"Lie still, stay there. Do not interfere, lizards! Got to deal with them!"
The Warden strode a measured pace around the camp. There was complete silence. He glared at the reptiles. The lizards stood motionless, tongues in, eyes filmed over as if completely cowed by the mad intensity of the heron's stare. Martin watched, fascinated. The whole affair was carried out in complete silence. The heron would point to the captives with its beak then glare at the lizards. They remained motionless. Regardless of whether or not he trod on heads, bodies or tails, the Warden stalked about the camp, finally halting in front of the red frilled leader. With a slow contemptuous movement of one leg, the heron flicked the red frill over on to its back. It was obviously a challenge that the lizard leader had to accept. Wriggling upright, the red frill hissed and circled to attack.
Lying between Pallum and Martin, Rose watched in horror as the grey heron's beak flashed down. "Oh, how horrible!"
Martin covered her eyes with his paw. "Don't look, Rose. I think I can guess what he's going to do next!"
Grumm turned his face aside. "Burr oo, dearie oi! Never could oi be that 'ungry!"
Pallum nodded in agreement as the Warden turned on another lizard. "Guaw! I never seen nothing like that. It's disgusting!"
Martin shrugged. "Maybe you've forgotten, but those lizards were going to eat us. The big bird is dealing out his justice to them."
The killer's beak flashed down several more times until the Warden of Marshwood Hill had taken his fill. He swallowed and gulped, then threw back his head and gave a sharp cry. It was a signal that the lizards were dismissed. They scattered into the marshes in seconds, leaving the camp deserted except for the four friends and the grey heron. Wiping his beak methodically on a grassy tussock, he strode across to them.
"I am Warden of Marshwood Hill. These are my marshes, and I am the only law. Lizards are lawbreakers, toads and snakes also. I do what must be done!"
Martin bowed formally. "I am Martin, this is Rose, Pallum and Grumm. We wish to thank you for saving our lives. We are travelling through your marshes on our way to Noonvale. I was hoping you could help us with some directions."
The little dipper had landed next to Rose. She was stroking its head. The Warden preened his huge downy breast awhile as if considering what Martin had said.
"I know no Noonvale, but I have heard its name spoken. I will guide you through my marshes. Obey my laws, or I kill you.
Lawbreakers must be killed. Gather your things, and follow me."
Martin picked up his sword, Grumm found his ladle, Rose and the dipper found the packs they were untouched, the lizards had not bothered with them.
"Can you put out fire?" The Warden pointed his beak at Pallum. "I do not like fire."
The hedgehog was about to reply when Grumm ambled over.
"Oi c'n put they'm foire out, zurr Wardun, ho urr."
The mole positioned himself by the fire pit and set to work with his remarkable digging claws. Shooting damp marsh earth backwards, he dug furiously. In a short time the fire pit was reduced to a smouldering mass, covered in the earth that Grumm had spread on it.
The Warden nodded abruptly. "I could not do that. You are a useful creature."
Grumm tipped a paw to his snout. "Thankee, zurr, tho' you'm 'as thoi own uses, oi 'spect, keepin' 'ee law in these yurr swamps."
But the Warden was not listening, he was stalking off out of the camp, calling back to them, "Come, follow me. I will guide you through my marshes to the mountain. I must stay here, I am the law."
As they trekked over what appeared to be a slender trail through the wetlands, Grumm whispered to Pallum, "Yurr, they burd doant say much, do 'ee."
Pallum could not resist doing a comical impression of the Warden.
Strutting stiff legged, he glared at Grumm and spoke sharply. "I am the law. These are my marshes. I am the law!"
Both the hedgehog and the mole burst into subdued chuckles.
The Warden turned and glared at them. "Make fun of the law, and I deal with you. I am the law!"
Pallum and Grumm froze for a moment then they saluted vigorously. "Yes, sir. Understood, sir!"
"You'm 'ee law, zurr. Ho urr, gudd, foine!"
Martin walked along with Rose. He nodded at the little bird hopping by her side. "I see you've got a new friend, Rose. What's his name?"
The mousemaid stroked the little creature's downy head. "Dipper, that's what he is and that's what I'll call him. Martin, did you hear what the Warden said he'd guide us to the mountain. I wonder where that is."
"Me too. I suppose the only way we'll find out is by following him.
He seems to know the country well enough."
"Oh yes, and d'you know why that is?"
Martin smiled knowingly. Leaning close he whispered into Rose's ear so that the Warden could not hear.
"Because he is the law!"
The marshes were dreary, foggy and misty, drab and treacherous.
The travellers followed the grey heron step for step, being careful not to deviate from the tortuously narrow trail. Either side of them, moss hung branches stuck up like spectral limbs from the green dark ooze that exuded occasional bubbles and wisps of swamp gas. The only sign that evening was approaching was that the atmosphere grew decidedly gloomier. The Warden halted at a juncture where two paths crossed to form a wooded islet. They sat down in the damp grass as the grey heron looked about.
"Camp here tonight, travel tomorrow."
Grumm took out his ladle and set about snapping dead twigs.
"Hurr, thank gudness fur that. C'mon, Pallum, lend ee thoi paw yurr."
The piercing eyes of the Warden stopped them in their tracks.
"What do you do?"
"Make zoop, zurr." Grumm waved his ladle about, chuckling. "Per zoop you'm need a foire. You'm loik moi zoop."
"I do not know zoop. Make no fire. I am the law. I do not like fire!"
Somewhere nearby a frog croaked in the marsh. The Warden followed the direction of the sound with his savage eyes. He swallowed hungrily. "Stay here, do not move. Frogs are about. They are lawbreakers. I am the law, I will deal with them!"
He stalked off into the darkening mists. When he was out of sight, Pallum gave a short, humorless laugh. "Looks to me like the law wants its supper."
Rose was unpacking rations. "What a dreadful idea!" she shuddered.
Martin helped her prepare their meal. "Maybe so, but without the Warden of Marshwood Hill we'd have been lizard lunch today. The bird is a necessary evil, believe me."
Rose laid out two fruit flans, some hazelnut scones and the last canteen of mint and lavender cordial. The food was a bit battered and squashed but still very tasty. Rose laughed as they watched the dipper pecking furiously at a scone.
"Oh look, Martin, Dipper's really enjoying himself. I'll bet he's never tasted anything as nice."
The tiny bird sprayed them with crumbs as he attempted to communicate his pleasure to his new found friends.
"Goodiz, goodiz!"
After supper, the dipper whistled and chirped happily. When he had finished they applauded him. Martin lay back, sipping at the tangy cordial.
"Wish I could sing like that. I've got the worst singing voice in the world. Come on, Rose, sing something to cheer us up in this gloomy marsh."
The mousemaid obliged willingly, her wondrous clear voice ringing melodiously into the deep marshland night.
"O happy is as happy does,
Misery never useful was,
And I am happy now because
I'm with the ones I love.
Sing fol lol loh a lairy lay,
Let the sun shine bright all day,
So I'll go happy on my way
With the good ones that I love.
O fie on you, O great disgrace,
Look at that sad unhappy face,