Nail a pie to the door for me mother!’
They sang it again, this time at double speed. Hares leapt high, seeing if they could wiggle their ears six times before hitting the ground again (Bucko could do eight earwiggles – he was the envy of all). Dancers had often to jig out of the way of hedgehogs revolving in mad spins. Otters twined their tails and somersaulted over the fire. Squirrels high-kicked wildly, gritting their teeth as sand flew about. Around them all, the Guosim shrews joined paws and spun in a wide eye-blurring wheel. Right at the centre, Gurth danced sedately with Brog’s mum, bowing and hopping gracefully, whilst Frutch curtsied and performed dainty little steps, holding her apron wide.
Old Bramwil sat chuckling with Brocktree. ‘Will y’look at them, sire! I never saw such jiggin’ in all me seasons, wot! I say, that pretty young ’un, Dotti, those hare twins won’t leave her alone. They want every blinkin’ dance with her!’
Brocktree chuckled. ‘She’d be disappointed if they did leave her alone, a fatal beauty like our Dotti. Tell me, Bramwil, what was my father Stonepaw like? You served under him, didn’t you?’
Bramwil wiped both eyes on a large spotty kerchief and blew his nose. ‘Lord Stonepaw was the wisest, gentlest beast a hare ever knew. He was my Badger Lord and my good friend, sire.’
Brocktree knew he was upsetting the old hare, but he had to put the question which he had been too moved to ask when Stiffener had sat between himself and Fleetscut and told them that Lord Stonepaw was dead.
‘I never knew him very well, you see. Badgers leave home whilst their sons are still young. ‘Twould be a tense household with two grown male badgers in it. Now, I don’t want every little detail, but please tell me, how did he die?’
Bramwil stared into the fire, answering without hesitation. ‘He went bravely, lord, more courageously than anybeast could imagine, surrounded by those blue murderers! He laid down his life to give us time to escape.’
Brocktree put a paw about Bramwil’s shaking shoulders. ‘You’ve no need to distress yourself further, old one. I know now. My father died like a true Badger Lord, full of the Bloodwrath, taking many vermin with him.’
Bramwil’s tears sizzled in the embers at the fire’s edge as he nodded and dabbed at his eyes. ‘’Twas so, lord, ’twas so!’
Brocktree rose, flickering flame shadows playing over his immobile face. Bramwil looked up at him. The Badger Lord looked like something carved from rock, which had stood there since the dawn of time.
At last, Brocktree shouldered his sword. ‘Waste no more tears, you good old beast. Stonepaw would not want grief, he would want retribution. I am here now. It is the turn of Ungatt Trunn and his vermin to suffer. I will make them weep full sore before they die!’ He strode off towards the clifftops, alone.
Bucko Bigbones threw himself down beside Bramwil, panting from the dance. He seized a flagon of cordial and drained it. ‘Hey, auld ’un, I seen ye talkin’ wi’ the big boyo. Och, ’twill be a thing tae see when that’n takes hamself aff tae battle!’
Ungatt Trunn could not sleep. He wandered the upper passages of Salamandastron until he came to a small chamber on its north side, where he had chosen to store his own armour and weapons. His restless eyes sought out a long trident leaning against the wall. He took the weapon and hefted it. This trident had served him well many times in battle. Three barb-headed copper prongs gleamed dully in the torchlight; he ran his paw over the oaken shaft until it met the cord-bound grip at its middle. Grasping it firmly, he went to the window and stood staring out towards the cliffs in the distance.
‘Brocktree of Brockhall, eh? So that’s what they call you. I know you are out there somewhere, Badger Lord. I am Ungatt Trunn the Earth Shaker, who makes the stars fall from the sky. This mountain is mine by right of conquest. Here I stay – come to me!’
He pointed out of the window at the cliffs with his trident.
Brocktree stood on the clifftops, the night breeze ruffling his fur, though his eyes never once blinked against the wind. He gazed at the dark shape to the south, the mountain looming high on the western shore edge. Drawing his sword, he pointed it at Salamandastron, starlight shimmering along the burnished blade’s length.
‘I know your face, wildcat; soon you will see mine. I am coming. Eulaliiiiiaaaaaaa!’
32
MORNING SUN SHONE down on a strange scene. Durvy and his crew also witnessed it, and they turned from the water’s edge and hastened back to camp. Leaders of all the tribes and crews were taking breakfast inside the cave with Brocktree, about to begin a council of war, when Durvy and Konul dashed in, breathless and excited.
