The Bellmaker Part 21

May we never famine fear, Mid the summer's goodness here."

Mother Mellus inspected the mousebabe's paws approvingly. "My, my, these are very clean indeed!"

Mousebabe rolled his eyes skyward, impatient to be eating. "Hmm, should be clean paws; losed me paddle, an' I been rowin' my s.h.i.+p rounda pond wiv them."

Slipp kicked Blaggut under the table. "Well, where's the treasure, did yer get it?" he whispered.

Keeping his eyes straight ahead, Blaggut applied himself to the business of strawberries and cream. "Uh uh, Cap'n, sorry. You told me never t'mention it as long as I lives."

"Never t'mention wot? Tell me!" said Slipp, and he bit a slice of cheese savagely.

Blaggut chose a strawberry, dipping it in the rich golden-tinged cream. It vanished into his mouth. "Mmmm, wunnerful! No, Cap'n, I'm only obeyin' orders. You told me never to mention that black shadder as long as I lives, so I can't tell yer."

Slipp felt the hair rise at the nape of his neck again. "Black shadow, was the black shadow there?" he croaked.

Blaggut sorted through his bowl of strawberries until he found the biggest of all. "Can't tell yer, Cap'n. You said black shadders don't 'appen an' I was to ferget it all, so I'm fergettin' it, Cap'n!"

Slipp was trying hard to keep his claws away from 279.

Blaggut's obstinate neck. He tried another ploy. "Yore right, mate. Don't mention that other shadow thing; just tell me about the treasure, or the place it's buried in."

Blaggut piled cream onto his big strawberry until it was completely covered and held it near his mouth. " 'Ang on a tick, Cap'n. Glopp! Mmmff, mmmff!"

The infuriated Slipp had to sit waiting while his former boatswain munched away with a look of delight pasted on his oafish face. Blaggut finished and licked the cream from his lips. "Aaahhh, never 'ad more prime vittles in me life! Oh, now, where was I? The secret treasure of Redwall h'Abbey, aye, that's where I was. It's buried at the corner of the southeast wall, eleventynine steps from thebuildin' itself..."

"Eleventynine steps y'say?" The Captain managed to keep a straight face.

"Aye, that's 'ow the mouseybabe measured it out, an' that liddle cove knows 'ow to count, take my affydavit on it. I knows the h'exact spot where it lies. Truth to tell, I was startin* to dig it up when ... Oho, but I promised I wouldn't mention that. Beggin' yer pardon, Cap'n."

Slipp relaxed and began searching his own bowl for big strawberries to dip in the cream. "I've got it now," he said. "Yore tellin' me that you knows where the treasure is buried, the very spot. Now, you was just goin' t'dig it up when wot we vowed never to mention again came an' scared you off, is that right?"

Blaggut poured himself some cordial, watching it fizz.

"Eddication's a great thing, Cap'n. 'Ow do they put the liddle bubbles in this grog? Yowch! I told you I knows where the treasure lies, Cap'n, no need ter keep kickin' me!"

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Further conversation was halted by the tinkle of the Abbot's bell. A smile hovered about the face of Saxtus as he made his announcement.

"Attention, friends, tonight at dusk we will gather by the pond for a concert. Everybeast is allowed to take part, but I beg you to keep any songs and dances brief, so that all may have a chance to perform. There will be a number of prizes, the main one being a silver cup donated by Mellus. Dibbuns can stay up late to take part. Thank you!"

There was a rousing cheer from the Redwallers, then they left the tables to go about any remaining ch.o.r.es, discussing with one another what they would do at the concert.

Slipp murmured out of the corner of his mouth to Blag-gut, "Perfect! While they're singin' an' jiggin', we'll be diggin' the treasure up."

Blaggut was about to raise an objection when a large, black shadow fell over them both. He covered his face with both paws and tried to hide beneath the table, but it was only Mellus.

"Slipp, haven't you got work to finish in the kitchens?" she asked. "Blaggut, come from under that table; you'll be needed to gather wood for the fire by the pond. Come on you two, look lively or you won't get a chance to do your bit at the concert this evening."

