The Bellmaker

33

The Urgan Nagru buckled a belt over his wolfhide to hold both sword and dagger and strode purposefully to where two-thirds of his horde awaited him in an inner courtyard. Gray rats in serried ranks held aloft banners, spears, lances, and pikes. They stood silent in the calm that comes before a storm, every eye upon their Lord as he positioned himself at their head. Drawing his sword, Fox-wolf gave a bloodcurdling yell and charged out of Castle Floret.

“Owoooooh!

The drawbridge shook to the pounding paws of the gray tide; they thundered out down the plateau steps, their barbaric war cry ringing into Southsward.

“Urgan Nagruuuuuu! Kiiiiiillll!

Mariel watched from the gatehouse window. As soon as the last horderat was clear of the castle, she rapped out an order to her two silent helpers.

“Up drawbridge!

Muta and Rab had the huge timbered structure slammed shut seconds after the mousemaid had given her order. Mariel stood watching through a slit in the wrecked table which shielded the window, smiling with grim satisfaction.

“Foxwolf is locked out of Floret!

Muta moved anxiously from side to side, nostrils twitching, eyes wide. Mariel grabbed the big badgers paw, saying, “Muta, what is it?

Rab divedthrowing himself at them he knocked both to one side as a smoking mass of debris crashed through the barricade. It was swiftly followed by two barrels, both alight and packed with wet straw. Smoke billowed thickly around the confines of the room, as more bales of damp green branches bounced down the stairs into the gatehouse. Coughing and spluttering, Mariel made it to the window and pushed aside the table that covered it. A hail of arrows whined in. The mousemaid threw herself flat upon the floor, her mind racing. The barrels would not go through the window, they were too large, and now the window was no longer shielded by the table. It was time to leave the gatehouse.

“Muta, Rab, she shouted, “we must get out of here, but first the handles of the winding drum have to be broken so that the drawbridge stays up. Can you do it?

Coughing and gasping for breath, their eyes red and watery, the three friends felt about in the dense, smoky gloom. Muta gave a strangled grunt as her formidable paws fell upon the handles. With strength born of desperation the badger threw herself upon the mechanism. Mere wooden handles were no match for her furythey cracked and splintered momentarily before snapping clean off. Now the drawbridge was shut and locked. Gasping for air, Muta rushed out onto the stairs, still holding the broken handles in her paws. Rab materialized out of the smoke to join her. Wiping their eyes, both creatures looked at each other.

Mariel had not made it out of the gatehouse!

Under Egberts instructions, none of the creatures on the valley floor stayed together. When Iris gave the word they scattered widespread, each one tacking and dodging as they made for the cover of the wooded hills surrounding the valley. Once they were under cover of trees and clear of arrow range, everybeast made for the gathering place, a thicket on the north side, behind the castle. Egbert met them there.

Meldrum was last to arrive. He plucked an arrowhead from his tunic epaulette saying, “Huh, if Id been a hare-length backward in comin forward, that blighter would have ruined me tunic. Good job its not the dress one. Right, Educated Egbert, where to now?

The mole glanced severely over his spectacles at Meldrum. “Let us strike a bargain. Do not refer to me as Educated Egbert and I will not call you Hollow-Headed Hare. Agreed?

Field Marshal Meldrum Fallowthorn the Magnificent sniffed. “As ywish, sah. Hmm, touchier than most moles this lad, wot?

Egbert pushed aside the shrubbery of bush and plant to reveal the cave at the north side of the plateau base. Dan-din whistled softly. “A secret entrance to the castle, wonderful! Lead on, friend.

The mole removed his glasses and polished them busily. “Id rather not, thank you. I think it would be propitious if I stayed in this area, to show others the way in. You must realize that Floret is still full of rats under the vixens command. As I do not profess to be a warrior, there would be tittle use for me to accompany you. I am sure you understand.*

Meldrum raised his eyebrows at Iris. “ Propitious, wot? The fellers a walkin wordsmith!

“Righto, thats fine with me, friend, said Dandin, watching Egbert nervously polishing his glasses. “But how do we get up into the castle? Is mere a secret way?

Relieved to be out of the action, Egbert smiled. “There are many secret ways. Follow any of the tunnels and you are bound to come out in some part of Castle Floret.

Dandin unsheathed his long dagger. “Thats good enough for me. Lets go!

Heading a band of horderats, Silvamord waited in the corridor that led to the gatehouse stairs. She fanned smoke from her nostrils as Mingol lit another barrel of wet straw.

“Send it down to the gatehouse, Mingol. They must be well choked in there by now, but its best to be certain.

Mingol kicked the barrel, and it rolled off down the corridor. Bouncing down three small steps, it hit the wall and vanished from view as it trundled off down the gatehouse steps. Silvamord ran her tongue delicately along the edge of a vicious-looking curved sword.

