Sagax took the blade. Holding the lantern close, he inspected the brand.
Hmm, wonder what it means. Some sort of lucky charm, mayhaps?
The otter shrugged as he tested the wood of the unstrung bow. This ain’t much use. Nice bit o’ yew wood, though,’twill do for a walkin’ staff.
Wot was in yore bark-cloth?
Sagax indicated the sling and pebbles. Nothing much, but look at this barkcloth. There’s more funny markings on it, not writings or a pattern.
Kroova brightened up as he inspected the thing. A map, me’eartie, that’s wot it is! 1 reckernize this coastline, up north an’ east of’ere, well beyond yore father’s mountainÑthat ain’t marked on it. But see, I know these bays an’ inlets from long ago. Take this’un. If’n we was to sail due east at dawn, we’d prob’ly run right into it.
Sagax held the lantern closer as he inspected the map. There’s an arrow marked here, straight up a river that runs out over the beach from these tree shapes and dunes. Any idea where that would take us, if we were to find it?
Kroova pondered. Could be that wood’s called Moss-flower, prob’ly, though I ain’t never been up that far.
The young badger’s eyes lit up. Mossflower! My dad and mum are always talking about it, most of the older Long Patrol hares, too. The Abbey of Redwall is supposed to be somewhere in Mossflower area. Have you ever heard of Redwall Abbey, Kroova?
Hah, who ain’t? Redwall Abbey’s supposed t’be a wondrous place, peaceful,’appy, an’ I’ear they’ve got the most marvellous vittles there.
Expert cooks an’ the best of grub.
Sagax rolled the cloth up carefully, though his paw was shaking slightly with excitement. Then let’s make it the destination of the voyage.
There’s a river runs across the shore into the woods, it says so on the map. Why don’t we sail up that way and pay Red wall a visit?
Kroova grinned from ear to ear as he shook his friend’s paw. Aye, shipmate, why not? I don’t think Scarum’ll object, d’you?
The badger cast an eye over his friend’s sleeping figure. The only way he’d object to a voyage was if there was no scoff at the other end.
Once he’s feeling better he’ll jump at the idea. How far do you think this river is?
Scratching his rudder, the sea otter estimated. ’Tis’ard to say. We got dragged off course by the shark today. We’re a bit far west’ard.
But I’ll tack’er east an’ north. Then we’ll see where we are a few days from now.
Sagax could not help shuddering with delight. I’ve heard about that Abbey all my life, but now I’m going there to see it all for myself.
Redwall, here we come!
8
It was Shogg who did most of the hard work, with Triss helping him and Welfo keeping lookout. All through the night the otter and the squirrelmaid toiled valiantly, disregarding the water’s icy temperature. With nought but a broken old rusty file between them, they laboured away in a veritable fever of anxiety, racing against dawn’s light, when the Ratguards would be back outside on duty. Shogg selected one bar at the end of the cage nearest the jetty where the ship lay moored. He crouched, half submerged, whilst Triss perched upon his shoulders and filed at the top of the round iron bar.
Welfo kept shivering and calling out false alarms. Wait, stop, I think somebeast’s coming! Sorry, Triss, it was only a moonshadow on the path.
You can carry on.
Shogg shifted position to stop his limbs stiffening. Stone me, I wish that’ogmaid would make up’er mind. That’s the sixth time she’s said that in the last hour!
Gritting her teeth as she attacked the solid iron with the file, Triss murmured down to Shogg, Poor Welfo, she’s terrified we’ll be caught.
It doesn’t take much to set her nerves on edge, she’s just plain scared.
The otter took hold of the bars to steady himself. Huh. I don’t know why she’s afeared. They can’t kill us twice. How’s it goin’ up there, matey?
Triss clamped her jaws resolutely, ignoring the skrike and screech of metal against metal. Slowly, that’s how’tis going. Once 1 got a decent bite on this iron, the file keeps sticking. Cutting the top of the bar’ll take the best part of the night. Owch! I’ve gone and filed my paw. Stop disturbing me, Shogg, it’s hard enough trying to work in this darkness.
Slightly less than two hours before dawn, Triss managed to file through the bar. Ahah! Good news, mates, I’ve done it! My paws are in a terrible mess, though, but I’m so cold I can’t feel them.
Welfo helped her down, jabbering agitatedly. The guards’ll see it, I know they will. You can see the iron shining silver where you’ve been filing, it sticks out like a cherry on a cake. We’ll all be caught, I’m certain of it!
Brushing iron filings from between his ears, Shogg took hold of Welfo and pressed her face to the bars in lookout position. Give yore gob a rest, missy, an’ keep yore eyes peeled. Leave the bar to us, A bit o’ riverbed mud plastered on the shiny bits’ll disguise’em, trust me.
He was right. Once the cut bar was smeared with mud it looked quite normal and unbroken. Shogg leaned all his strength against the bar, trying to bend it outward. He pushed until his eyes bulged. Phaw! It ain’t budgin’ at all, Triss. Right, I’ll’ave to start on the bottom.
Gimme that there file!
The otter could hold his breath for an incredible amount of time. Triss was of little use in such circumstances, so she joined Welfo on lookout.
Totally submerged, Shogg filed away underwater in complete silence.
It was very heavy going.
Dawn rose mistily. The fjord looked as if it had pale smoke floating upon it. Ratguards herded the main body of slaves out for the final few hours they would need to complete the walkway. The day for the launch ceremony of Agarnu’s ship had finally arrived. Lieutenant Flith peered suspiciously at Triss and Welfo, gesturing with his spear.
Hoi there, you two, where’s yer mate, the otter?
Triss kicked Welfo’s footpaw underwater to keep her silent, taking it on herself to answer the lieutenant. Shogg’s not feeling too good, sir.
He’s sleeping underwater. Comes up whenever he needs air.
At that moment, the otter broke the surface smoothly. He gave Triss a swift wink before facing up to Flith. Down there’s the only place 1 can get a bit o’ peace’n’quiet. That’s unless ye’d like to smuggle me in a big ole feather bed.
Flith sneered at the captive’s cheeky remark. You’ll get all the peace’n’quiet yer need at noon, riverdog. I’eard Princess Kurda sharpeniner best sabre, just to lull ye t’sleep with it. Ain’t that nice of’er, eh?
Shogg liked baiting Flith. He winked insolently at the rat.
Don’t go sittin’ on yore spear, vermin, or you’ll damage yore brains.
Haharrharr!
Flith had no ready answer. He turned away, his face livid.
Shogg whispered to his companions. Noon, eh? I’ll just’ave to try an’
break through before then! He vanished beneath the water noiselessly.
Triss murmured to Welfo, One good thing, mate, the noise of the bar and the file can’t be heard underwater. It deadens the sound.
As Drufo laid logs with the slaves, he muttered instructions to them under his breath. If we’re still’ere when they breaks outta that cage, we’ve got to’elp’em, see. Create a diversion, get in the way o’ the guards, shout, yell, make it look like we’re tryin’ to escape.
The message was passed on from one to another. Hope for the condemned prisoners was widespread. Though they themselves had no chance of escaping, the prospect of three slaves not only avoiding death, but getting clean away from Riftgard, had fired the imagination of all the slaves.