The Bellmaker

11

Dandin was first to regain his senses. He wished fervently : that he had nothis entire body was a mass of pain. The last thing he recalled was the three of them being dragged along the ground all the way to Castle Floret. Kicked, buffeted, bumped, and scratched, until they lost consciousness. Somewhere in the background he heard voices.

“Sourgall, look, one of ems comin around.

“Cmon Fillch, wed better go an report back.

As the voices died away in the distance, Dandin sat up, trying to ignore his discomfort. One of his eyes was swollen shut; through the other he took stock of his surroundings, Mariel and Meldrum lay on either side of him, still senseless. All of their footpaws had been bound together by a thick rope. They were in a prison cell, its floor strewn th dry rushes and old straw. Four stout stone walls sur-inded them; there was one high, barred window and a wily timbered door, with iron studding and a small yhole grille. Sunlight flooded in from the wide-barred window, lighting up the grimness of their dungeon.

Mariel stirred, her voice a hoarse croak. “Water!

Dandin winced as, cradling her head on his lap, he scoured the cell with his one good eye. “Sorry, theres not a drop in the place. Are you all right?

“Im thirsty-thats how I know Im still alive. Howre you?

“Still here, I suppose. Meldrum looks very still.

The old hare lay prostrate with both eyes shut. He began muttering half to himself. “Want a full military burial, lots of fuss1 medals, sad music, an tears, thatll do. Hmm, at the foot of a good oak tree, nice an shady. They can carve somethin fittin on it, too. Now, me effects, let me see. I leave a nice mess jacket to Thurdale, hope he wears it with pride. About me rod V line, young Foghill gets that, blighters always had his eye on it anyway ... The Field Marshals finely attuned ears waggled. “Theres somebeast comin. Steady in the ranks than. Lie doggo, make em think were still out.

Locks squealed and bolts clanked as they were withdrawn, and the door creaked open. Nagru and Silvamord swept in, flanked by a dozen rats. One of them stirred Meldrum with his footpaw.

“This is the beast who slew Captain Bragglin. We had the two mice cornered when he butted in. There were four, no, five othersfour young hares and a hedgepig.

Nagru shoved the rat aside contemptuously saying, “And they vanquished a full patrol of you!

“You should talk, said Silvamord, her voice heavy with scorn. “These three between them slew your wonderful Dirgecallers and more than a score of hordebeasts. Tell us about that again!

The Foxwolf ignored her, but took his spite out by kicking Mariel. “I thought you said they were coming around, Sourgall. This ones still senseless. Look!

He kicked Mariel again, and her eyes snapped open. “Ill remember your face when the time comes for me to slay you, ugly one! she spat out.

Nagru stood over her, smiling evilly. “Well, well, tough words for a mousemaid whos hardly in a position to slay anybeast. Listen, fool, I am the Organ Nagru. I could squash all three of you like so many bothersome gnats, and I will if you dont answer my questions. What are you doing in Southsward? Where did the squirrels and otters go to? Tell me!

From his position on the cell floor, Meldrum the Magnificent blew a long sigh of boredom. “Somebeasts love thear the sound of their own voice, dont they? Tell that wallah to buzz off, will you? Im takin me noon nap!

Silvamord drew a dagger and leaped at the hare. Nagru restrained her as she snapped at him, “Dolt! Cant you see theyre not going to tell you anything? Kill them now, I say!

Nagru placed himself between Silvamord and the cap-tives. “I want them kept alive for the moment. Leave this tome.

The three friends sat up facing Nagru, conscious of the Vixen prowling back and forth behind him. The Foxwolf crouched, letting his metal claws show ominously. v “Youd do well to listen to my words. Make it a lot rjtasier on yourselves and just tell me where Serena and lfaat brat of hers are hiding.

Dandin eyed him coolly. “Or?

Silvamord leaned over Nagrus shoulder, brandishing her dagger lovingly as she hissed, “Or you wont be able to talk for screaming!

The Foxwolf shook his head pityingly. “Shell get to you sooner or later, probably after youve rotted in here awhile from hunger and thirst. So give me your answer now, and well reach an agreement. I could do with three warriors such as you; it would spare you all this.

The trio looked from one to another. Mariel nodded. They lay back down, with Meldrum yawning. “Close the door on your way out, will you? It gets quite drafty in here with it open.