‘Come an’ see! All the bluebottoms are paradin’ out along the shore!’
The Badger Lord put aside his food. ‘Where?’
‘I’d say ’bout a third the distance ’twixt ’ere an’ the mountain. ’Tis a sight t’see, eh, Konul?’
The cheeky-faced ottermaid was grim and shaken. ‘Aye. You can’t see the sands o’ the beach for ’em!’
Rulango the heron stalked into the cave. Log a Log Grenn took a backward pace at the sight of the fearsome bird. ‘Where did that monster come from?’
Brog went to Rulango and stroked his neck. ‘I forgot to tell ye about this ’un. He’s Rulango, the eyes’n’ears of the Bark Crew. Where’d you get to yesterday, mate?’
He cleared a patch in the sand, and Rulango sketched out several fishes. Brog nodded. ‘Fishin’, eh? Well, you’ve got to eat, just like anybeast. No need to tell us wot’s down on the shore, we know.’
But the heron kept dabbing his talons down on the sand, until it was covered in tiny dots.
‘See all these dots? Each one’s a bluebottom,’ Brog explained.
Rulango scraped out a row of scratches.
‘He says that for every scratch there’s that many again. Too many for ’im t’sketch!’
Brocktree shouldered his sword. ‘Come on, I’ve got to see this. Bring your weapons!’
Brocktree took with him a selected small band, Dotti and the twins among them. Using the dunes as cover and keeping low, they threaded their way south, between the sandhills at the base of the cliffs. When Durvy judged they had gone far enough he led them west towards the shore. Dotti wriggled her way forward, joining Brocktree and Ruff in the long grass on top of a high dune.
‘Oh my giddy aunt, look at that lot!’
Rank upon rank of Blue Hordebeasts lined the beach, twenty wide and ten deep, almost as far as the eye could see. Each section comprised vermin carrying different weapons. One group had pikes, another javelins, yet another was made up of archers; there were slingers, swordbeasts and club wielders, each headed by a captain. Ruff started a hasty calculation in the sand, but he soon gave up.
‘’Tis no use, matey. They’d eat our little army alive.’
Bucko and Fleetscut crawled up beside them and lay gaping.
‘By the left, sah, I didn’t imagine there were that many blinkin’ vermin on earth!’
‘Och, ’twould be plain suicide goin’ up against yon vermin!’
However, the Badger Lord took no notice of their comments. His eyes roved slowly over the scene below. ‘I don’t see their leader. Ungatt Trunn isn’t there!’
Dotti pointed out a figure standing at the head of a group of officers below the tideline. ‘I say, sah, what about that chap? He looks like a sort of commandin’ type, wot?’
The Badger Lord studied the one Dotti had singled out. ‘He’s no wildcat. Looks like a fox to me. Anybeast know who he is?’
Durvy shaded his eyes against the sun. ‘That’s Karangool, Cap’n in Chief of Trunn’s fleet.’
Bucko was halfway up, his eyes blazing madly. ‘Aye, so ’tis. Bide ye here. Ah’m bound tae kill the scum that slaughtered my family!’
Brocktree and Ruff bore the mountain hare down forcibly, though he struggled like a wild beast. ‘Take yer paws offa me. Ah hae business wi’ yon fox!’
Brocktree leaned heavily on Bucko, pinning him firmly. ??
?Your business is our business too, friend. I’m not getting this party slain or captured because of you. Now, do you want me to sit on you? I’m quite heavy, you know.’
Bucko spat out sand, but did not attempt to move. ‘Ach, ye can let me go, Brock, ah’ll deal wi’ yon scum another time. Ah wiz behavin’ like a fool!’
They released him and continued watching the vermin.
‘What are you thinkin’, sah?’ Dotti murmured to Brock.
The Badger Lord never took his eyes off the Hordebeasts. ‘Right at this moment I’m thinking lots of things, miss. My first thought is that Brog and the Bark Crew have been doing an excellent job. Hah! That’s what I was waiting for. Did you see that rat? Front rank third column, there!’
‘I see him. He’s just fallen over. Tripped on his spear, d’you think, sah?’
‘No, Dotti, he’s fainted with hunger. The captains seem well enough, but take a good look at the rank and file vermin. Ruff, what do you see?’
‘Look like they’re ’avin’ a pretty thin time o’ things. I’d say they was starvin’, the whole gang of ’em!’
