Relieved to be out of the action, Egbert smiled. “There are many secret ways. Follow any of the tunnels and you are bound to come out in some part of Castle Floret.
Dandin unsheathed his long dagger. “Thats good enough for me. Lets go!
Heading a band of horderats, Silvamord waited in the corridor that led to the gatehouse stairs. She fanned smoke from her nostrils as Mingol lit another barrel of wet straw.
“Send it down to the gatehouse, Mingol. They must be well choked in there by now, but its best to be certain.
Mingol kicked the barrel, and it rolled off down the corridor. Bouncing down three small steps, it hit the wall and vanished from view as it trundled off down the gatehouse steps. Silvamord ran her tongue delicately along the edge of a vicious-looking curved sword.
“I hope at least one of them staggers out still alive!
Muta was very much alive. She came thundering into the corridor carrying the burning barrel and hurled it straight at Silvamord and her rats. They leaped aside with cries of horror as the barrel smashed to staves and the mighty badger came at them, smoke pouring from her fur.
Rab had been into the gatehouse and rescued Mariel. Carrying her across his brawny shoulders, the otter made it to the portion of the corridor on the far side of the stairs. Depositing the gasping mousemaid gently on the floor beside a window, Rab left her there to recover. Then, sword in paw, he launched himself into the attack.
The corridor was a melee of smoke and noise. Silvamord had gotten over her initial shock, and now she urged her rats on in front of her, staying well distanced from the two creatures she feared most.
“Rush them! she screamed. “Hack them to bits, theyre well outnumbered!
Rab and Muta were separatedboth had their backs to opposite walls. The otter fought with berserk fury, his blade flickering as it sought, thrust and parried. Muta had a winding handle and a barrel stave as weapons, and any rat who came in range was smashed flat by a swinging blow from either one. The badger fought with the strength of ten.
Through the smoke and chaos Silvamord could see that the pair would not last. She dropped to the back of the pack, striking out with the flat of her swordblade as she urged the horderats on. “Keep at them, weve got them, press in on them!
Mariel stuck her head out of the window and gulped down clean, fresh air. She rested a moment, regaining her balance. A sound of running caused her to pull her head in and look down the corridor. Reinforcements under the command of Crutch were coming to help Silvamord from the opposite direction. Galvanized into action, the mouse-maid unlooped the knotted rope from around her body. Thwack Whock!
The first two rats fell to her Gullwhacker as Mariel whirled it in the teeth of the oncoming foe.
“Redwaaaaallll!
Faced with overwhelming odds, the mousemaids warrior spirit rose; the hard, knotted rope end was everywhere like a blur. Foerats tripped over their fallen comrades as they tried to get at her. Teeth flew, heads cracked, and limbs splintered as Mariel of Redwall made her stand.
The smoke was beginning to clear under the trampling paws of horderats. Silvamord could see that the hard-pressed trio had only moments to survive under the numbers that assailed them. Waving her sword she pressed forward crying, “Dont stop! Get in there! Kill them!
Dandin emerged from behind a wall tapestry to find himself in a broad passage, broken at intervals by short flights of steps. Iris and Meldrum held the tapestry aside as the rest of the otters came out of the secret tunnel. Dandin suddenly held up a paw for silence. Echoing along the stone hallway came a faint cry.
“Redwaaaaalll!
Breaking into a headlong dash, he tore off shouting, “This way, its Mariel! Redwaaaaaaalllll!
Taking up the Abbey war cry, the small force followed him at a flat-out run.
The rear followers of Grutchs command were hit hard and fast by the charge. Dandin came vaulting in on a spear, flattening a rat as he took up position alongside Mariel. Swinging the Gullwhacker full in a rats face she yelled at Dandin over the noise of combat, “Get help to Muta and Rab. Quickly!
But there was little need for the mousemaids plea. Iris tore past them, wreaking havoc with a broken javelin as she screamed with joy.
“Rab! Rab Streambattle! Its me, Iris!
Suddenly, Rabs swordblade was revolving like a windmill in a gale as he fought his way toward her, the words ripping unbidden from his throat.
“Iris! Iris!
Meldrum battered his way with a pike until he was at Mutas side. The old campaigner winked at her. “Right, here we go, back to back now. Bet I wipe out more vermin than you do, marm, wot?
The big badger took up the challenge with a grunt. Placing her back flat against the hares, she moved with him. They were unassailable, a complete fighting machine.
Silvamord saw the tide turning against her. She was puzzled as to how the intruders came to be inside Floret, but not unduly worried. There were still lots more horde-rats at her disposal. Slipping away from the rear of her contingent she hurried up to the battlements, where most of her force were stationed to sweep the valley floor with their bows.
“Sicant, Hooktail, get every rat here down to the gatehouse corridor. Follow me!
Muta, Rab, and Mariel were safe among the otters. They regrouped in the corridor. The horderats milled about on the other side farther up, uncertain of what to do without somebeast to lead them. Rab Streambattle soon made up their minds for them. Exercising his new-found voice, he led what remained of the small rescue force against the foebeast.
“Chaaaarge!
The rats took one look at the howling warriors leaping over battle debris and fallen bodies, and panic set in. They broke and ran off in retreat.
Eyes blazing, weapons swinging, the avengers came after them, with Mariel, Dandin, Rab, Iris, Meldrum, and Muta in the lead.
34
Urgan Nagru stood on the wooded hillside, sword and dagger drawn. His chest heaved with exertion as he gazed around at the silent trees. “Ill find them; theyve got to be here somewhere!
A rat Captain named Blade tail slashed the undergrowth with his spear. “The way they were running, Sire, Id bet theyre right out of Southsward heading north now.
“They can run to the gates of dark ice, Ill still find them and put an end to it all. Nagru began walking uphill resolutely. “I never left an enemy alone in my life until victory was mine. Deadbeasts never come back to fight again, remember that, Bladetail!
The rat Captain recalled Muta and Rab but held his silence. Nagru was in a killing mood. All along the hillsides horderats began moving upward with their leader. Nagru pointed his dagger at one rat. “Viglim, scout ahead; get up on top and see if you can pick up their trail. Look sharp!
Viglim saluted and dashed off ahead. Two horderats toiling side by side climbed upward; they watched Viglim reach the top, and then he was lost to sight.
One of the rats slowed to regain his breath. “I think were chasin* shadows; theyre long gone.
His companion pushed on, replying as he went, “Thatll suit me; anythin fer an easy life, mate. Though weve got to wait until Nagru gets tired of the chase.
Nagru was nearly at the top, when a scream caused him to look upward. This was followed by a noise like a thousand dull drums. Viglim came toppling back downhill, a small circular object rolling behind him. Letting the body of Viglim roll past him, the Foxwolf trapped the circular object with his footpaw. He picked it up, inspected it, and passed it to Bladetail, saying, “What do you make of this?
“Sire, it looks like an old stale oatcake, though its too hard for that. Maybe its some kind of rock. Whats that noise up above?
Nagru quickened his pace. “Well soon find out. Lets take a look.