Barranca whooped triumphantly and, breaking free of his guards, he ran with open paws towards Rasconza.
"Ho, ho, yer a sight fer sore eyes, matey!" he cried.
As the corsairs threw themselves upon the ten Trident-rats, the fox grabbed Barranca in a tight embrace.
"Aye, Cap'n, yer worries are over now!" Rasconza said as, smiling slyly, he slew Barranca with a single knife thrust. Then, sheathing his blade quickly, he cried out, "They slew Cap'n Barranca, the scum! Finish 'em off, buckoes! I'll get Sagitar if'n it takes me last breath!"
He sped off after the Chief Trident-rat.
Sagitar threw a fleeting glance over her shoulder. The fox was hot on her trail. Stumbling and panting, the Trident-rat gained the hill summit and staggered southward, hoping to reach safety at the palace of Ublaz. Rasconza pursued her relentlessly, grinning as he closed in on his quarry.
Sagitar's paws felt leaden. She blew for breath as she started downhill. Chancing another quick look behind, she tripped and went rolling head over tail down the grassy slope. Rasconza bounded lightly alongside the Trident-rat until she came to rest, half in and half out of a gurgling stream.
Helpless and unarmed, Sagitar lay with the fox's knife at her throat, expecting no pity from him.
Rasconza flicked his bladepoint teasingly under her chin. "Well now, me beauty, what's t'be done with you?"
Sagitar broke into a sobbing whine. "Mercy, spare me!"
Standing upright, the fox kicked the Trident-rat contemptuously. "Quit yer snivelin', rat, I'd like nothin' better than t'gut ye, but I've got plans fer you, so lissen good!"
Wide-eyed with surprise, Sagitar lay staring upward at Rasconza as the devious fox relayed his information to her.
It was high noon of the following day. Ublaz sat atop the timber piled at the rear of his palace, and below him on the sunbaked ground Sagitar crouched, not daring to raise her eyes as she related the fox's message.
"Mightiness, the fox is called Rasconza. He said to tell you that it was he who slew Barranca and now he alone rules the rebel crews. Even now he is on his way here in the Bloodkeel. He wants to meet you tomorrow morning on the heights above the north inlet. You may bring armed guards with you. He says he wants to talk peace."
The Emperor whittled pensively at a sliver of wood with his silver dagger. "Rasconza, eh?" he said. "This fox sounds like one I could do business with. I think we'll take him up on his offer. Pick fifty of your best Trident-rats and a score of Monitors to accompany me. Oh, and Sagitar, you know what will happen should you ever fail me again?''
Avoiding the mad eyes, Sagitar stood trembling, head bowed. "Mightiness, I will never fail you again?"
Ublaz smiled thinly, his voice like oil flowing over ice. "I would hate to be in your skin if you did."
Chapter 17
Log a Log inspected Grath's longboat.
"You've got a couple o' boards cracked 'ere, matey," he announced. "I'll get some o' my shrews to turn 'er over an' we'll patch 'er up again."
The longboat had shipped water, and now she was over a quarter full. Six Guosim shrews heaved and huffed as they tried to turn the vessel over in the shingled cove.
Grath waved them aside. "Save yore strength, mates, I can do that."
She dismantled the mast and sail, placing them safe. Then digging her powerful paws under the shingle, she found a hold and lifted. In one move she turned the longboat upside down in a rush of water.
The shrew named Dabby wrinkled his nose in admiration. "Now that's wot I calls a strongbeast!"
Pine resin was melted over an open fire. Skillfully the Guosim applied it, alternating layers with tough vegetable fibers, until a proper repair was effected on the cracked boatribs. Other shrews had sewn and patched the torn sail, double-strengthening it on all four corners.
Finally, Grath set the longboat upright, and said, "Log a Log, I thank you and your Guosim for the help and kindness you've shown me. True friendship can't be properly expressed by just words, but, matey, I'll never ferget you!"
The shrew Chieftain kicked awkwardly at the pebbled shingle. "Oh, 'twas nothin', matewot use are friends if'n they can't 'elp one another? You be on yore way now, afore this tide ebbs. Trimp, Dimple, load those vittles aboard fer our mate!"
Two bags of provisions and a couple of canteens filled with drink were stowed under the stern seat. Aided by a gang of shrews, Grath pushed the longboat into the shallows and jumped aboard. Looking back at her newfound friends on the shore she sniffed and rubbed a paw across her eyes as she began setting the sail to catch the fine spring breeze.
Log a Log waded out and shook the lone otter's paw firmly. "Ahoy, what's all this? No time fer weepin' now, missie, the tide'll ebb away! Go on, off y'go, Grath, an' may good luck an' fair winds follow ye, matey!"
Heading out to catch the south current, Grath leaned over the stern, waving to the Guosim as they sang her on her way from the shore. Deep gruff shrew voices rang out across the waves into the bright sunny morn.
"Hey la ho, hey la ho,
Our hearts go with you where you go,
Hey la hey, hey la hey,
Maybe we'll meet again someday.
Like a feather on the breeze,
Blown to wander restlessly,
Out upon the open seas,
Travel speedily and free.
But as the earth turns,
And our fire burns,
And the moss grows on the lee,
When long day ends,
Think of old friends,
In whatever place you be.
Hey la ho, hey la ho,
Fortune follow you where e'er you go,
Hey la hey, hey la hey,
May sunlight warm your back upon the way."
Late afternoon sun cast lengthening shadows over Mossflower. A fire burned in a sheltered glade, and Lask Frildur sat warming his claws, watching his ten Monitors prowling restlessly around the two pitiful figures bound to the trunk of an elm. Long tongues snaking out, cold predatory eyes fixed on both mouse and bankvole, the lizards circled close.
Abbot Durral felt a scaly claw caress his footpaw; closing his eyes tight, he shuddered. Viola, rigid with terror, huddled as close to Father Abbot as her bonds would allow. Durral spoke reassuringly to her.
"Don't be frightened, little one, had they been going to harm us they would have done so long before now. We'll face them together and show them that Redwallers are brave creatures."
One of the Monitors brought his face close to Viola. She smelled the lizard's rancid breath as he bared sharp teeth and hissed, and she shrieked in fear.
The Monitor General far outstripped his lizards in size and strength. He bounded over and dealt the offending Monitor a savage blow with his tail that sent the reptile crashing into a nearby bush. Then turning to the others, Lask Frildur stood to his full height and snarled menacingly, “Eat birdz, eat fizhez, I zlay any who go near theze two!"
Abbot Durral addressed Lask in a reasonable and friendly tone. "Who are you, sir? Why have you bound us up like villains? We are creatures of peace ..."
The Monitor General rounded on him contemptuously. "Keep your ztupid mouth clozed, mouze!"
Viola plucked up her courage. "Don't you dare talk to him like that," she shouted shrilly at Lask. "He is Abbot Durral, the Father Abbot of all Redwall Abbey!"
A slow smile lit up the Monitor General's cold features. "Good, good, thiz iz very uzeful to me!"
Durral leaned back against the tree, sighing. “I wish you had not told him that, Viola. It has put both us and Redwall in a very dangerous position."
The volemaid wept bitterly at the realization of what she had done.
Durral was immediately sorry he had chided her. "Hush now, little one, here, turn your head and wipe your eyes on my sleeve. It wasn't your fault really, you are young and know nothing of situations like this. Hush now, don't cry."