Surprisingly, the three went without further argument. Doogy patted his friend. “Och, yer a fine figure o’ command, Tam, but what ails ye? Partin’ with yore claymore like that, an’ allowin’ that scruffy wee robber tae toddle off with yer blade an’ flag. That’s no’ the Rakkety Tam ah’m used tae!”
The border warrior drew his dirk, testing its edge. “The banner an’ the blade are safe, mate. Yoofus has Ferdy an’ the goshawk to keep an eye on both my goods an’ him. Don’t fret, Doogy Plumm, ’twill all work out. Now rid yoreself o’ claymore’n’shield. Our smaller blades are more fitted to the job ahead. We’ll hit the vermin camp when ’tis still an’ dark tonight.”
Hiding his sword and shield in the shrubbery, the stout Highlander grinned with anticipation of the action to come. “Hoho, that’s more like the Rakkety Tam ah know!”
Clenching their small Sgian Dhus in their teeth and holding their dirks ready, both warriors set off into the silent woodlands.
19
Flames from the vermin campfire illuminated the face of Gulo the Savage, giving him a malevolent look. The wolverine’s eyes glittered like twin stars of evil omen in his brutish head as he sat upon the drum in the gathering twilight. Gulo’s mood had not improved: his scouts had once again lost the trail which, he was convinced, belonged to his brother. Foxes and ermine crowded about the far side of the blaze, anxious to maintain distance from their cruel chieftain. Laying huddled about midpoint between the vermin and Gulo were Runneye and Bluesnout. Gaunt, exhausted and terrified witless, the two River Rats had been roped tight by their necks to a stake.
An ermine guard approached Gulo cautiously. “Lord, Captain Shard has returned with his scouts. He brings captives.”
The white fox marched in at the head of his contingent. He was wearing Martin’s sword as Armel had worn it, down the back of his cloak, tied to his shoulders. Standing partially out of the firelight, Shard bowed stiffly to the wolverine.
“Mighty One, I have taken prisoners, two creatures from the Redwall place. Knowing thy wisdom, I brought them straight to thee. These two should have good knowledge of their fortress, its strengths and weaknesses.”
Had Gulo captured the Redwallers, he would have slain them first, leaving it too late for questions later. He knew Shard was merely flattering him, but the white fox was his best and most intelligent captain. “Ye did well, Shard. Where are these two?”
Armel and Brooky were thrust forward. Both caught their breath at the barbaric sight of the wolverine. Armel shuddered as the beast’s eyes roved over them both. Gulo’s paw banged down on the drum, startling them. It was hard not to show fear in the presence of such a monster.
The wolverine glared at them from beneath hooded eyelids before he began his interrogation. “My Captain tells me ye are both from Redwall. ’Tis true?”
Armel whispered bravely to her otter friend, “Tell him nothing.”
Gulo acted as if he had not heard the remark. “So, a riverdog and a treemouse, eh? Tell me thy names.”
Though Brooky was trembling, she shouted at Gulo, “We will tell you nothing!”
Gulo smiled. A chill ran through the ottermaid at the sight of his bared fangs. Rising from the drum, Gulo walked a slow circle round the two Abbeymaids. “I like to see courage in a beast. ’Tis admirable but foolish. At dawn you will tell me all I want to know—How many creatures dwell within Redwall? What warriors are there who could resist me and my fighters? What would the easiest entrance to your fortress be for us?”
Armel echoed her friend’s words. “We will tell you nothing!”
The wolverine returned to the drum, perching on its edge. Now was the time to put into action the strategy he had learned from Shard when they had dealt with Driftail’s gang. He held up a paw, as if forbidding either of them to speak further. “I do not want ye to tell me anything right now. But at dawn I will come and speak to ye again. Then ye will gladly tell me all. Why? Because I am Gulo the Savage from the lands of ice and snow beyond the great sea. Heed me now!”
Armel and Brooky watched in trepidation as Gulo gave orders to some of his ermine. “Bring the rats hither!”
Runneye and Bluesnout were loosed from their stake and dragged into Gulo’s presence, both stricken dumb with fear.
The wolverine cast a glance in the Abbeymaids’ direction. “Look at these rats! See ye how frightened they are? They are not brave like thee, because they know what I can do. Gulo and his warriors eat their enemies. Anybeast who offends Gulo is his enemy. Take them from my sight!”
The two River Rats were flung to the mass of vermin at the other side of the fire. They only had time for a single despairing scream before the beasts of Gulo fell upon them en masse.
Gulo turned to his captives and shrugged. “Ye have all of tonight to think of answers to my questions. Shard, guard them closely until the dawn.”
Just beyond the firelight, Armel and Brooky were bound to the broad ancient trunk of a two-topped oak. Both had been stunned into horrified silence by what they had witnessed.
It was some time before Armel whispered to her friend, “I can’t believe this is happening to us!”
The ottermaid strained against her bonds, but they were too securely tied. “If only my Uncle Skip knew what a fix we’re in. He’d do something to help us. Oh, I’m sorry, pal. I’m not being very helpful, am I?”
A tear fell from Armel’s eye, but she could do nothing to stop it from running down her face. “Just keep talking, Brooky. The sound of your voice comforts me. At least we’re together.”
Two ermine had been left to guard the prisoners. One of them kicked at Armel’s footpaw from where he lay. “Silence! Save thy talkin’ until dawn.”
The other ermine sniggered wickedly. “I’m hopin’ ye won’t talk at dawn. Methinks streamdog an’ treemouse won’t be as stringy as River Rat!”
Armel kicked back at him, but he was out of range. “Rotten scum, dirty coward!”
Brooky struggled with her bonds. “Aye, why don’t you untie me, you miserable toad! We’d see who’d get eaten then!”
The ermine rose, licking the blade of his sickle sword as he confronted the ottermaid, taunting her. “Heehee, but I ain’t about to untie thee. So what will ye do now, streamdog—eh, eh?”
Shard, who had been seated closer to the fire, crept up and dealt the ermine a sound smack over the ears. “Thou art here to guard these prisoners, not to bandy gossip with them. Cease thy prattling!”
The ermine stood to rigid attention until Shard went back to his seat by the fire. Then he slumped down on the ground alongside the other sentry and fell silent.
Tam and Doogy lay in the bushes, a short distance from the sentries who stood guard at the camp edges. They had circled the area until both were behind the fire, facing the backs of Gulo and Shard.
Tam pointed with his dirk, whispering, “The big old oak, that’s where they’ve got the two maids tied. D’ye see it, Doogy?”
His friend moved position slightly before responding. “Aye, ah see it right enough. That’s one o’ the lassie’s cloaks stickin’ oot frae the ropes. They’re bound tae the other side o’ the tree, Tam. What’s the plan?”
The border warrior studied the lay of the land for a while. “First we’ll have to let them settle down. There’s vermin still movin’ about. When the fire burns down lower, that’s when we’ll move. If we could make it up into that hornbeam yonder, we could jump into the upper branches of the oak where they’re tied. Just one problem—that sentry.”
Doogy peered at the back of the perimeter sentry, an ermine, leaning against the hornbeam trunk. He was armed with a spear.