Blaggut and Slipp looked at each other nonplussed. ' 'Do our bit?'' groaned Slipp.

The searat Captain snorted as he gathered up dishes. "Huh, the only bit we'll be doin' is robbin' the treasure from this place an' makin' a run fer it, an' 'tis woe betide anybeast who gets in the way!"

27.

In the cavern under Castle Floret, Egbert the Scholar caught hold of the huge badger's paws and tried to break its hold on Mariel. The mousemaid was totally helpless in the grip of the great beast. Starbursts and colored lights danced in front of her vision, and the breath was forced from her body as the maddened creature tightened its grip. Egbert's voice sounded thin and hollow in the cavern as he called out, "Help me, Rudd, help me! She's a friend!"

An otter bounded out of the mist. He stood before the badger and made a swift motion with a javelin he was carrying. Instantly the badger dropped Mariel, who fell to the rocky floor gasping for breath. Egbert ministered to Mariel as he spoke soothingly to the badger.

"This is our friend Mariel-she will not harm us, Muta. She is an enemy of Foxwolf; you and Rudd can help her."

The otter dipped a beaker into a pool among the rocks and, holding it to the mousemaid's lips, he allowed her to drink.

Aside from a few aching ribs, Mariel was not badly 281.

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injured. She regained her breath and sat among the rocks with Egbert. The badger and the otter sat a short distance away. She watched them. Both were completely still, as if awaiting an order from Egbert. The mousemaid could not help but notice the dreadful scars tracing the fur of both creatures. Egbert explained their story.

"They staggered in here one night, virtually ripped to pieces and nearly dead. I took care of them both. It was no easy task. I learned most of my healing skills from books and scrolls, and luckily they worked, though not completely-I cannot heal minds. It was Nagru and his horde who tried to kill them-see the way they bare their teeth at the mention of his name. The badger I know is called Muta; she used to be nursemaid to the son of Gael, here at Floret. I do not know the otter, so I call him Rudd. Strange, but neither beast talks, nor do they appear to have any memory of things that went on before I found them here that night. They are both mighty warriors. I think Muta has taken the way of the berserk-I have read of badgers being like this; n.o.beast can stop them when a bloodl.u.s.t is upon them. Rudd has become like her."

Mariel interrupted Egbert. ' 'I think I know more about these two than you do, friend. The otter is called Rab Streambattle. I was told about them at the dwelling of Furpp the mole; they were believed to be dead, both killed when Serena and Truffen made their escape. I will tell you the full story when we get time. Meanwhile, let me try something."

Mariel approached the two silent beasts, as they sat motionless. The mousemaid spoke first to Muta and then to Rab, repeating the names of their loved ones.

* 'Muta, I come from Gael, I have news of Serena and The 283.

little Truffen. They are safe. Rab, you are alive, yet Iris thinks you are dead. Your mate, Iris!"

There was no response. The two battle-scarred warriors stared blankly at Mariel as if she were talking in a strange language. Egbert drew her aside.

"It is no use," he said. "I have tried similar things with them. Whatever was done to those two has changed them; they are inseparable and live only to kill their enemies."

Mariel felt a great wave of pity for the two dumb beasts. She, too, had known what it was to be like them; seasons before she came to Redwall a similar thing had happened to her. She clasped their paws in hers-Muta's, huge and forbidding, Rab's, sinewy and dangerous.

"Listen, friends," she said, earnestly, "I am Mariel of Redwall. Together we will rid Southsward of Urgan Na-gru and his sc.u.m; this I promise you! Egbert, where is the gatehouse that works the drawbridge?"

The scholarly mole squinted over his gla.s.ses. "Follow me, but be careful!"

Greenbeck bowed low as Gael Squirrelking materialized out of the mist to meet the rescuers on the plateau.

"Your Majesty, fates be thanked!"

Gael clasped Greenbeck's paw saying, "Do not bow to a fool like me. There are others following-send your scouts to guide them here."

