Viola was first to spot the glow lighting the night sky from the southwest. "There goes the signal, burn the ships!" she yelled to Welko.
The shrew already had a fire lit in a brazier aboard Barranca's former vessel, Freebooter. Holding five torches ready, he shouted back to Viola who was descending from the hilltop. "Hurry up, miss, get aboard Freebooter with me!"
The bankvole did as she was bidden, though slightly mystified by the odd procedure. "We shouldn't be hanging about aboard this craft," she said. "You've got to set fire to it. What are you up to, Welko?"
The Guosim shrew indicated the other ships. "Those're the ones I'm goin' to burn, miss, they're ole tubs, just like Waveworm. But this Freebooter, now this's wot I call a real ship. Look at the lines o' her, the beam, draft, sails. This craft's a real flyer, nothin' in all the seas could catch the spray of 'er wake when she's in full sail, I'll wager. We'll burn the other five an' wait fer them aboard this'un. Grath knows about ships, she'll agree with me."
Viola thrust the five torches into the brazier. “I suppose you know best. Come on, we'll go to the last vessel in line and make our way back here, setting fire to each ship as we go."
Inside the palace Martin rushed to the throne room door to help Grath. Backed by a score of Monitors, Ublaz was coming up the stairs. The pine marten had not expected anybeast to be inside his palace. On seeing Martin at the stairhead, waiting with drawn sword, Ublaz did a swift about-face. Pushing his way through the Monitors on the staircase, he cried, "It's only a mouse and an otter, slay them! Charge!"
The Warriormouse knew that to conquer the palace he must first deal with its ruler. Hurling himself down the stairs he roared, "Redwaaaaaaaallllll!"
But Ublaz was gone and Martin found himself surrounded by lizards. With battle light blazing in his eyes and a warcry on his lips, the Warriormouse swung his mighty blade on the crowded staircase. Monitors crowded upon him, pushed forward by the momentum of those behind, teeth bared, tongues flickering, hissing viciously as they sought to bring their long spears into play. The fabled blade of Redwall whirled into them, hacking, scything and slashing through spearhafts.
Grath stood quivering at the stairhead. "Martin, come back, I can't get a clear shot with my arrows while yore down there. Fight yore way back!"
Clecky sailed past her and went bounding down to Martin's aid.
"Eulaliaaaaaaa!"
In a flash he was back to back with the Warriormouse, and they fought their way upward together. The hare's huge scimitar matched Martin's sword, blow for blow, as they struck at scaly flesh, ripping claws, snapping teeth and baleful reptilian heads. When they came within reach, Grath and Inbar hauled them up by the backs of their tunics. Martin's eyes were glazed over with a red mist of battle fury. Inbar broke the spell by shouting into his face, "Go and take care of your Father Abbot!"
From somewhere behind the Monitors, Ublaz could be heard bawling hoarsely, "Charge! Rip them to bits! Charge!"
Long spears bristling, the Monitors pressed up the stairs. Grath Longfletch already had a green-plumed arrow on her bowstring. She glanced coolly at Inbar Trueflight. "Let's see 'ow good y'are with those red-feathered shafts o' yores, mate. Ready?''
Though Inbar was frightened of the big lizards scrambling up the stairs toward them, he found himself suddenly pouring shaft after shaft into their ranks. He roared at the top of his lungs to match his companion's warshout, and their cries mingled: "Ruddariiiiing! Holt Lutraaaaaaa!"
Clecky held up the chain that was holding the Abbot fettered to the wall. "Confounded manacle, and we haven't even got a blinkin' key to release the poor old buffer!"
Martin, still quivering for action and in the grip of a berserk rage, gritted his teeth savagely. "Keep your paws wide and hold that chain tighter!"
Sssshraaaakkk!
The great sword flashed once through the air, its momentum causing the steel to whine like a tornado through ice.
Clecky stared at the severed chain hanging from his paws. "Great seasons o' fur'n'famine! You don't dally about when you swing that blade, old scout! Well done that, warrior!"
Rasconza had massed his vermin at the foot of a low hill. Weapons bristled around him like a field of corn.
"Come on, buckoes," he cried, "let's put Mad Eyes" lights out!"
A panicked screech rang out from Gancho on the hilltop. "Fire! Fire at the cove! Some dirty scum's settin' light to our fleet! Fire!"
Like a wave, the vermin turned and swept up the hill. They jabbered and clamored, pointing to the blazing red glow that lit up the night sky over the northwest inlet.
"Gancho's right, 'tis fire!"
"Aye, an' it could only be the ships!"
"Right, mate, there ain't nothin' else that big to set up a light like that! 'Tis our fleet right enough!"
Rasconza hurried uphill, his heart sinking within him at the sight. Struggling to keep calm, he tried reassuring his crews. "No, no, 'tis only the grass, mates. I'll wager ole Crabsear an' the others 'ave gone t'sleep full o' grog an' their campfire's gone an' spread a bit. 'Tis only the grass, I tell yer!"
With drawn cutlass, Baltur faced the fox challengingly. "Wot d'yer take us for? We ain't stupid, mate, an 'alf blind toad could see that's our ships afire o'er there!"
Buckla backed him up aggressively. "Aye, an' without ships we ain't corsairs or searats no more. You carry on believin' yer own lies, fox, we're goin' t'save our fleet. Who's with us?"
A mighty roar of agreement went up. Before Rasconza had a chance to say another word the whole horde was off, whooping and yelling behind Baltur, Gancho and Buckla, heading overland for the northwest cove. Rasconza's voice was lost in the din as he called after them, "Come back, y'fools, can't yer see, we've got Mad Eyes cornered! Settin' that fire was only a trick to draw us away from the palace! Come with me, we'll make the villain pay for those ships with 'is blood!"
Finding his pleas fell upon deaf ears, Rasconza turned, to find himself standing alone except for Sagitar. He glared at her. "Why didn't yer tell me Ublaz was plannin' this? Yore a cap'n of Trident-rats, you shoulda known."
Seeing the vengeful expression on Rasconza's face, Sagitar backed off, shaking her head. "I knew naught of any such plan, believe me!"
Rasconza drew his dagger, advancing angrily. "You lie. I never shoulda trusted one o' Mad Eyes' Trident-rats. Yore a traitor an' a turncoat, Sagitar, I knows yore kind. You'd betray me the same way you did Ublaz!"
Sagitar brought up her trident, hefting it with menace. "Keep away from me, fox, there's none more skilled with a trident than I am. I'll spit ye like a fish in a barrel!"
Rasconza turned as if to walk away. Then, spinning round with frightening suddenness, he hurled his knife.
Sagitar stared in shock at the handle of the dagger that seemed to grow from her middle. She fell to the ground.
Rasconza stood over her, chuckling. "Haharr, you might be skilled with yon trident, but nobeast can sling a blade like me. I never miss!"
Sagitar's lips moved. Rasconza leaned down to her. "Wot's that y'say?"
Still gripping her trident, Sagitar thrust it upward with a final effort. Gasping, she spoke her last words to the fox lying alongside her. "I said, I never throw my weapon away. I always keep hold of it!"
But it was too late for Rasconza to hear her.
Martin tore down a velvet wall hanging and wrapped the Abbot in it. The old mouse appeared to be sleeping contentedly since the appearance of his Abbey Warrior.
Despite the rantings and shouting of Ublaz, the Monitors had retreated around the curve of the staircase, out of arrow range. Inbar found he could scarce contain himself from trembling all over now that the action had ceased. Grath patted his shoulder. "You did well, mate, we thinned their ranks a bit."