the two stoats.
"Make your report. What have we got here?"
One of the stoats freed his paw and threw a quick salute. "Lord, this one was
caught within the bounds of your lands. He is a stranger, and goes armed."
A weasel marched in and placed the traveler's ancient rusty sword at the foot
of the bed.
Verdauga looked from under hooded lids at the sword and the sturdy young mouse
upon the floor. "It is against my law to carry arms or to trespass upon my
domain."
The mouse struggled against his captors, shouting out in a loud, angry voice,
"I didn't know it was your land, cat. Tell
20
your guards to take their claws off and release me. You have no right to
imprison a freeborn creature."
Verdauga could not help but admire the obvious courage of the prisoner. He was
about to speak, when Tsarmina grasped the battered sword and stood over the
captive with the point at his throat. "You insolent scum! Quick now, what is
your name? Where did you steal this rusty relic?"
As the guards pinned the struggling mouse down, his voice shook with fury. "My
name is Martin the Warrior. That sword was once my father's, now it is mine. I
come and go as I please, cat. Is this the welcome you show travelers?"
Tsarmina forced Martin's head back with the sword-point. "For a mouse, you
have far too much to say to your betters," die said contemptuously. "You are
in Mossflower country now; all the land you can see on a clear day's march
belongs tp us by right of conquest. My father's law says that none are allowed
to go armed save his soldiers. The penalty for those who break the law is
death."
She beckoned the guards with a sleek catlike movement. "Take him away and
execute him."
Lord Greeneyes' voice halted the guards as he turned to his son. "Gingivere,
have you nothing to say? What shall we do with this mouse?"
^ "Some say that ignorance of the law is no excuse," Gingivere answered
without raising his voice. "Even so, it would be unjust to punish Martin; he
is a stranger and could not be expected to know of us or our laws. Also, it
would be too easy for us to slay him. He seems an honest creature to me. If &
were my decision I would have him escorted from our territory, then given his
weapon. He would know better than to come back again."
Verdauga looked from son to daughter. "Now I will give yon my decision. There
are enough cowards in the world Wftfiout killing a brave creature for so
little reason. This Martin is a true warrior. On the other side of the scales,
if we to allow him to roam free as the wind on our land, this be read as a
sign of our weakness. It is my judgment he be put in the cells to coot his
paws awhile. After a he can be set free, provided he is never again so rash
trespass in my domain."
21
Snap!
Everyone present heard the sharp report. Furious at being overruled, Tsarmina