Brocktree glanced back at the clifftops. ‘Right, but more of that later. I think we’d best make ourselves scarce. I can see your bird hovering up yonder, Brog – he’ll be flying over here to tell you that there’s more vermin leaving the mountain to come along the clifftops. The wildcat is a clever general. He wouldn’t miss the chance of hitting us from behind, whilst we’re busy watching his troops. Let’s get out of here quickly and quietly.’
As they slid down the rear of the dune, Brog gave orders. ‘Everybeast keep low. Back to the caves now, quickly. Durvy, take Urvo, Radd an’ Konul an’ cover our trail!’
Ungatt Trunn sat in council with Karangool and Fragorl. Ripfang was present, too. They waited respectfully until the wildcat spoke. ‘Do you think they saw the parade?’
Karangool shrugged. ‘Might’ness, who can tell? I did not see them.’
Trunn nodded at Fragorl to make her report. ‘They could not have been there, O Great One. I led the ambush party along the clifftops. We searched the dunes, and there was no sign of them, not even pawprints, sire.’
Ripfang put in his opinion. ‘I did like you said, Mightiness, took a ship along the coast. There was no sign of ’em watchin’ from the sea.’
The wildcat paced the chamber, shaking his head. ‘But I know they were there, spying on my Hordes. The badger is no fool. He would have taken the opportunity to assess our strength, I know it!’
Ripfang gave voice to what the others were thinking. ‘That ’orde on the beach t’day, they coulda swept up both sides o’ the cliffs an’ scoured yore enemies out.’
Ungatt Trunn sat down, looking thoughtful. ‘Yes, I could have done that, but it would leave the mountain undefended. Any good commander knows that this mountain is the prize; the beast who holds it fights from a position of strength. I want them to come to me.’
‘Might’ness, what if they don’t?’
Trunn’s claws drummed a tattoo on the tabletop. ‘Then I will have to do as Ripfang says, send the Hordes to root them out, eh, Ripfang?’
The other two were surprised that Trunn should ask the former searat’s opinion. So was Ripfang, but he answered readily enough.
‘Aye, yer right there, sir, but I wouldn’t leave it too long if’n I was you. Every day yore beasts are gittin’ more ’ungry. Yew can’t afford a long drawn out wait.’
Ungatt Trunn turned his eyes to his source of inspiration. ‘Spiders are like that too. They will wait, but not for long. The moment the time is ripe they pounce!’
Back at the store cave, Jukka gave out the last bundle of weapons, to be distributed around.
‘There, ’tis empty now. This will be thy home for a while.’
Frutch held her lantern up to get a better view. ‘I like the other cave better. This ’un’s a bit poky!’
Blench tightened her apron strings resolutely. ‘Don’t fret, dearie, we’ll soon make this comfortable. I’ll get some moles to scoop out the back there, where the rocks are loose. We’ll put the ovens agin that wall. Woebee, what d’you think about that ledge yonder?’
‘Spread with moss an’ sailcloth ’twill make fine seats’n’beds. I’m glad we used up the last o’ the shrimp – mayhap we can get some decent meals cooked. Shall I ask the shrewcooks to lend a paw with the dinner, Frutch?’
‘I’d be beholden t’them if’n they did. Such good cooks!’
Lord Brocktree was addressing a meeting in the big valley between the dunes outside the old cave. Everybeast fit to march or fight was in attendance. They sat on the dunesides and hilltops, listening to what their leader had to say.
‘We saw many vermin on the shore this morning, more than a beast could shake ten sticks at. It was meant to be Ungatt Trunn’s show of force, though the vermin looked so thin and starved that it was more a show of weakness! But still, they are far too numerous for us to meet in open warfare. Now I have some ideas of my own, but I am open to good and sensible suggestions as to how they can be defeated.’
Brog immediately held up his paw. ‘I says we carry on cuttin’ off their supplies. The Bark Crew was doin’ a first class job, you said it yoreself.’
Ruff answered for the Badger Lord. ‘Aye, mate, but if we carries on cuttin’ off their vittles Trunn’ll git desperate sooner or later, an’ they’ll come out in force after us. With the numbers they got, we’ll lose!’
There was a murmur of agreement. Brocktree held up his paws. ‘Good. That’s what I was hoping you’d say – ’tis what I was thinking myself. But I have a plan!’
‘Burr, then do ee tell uz ee plan, zurr. Us’n’s gettin’ orful ’ungered settin’ owt yurr!’
