The remaining Redwallers flocked to the west walltop as Skipper, Log a Log, Triss and Sagax led off their crew at high noon. Guosim shrews formed the main body, followed by the three otters, Mokug and a half-dozen Abbey dwellers. The Abbot stood on the walltop with Scarum and Kroova, waving and calling goodbyes. The hare bellowed down to the trackers, Give’em blood’n’vinegar, chaps, an’ don’t let that Sagax too near the blinkin’ supplies. Badgers are born hogs, y’know. Hawhawhaw!
Triss threw a salute to the Abbot. Don’t worry, Father, I’ll bring Martin’s sword back safe and sound.
Apodemus smiled fondly at her. I’m sure you will, my child.
Shogg and Kroova had become close friends. The sea otter shouted down to Shogg, I’ll tell Friar Gooch t’make some shrimp’n’hotroot soup to share with ye on yore return, mate.
Shogg grinned from ear to ear. Yore a good’un, matey. I’ll look forward to that. We’ll scoff it t’gether.
Foremole and his crew were still out on the path. They watched until the last creature disappeared into the woodlands, then Scarum began exercising his authority from above.
Attention now, all moletypes will come inside an’ lock the gates, quick as y’like now, jump to it! Scarum saluted Kroova with a fine military flourish. Got to keep those wallahs on the move, y’know, wot!
The otter, still staring at the small dust cloud the party had left on the path, agreed absentmindedly. Wot, oh aye, right, mate, keep’em on the move ...
Ripper the searat and Tazzin found themselves in the vanguard of the vermin as they marched through the quiet, sunshafted woodlands. Without turning his eyes, Ripper nodded backward. I’ll wager that Princess Kurda is well perfected.
Tazzin took a quick peek. Oh aye, yore right there. She’s right in the middle ranks, guarded by spears. Not up front in the open like me’n’
you, mate. Still, there’s’er tracker, Riggan, scoutin’ up ahead of us.
If anybeast gets attacked by snakes, she’ll be the first.
Ripper did not agree. Not when we gets t’the snakes’ den, that’s when we’ll be given our weapons back an’ told to charge in the front door.
Well,’ere’s one wot won’t be goin’. I ain’t no fool. Let’er guards do the chargin’.
Tazzin’s gaze roved from side to side as she answered, You seen wot’appened to Slitfang, didn’t ye? Kurda ain’t a beast t’be crossedÑI never seen a creature so fast an’ deadly wid a sabre. She’d’ave slayed Plugg if’n the snakes didn’t get to’im first. That ferret’s a real swordbeast!
Not only had Kurda ringed herself with Ratguards, but she had split the unarmed Freebooters, keeping half in front of the column and the other half behind. The Princess was as frightened as any of them by the thought of the three snakes, but her mind was working constantly as she discussed plans with Vorto.
Ven Riggan finds der serpents’ den, you give de Freebooters der veapons back. I t’ink many of dem get killed in de shnakes’ lair. Who vill get mine crown back for me?
Vorto had been thinking up a new plan, which he outlined. No real need for ‘em t’go chargin’ in, yore ‘ighness. Suppose we was to stake one o’ the Freebooters out in front o’ the den? We could be layin’ in wait when the serpents come out t’get the bait, then we could send Plugg’s crew in to finish the snakes off.
Kurda liked the idea. Yarr, gutt! Den you an’ mine guards rush in an’
take mine crown from der dead serpents. Und if de lair is empty, den you go in an’ get der pawring. Gutt!
Vorto was not too happy about exploring the snakes’ den to find the royal pawring. But he said nothing, knowing that he could drive any surviving Freebooters in ahead of him. It was a good plan; all that would be sacrificed would be the crew of the Seascab.
Log a Log’s scouts tracked the vermin trail to their previous night’s camp. A Guosim shrew emerged from the undergrowth rather swiftly.
There’s a slayed weasel in there, with ‘is paw anead lopped off. They must’ve been quarrellin’ among themselves.
With one mighty tug, Sagax released Plugg’s battle-axe from the trunk of the sycamore. He wielded it in one paw. I like the feel of this weapon.
I think I’ll claim it.
Triss watched him heft the big axe. I think you’d better have it, it suits you, Sagax. There’s not many other beasts could lift it, let alone use it!
Log a Log stirred the dead fire ashes with his rapier, listening to the report of one of his scouts.
Still a smell of those adders yonder, faint, but track-able. Looks like they’re huntinem, Chief.
Wiping his rapier clean, the Guosim Chieftain replied, Aye, an’ we’re trackin’ them. So everybeast be double careful, an’ you scouts, watch yoreselves. Give a shout if’n ye get into trouble, we won’t be far behind.
Shogg threw some kindling on the dead fire and set flint to tinder, blowing on the sparks. Log a Log saw what he was doing and nodded approval.
No sense in catchin’ up to ‘em too soon, eh, mate?
Shogg dug bread and cheese from his pack. I figger if the vermin are huntin’ these serpents, we’d be better off lettinem go ahead an’ do it. No sense in runnin’ into the middle of a vermin snakefight.
Log a Log winked broadly at Triss. That’s a smart matey ye got there, miss. Let’s stop an’ take a snack.
The squirrelmaid sat down with Shogg and Mokug, who was going over the map rhyme, which he had remembered by heart.
Midday sun shines bright for you, ‘Twixt leaning ash and poison gold, Where the greenrock hidden lies, For keen eyes to behold.
All of the Abbey newcomers were familiar with the riddle. During the long watches on Redwall’s ramparts they had been told of the story of the quest for Brockhall. Mokug sat repeating the lines under his breath, his brow furrowed with concentration. Triss passed him bread and cheese.
Keep trying, mate, you’ll get the answer sooner or later.
Packing food into his cheek pouches, the golden hamster chattered his teeth in frustration. Well, I ‘opes ‘tis sooner, missy, J likes to ‘elp me friends. These Redwallers ‘ave been good to me! Skipper’s showed me wot an ash tree looks like, but I don’t know anythin’ about poison gold an’ greenrocks. Huh, nor does young Churk, an’ she’s cleverer than most of us put t’gether.
A glimmer of pride for his species shone in Shogg’s eyes. Aye, mate, us otters knows a lot more’n most beasts think!
Mokug looked hopefully at him. Could you solve it, Shogg?
The otter shuffled his paws awkwardly, Well, er, I dunno, I ain’t had as much learnin’ as Churk ...
Triss clasped his paw, encouraging her friend. Give it a try, Shogg, go on. What do you think of it all?
He stared hard into the fire, scratching his chin. Hmm, it seems t’me that we’re lookin’ for an’idden green rock, an’ the clue to it is in the midday sun. But yore puzzle is in that second line. Twixt leanin’
ash an’ poison gold.’ D’ye think I’m on the right track, Triss?
The squirrelmaid ran mentally over the second line. You could be. We’ve found out that leaning ash is probably an ash tree that leans in some way. Now, what about poison goldÑcould that be a tree as well?
Mokug suddenly brightened up. Aye, it might be a tree!
Shogg became aware that other members of the party were listening to the conversation as they sat eating. So he attempted to enlist their help. Ahoy, mates, any of ye knows about trees?