The Bellmaker

36

The two horde Captains, Blade tail and Coldclaw, had the tables turned on them so fast it made their heads spin. One moment they were about to split their forces and go separate ways, the next instant they were engulfed by two silent waves of hard-eyed warriors rounding both sides of the plateau. The ambushers found themselves ambushed. The rats who were not immediately cut down dropped their weapons and lay on the ground in token of surrender. Coldclaw was laid low by a single blow from the Bell-makers stave. Blade tail dodged Dandins dagger and made a run for it, back to Nagru and the main force.

The Foxwolf was busy directing his rats to keep up constant barrages of arrows, javelins, and slingstones at the Southswarders in the trees. He had the advantage of numbers, and it was beginning to tell.

“Archers, take aim at those rowans to the left, about midway up the trunks. Shoot! A hail of shafts zipped viciously into the swaying rowans.

The Urgan Nagru laughed savagelyhe was in his element. “Southswarders, hah! They dont know what a real battle is. I am the Foxwolf, I was Lord of all the lands of ice and snow beyond the great seas! These fools will weep blood before I am done with them!

He was reveling in the screams of the squirrels who had fallen from the rowans pierced by arrows, when Bladetail tumbled breathlessly into the dip and collided with him, shouting, “Lord, theyre coming!

Gael Squirrelking pointed out into the valley at the silent masses sweeping to the aid of the beleaguered Southswarders.

“Bowly, Gawjun, look!

Weldan, the older squirrel leader, came to the Kings side. “When they get close enough, Majesty, then well charge. That way Fox wolfs forces will be hit from both sides at once.

Finnbarr Galedeep drew his swords as he ran alongside Mariel and Dandin. “Haharr, theyve spotted us, mateys! Theres no gonV back now!

They were close enough to see the eyes of the horde when yelling warriors broke from the tree cover. “Free Souths waaaaard!

Hon Rosie Woodsorrel passed Finnbarr at a bound, javelin at the ready, as she yelled, “Whoohahahooh! Here we go, chaps!

A roar arose from the charging creatures around her.

“Redwaaaaaaaalllllll!

The valley floor shook to the pounding of paws as both sides closed in on the dip like a gigantic double tidal wave, clashing with the horde of Nagru as they joined battle. Gael Squirrelking was brought down by a loaded slingBowly Pintips snatched up the broom standard as he leaped over the senseless squirrel. A ring of pikes pointing outward protected the Foxwolf as he shouted above the din.

“Circle and fight outward!

Mariel found her Gullwhacker caught as it wrapped around the crosstree of a rats pike. She tugged furiously, as three more rats ran at her with drawn swords. Joseph was in at her side, laying two low with blows from his stave. The third fell to a blow from Deekeyes warchib. Hon Rosie and Log-a-Log were fighting side by side, javelin and rapier points flickering in deadly patterns. Rosie spotted the four leverets and Bowly; beset by rats on all sides, they struggled valiantly to retaliate. Hacking a path through to them, Rosie took them under her wing. “Stick with Auntie Rosie, young uns, and watch your backs!

Bowly took a crack over his head from a spearbutt and fell on all fours, still trying to uphold the standard. In the heat of battle Foremole had formed an alliance with the Southsward mole tribe. Heading a band that swung maces expertly, he fought his way to Bowly and took up the broom, waving it high as he threw himself into the fray. “Yurr, follow oi moles, rally to ee standard!

Suddenly, Gael was hauled upright. Rubbing a sizeable lump between his ears, he stared into his rescuers face joyously. “Muta!

The big badger peered at him, recognition dawning upon her. Planting the King firmly at her side she began fighting off all comers with mighty blows of her paws.

Joseph had fought his way to the edge of the conflict He rested a brief moment, noting happily that the battle was going in their favorRedwallers and Southswarders were beginning to overcome Nagrus force. Finnbarr appeared at his side breathing heavily.

“Were doin well, Bellmaker, said the big sea otter, as he wiped both his sword blades on the grass. “But that Foxwolf is still goin strong. Look, the rogues got a group o spearbeasts about him, fightin their way over to the trees!

Joseph gripped his stave as he set off toward the action. “Nagru must be stoppedif he reaches the trees, hell escape!

