The Bellmaker

35

Egbert the Scholar was not feeling very happy as he stood with one paw in the valley and the other inside the cave entrance. The mole knew that there was fighting and bloodshed inside Florethe could hear the faint sounds of conflict from the south side of the valley where Nagru was battling with Gael Squirrelkings army. Egbert gave a whimper of anguishhis former relatively peaceful life was now shattered by war. Timidly, he ventured beyond the bushy screen that hid the secret entrance to Floret, intending to escape from it all up the north slope, which faced the castles rear side.

Suddenly, a sound in the undergrowth startled him. He turned to run back to the cave and was immediately swept off his paws by a murderous-looking beast. Lying flat on his back, the terrified mole covered both eyes, so that he would not have to see the dreadful apparition. It was a big, villainous-looking otter, covered with tattoos and scars, with one eye and a musselshell and carrying twin curved swords. Egbert curled into a ball* hoping his end would be swift and painless. A voice, firm but friendly, sounded close by. “Put up those swords, Finnbarr, youll frighten the poor mole to death!

Egbert uncovered his eyes and looked around. He was surrounded by a host of javelin-wielding otters and shrews armed with rapiers. The speaker, a strong-looking mouse, with twinkling eyes and a gray beard, helped him upright and shook his paw in a friendly manner. “Hello there. Im Joseph the Bellmaker. Dont be afraidyouve nothing to fear from us. You dont look like one of the Foxwolfs creatures.

The knowledge that he was out of danger restored the scholarly moles voice. “Creature of the Foxwolf, me, Egbert the Scholar? he said, indignantly. “Never! I, sir, am what is known as a casualty of war. It is no small thing having to leave Castle Floret because the place has been turned into a battleground, I can tell you!

Foremole was astounded at Egberts lack of mole accent. “Burrhurr, ee talken wunnerful pretty, zurr Heg-butt!

“Battleground? Log-a-Log interrupted. “You mean that theres fightin goin on inside that castle? Whos battlin* with who, matey?

Egbert adjusted his nose spectacles prissily. “I think the phrase is, with whom ... He caught an impatient glare from the sea otter and hastened to explain. “Actually, its the forces of Silvamordshes the mate of Nagru. Theyre battling with a small mixed group led by my friend Mariel ...

Suddenly the moles footpaws left the ground and he found himself hoisted up in front of Josephs burning stare. “Mariel! How do we get into that castle? Tell me!

The words flew in a babble from Egberts mouth. “Secret castle into the caveI mean secret cave into the castle. Put me down! Ill show you!

Driven by the Bellmakers urgency, Egbert scurried willy-nilly through the passages and tunnels leading upward into Floret. Joseph and Finnbarr followed close on his heels, with Log-a-Log and Blerun the otter leading the large band that was strung out behind in the dark, narrow passages. Finnbarr Galedeep ducked his head low, following the mole on all fours. “I ope ye know where yer goin, messmate.

Egbert had become lost in his haste, but he did not admit it. “Aha! Wood paneling. This is ithalt and give me space! He tugged aside a thin oak slat and squeezed through, looking about speculatively at the new entrance he had found. He was forced to jump aside with a startled squeak as three sections of the wainscot were slammed flat on the floor and armed creatures began pouring in. Joseph took the moles paw in a gesture of friendship.

“Thank you, Egbert. There is one more favor I would ask of you. Back in the entrance cave you will find three small creatures, Wincey, Benjy, and Figgs. Would you be so kind as to watch over them until this thing is finished?

A smile of relief crossed the moles face. “Indeed I will, Joseph. If you will excuse me, Ill go and attend to them straight away!

Foremole stopped him climbing back into the tunnels. “Noice place ee ave ere, zurr Hegbutt, hurr aye!

The Scholar lapsed into mole dialect to reply. “Bo urr, shem noice awroight, zurr. Oi be off naow to lukk arter ee liddle uns. Gubye, moler!

Finnbarrs teeth gleamed white in the gloom of the dim chamber they had emerged into. “Must be summat wrong with that unhes goin to miss all the fightin. Come on, buckoes, git yerselves through ere. We aint got all summer!

Finnbarr had been one of the first through the opening. He made a quick scouting trip, accompanied by Durry, Rufe, and Fatch. Sliding silently back into the chamber, he found Joseph among the creatures crowding the ill-lit room. “Bellmaker, I found where the fights at. Along the passage outside an down some stairs. You kin ear the ullabaloo from the top o the stairwell!

Joseph hefted a long ash stave that he favored as a weapon crying, “Then thats where Mariel and Dandin will be. Are we ready?

Finnbarr was already racing Blerun for the door. “Las one down theres a flat crab!