Surprisingly Nagru kept his temper, though he had to signal the guards to restrain Silvamord. She was struggling to get at them, spittle and foam ringing her lips as she shouted wildly, “Leave me an hour with them, just an hour. Ill have them talking so fast they wont be able to stop! The guards hustled her out. Nagru stood framed in the doorway, a thin smile on his lips.

“Fine words from warriors, but think on this: You are no longer warriors free to do battle. You are my prisoners, to do with as I please. Without liberty, food, or drink. Soon you will begin to feel weak; thin and hungry, sick and thirsty. I have seen it before. You will be reduced to whining, cringing wretches who will betray one another for a cup of water or a crust of bread.

Meldrum raised his head, careful not to show how painful the effort was. “Hard luck, laddie. Fear wont work on us. Weve faced death too many times taking felons like yself down a peg or two. Ysee, theres a world of difference twixt warriors n windbags, between real fighters an jumped-up johnnies who go around wearin the skins of other creaturesbad form, yknow! Quick as ylike now, toddle off an close the door quietly!

The cell door slammed shut with an earsplitting bang. Nagru shouted through the spyhole as he left, “Bravado wont feed you, and stupidity will kill you!

In the silence that followed, Mariel untied the rope that bound their footpaws together. Standing up carefully, she gave an agonized groan. “Ooahh! That villains right, you know. Were hardly in a fit state to stand on our own paws, let alone defy him.

Supporting one another, they staggered over to the window. It was not as high as it had first looked. They scrambled up onto the broad sill and Mariel pulled herself forward, craning her neck to peer between the bars.

“Oh, my giddy paws! It feels like sitting in the clouds looking down from here. Its a sheer drop down to the Valley. The trees look like tiny blobs of green moss!

Meldrum crawled over to join her. “Right, mdear. Were at the rear of Castle Floret, straight drop, no moat around this side, no need for one ysee. If Im not mistaken, were on the third floor, north wing. Nice view across the valley, wot? Pity we aint got nothin tdo but sit here an admire it.

Dandin took a look and then sat back, resting against sun-warmed stone. “Dont you wish you were a bird?

The garrulous old campaigner flexed a stiffened paw. “Wish I were any flippin thing but a three-quarters dead at the moment, young feller. Deed I do! Mariel felt her back, raw through the holes that had been made in her tunic with being dragged along. “Imprisoned, hungry, thirsty. Theres only one way us to go now, up!

“Were already up, old gel. How much further up would you like us tbe, eh? said Meldrum, probing gingerly at a loose tooth. “Listen to a veteran, you two. Best thing to do in a case like this is sleep. Calms the nerves, clears the brain, an helps nature heal the body, wot? Bit of shut-eye, thats the ticket!

He received no arguments on that score, and within moments the three of them were dozing on the broad win-dowsill in the noontide sun. Deep sleep overtook the trio of battered warriors immediately.

A search party scoured the collapsed sand dune, sifting through the sand. Furpp straightened up, unable to find anything. He shook his head at Bowly, saying, “Youm sure theym been round boi yurr, maister?

Iris waved a paw at the upset state of the wrecked sandhill. “They must have been. Look at all the activity thats taken place round hereprints, tracks, holes. Id say some sort of fight took place. Whoops, careful there! The female otter had been standing on one end of Meld-rums rod, and she toppled backward downhill as Coltvine unearthed the other end vigorously. He gave a whoop.

“What ho! Lookie here, Uncle Mels fishin weapon!

“Aha! The GullwhackerI was right! said Bowly as he tugged Mariels rope from the sand.

Greenbeck shook his head in admiration as he unearthed the paw of a dead horderat. Letting it go limp, he kicked sand back over it. “Sink me, wot a tussle they mustve put up!

“Aye, just like Muta an my Rab, brave creatures! Iris said as she blinked back a tear.

Furpp patted her with his huge digging claws. “Roight, marm. They uns gived us toim to rescue ee Queen an ee babby. Leastways theym safe naow.

Greenbeck sat down between them, keeping his voice low and out of earshot of Bowly and the leverets. “Furpp, get yore moles to dig round ere, he said. “If they aint buried under this lot then theyve been taken by the Fox-wolf an that orde.

“Fate and seasons have mercy on the poor brave beasts. Iris shuddered. “If theyre in the cells at Floret no creatures can help them, even supposing that they are still alive!