I’d biff it like anything.
I’m a perilous hare y’know,
Just like me dear old dad,
A word’s as good as a blow, hoho,
Though some may think me mad ...
He paused and pulled a face. Mad? No, no, not the right word at allÑhave t’change it. Let’s see, mad, bad, glad, sad, old lad? Hmm, I’ll have to think about that one.
In the midst of still-shimmering noontide, the trio of serpents struck.
Everybeast was unprepared for the lightning move. One moment the glade was quiet and peaceful, save for an occasional muted snore. Then, in the blink of an eye, the whole scene changed. Zassaliss had spent the last hour inching the oak tree door open, fraction by fraction. Suddenly the adder saw that the way was clear. He hissed, Sssssstrike!
Together the trio of snakes boiled out of the entrance. Straight across the glade they rushed, with the mace chain clanking behind, right past the carcass of Whidge, whom they already knew to be dead. Crashing into the fern bed, they snatched a plump sleeping Ratguard, who shrieked as they seized him.
Kurda came awake immediately. Grabbing her sabre, she yelled urgently, Stop der shnakes! Arm der crew! Don’t let de serpents get back inside der den. Hurry!
To their credit, the Ratguards roused themselves swiftly. Vorto kicked the pile of weapons, scattering them as he ran by, shouting, You ‘eard the Princess, git yore swords, cut ‘em off afore they escape!
But the adders were faster. Bunching their coils jointly, they slithered backwards like lightning, dragging the feebly kicking Ratguard into Brockhall with them. Vorto paused momentarily, looking to Kurda for orders. Her eyes shone madly at the sight of the coveted Crown of Sarengo vanishing into the darkness.
In! In! Get in after dem, kill de serpents! Get der booty! De cowards run, dey are scared of us! In! In!
Tazzin swung a dagger about her head, fired by the mention of booty and the excitement of the chase. Did ye ‘ear that, mates? Booty!
Chaaaaaarge!
Both Ratguards and Freebooters piled into Brockhall, roaring and yelling after Zassaliss, Harssacss and Sesstra.
Skipper had just led the party into the big main cavern beneath the oak tree roots. Log a Log held the lantern up as the others stared in awe at the mighty structure. Then a deafening cacophony of noise filled the chamber: clanking chains, hissing, pounding paws and yelling vermin.
Before they had a chance to group themselves, it broke in upon them like a dark tidal wave. The three snakes collided with the Redwallers, Mokug turned to run, his head butting Triss under her chin. She slipped and fell, the sword kicked from her grasp by the milling paws of shrews.
Zassaliss spat the dying Ratguard from his mouth and, pulling the other two adders up with him, reared over the fallen squirrelmaid and struck.
Shogg hurled himself between them, slashing wildly with his spearpoint.
Zassaliss pulled to one side, attacking the otter with his poisonous fangs as the spear struck Sesstra straight down her open mouth. There was a roar like thunder breaking over the sea, as Sagax swung his battle-axe, leaping into the fray. Zassaliss ducked his head, and the big axe slew his brother Harssacss. Triss rolled over as the adder’s chin hit thefloor. Her paws clasped about the sword hilt, she sprang upright, driving the keen blade straight through the throat of Zassaliss.
Then followed a scene of utter chaos as the Ratguards and Freebooters came tumbling on them in the wake of the snakes. Both sides were confused until Skipper took out a Ratguard with his javelin and gave the battle cry: At’em, mates! Redwaaaaaaallllll!
Triss gathered in the vanguard with Churk, Sagax, Skipper and Log a Log. Backed by Guosim and Redwallers, they rushed the vermin, catching them off guard. Warcries rang out, echoing and bouncing off the walls of Brockhall as they drove the vermin back up the corridor.
Eulaliaaaaaa! Redwaaaaaalll! Logalogalogalooooog!
Spear cracked against javelin, sword clashed upon cutlass, rapier rasped against daggerblade. But above it all, two stood out: the young badger wielding the fearsome battle-axe, and the squirrelmaid armed with the sword of Martin the Warrior. They were like twin whirlwinds, slaying and roaring as they went. Triss was wreaking retribution for the death of her father and Drufo. Vermin fell before her like chaff beneath a scythe. Sagax’s eyes shone red in the gloomÑhe was possessed of the dreaded Blood-wrath, inherent to great Badger Lords of Salamandastron. Neither injury nor foebeast could hurt him as his awesome weapon swung into the vermin ranks like a windmill.
Tripping and stumbling, the vermin broke and ran in defeat, the Redwallers swarming after them. Their cries echoed off down the gloomy passage as Kurda, Vorto and Riggan sneaked out of a side chamber. Leaping over the carnage of dead and mortally wounded creatures, Kurda grabbed the crown from the head of Zassaliss. She slashed cruelly at the dead snakes, growling frantically,
Vere is der pa wring, dat is mine birthright!
Riggan jumped aside, narrowly missing the sweeping blade. It ain’t’ereÑye can see thatforyoreself,marm. Leave it, we got to get goin’
afore those Redwallers come back!
Kurda leaned on her sabre, breathing hard. Yarr, you are right, but I must find mine pawring!
Vorto, catching Riggan’s glance, interrupted. Yore’igh-ness, we can come back’ere when they’ve gone. Me’n’ Riggan’ll find yore pawring for ye. Come on, Princess, there must be a way out the back, or’ow did the Red-wallers get in? Can ye get us out safe, Riggan?
The slavecatcher nodded. Just follow the trail backwards where they’ve disturbed the dust an’ broke the cobwebs. C’mon!
Taking their advice reluctantly, Kurda put up her sabre and followed them to the rear exit.
Triss and Sagax threw themselves on the grass to regain their breath.
Vermin could be heard in the distance, pursued by Redwallers as they fled in ignominious retreat, scattering widespread.
Sagax picked up a fallen water flask. Taking a deep swig, he passed it to Triss. Whew, I can’t remember half of what went on in there. Don’t think I want to, really.
Triss stared bleakly in front of her. I can. I still remember the whip strokes I received from some of those Rat-guards when I was a slave.
I grew up with them!
Triss, Trissy mate,’elp me!
Dragging himself along on his stomach, Shogg emerged through the open door. Triss was at his side in an instant. Shogg, what happened, where have you been, are you hurt?
Without allowing him the time to answer, Triss poured water into the otter’s mouth as Sagax held his head up. The otter drank a drop, the rest trickling from his lips as he gasped, Snake ... the big’un... bit me neck... Triss, lis-sen. Kurda, still alive... Vorto an’ the slavecatcher, too... She got the crown... Gone out the back... Get’em, Triss!
The squirrelmaid saw her friend’s eyes beginning to mist over. She hugged him close, rocking to and fro, murmuring, We’ll get them, mate, together, when you’re better. But first we’ve got to get you to the Abbey. Malbun and the Abbot will know what to do. You’ll be all right, my Shogg.
Slowly the otter raised his paws until they held either side of the squirrelmaid’s face. His voice sounded tired. Too late fer that, me old matey.... Promise me, Triss, promise me ye’ll go back to Riftgard an’ free the slaves. That’s wot we were always goin’ t’do, wasn’t it?
Her tears spilled onto his paws as she looked into his eyes. Aye, right from that day we stole the boat and escaped. That’s what we vowed and that’s what I’ll do, you know that.