Brogg. "With an army our size we could live off the fat of the land anywhere."
Others joined him.
"Aye, why should we fight for this old ruin? It's hers, not ours."
"I was with Bane. He let us fight and keep our plunder sacks filled. There
isn't even 'enough to eat in this stinking place."
"I don't know what the mouse has planned, but you can bet he really means
business."
"Aye. We must have been mad ever to think woodlanders were soft."
"Right. Look at the mates we lost today, and where was she?"
"Hiding on the other side of the wall like a worm from a fish."
"More like a cat from a mouse, hahaha—"
Tsarmina stood in the doorway. "You were saying?"
Silence fell across the mess hall.
"Well?" Tsarmina's eyes narrowed.
The rat called Whegg stood up. "We want to get away from this place," he
whined.
Tsarmina prowled across to him, her face almost touching his nose. "Too late,
rat. The sun has set. However, there is one way you could get out: by the
gates of Dark Forest. Do you want me to send you that way?"
Whegg stood trembling with fear as Tsarmina slid back to the doorway. Turning,
she smiled disarmingly.
"Look at you. All of you panicking because of a mouse in armor and some
woodland creatures. You've heard what they want. They don't want a war, they
wish to leave us in peace. Why?"
The troops gazed dumbly at her.
"I'll tell you why, because they cannot get us out of here! Kotir is too
strong. Take no notice of mouse threats," she
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urged. Ditchpaw swallowed hard and dared to speak. "But the mouse said he was
going to destroy Kotir stone by stone. We all heard him."
Tsarmina beckoned to Ditchpaw and a hefty-looking fox.
"You and you, push against the wall," she ordered.
Puzzled but obedient, they shoved against the wall with their paws.
"Oh, you can do better than that. Harder! Push with all your might!"
The two creatures pushed and strained until they fell down gasping.
Tsarmina laughed. It sounded almost jolly. "Well, did anyone see Kotir budge,
even a tiny bit?"
Troops shook their heads, and there was a chorus of no's.
"Of course not, you great load of ninnies." The wildcat spoke like a mother
hedgehog to her infants. "It would take more than all of you and the
woodlanders together to make a single dent in these stones. Kotir will outlast
even the forest outside. Now, listen. I'm going to break my golden rule and
tell you about my plan. First let me say there is no shortage of food. In
fact, starting tomorrow, you are all on extra rations."
Brogg jumped up. "A cheer for the Queen, mates!"
"Hurray!"
Tsarmina nodded gratefully to her Captain. "We will last out the summer. It
has been a drier season than ever before," she continued encouragingly. "Just
before the first rains of autumn come, I will have my archers prepare many
fire arrows, exactly like those the sly woodlanders shot at us. Can you guess
what I'm going to do?"
"Burn the woodlands, Milady."
"Who said that?"
"I did, Milady."
"What's your name?"
"Foulwhisker, Your Majesty."
"Well done, Foulwhisker. Good weasel. Yes, we'll stay safe in Kotir all
summer, with plenty of supplies for everyone. Then in autumn we'll burn the
woodlanders and their forest together."
Brogg was on his paws again. "Well, mates, I'm all for it. A lazy summer with
lots of grub. I vote we stay here with
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four Queen. She's not afraid of woodlanders. Huh, she even f'shot their boss
tonight."
A cheer rang out from the troops. It was not wildly enthusiastic, but at least
it carried a note of optimism.
>BeIla and Lady Amber bent over Martin.
"Looks as if he's coming round," the badger reported : thankfully.
T. B. held the sling pouch with the arrow still sticking from it. "It would
have been a different story without this stone carrier."
• Bella bathed Martin's brow with cool water. "Even allowing for that, it's
not exactly a scratch, is it."
Martin opened his eyes and immediately tried to stand, but Amber pushed him
back. "Be still," she said firmly. "It's only by luck you weren't really
injured. Bella, stick some herbs on his wound and bind it up."
"What hour is it, Gonff?" Martin asked, looking at the sky.
"Not long before midnight, matey."
"Bella, thank you. But please stop fussing over me like a mother hedgehog. I
must get up. There is important work to be done."
Bella extended a paw. "Then up you come, warrior. Gonff and I will help you.
What is this important work that cannot wait?"
Martin tested his leg experimentally, and winced. "I must get to Wuddshipp
tonight."
"Well, jump on my back. It's quite broad enough to bear a mouse—even a wounded
warrior.' *
With Gonff walking in front to clear the path for Bella, they made their way
through the warm woodland night.
Bula the otter lay crouched on the foredeck. She watched the dark shapes
materialize silently from the trees by the bank.
"Who goes there?" she challenged them.
"Corim of Mossflower."
"Advance and be recognized."
"Bula, you old shrimp-chaser!"
"Gonff, you little pie bandit. Hello, Miz Bella. What news? Martin, are you
hurt? What happened?"
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Martin slid from Bella's back and leaned on his sword. "It's nothing, Bula. Is
everything ready?"
"As ready as it'll ever be, Martin."
Bula gave a short bark, and her four companions appeared on deck.
Martin gave a last fond look at Wuddshipp as she rode at anchor on the River
Moss, then he nodded to Bula.
"Sink her!"
"Scuttle Wuddshipp, matey? Are you out of your mind?" Gonff blinked in
disbelief.
Bella laid a heavy paw gently on the mousethief. "Martin knows what he's
doing, Gonff."
With a splash the five otters dived into die river and were momentarily lost
to sight in the dark water. When they surfaced they were at opposite ends of
the craft, three for'ard, two astern. Clamped in their jaws were rope hawsers
which ran to the ship. They began swimming strongly, tugging Wuddshipp around
so that she drifted until stem and stern faced opposite banks. Now Wuddshipp
stood side on across the River Moss.
The otters emerged, dripping. Passing the headropes to Bella, they dived back
in and joined their friends on the other bank. "Make those stern ropes fast to
that big oak," Martin called out to them. "Give some slack to allow her
sinkage. We'll make her fast to this beech over here,"
Diving back into the water, the otters boarded the vessel amidships. Bula
handed out wooden mallets, and they went below. She pointed out the inlets
under the oardecks.
' 'Knock those spigots and seacocks wide open, crew. Let the water in."
They went at it with a will. Soon the river was gushing in from eight
different points and the bilgewater level rose swiftly. Bula took one last
look around, satisfied that the job was done.
"She's filling fast, crew. All ashore!" she ordered.
Martin stood on the bank with them. They watched Wuddshipp list slightly with
the flow, then the black ship began sinking lower in the water. Above the
gurgling flow and creaking timbers, Gonff could be heard singing a mournful
farewell,
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You carried us safe o'er the water,
So proudly you sailed the blue sea.
Now lie on the bed of a river,
To help make old Mossflower free.
But here in our hearts we will keep you, Wuddshipp.