All three gazed at the parchment scrap, cudgeling their brains for inspiration.
Wullger the otter gatehouse-keeper was in the process of cleaning out his small domain. He opened the gatehouse door wide and began sweeping about with a heather-topped broom. So pleasant was the aroma of the heather that he took his own good time, brushing diligently in every corner and singing a song as he went about his chore.
"There was an otter by a stream,
Come ringle dum o lady,
Who fell asleep and had a dream,
All on the bank so shady.
He dreamt the stream was made of wine,
It flowed along so merry,
And when he drank it tasted fine,
Like plum and elderberry.
And all the banks were made of cake,
Come ringle ding my dearie,
As nice as any cook could bake,
That otter felt quite cheery.
He drank and ate with right good will,
Till wakened by his daughter.
She said, T hope you've had your fill,
Of mud and cold streamwater!'
Come ringle doo fol doodle day,
Come wisebeast or come witty,
A fool who dreams to dine that way,
Must waken to self-pity."
The three friends on the wallsteps outside heard Wullger's song clearly; they shook their heads and chuckled. As Wullger emerged sweeping dust in front of him, Craklyn called down, That's a good ditty, I've never heard it before."
The old otter smiled up at the squirrelmaid. "I'm glad you liked it, missie, 'tis a song that's been passed down through my family. If you like I'll teach ye the lines .. ."
Tansy leapt up, yelling, "The lines, it's the lines!"
Wullger stared in amazement at the three creatures dancing paw in paw on the wallsteps as they chanted together, "The lines, the lines, it's the lines!"
He shrugged and went indoors to continue his cleaning. "Maybe when yore not so busy dancin' an' chantin' I'll learn ye the song."
Tansy scanned the poem's first line.
"There is a warrior, that's line one, so one of one must mean the first word or the first letter of the line. What d'you think, Rollothe first word or the first letter?"
The Recorder was quite definite which it was. "It has to be the letter, one of one. Because the second clue states eight of two, but there's only four words in the second line, so we're looking for enough letters to make a word."
Tansy read out the lines, Craklyn counted the letters and Rollo scraped each letter upon the sandstone step with his quill knife.
"There is a warrior. One of line one. Letter T.
Where is a sword. Eight of line two. Letter A.
Peace did he bring. One of line three. Letter P.
The fighting Lord. Three of line four. Letter E.
Shed for him is my fifth tear. One of line five. Letter S.
Find it in the title here. Six of line six. Letter T.
Written in but a single word. Two of line seven. Letter R.
An eye is an eye, until it is heard. Four of line eight. Letter Y."
The friends sat but for a brief moment, looking at the word Rollo had scratched upon the step. Then Craklyn and Tansy dashed off towards the Abbey, with Rollo hobbling behind as they yelled, "The tapestry!"
Chapter 39
Sagitar did as she was bidden. Late night lay still and heavy from the day's tropical heat when she arrived at the Emperor's throne room. Six Trident-rats accompanied her, each one armed with a bow and quiver of shafts. Ublaz awaited them, clad regally in an umber robe bordered with silver filigree work and wearing a turban of dark green with silver fringes.
At the center of the room a small wooden log stood on its end. Ublaz directed the archers, one to each corner of the vast room, one by the window and one by the door. Moving himself and Sagitar out of the line of fire, he instructed the archers.
"I have raised my paw, thus. When I drop it you will shoot at the log. I want to see six arrows sticking from the log. Arm your bows and await my signal."
There was a swift rattle of wood as the rats set shafts to their bowstrings. Ublaz saw they were ready; he dropped his paw.
Ssssssthunk!
Six arrows thudded into the log before it fell, propped up by two of the shafts. The Emperor's mad eyes creased into a smile. "Excellent! Sagitar will show you your positions. Be watchful and stay well hidden. Tomorrow you will see me meeting with the fox Rasconza. As I move towards him I will hold up my paw in greeting. When I let it drop I will also fall flat to the ground. That is your signal to shoot the arrows. I need not tell you that all six shafts must find their mark, or none of you will be alive to see the sunset. Finish the task properly and you will all be well rewarded. Go now!"
Bowing low, the archers followed Sagitar out.
Down in the small cellar chamber Ublaz donned his crown with its six pearl spaces still empty. He held the torch level, watching as the coral snake slithered sinuously out of its water trough, glimmering gold in the torchlight. Gliding effortlessly across the floor, it reared dangerously in front of him, mouth open and fangs bared, beady eyes focused on him as he started to sway and chant in dirgelike tones.
"Golden guardian of my wealth,
Hear me now, be still,
Deathly fang and coiling stealth,
Bend unto my will."
The snake hissed, its dark flickering tongue vibrating as it drew back to strike. The eyes of Ublaz grew wider as he kept up his steady chant, swaying, swaying. Then the snake began to move in unison with Ublaz, weaving smoothly to and fro as he swayed.
Gradually the pine marten exercised his power over the serpent; it sank down into bunched coils, both eyes filming over, the venomous mouth relaxed and closed. Ublaz stroked the snake's head once, then turned and departed the room. The two guards on the door could hear his voice echoing back down the stairway as he made his way back to the throne room.
“ None can stand against Ublaz, my eyes conquer all, my will is stronger than that of any living thing. I rule, others obey!"
Midday sun burned like a great blazing eye upon the shallow valley in the center of Sampetra. On the ridge of a rolling hill searats and corsairs crowded, watching the lone figure of Rasconza standing bold and unarmed, awaiting the arrival of his adversary.
Atop the opposite hill a regiment of Trident-rats was marshaled. Ublaz left his position at their center and made his way down towards the fox. Wisely, Rasconza kept his eyes averted slightly to one side as the pine marten approached. Less than a dozen paces from Rasconza, Ublaz threw up his paw and called out in a voice laden with false cheer, "Ah, Rasconza, there you are, friend. Greetings!"
Now Ublaz was less than four paces away; he fell to the ground.
Silence. Looking up, he saw Rasconza, eyes still averted, chuckling.
"You got to watch yore step round 'ere, matey," said the fox, " 'tis dangerous ground. Only last night six rats tripped an' fell on their arrows, but they could be pardoned fer bein' clumsy, 'cos it was still dark."
Ublaz leapt up and was dashing back toward his regiment as Rasconza waved to the sea vermin and roared, "Charge!"
They poured down from the hill, cheering and shouting as they brandished a fearsome assortment of weaponry.
Surrounded by his Trident-rats, Ublaz fled back to the palace in shameless disorder. Robbed of his surprise plan, the pine marten was seething with rage. He broke clear and dashed ahead of his regiment's panicked retreat. Far speedier than any of the Trident-rats, Ublaz raced on with one thought uppermost in his mind. Had Rasconza secretly sent a force round in a wide sweep, to gain control of the palace? He had left it with only Sagitar and the remaining Monitors to guard it.
The first wild rush of the Wave Brethren subsided to a steady lope as, still yelling bloodcurdling cries, they continued in Ublaz's wake. Rasconza jogged along in their midst, a villainous smile fixed on his wily face as he called out to Groojaw and Buckla.