Hist! Sounds like our backtrackers returnin’, but they’re comin’ this way runnin’ like madbeasts. Break camp, Guosim, git the riddle’uns ready to leave fast!
The fire was quickly doused. Triss and her companions helped to round up the shrewbabes. There had originally been four backtrackers, but only two staggered into camp, one with a vicious spearwound in his paw.
Sagax threw a cloth around the injury, binding it speedily as the shrew gasped.
Git movin’ sharpish, Gulif, there’s a horde o’ vermin on our track, armed f the teeth an’ out fer blood. They slew Cadro an’ Elbun, but we got away. They’re ‘ard on our trail, mate, there ain’t time to ‘ang about!
Gulif drew his rapier as he heard the vermin crashing through the undergrowth downstream. The tough little Guosim leader growled out orders. Mimsy, Triss, get the old ‘uns an’ the babes goin’, make for the ford an’ head south down the path. Sagax, you two streamdogs an’
the rest o’ ye, we’ll form a rearguard an’ follow. Git goin’ now, quick!
Kurda, Vorto and Riggan raced ahead of the rest, while Freebooters and Ratguards thundered along both sides of the bank. Supported by Prince Bladd and Slitfang, Plugg Firetail stumped along not far behind.
Haharr, we’ll lay ‘em by the tails this time, buckoes!
Riggan put on a spurt, calling back to Kurda, I think I caught sight of ‘em, up ahead. There’s smoke an’ steam, though I don’t see no boats!
Kurda slashed at willow fronds with her sabre. Never mind der boats, ve find dem later. Get der slaves!
Vorto grinned triumphantly as they passed through the camp. Some o’
those ashes are still smolderin’Ñthey broke camp in a hurry. We’ll soon catch up with’em!
Mokug halted on the path, pointing out a tree. Is that’un an ash, Skip?
Skipper shook his head patiently. No, mate, that’s a rowan. The leaves look the same, but the ash is stouter an’ it don’t’ave red berries like the rowan tree. Log, old mate, will ye find an ash an’ point it out to’im?
However, Log a Log’s interest in trees had suddenly waned. Detaching himself from his score of Guosim, he cocked his head on one side, drawing his rapier. Cut the cackle a moment, will ye, I can’ear somethin’!
The young otter Rumbol walked ahead a few paces. Yore right, somebeast’s a-comin’ this way in an’urry!
Triss and the shrews appeared around a bend.
Log a Log dashed toward them. Mimsy, wot’s the rush, marm. Where’s old Gulif?
As he spoke, the rest of the party ran into view. Gulif sighted the Guosim Chieftain and roared out the shrew war cry: Logalogalogalogaloooooog!
Sagax boomed out a warning as they neared the Red-wallers. Vermin chasing us, a great load of’em!
Skipper had been staring strangely at Triss, but he recovered and took swift charge of the situation. Git yore party down t’the Abbey, marm, tell the Abbot to hold the gate’til we arrive. The rest of us, form up on the path’ere, slings an’ javelins. Look out, they’re comin’, I see the scum!
The vermin were hard on the heels of their quarry as they rounded the bend, with Kurda waving her sabre and screeching, Ve haff dem, kill, kill!
She dropped swiftly back as an unexpected volley of slingstones hit her front ranks. Plugg passed her, brandishing his huge battle-axe.
He laughed wildly.
Haharr, me beauty, ye ain’t in yore daddy’s castle now. We’ll show ye’ow Freebooters gets the job done. Chaaaarge!
Much to Skipper’s surprise, Scarum picked up a fallen spear and saluted smartly. Salamandastron trained hare, sah, ready for duty, stand aside if ye please. Javelin throwers to either side of this path! Pay attention in the ranks there! Shrews an’ slingers, form up across the path in three ranks, look lively. That’s the ticket, chaps. First slingin’ rank, throw an’ drop back two ranks. We’ll give ‘em blood’n’vinegar, me buckoes!
Eulaliiiiiiaaaa! Second rank, throw an’ drop back two ranks, make every stone count, steady the buffs an’ hammer ‘em!
Amazingly, the tactic worked. Hail after hail of speedily hurled stones halted the vermin charge.
Plugg wrung his paws as a big pebble reverberated against the blade of his axe. Press forward, ye spineless jellyfish, we outnumber ‘em ten to one. Drop t’the sides o’ the path an’ circle ‘em!
Skipper and Log a Log had their swords and javelins on either side of the path. The Guosim Chieftain murmured to his shrews, This ain’t no fight t’the deathÑwe only need to slow ‘em down until we can get to Redwall. Don’t let anybeast try to sneak by an’ surround us, or we’ll be cut off!
Down the path the battle ensued, with Kurda and Plugg urging their creatures on. Both the Princess and the silver fox were enraged that their force could make no headway against the efficiently organised band. Vorto dashed recklessly forward, but was repulsed by Log a Log skilfully wielding his rapier. Nursing a slashed cheek, the Ratguard Captain bumped into Kurda.
Princess, ‘ow can they be retreatin’ an’ beatin’ us at the same time?
It ain’t right!
Kurda pushed by him and slew a shrew with a sabre thrust. See, dey die, same as any odder beast. You turn back an’ I slay you, too. Plugg, vere you goin’? Come back, coward!
Leaning heavily on a cringing Prince Bladd, the Freebooter stumped off into the tree shelter, calling back to Kurda, 1 ain’t goin’ up agin that... Look!
They had fought almost up to the ramparts of Redwall Abbey. The battlements were thronged with young andold, flinging anything they could lay their paws upon. Abbot Apodemus stood out on the path, hurrying the remainder of the party inside.
Straight in, friends, don’t dawdle. You put up a brave fight there, come on in.
He stood calmly until the last one, Skipper, was safe inside. Only then did Father Abbot deign to retreat. Close the gates, Crikulus. Gooch, you and I will see to those extra bars. Get the gate locked safe and tight!
Late evening faded to night over the vast acres of Moss-flower Wood.
Somewhere in the undergrowth, not far from the Abbey, a mistle thrush stirred. The bird’s head moved slowly, taking in the view all around.
It skipped from cover and winged its way swiftly up into the clean night air, leaving behind it the terrifying odour of cloying evil.
Zassaliss the adder had taken his fill of a Ratguard carcass. Now Harssacss and Sesstra were dealing with the remains. Sarengo’s crown slid back slightly on the giant adder’s head as he watched the thrush slip off. Butting his brother and sister aside, Zassaliss leaned his lower jaw on the broken Ratguard spear, letting his forked tongue slither caressingly over it.
Lotsss of new beastsss crossssing our pathsss!
Sesstra lifted her head from the grisly meal. Yesss, lotsss!
The three bodies of the snakes wriggled pleasurably. Beyond where the mace of Sarengo remained buried in their flesh, the dead serpent tails lay still, bound together and exuding their rotten odor.
34
Forty creatures in all were guarding the battlements, ten to each wall.
Below, moles trundled trolleys of food from the kitchens, out to where the Redwallers were gathered on the lawn and gatehouse steps. Stories had been related, introductions made and old friends reunited. Memm Flackery had put all the Dibbuns up to bed and found berths for the new arrivals. She shook Scarum’s paw.
Heard good things about you, young buck, wot. Served at Salamandastron m’self in the young seasons, y’know. Hightor still Lord there, is he?