“I hope at least one of them staggers out still alive!

Muta was very much alive. She came thundering into the corridor carrying the burning barrel and hurled it straight at Silvamord and her rats. They leaped aside with cries of horror as the barrel smashed to staves and the mighty badger came at them, smoke pouring from her fur.

Rab had been into the gatehouse and rescued Mariel. Carrying her across his brawny shoulders, the otter made it to the portion of the corridor on the far side of the stairs. Depositing the gasping mousemaid gently on the floor beside a window, Rab left her there to recover. Then, sword in paw, he launched himself into the attack.

The corridor was a melee of smoke and noise. Silvamord had gotten over her initial shock, and now she urged her rats on in front of her, staying well distanced from the two creatures she feared most.

“Rush them! she screamed. “Hack them to bits, theyre well outnumbered!

Rab and Muta were separatedboth had their backs to opposite walls. The otter fought with berserk fury, his blade flickering as it sought, thrust and parried. Muta had a winding handle and a barrel stave as weapons, and any rat who came in range was smashed flat by a swinging blow from either one. The badger fought with the strength of ten.

Through the smoke and chaos Silvamord could see that the pair would not last. She dropped to the back of the pack, striking out with the flat of her swordblade as she urged the horderats on. “Keep at them, weve got them, press in on them!

Mariel stuck her head out of the window and gulped down clean, fresh air. She rested a moment, regaining her balance. A sound of running caused her to pull her head in and look down the corridor. Reinforcements under the command of Crutch were coming to help Silvamord from the opposite direction. Galvanized into action, the mouse-maid unlooped the knotted rope from around her body. Thwack Whock!

The first two rats fell to her Gullwhacker as Mariel whirled it in the teeth of the oncoming foe.

“Redwaaaaallll!

Faced with overwhelming odds, the mousemaids warrior spirit rose; the hard, knotted rope end was everywhere like a blur. Foerats tripped over their fallen comrades as they tried to get at her. Teeth flew, heads cracked, and limbs splintered as Mariel of Redwall made her stand.

The smoke was beginning to clear under the trampling paws of horderats. Silvamord could see that the hard-pressed trio had only moments to survive under the numbers that assailed them. Waving her sword she pressed forward crying, “Dont stop! Get in there! Kill them!

Dandin emerged from behind a wall tapestry to find himself in a broad passage, broken at intervals by short flights of steps. Iris and Meldrum held the tapestry aside as the rest of the otters came out of the secret tunnel. Dandin suddenly held up a paw for silence. Echoing along the stone hallway came a faint cry.

“Redwaaaaalll!

Breaking into a headlong dash, he tore off shouting, “This way, its Mariel! Redwaaaaaaalllll!

Taking up the Abbey war cry, the small force followed him at a flat-out run.

The rear followers of Grutchs command were hit hard and fast by the charge. Dandin came vaulting in on a spear, flattening a rat as he took up position alongside Mariel. Swinging the Gullwhacker full in a rats face she yelled at Dandin over the noise of combat, “Get help to Muta and Rab. Quickly!

But there was little need for the mousemaids plea. Iris tore past them, wreaking havoc with a broken javelin as she screamed with joy.

“Rab! Rab Streambattle! Its me, Iris!

Suddenly, Rabs swordblade was revolving like a windmill in a gale as he fought his way toward her, the words ripping unbidden from his throat.

“Iris! Iris!

Meldrum battered his way with a pike until he was at Mutas side. The old campaigner winked at her. “Right, here we go, back to back now. Bet I wipe out more vermin than you do, marm, wot?

The big badger took up the challenge with a grunt. Placing her back flat against the hares, she moved with him. They were unassailable, a complete fighting machine.

Silvamord saw the tide turning against her. She was puzzled as to how the intruders came to be inside Floret, but not unduly worried. There were still lots more horde-rats at her disposal. Slipping away from the rear of her contingent she hurried up to the battlements, where most of her force were stationed to sweep the valley floor with their bows.

“Sicant, Hooktail, get every rat here down to the gatehouse corridor. Follow me!

Muta, Rab, and Mariel were safe among the otters. They regrouped in the corridor. The horderats milled about on the other side farther up, uncertain of what to do without somebeast to lead them. Rab Streambattle soon made up their minds for them. Exercising his new-found voice, he led what remained of the small rescue force against the foebeast.

“Chaaaarge!

The rats took one look at the howling warriors leaping over battle debris and fallen bodies, and panic set in. They broke and ran off in retreat.

Eyes blazing, weapons swinging, the avengers came after them, with Mariel, Dandin, Rab, Iris, Meldrum, and Muta in the lead.