General laughter greeted Gurth’s good mole logic. Grenn had food brought out by the Guosim, Drucco’s rabblehogs lending a paw.
It was late afternoon by the time Brocktree finished outlining his plan, which was wholeheartedly approved. Bucko winked admiringly at the badger. ‘Ah ken noo why Badger Lairds are braw canny beasts!’
Brocktree’s fierce dark eyes looked appraisingly round. ‘Everybeast here has their own special part to play. I know ’tis a perilous and risky scheme, but I think it’ll work. So, are you with me? Hold up your paws all in favour.’
Not one creature held back. Every paw went up. Skittles held up all four paws, lying flat on his back.
‘Us wiv ya, B’ock mate!’
The difficult part was explaining to Frutch and the very old ones, who would be remaining behind, hidden in the supply cave. Brogalaw tried to placate his weeping mother.
‘Hush now, Mum, we’ll take that ole mountain quicker’n you can say nail me rudder. You can ’ave a nice liddle room there, all of yore own, an’ a rock garden too. You allus wanted a rock garden, didn’t you, me ole darlin’?’
But Frutch was not to be consoled. ‘Go an’ do wot you gotta do, Brogalaw, but come back alive t’me, ye great tailwhackin’ lump. Never mind tryin’ to get round me wid mountain caves an’ rock gardens. When this is all over I don’t want none of it. Tell ye wot I would like, though – to go back down southcoast, to our ole ’ome. Oh, I do miss it!’
Blench loaned Frutch a corner of her apron to weep into. The old cook patted Brog’s paw. ‘We’ll take good care of yore mum, Brog. You get goin’ now. Get our mountain back for us. Fates’n’seasons o’ fortune go with ye. Oh, an’ keep an eye out for that niece o’ mine. Dorothea’s a brave hare, but young an’ ’eadstrong.’
Brog gave the old cook a hug. ‘Bless yore ’eart, marm, I’ll do me best for us all, you got my word. Stay safe now an’ don’t weep too much, it makes the bread soggy.’
On the way out of the cave, Brog stopped to stroke the heron’s long neck and speak softly to the bird. ‘You stay ’ere now, my ole matey. Take good care of these old ’uns an’ don’t stay out fishin’ too long. I’ll see you when ’tis all done, I ’ope!’
Rulango laid his beak on Brog’s shoulder and blinked, and th
e sea otter Skipper patted him roughly. ‘Come on now, ye ole rogue, don’t start gettin’ soft on me.’ Brogalaw did quite a bit of blinking himself, then he straightened up, sniffed loudly, and left the cave.
A great pile of wood, sea coal and grass had been heaped not far from the front of the old cave. Everybeast was gathered there when Brog arrived.
‘All ready, Brock. I’ve just been makin’ me farewells to Mum an’ the old ’uns.’
Dotti clapped a paw to her mouth. ‘Aunt Blench! I forgot to say goodbye to her!’
Brog shouldered his javelin. ‘I already did that, missie. She said that you got to take good care o’ me. Liddle Skittles was sleepin’ an’ Mirklewort is stayin’ back to keep an eye on things. There ain’t a thing to keep us now, so let’s be about our work!’
Lord Brocktree turned to Jukka the Sling. Nobeast would have recognised her from the disguise she wore. The squirrel Chieftain had been dyed blue, her tail was shaven and she wore a Hordebeast’s uniform. Brocktree nodded approvingly. ‘You look like a true vermin, friend. Now you know what you have to do?’
‘Aye, lord. As soon as the bluebottoms leave the mountain I will shoot a burning shaft from one of the high windows.’
Brocktree clasped Jukka’s paw. ‘Good luck!’
‘Huh, an’ try not to plunder anythin’ until we get there!’
Jukka eyed Fleetscut coldly. ‘When ’tis all over, thou an’ I will have a reckoning!’ Then she turned and hurried off towards Salamandastron.
Ruff shook his head in disapproval at Fleetscut. ‘It’s not good to go into battle with bad blood ’twixt you two. Right, who’s next to go, mates?’
Durvy and Konul stepped forward with their crew. Strapped to each one’s back was a torch, wrapped tightly to protect it from the seawater. Brog issued final instructions. ‘Don’t start anythin’ until you see this fire in front o’ the cave lit an’ blazin’ well. Fortune go with ye, mates!’ The sea otters slipped silently off seaward.
Brocktree looked round at those left, and took Ruff’s paw. ‘Your turn now, friend. You and Brog look after yourselves!’