Escape was indeed the uppermost thing in the cunning brain of Urgan Nagru. He knew that the Southswarders were fighting for a cause, the freedom of their homeland. His horderats had only the fear of him to keep them fighting, and that was not enough. Small groups were beginning to lay down their arms and make their way beyond the edges of the melee to sit in surrender on the ground, heads in their paws.

The wolfskull clacked against Nagrus head as he turned to see Finnbarr Galedeep coming after him. The Foxwolf had seen the big sea otter do battle with his twin blades, and he did not relish the prospect of having to face him. Muttering to his ring of spear rats, Nagru urged them toward the wooded hillslope.

“Its fight or die, now, my warriorsyou get me to the trees, and Ill get you away safe. Well get to the cove where our ships are hidden; they wont follow us into the sea. Keep going, its not far now!

Joseph and Finnbarr were joined by Marie! and a small force, who circled around the outer edges of the fray until they were in the trees. It was the last thing Nagru or his spearguard were expecting. Josephs heavy stave, aided by Finnbarrs twin blades and Mariels Gull whacker, broke through the surprised rats. Joseph was tripped by a spearbutt in the confusion and Mariel rushed to his side, defending her father hard with the knotted rope until he was able to stand upright. A thud and a roar came from within the broken ring of spears. Finnbarr Galedeep had found the Foxwolf.

Creatures from both camps leaped aside as the fox and the sea otter locked together in a death struggle. Finnbarr could not use his swords in such close quartershurling them aside, he grabbed Nagru bodily and flung him to the ground. Nagru raked viciously at his foes face with the metal wolfclaws, his teeth seeking the sea otters throat as he called to his guards, “Help me, kill him!

Blade tail drove his spear into Finnbarr. The handle snapped as the two creatures on the ground rolled over and over in a shower of dust and torn grass. Bladetail reached for another spear, but before he could grab it, Dandins long dagger ran him through.

The dust crimsoned as Foxwolf and Finnbarr fought like rnadbeasts around the small clearing, fangs snapping, claws raking, limbs kicking furiously. Then Finnbarr was standing upright; grabbing the fox by his neck and tail, the sea otter ran his enemy across the open space. Nagrus paws flailed helplessly as he was propelled head down, and the last thing he heard was Finnbarrs war cry.

“Galedeeeeeeep!

Crack!

With a sickening thud, the mighty sea otter ran his opponents head on into the unyielding trunk of an oak tree. The Urgan Nagru died by his own symbol of power. The wolf fangs of the skull that rested on his head were driven deep into his evil brain by the force with which Finnbarr charged him against the tree trunk. So perished the Urgan Nagru and his dreams of conquest.

Joseph dashed to Finnbarrs side. “You old battledog, you did it! You slew the Foxwolf!

The sea otter sat upon the ground and smiled at his friend. “You wouldve done it if youd reached him first, Bellmaker.

Joseph took Finnbarrs scarred and tattooed paw. “The battle is won; come and well find someplace to rest while I bind those wounds of yours.

But the sea otter stayed upon the ground. “Let go of my paw, matey, he said. “This is where I rest!

Joseph knelt by his friends side. “Finnbarr, are you all right?

Finnbarr winced as he shook his head. “Theres alf a spear inside o me, Bellmaker. I aint gettin up from ere. Pass me swords, will yer, messmate?

Joseph took the fallen swords from Mariel and Dandin and pressed them into Finnbarrs paws. The Bellmaker realized then what had happened. Blade tails spear had done its work; his companion was dying. Josephs brown eyes radiated sorrow as he put a paw about Finnbarrs shoulders and whispered to him, “Is there anything else you need, mate?

Finnbarr squinted through his one good eye. “Turn me tface the west. Thats the direction the sea lays in, aint it?

The Bellmaker nodded silently, turning his friend gently, so that he faced west.

“Thankee, shipmate, Finnbarr grunted. “Now stop ere with me awhile until I leave yer tgo on me last good voyage.

Joseph the Bellmaker stayed. He held on to Finnbarr Galedeep the sea otter until his eyes clouded over and finally closed. Finnbarr smiled as the sounds of land faded. Calm as a millpond and blue as aquamarine, the sea stretched away to meet the sky on a far horizon. He stood alone at the tiller of his beloved Pearl Queen as the sails billowed silently and it took him away.