Mariel saw the charge coming. She swung her Gull-whacker as Troutlad, Greenbeck, and Muta picked up the door and headed the countercharge. Behind them, the small force swung slingstones into the hordes front rank as they dashed down the passage with only a battered door between them and the crowds of gray rats.

“Redwaaaaaalllll! *

They met with a crash, the door flattening several rats as the long spears and pikes sought out the Southswar-ders. Dandin led them under the spearpoints, ducking low as he dived in with his long dagger drawn. Arrows came hissing over at the slingers; those who were not struck returned slingstones fast and hard. Grunting and slashing, roaring and striking, the conflict went on in the narrow passage.

Silvamord stood on the backs of two rats who were bent double. They gasped as she leaped up and down excitedly, shrieking, “Finish them off! Kill, kill, kill! A mighty blow from Josephs stave sent her spinning.

Suddenly the air was filled with wild warcries.

“Logalogalogalog!

“Galedeeeeeep!

“Southswaaaaaaard!

“Redwaaaaaaaalllll!

Then the crew of Pearl Queen and Blerun* s otters were in the thick of it. The horderats fought viciously, knowing they were fighting for their lives. Mariel and her company gave a ragged cheer as the rats who were attacking them turned and retreated down the passage. The battle flowed outward; clashing steel echoed as Southswarders, aided by Peart Queens crew and Bleruns otters, matched their courage against the savagery of Silvamords horderats. Joseph beat his way through the melee until he was at the side of Mariel and Dandin. Laying a rat senseless with a sweep of his stave, he grinned and bowed his grizzled head to them both.

“Daughter!

“Father!

“Dandin!

“Sir!

The Bellmaker flinched as Mariels Gullwhacker whipped by his ear, taking out a rat who was sneaking up on him. “I see you still favor the old knotted rope, he said.

Gullwhacker hummed as Mariel swung it in a blurring pattern. “Aye, its as good as any weapon when theres fighting to be done. Come on, lets give em blood n vinegar! With a hearty roar, the three warriors threw themselves into the fray.

Log-a-Log and the Guosim shrews had fought their way across the banqueting chamber. Several shrews fell to horderats spears until the Guosim got the measure of their enemies, then they fought in close, their deadly shrew rapiers laying the foebeasts low as they ducked in under the spearshafts. Blerun and his otters put bows and javelins to good use as they battled along the corridor and up flights of spiral stairs. Sometimes they would fight paw to paw, javelin against spear and pike; at other intervals they found themselves crouching in doorways as they exchanged arrows with the rats.

Durry, Rufe, and Patch were fighting as a team. Slinging hard pebbles they would pop up in strategic places, hurl off a volley, and drop down again, only to appear in another place. Rufe spotted Silvamord slinking along the side of a corridorthe vixen was looking for an avenue of escape. Threading her way between the horderats that were backed to the wall, she weaved sinuously toward one of the staircases, staying well away from the area where Muta and Rab were beset by a crowd of gray foe-beasts. Setting a good-sized stone in his sling, Rufe swung it hard and accurately. It struck the vixen somewhere between neck and shoulder, and she went down. Yelling triumphantly, the young squirrel threaded his way through the chaos to where Silvamord lay. Durry saw him go and followed him, calling out, “Rufe, come back here! Stay with men Patch!

Patch had not realized Rufe was elsewhere until he heard Durrys shout. Seeing the danger his friend was in, the shrew overtook Durry, crying out a warning. “Rufe, stay away from her!

The young squirrel had reached Silvamord. He turned his back on her, shouting to his friends, “Ive captured their leader!

Silvamord sprang up and slashed at his back with her sword. Patch saw Rufe go down. He hurtled forward and threw himself upon the vixen; swinging his stone-loaded sling, he caught her in the face as she brought the sword up to finish Rufe off. Silvamord thrust backward at the shrew, clinging doggedly to her backshe felt him go limp and slide off. A slingstone caught her paw, and Durry rushed in howling as he readied another stone to his sling. With a snarl the vixen raced off up the stairs.

Freeing himself of a rat, Rab Streambattle glimpsed Silvamord disappearing up the steps and pointed in her direction. Flinging aside a stunned rat, Muta grunted and took off in pursuit Rab went in an entirely different direction, as fast as his paws would carry him. He knew Floret and he was certain of the exact point on the battlements where the vixen would emerge.

Rufe staggered upright helped by Durry, The hedgehog saw the rent in his friends tunic and the blood seeping from his back. “Rufe, she got you. Are you all right?

Rufe crouched beside Patch, cradling the shrews head in his paws as he replied, “Im wounded, but Ill live. Whats wrong with Patch?

