shut as she turned back to her work at the forge.
Cutting straight through the main dining hall, Algador made for the Officers’ Mess. He accosted another young
hare coming out, carrying tray and beakers. “Evenin’, Furgale! I say, is Colonel Eyebright in there? Got a rather
important message for him.”
Furgale was a jolly type, obliging too. Placing the tray on a window ledge, he waggled an ear at the Runner. “Say
no more, old pip, I’ll let him know you’re here.”
Flinging the door open wide, Furgale danced comically to attention. Closing both eyes tightly, he bellowed into the
small room, “Ninth Spring Runnah t’see you, Colonel Eyebright. Sah!”
Eyebright was every inch the military hare, of average size, silver gray with long seasons, a smart, spare figure in
plain regulation green tunic. Looking up from the scrolls he was studying, Eyebright twitched his bristling mustache at
the messenger. “I’m not deaf y’know, young feller. Send the chap in!”
Algador marched smartly into the Officers’ Mess. “Lady Cregga sends her compliments an’ wishes you to attend
her in the forge room, Colonel, sah!”
The Colonel’s eyebrows rose momentarily, then, fastening his top tunic button, he rose and put aside the scrolls.
“Very good, I’m on m’way!”
He eyed me Runner up and down, a kindly smile creasing his weathered features. “Ninth Spring Runner, eh?
Obviously enjoyin’ the job, young Algy!”
Algador stood at ease, returning his Commanding Officer’s smile. “Very much, thank ye, sah.”
Eyebright’s silver-tipped pace stick tapped Algador’s shoulder approvingly. “Good show, keep it up, won’t be long
before we have y’out gallopin’ for a Long Patrol like that brother o’ yours.”
Algador swelled with pride as the dapper Colonel marched spryly off.
Cregga nodded her huge striped muzzle to the window seat as she poured pennycloud and dandelion cordial for
herself and the Colonel. They sat together, he sipping his drink as he watched the parched badger take a long draught
of hers. “Thirsty work at the ol’ forge, eh, marm?” he said.
The rose-hued eyes flickered in the forge light. “That’s not what I called you up here to talk about, Colonel. I had
the Ninth Runner report to me this evening, and the news is still the same—all bad. No sign of Perigord’s patrol, no
word of Rapscallions, everything’s too quiet. My voices tell me that big trouble is brewing somewhere.”
Eyebright chose his words carefully. “But we’ve no proof, marm, mayhap things being quiet is all for the best. No
news bein’ good news, if y’know what I mean.”
The Colonel tried not to jump with fright as Lady Cregga suddenly roared and flung her beaker out of the window.
“Gormad Tunn and those two spawn of his are out there getting ready to plunge the land into war. I’m certain of it!”
The old hare kept his voice calm. “Tunn and his army could be anywhere, far north, south coast, wherever. We can
only do our best by protecting the west land and the seas in front of us. We can’t just go marchin’ out an’ fightin’ all
over the place.”
Lady Cregga strode to the forge and, seizing a pair of tongs, she rummaged in the fire, pulling out the lump of
metal she was working on. Laying it on the anvil she took up her hammer. “Colonel, how many hares would it take to
guard Sala-mandastron and the shores roundabout?”
The Colonel’s eyebrows shot up quizzically. “Marm?”
Clang!
Sparks flew as Cregga’s hammer smashed down on the glowing metal. “Don’t ’marm’ me! Answer the question,
sir—how many fighting hares could do the job, and are you able to command them?”
Eyebright stood up abruptly. “Half the force would be sufficient to protect this area. As to your second question,
marm, of course I am able to command. Are you questioning my ability or merely insulting my competence?”
The Badger Lady let the hammer drop. Leaving the anvil, she came to stand in front of the old hare, towering
above him. “My friend, forgive me, you are my strong right paw on this mountain. I did not mean to question your
skills as a Commander. I spoke in haste, please accept my sincere apology-”
The pace stick rose, pointing directly at Cregga. Eyebright’s tone was that of a reproving father to an errant
daughter. “I have served you well, Cregga Rose Eyes. Anybeast, no matter what their reputation or size, would be
down on the shore now to give satisfaction, had they called my honor into question as you did. I forgive you those
words, though I will not forget them. Marm, your trouble is that you are eaten up with hatred of Gormad Tunn, his
brood, and their followers. You feel bound to destroy them. Am I not right, wot?”
Cregga hooded her eyes, gazing out of die window at the night seas. “You speak the truth. When I think of the
gallant hares we lost on the beach and in the shallows of the tide on those three days and nights—and what for?
Because Gormad thought his Rapscallion forces great enough to conquer Sala-mandastron. Aye, he tried to make cruel
sport of us, the same way he has done to other more helpless creatures all his miserable life. It will not go on! Soon I
will have made myself a new battlepike. If there is no news by then I intend to take half our warriors and go forth to
seek out and destroy the evil that goes by the name Rapscallion. One day they will be nought but a bad memory in the
minds of good and honest creatures. You have my oath on it!”
Colonel Eyebright left the forge room in resigned silence. Nobeast could swerve the Lady Rose Eyes from her
purpose once her mind was made up.
Down in the dining hall, Algador was taking supper with his friends, all young hares the same age as himself.
Furgale tore into a large salad, speaking with his mouth full, as there were no officers present.
“I say, chaps, when d’you suppose the lists’ll be posted for new recruits to the jolly oP Long Patrol?”
Cheeva, a young female, flicked an oatcake crumb at him. “First mornin’ o’ summer, my pater says. Hope my
name’s on it I’ll bet Algy’s top o’ the bloomin’ list, wot?”
Algador sliced into a hefty carrot and celery flan. “Do you? I’ll pester the life out of Major Perigord until he takes
me as Galloper with Riffle. I think I’m old enough to beat the ears off him in a flat run now!”
Suddenly the room echoed with banging clanging noises, the din reverberating off the walls. Cheeva clapped paws
to her ears, crying, “Great seasons o’ salad, who’s makin’ all the clatter?”
Algador had to shout to make himself heard. He called to Colonel Eyebright, who was passing through on his way
to the mess, “I say, sah, who’s creatin’ that infernal racket?”
The Colonel stopped by their table, gesturing to them to stay seated. “Some badger or other at her forge, why don’t
y’go up there an’ tell her to stop?” He nodded at the smiling young faces turned toward him. “I’ve a feelin’ that you lot
are goin’ to find yourselves Long Patrollin’ sooner than you think!”
At this announcement the young hares cheered wildly, eyes aglow, fired with hope and desire. Heedless of what
lay ahead.
17
“Barradum! Barradum! Barrabubbitybubbityboom!”
Russa peered bad-temperedly from under the edge of a cloak that served her as a blanket. “Hoi, drumface, pack it
in, willyer!”
Rubbadub marched over, his fat face wreathed in morning smiles. Placing a plate of hot food in front of the half-
awake squirrel, he brought his cheerful features right up to her nose. “Boom! Boom!”
Tammo and the rest of the column laughed, spooning down an early breakfast of barley meal mixed with honey