The Bellmaker

31

Another heavy blow to the gatehouse door caused it to tremble and splinter. Mariel stood with her back against the wall, knowing she was not going to refuse the two dumb creatures who stood staring at her pleadingly. She nodded toward the door, saying, “Somebeast ought to stop them smashing it in ...

Lumba backed up the stairs, heading the group that carried the battering ram. He was confident that the next charge would burst a way through into the gatehouse.

“Last time nowgive it all youve got. One, two, charge!

Ten rats were carrying the ram. They sped down the stairs with the other forty close on their heels.

Before they reached it, the door swung open.

Unable to stop, they went pounding through the doorway. Muta and Rab met them head-onthe two berserk warriors were like eagles among pigeons. Spears were swept aside broken, shields bent double, and armor crushed like autumn leaves. The badger seized a rat in each paw and used them as flails upon the others. Rab Streambattle was among them like a flame, his sword-blade flashing as he hacked through armor and hide alike.

Hooktail had carried on running as he entered the room. He dashed past Muta and was about to turn when a mighty smack from Muriels Gullwhacker sent him sailing through the window where he met an arrow before falling to the moat. The mousemaid spun her weapon, punishing every head or face that appeared before her. With two rats clinging to her back Muta fought on, the bloodlust hot in her eyes; horderats bounced off the stone walls as she whirled her huge paws like a windmill.

Rab was out onto the stairs; dropping his sword in favor of a spear, he went to it with butt and point, using the center pole as a quarterstave until he made it to the top of the steps. Shaking off the two rats that clung to her like ticks, Muta grabbed the fallen battering ram. A scream of pure terror came from the remaining horderats. Muscle and sinew stood out on the old badgers scarred hide as she swung the ram, flattening rats against both walls. The rest broke and ran up the stairs, only to find Rab armed with a spear on the top step barring their way. They turned, but Muta was coming through the door with the battering ram pointed at them.

Shutting her mind to the awful sounds, Mariel concentrated on unloading rats out of the window. One or two who had missed the wrath of Muta and Rab pushed past her and leaped howling into the moat. Mariel collected spears and began hurling them up at the archers on the battlements.

The battle won, Muta and Rab returned exhausted to the gatehouse. But there was still work to be done. The door had been torn off its hinges in the attack. Quickly they turned it on its side and, using the battering ram and the remaining spears, made a barricade.

Out beyond the plateau, Egbert the Scholar popped up unexpectedly out of the ground beside Meldrum and smiled apologetically.

“You must excuse me, he said. “I could go no farther because this large rock was in the way. My name is Egbert. How do you do?

Meldrum was lost for words. He sat staring at the mole. Egbert shook his head despairingly and launched into mole speech.

“Bo urr, zurr, oim Eggbutt ee mole, cumm to taken you tins out of this yurr place, burr aye!

As Dandin and Iris turned to stare at him also, Meldrum regained his composure and spoke.

“Come to take us out o here, wot?

Egbert dusted earth from his paws impatiently, “That is correct. Hmph! Amazing the things one must resort to when attempting to communicate. Listen, Ive come to take you out of here before you are all slain.

Dandin shook the moles paw warmly. “Well, Ill go along with that in any language. Were at your command friend; just lead on!

Meldrum waggled his ears reflectively. “Not so fast, laddie buck; some things are easier said than done. How can ybe so sure you can get us out ohere, eh, young molechap? Speak up; dont be shy.

Egbert donned his spectacles and looked at Meldrum over the top of them. “Hmm, shyness would be a virtue in some creatures, though I doubt it is widely practiced among hares. How do I propose to get you out of here? Well, I could sit here discussing it at length with you. Duck!

They crouched quickly as more arrows cut the air.

Egbert continued as if nothing had happened. “Unfortunately I dont intend sitting about here and being shot at all day. Listen, I got Mariel into that gatehouse; trust me. I can get you out of here and into Castle Floret if you do as I say. Are you willing?

Iris shouldered her bow. “Were willing, Egbert. Always trust a mole, I say.

Meldrum the Magnificent had recovered his aplomb. Jamming his hat tight over his ears, he winked at Dandin. “Trust a mole; thats what I always say, too. Even if the blinkin creature spouts like a library scroll, wot!

Nagru joined Silvamord on the battlements to see how she was faring. The vixen explained the position to him.

“Were keeping that lot in the valley pinned down well, but your gatehouse scheme has failed. Lumba and his troop ended up in the moat and now that scurvy mousemaid has blocked the gateroom window, my archers cant get at them. Something has got to be done about the gatehouse. Come on, Foxwolf, wheres your cunning?

Nagru stared down at the boarded window hard and long, then his wicked eyes narrowed to slits. “Keep your archers trained on that window. Mingol, get rags, wood, and straw, lots of straw. Damp it all down well.

A malicious smile lit up the vixens face. “Youre going to smoke them out! she crowed.