Durry saw the rips on both sides of the shrews tunic and the spreading dark stains. Silvamords sword had gone right through. Patchs head lolled to one side as he smiled weakly into Rufes face. “Told you Id look after you, didnt I, mate?

The eyes of Patch, the loyal Guosim shrew, clouded over and closed for the last time. Durry Quill turned and guarded both his friends. Rufe had both paws around the body of his protector, weeping softly as he rocked him back and forth.

Silvamord panted hard as she pushed herself upward on the stones of the spiral stairs. Behind her she could hear the relentless pad of Mutas paws getting nearer. Not daring to look back, the vixen pressed onward and upward, fear clutching her heart in its icy claws. Fumbling hastily, she unlatched the roof door, slamming it behind her as she dashed out onto the battlements with a sob of relief.

Rab Streambattle stepped out from behind a turret, sword at the ready. Silvamord heard the door behind her burst into matchwood as the badger came cannoning out onto the battlemented roof. Whirling like lightning, she struck at Muta. The badger dodged aside, catching the blade in one paw as it hit the stonework. Though the edge cut into Mutas paw, she hardly felt itthe hated vixen standing before her was all that she could see. Dragging the sword from Silvamords nerveless grasp, the big badger snapped the blade between her paws like a twig. With a scream of terror, the vixen took a running leap over the battlements.

Muta and Rab dashed to the edge and watched Silvamord falling, down, down, down, to land with a dull splash in the moat.

Rab smiled into Mutas angry, frustrated eyes. “Shes mine, friend. Nothing escapes from an otter in water!

Dropping his sword, Rab sailed in a graceful arc as he dived from the battlements of Floret. He struck the water cleanly with hardly a splash. Muta watched the still moat from her high vantage point for a long time, but nothing disturbed the water save ripples. Then she saw Rab slip from the water and sit watching on the bank. Moments later a still-bloated form bobbed to the surface. Rab had spoken truly; nothing did escape an otter in the water. Silvamord, the mate of Urgan Nagru, was no more threat to any living creature than the weeds she floated among. A great calm fell over the badger as she waved to her friend below.

The horderats were broken and defeated inside Castle Floret. Pearl Queens crew and Bleruns otters had helped Mariel and her friends to carry the day. Parties of the victors scoured passage and chamber, combing out any final pockets of resistance. Mariel and Dandin watched a wall curtain moving slightly.

“Looks like a couple hiding behind that curtain. Lets give them a Redwall greeting! the mousemaid whispered as she readied her Gullwhacker.

A lump stuck out of the curtain fabric and Mariel gave it a sharp tap with the knotted rope.

““Ouchooch! I say, go easy there, you rotters!

Dandin ripped the curtain aside to reveal the Hon Rosie Woodsorrel, rubbing her rear end ruefully. “Hah, so there you are at last. Whereve you been? she cried.

Mariel thoughtfully hid the Gullwhacker behind her back. “Hello, Rosie. I think we should be asking you where youve been.

The garrulous harewife shifted a fallen rat and sat down wearily on the floor. “Well may you ask, young uns; well may you ask! Ive been doin a passable impression of a bloomin mole. Lost underground in all those bally tunnels an turns, trekkin this way an that until I was dizzy. Dont snigger, you two. Snot funny, yknow. Moles have my undyin sympathy if they have to tramp around tunnels all their lives. No wonder they speak funny. I say, have I missed the jolly old battle? Not a scrap left for Rosie, eh? Well, theres a-fine thingcome all this way through shipwrecks an sharks t be disappointed. Tchah!

Finnbarr Galedeep stood in the banqueting chamber watching groups of defeated horderats being marched off to the dungeons by Bleruns otters. Their weapons were stacked in heaps on the floor. He turned to Joseph, who was anxiously scanning the valley from a window, and said, “Ahoy, whats goin on out there, BeUmaker?

Joseph continued to peer at the far side of the valley floor as he spoke. “More fighting! It looks like some creatures need our help down there, Finntake a look at this.

Finnbarr and Joseph were joined at the window by Meldrum. The old hare assessed the situation right away. “Hmm, that must be the Foxwolf an his force in the dipthose chaps in the trees have got to be Southswar-ders. Hullo, looks like old Foxwolfs layin some sort of trap for those lads in the trees. Look at those two squads droppin back toward hereIll be bound theyre out to ambush from both sides, sneak around through the trees at the Southswarders in the old pincer movement, wot?

Joseph took up his stave. “Youre right! Come on.

Finn, lets rally our crew and get down their fast. Meld-mm, keep a small squad here to watch those prisoners. Wherere Mariel and Dandin? Theres not a moment to lose!