On Greenbeck's order, two otters, Ruckal and Cress-eye, trotted off into the rain-spattering mists and returned leading Meldrum and Dandin.

284.

Silvamord had given up searching for Marie). She sat kicking her paws on a window ledge, shaking her head in mock pity at Nagru.

"What are you going to do, mighty conqueror-tear the castle apart to find one mousemaid? She's long gone!"

The Foxwolf had been roaring orders, tearing down wall hangings, smas.h.i.+ng doors, and generally abusing his searchers. With his chest heaving from exertion, he slumped down and sat on the cold stone floor.

"Catch them as they swing into the battlements," he sneered. "That wasn't my idea; that was your bright scheme, vixen!"

Wetchops and Mingol came scurrying up from opposite ends of the corridor. Before they could speak, Silvamord pointed at Mingol. "You first, what's your good news?"

The rat shuffled nervously, keeping out of range of Na-gru. "The prisoners have all escaped, Sire. We finally broke into the attic of the tower, but there was n.o.beast there!"

"Leave them up there in the rain; I'll deal with them tomorrow after a good sleep," said Silvamord, mimicking Nagru's voice. "That's what you said-Sire!"

Nagru shot her a swift, murderous glare before turning his attention to Wetchops. "Well, what have you got to say for yourself? Speak!"

"Sire, the drawbridge is being attacked!"

"By who?"

"Dunno, Sire-too much rain an' mist outside, but they're firm' arrows, throwin' lances an' slingstones."

Silvamord eased herself off the window ledge. "Well, they're wasting their time," she said. "That drawbridge

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gate won't budge for arrows or stones and lances. I wonder what they're really up to?"

Nagru stood up slowly, saying, "A diversion, maybe. What d'you think?"

Silvamord raised her eyebrows approvingly. "I think you're right, for once. Better double the guards on the walls and in the turrets; they may try a surprise attack from another part of the valley."

Iris loosed an arrow off into the mist. She heard it thud into the drawbridge gate.

Troutlad fitted a shaft to his bowstring. "Rain's gone off," he said. "But I think we're wastin' arrows and lances here. That keep door is too st.u.r.dy."

"Oh, I don't know, old chap," came a voice from in front of them. "You may've kept 'em off our backs while we escaped!"

Greenbeck's party emerged from the mist, Dandin, Meldrum, and Gael striding along with them. Iris waved her bow. "Cease fire! Dandin, Meldrum, welcome! Your Majesty!"

Egbert emerged from a dark tunnel and held out a cautionary paw to his friends. "That's as close as I can get you by hidden ways," he said.

They came out into a long hallway broken in parts by broad flights of steps. Mariel let the wall tapestry drop back into place across the tunnel mouth. "Which way to the gatehouse, Egbert?" she asked.

The mole scholar pointed. "As far as you can go, through the banqueting chamber, down another flight of stairs and first left. Er, it's not that I'm afraid or anything, 286.

but I'm a scholar, not a warrior-wouldn't I be in the way?''

Mariel patted the mole's paw understandingly. "Of course, you'd be a liability if fighting broke out; we'd have to look out for you. Besides, you must have other business to attend to."

Egbert pushed aside the tapestry that hid the tunnel. "Thank you, Mariel. I'm sure I'll be around should you need me."

Muta and Rab waved good-bye as Mariel called softly, "Good luck and fortune go with you, Egbert the Scholar!"

The mole poked his head back around the tapestry. ' 'Through extensive research, I have found that luck and fortune have little to do with anything. It is brains like mine and a warrior mentality like yours, combined with the element of surprise, that invariably win the day!"

The three warriors trod lightly down the first flight of steps, looking from left to right, ready for anything. Mariel peeked through a partially opened door and saw horde-rats sleeping on a straw-littered floor, a chamber full of them. Without a word to her berserk companions she gently removed a spear from the claws of a slumbering rat. Closing the door, the mo use maid slid the spearhaft through the ring in the latch, effectively imprisoning the sleepers in their own barracks. Muta looked at her ques-tioningly. Mariel smiled. "It's nothing, just making sure we're not followed."