Sicant pointed down into the valley. “My Lady, look! Theyre breaking and scattering!

Silvamords smile widened as she looked over the battlements. “Well, well, what a pitiful little army. Theyve had a bellyful and now theyre running off home. See them go! Archers, fire!

Nagru swiftly countermanded her order. “Cease, hold your arrows! Im going to teach those upstarts a lesson they wont forget. You stay here and see that the gatehouse is taken. Ill leave Grutch and some others to hold me gateway in case of ambush. He whirled and ran for the stairs.

“Where are you going? Silvamord called after him.

The Foxwolf shouted back as he ran, “Im going to show em Im not afraid to attack. I rule Southsward, and theyll know about it before nightfall!

Silvamord could taste victory. She threw back her head and howled. “Make an end of it, Nagru! Kill them, leave none alive! Sicant, go and tell Mingol to hurry himselfIll smoke them out of there or choke them slowly to death!

Benjy had scouted out a clear running stream, and Joseph and Finnbarr called a halt on its bank in the late afternoon. Log-a-Logs Guosim shrews came in from foraging the hills and woodland bringing lots of apples, pears, and wild plums, even some cherries and a variety of roots and vegetables. The crew sat cooling their footpaws at the waters edge, Joseph keeping an eye on Wincey and Figgs as they paddled in the shadows.

Finnbarr sunk his teeth into a large, red apple. “Ahoy, BeUmaker, great country ereaboutsplenty of everythin just agrowin for the takin.

Joseph and Benjy were sharing cherries, seeing how far they could spit the cherry stones into the stream. Log-a-Log stretched out on the bank next to Foremole.

“Ah, this feels like home tmenothin like bein near a nice stream eatin* a pear. Though I wish we couldve had a fire; my cooks would make a great soup from those roots and vegetables.1

“Hurr, oi loikes zoop, zurr Log, tho oi dearly loikes a purr too, burr aye! said Foremole as he buried his face in a mellow pear with a squelch.

Rufe, Durry, and Patch had found an old willow further upstream. They swung on a springy limb as it bobbed them up and down into the water. Rosie munched her way through a heap of dark purple plums as she watched the young ones enjoying themselves.

“Yknow, well have to watch those young uns if we get caught up in a skirmish of any great size, she said. “I wouldnt like to think of my leverets havin to fight battles.

Wincey had wandered up onto the bank. Joseph cut up an apple for her, setting it out in slices, “Youre right, Rosie, he replied. “I couldnt bear to think of these little uns being hurt in any way. Hi, Figgs, dont go too far! Come back here this instant, dyou hear me, missie?

Finnbarr tossed an apple playfully at Joseph. “Yer a real ole mother en, BeUmaker. Stop fussin oer the liddle maid. Shes an otter, aint she? Ill wager Figgs can shift fer erself in water bettern you can.

The Bellmaker, however, was not convinced. “Figgs is far too little, Finn; shell get lost if she goes much farther downstream alone.

Finnbarr grasped Josephs paw, pulling him upright. “Ho come on then, fussbudget, well go an get er.

Together they waded downstream, past willow and red-berried rowan mingled with balsam and reed mace, the trees closing in an arch over the stream waters. Small clouds of midges flitted in and out of the sun-patterned shade, disturbed by the progress of the two wading creatures. Cupping paws about his mouth Joseph called aloud, “Figgs! Where are you, Figgs?

Finnbarr tugged the edge of the Bellmakers jerkin urgently. “Dont turn around too fast, matey. Shes beind us.

Joseph turned slowly. Figgs was there, seated on the brawny shoulders of an otter who, with about fifty others, lined the stream holding javelins menacingly. Finnbarr glanced over his shoulder to see a similar number appear apparently from nowhere, merging between foliage, sunshine, and shadow.

Figgs scrambled down from the otters shoulders and swam to Joseph. The Bellmaker ignored the javelins hemming him in on both sides and clucked disapproval at the otter babe. “Teh, tch, look at your smock and bonnet, theyre saturated.

This seemed to relax the otters. The big one spoke:

“I am Blerun Downriver. What names do you go by?

“Joseph the Bellmaker. This is Finnbarr Galedeep, and there are more of us upstream.

Blerun leaned on his lance and nodded. “I know; we have watched you since you camped there. Do you serve Urgan Nagru the Fox wolf?

Before an otter could lift javelin, Finnbarrs twin swords had cleared their sheaths. He went into a fighting crouch, his single eye glittering hotly. “No, matey, weve come tdo battle with im, so if youre on the Foxwolf s side wed best start the party right ere!

Blerun left his javelin sticking in the streambed and extended a paw toward Joseph and Finnbarr. “Your enemy is our enemy. We will fight him together, Finnbarr Galedeep.

So it was that the Pearl Queens crew began the final stage of their march to Castle Floret.