“Front rank archers and stingers. Fire!
“Over there, you fools! Fire higher!
“There! There! Cant you see them?
“Advance out onto the drawbridge; cut down the range!
The mousemaid waited until forty or fifty archers and slingers were halfway out onto the open drawbridge, then she turned to her two silent companions.
“Take the drawbridge up. Quick!
Glad to be doing something, the two beasts threw themselves upon the turning handles. The drawbridge went up like a rocket under their joint berserk strength.
Mariel watched in delight as screaming rats slid backward, though most tried clinging to the rough wood. She let her paw fall in a chopping motion. “Down drawbridge!
Leaping clear of the handles, Rab and Muta kicked the trip lever. There was an earsplitting squeal and the handles spun in a blur, followed by a loud thud as the drawbridge crashed back down. Three rats were flung into the moat, the others lay stunned and groaning. Muta played with the winding handle like a toy, lifting and dropping the massive structure in small movements. It was a clear warning to the horde that they would not be allowed to use the drawbridge. Nagru was beside himself with fury.
“A mousemaid and two half-baked casualties controlling the only entrance or exit to my castle. Never! Grutch, take archers up to the south battlements; they should be able to send arrows through the gatehouse window from there!
The Foxwolf looked around until his eyes rested on a hulking horderat, far taller and stronger built than most. “Lumba, take fifty good fighters, use armor, spears, and shields, and take the gatehouse. Smash the door and bring me the heads of those three beasts. Silvamord, take a third of our entire force up onto the battlementsit will be much easier to fire on the enemy from there.
The vixens tailed skirts swished as she turned. “Where will you be while all this is going on?
Nagru pointed downward with the iron claws of his wolf pelt. “Right here with the rest of my horde. We must defend this open gateway night and day until the gatehouse is recaptured.
Silvamord signaled her approval.
“Thats more like the Foxwolf of old. At last youre beginning to use that brain like a true commander.
Dandin lay behind a rock with Meldrum and Iris, watching the activity taking place within the open portal on the plateau. “Theyre up to something, and I have a feeling in my stomach its not going to do us much good, he said.
Meldrum the Magnificent squinted up at the figures beginning to appear on the battlements. “That blighters doin what any sensible General should do. Gettin them up high where they can sweep this valley floor with their arrows. Well be pinned down an1 slaughtered if we dont do somethin soon.
The three ducked behind the rock as a short cloud of arrows zipped down from the battlements. Somewhere close by there was a strangled cry as an otter fell to one of the shafts. Iris gnawed her lip anxiously, saying, “Weve got to stay here and face it out until help arrives. Ive been thinkingMariel cant be alone in that gatehouse. She couldnt raise and lower the drawbridge on her own.
They kept their heads low as another salvo of arrows quivered into the ground around them. Iris pulled one out, fitted it to her bow, and returned fire. She lay watching the path of her arrows trajectory in disgust.
“We have to shoot upward; theyre out of our range. That arrow didnt get anywhere near em!
Meldrum loosed a swift shaft in the direction of the drawbridge and was rewarded by a distant squeal. “Good job we can still reach those villains in the gateway, isnt it? Fire away, chaps. Keep yheads down an defend our position. Give as good as we get; thats what I always say, wot?
An arrow hummed by MarieFs cheek, bounced off the wall, and fell to the floor. She glanced at the window and threw herself flat against the side wall.
“Muta, Rab, over heretheyre on the battlements firing in at us. Get against this wall; its on their blind side.
As the two warriors joined her, more arrows zipped in. Then the door began shuddering under the impact of some heavy object. “Look out, theyre knocking at the door! Mariel groaned.
Gael Squirrel king stood with his paws around Queen Se-rena and his son Truffen. The little squirrel felt his fathers paw shake with emotion as he gazed around the crowded sward in front of Furpps dwelling. Squirrels crowded everywhere carrying bows, slings, and spears. A graying elder approached the King; bowing low, he placed his forehead against Gaels footpaw.
“Majesty, we thought you were dead, but you live and all of Southsward is glad of this.
Gael raised the oldster up. “Weldan, my old friend, how did you find me here?
“Word is abroad of your escape. I have brought two hundred; they will not rest until you regain the royal house of Floret and the murderer Urgan Nagru lies slain. This I vow!
Serena was about to reply when drumrolls and shouting broke out behind the squirrels.
“Make way an stan aside for the recruitin party! Bowly Pintips and his party marched up in grand style. Furpp gave an elaborate flourish of his broom, halting them in front of the royal family. Serena came forward and took the young hedgehogs paws fondly.
“Bowly, my young warrior, she said, “where have you been?
He swept a nonchalant paw at the dunes around. “Thither an yon, Majesty, recruitin. Watch this!
To the north a dunetop suddenly bristled with hedgehogs brandishing warclubs. Another wave from Bowlys paw, and a crowd of yelling mice carrying long pikes appeared on a dune to the south. Serena clapped her paws with joy. “What wonderful recruiting!
Bowly tossed an oatcake into the air and caught it neatly. “Oh, that aint all. Watch this! he cried.
He took the broom from Furpp and waved it at a hilltop next to the one the mice stood on. An instant roar went up as masses of moles appeared, each one armed with mace and chain. Furpp took one of the mole drums and banged out an irregular rat-tat. Between the hills marched another fourscore moles carrying oaken mallets.
Bowly and Furrp stood with the leveret squad as Gael and his family thanked them personally. The Squirrelking took the broom from Furpp and climbed the dune above the moles dwelling. He held the broom aloft, its twig bristles pointing at the sky.
“Friends, good creatures all, I thank you for rallying to me, and this, your standard. It is only an ordinary broom, but it will be the symbol of our army. This will show those who try to conquer and enslave us that ordinary things can become very dangerous, like this broom. Where it is raised aloft you will follow and wait. When it falls with the broomhead down, then we shall sweep! We shall sweep out the evil of Foxwolf and make Souths-ward clean to live in again!
Gael let the broomhead fall, and the hills shook to a mighty roar.
“Free Southswaaaaaard!
The army took off like a hurricane, headed for Castle Floret with Bowly in the vanguard. Racing alongside the tribal leaders were hedgehogs, moles, mice, otters, and squirrels. With the broom waving high in his paws, Bowly yelled his war cries to the four winds. He was a warrior!
31
Another heavy blow to the gatehouse door caused it to tremble and splinter. Mariel stood with her back against the wall, knowing she was not going to refuse the two dumb creatures who stood staring at her pleadingly. She nodded toward the door, saying, “Somebeast ought to stop them smashing it in ...
Lumba backed up the stairs, heading the group that carried the battering ram. He was confident that the next charge would burst a way through into the gatehouse.
“Last time nowgive it all youve got. One, two, charge!
Ten rats were carrying the ram. They sped down the stairs with the other forty close on their heels.