Voices came from farther down the darkened hallway. "Well, you go an' tell Nagru that you ain't stannin' out on no walls all night. I'm not!"

"But I don't 'ave a cloak like you. S'pose it's still 287 rainin', I'll catch me death of cold out there!"

"Aye, mate, and you'll catch yer death a lot faster if you tell Foxwolf that you don't fancy obeyin' his orders!"

"Huh, if it wasn't for those mangy escaped prisoners we'd be in our barracks n-" The rat never finished the sentence he was speaking; neither he nor his companion would ever have to worry about going out on guard again. Muta and Rab carried on down the next flight of stairs as if nothing had happened. Mariel took a curved sword from one of the dead rats and hastened to catch up with the silent slayers.

The banqueting chamber had a torch alight on one wall. The three warriors moved through, silent as the flickering shadows that played over tables and chairs.

Six horderats were seated round a table in the gatehouse playing a game with three sh.e.l.ls and an acorn. A flagon of wine stood on the table, a prize for the winner. A draft flickered around the wall torches as the door swung open. One rat looked up and squealed with fright at the sight of Mariel and her two silent allies entering the room. Muta charged, her relentless energy taking her cras.h.i.+ng into the nearest two rats, then all became confusion.

The table went cras.h.i.+ng end over end, knocking the wall torches from their sconces and plunging the gatehouse into darkness. In the onslaught, amid the screaming, clattering, grunting, and banging, five of the rats met their doom. One rat, more nimble than the rest, slipped by Rab. He fled through the doorway and up the stairs before any-beast could stop him. Mariel struggled with the otter in the doorway as he tried to give chase. "No, Rab, leave 288.

the rat; we've got what we want-the gatehouse is ours!" Slamming the door and securing it, the mousemaid found the torches and blew on them until they flared into light. A huge wooden drum with turning handles attached and a crude block brake held the thick ropes that controlled the drawbridge. Muta finished tipping the last of the slain enemies from the gatehouse window, smiling grimly as the carca.s.ses. .h.i.t the moat below with a splash. Taking Muriel's sword, the badger swung it high over the coils of rope wound around the drum, ready to slice them through to lower the bridge. Mariel shook her head. "No need for that, my friend. We control the drawbridge now-besides, the time may arrive when we'll need to have it closed!"

Silvamord was frightened; Nagru was furious. They had both listened to the terrified recitation of the rat who had escaped alive from the gatehouse. The Foxwolf watched sunny daylight dispersing the valley mist from his chamber window, then banged the ledge so hard that his paw hurt. "They double-bluffed us! So that was how their decoy worked, fooling us into thinking they were attacking the drawbridge, drawing our guards away onto the walltops to forestall another trick, when all the time they really were attacking the drawbridge, from the inside! Now they have control over our very front door! Come on, vixen, where's all your crafty ideas? Why are you sitting there trembling like a pile of frogsp.a.w.n?''

Silvamord was not looking at Nagru. She stared at the wall blankly, her voice atremble as she said, "The badger and the otter, you couldn't have killed them right; they've 289.

come back from the dead, and they're inside this place now!"

The Urgan Nagru shook his head until the teeth of the wolfskull rattled."! can't believe those two aren't dead. We left them like pincus.h.i.+ons, they were ripped to bits..."

A loud b.u.mp from below interrupted him. It startled Silvamord from her trance, and she dashed to the window. "They've lowered the drawbridge!"

Watching from the wooded slopes on the opposite valley side, Dandin's sharp eyes caught sight of a small figure in the gatehouse window. It was gone in a second, but almost at once the drawbridge fell open and spanned the moat. He turned to Iris, his eyes s.h.i.+ning happily. "Now I know where Mariel is-in the gatehouse! There's only one warriormaid could've pulled off a trick like that. Haha, escaping's not good enough for that one; she's got to capture the drawbridge as well!"

Me Id rum tore himself away from the impromptu breakfast he had scrounged, "Brains, eh, that gel will control her own regiment one day, mark m' words. Righto, up on y'paws, you lot, we've got to jolly well help her!"