Part 35 (1/2)
Mariel strode past Durry into the building. ”We'll see who gets Gabool!”
366.
Saxtus gazed out from the ramparts of Red wall. The sun cast cloud shadows onto the path and across the greenery of the woodlands; fleecy clouds scudded across the sky on a warm breeze. The days of summer season were numbered now.
Simeon joined him, his paws feeling along the battlements until he came in contact with Saxtus. ”The autumn will arrive soon, Saxtus.” ”How did you know what I was thinking, Brother?” Simeon chuckled and patted Saxtus's paw. ”I didn't, it was just an educated guess. Creatures often think I have wondrous powers, but it's just experience and observation. Though I do sense that you have more reason than the change of seasons for standing up here. It comes to me that you are watching the road. Would I be wrong in supposing that you are awaiting the return of certain friends?”
Saxtus searched the blind herbalist's wise old face. ”You are right, of course, but it doesn't take a genius to know that. Dandin and Durry were my best friends - Mariel too, for the short time she was with us. I had a dream, you see, the night before last. It was of a great battle, I saw them fighting with searats, like the crew 367.
who attacked our Abbey, but there were many many more than that.”
”Was it through Martin the Warrior that this dream came?”
”Ah, now you do surprise me. What makes you say that, Simeon?”
”Oh, we are old friends, the spirit of the Abbey and I. Martin has visited me more than once in the land of sleep. You must always heed his warnings. What did you see of this battle?”
”It was not very clear. I saw an old gray mouse, quite a big fellow. He was being attacked by two searats. I cried out in my dream for Martin to help him. Mariel and Durry Quill rescued him. There was lots of fighting, a great battle - things weren't very clear though, and it all faded after a while, Martin too.”
”I say, yoohoo! You two up there, what's the matter? Don't you want to try my seedcake?”
It was Hon Rosie waving from her wheelchair. Friar Alder and c.o.c.kleburr were pus.h.i.+ng it, both their faces pictures of strained patience.
”We'll talk about this another time,” Simeon whispered to Saxtus. Turning in the direction of the wheel-chair, he waved. ”Seedcake, did you say? I used to be a fair cook at making that myself. Hold on, we'll come down and try some. Give me your paw, Saxtus.”
00.
Lunch was being served in Great Hall. As they entered, Mellus nudged Foremole, murmuring in a low voice, ”Here's another two victims being brought in to sample the dreaded seedcake. What Rosie made it with I don't know.”
”Burr, you'm can say that agin. Oi near broken moi diggen claws just picken up a sloice, marm.”
Rosie leaned from her chair, scanning the table. ”I say, where's me jolly old seedcake gone? You haven't scoffed it all, have you? Well, that's the bally limit. I suppose I'll have to bake another.”
368.
”Er, no seeds left, marm,” Friar Alder interrupted swiftly.
c.o.c.kleburr tugged the Friar's sleeve. ”Peris.h.i.+n' pud-dens, Friar. There's a great box of seeds at the back of the floursacks, I found it meself this m - Oof!”
Alder elbowed his a.s.sistant sharply in the stomach and carried on smoothly. ”Oh, those seeds, you mean. They've got damp and were beginning to sprout, I was meaning to leave them out for the birds. Oh dear, not a single seed in the kitchens or the storerooms. What a shame!”
Underneath the table, Grubb and Bagg were using the remains of the seedcake as building blocks. ”We'll have to get miz Rosie more seeds if we wanna make a model of the Abbey,” Bagg grumbled as he looked about for more.
”Hurrhurr, Froir Alder'11 scrangle 'ee iffen you'm mention et.”
”I s'pose so. I heard 'im say to the Habbit that he hopes miz RosieTl get better afore she kills us all wi' seedcakes.”
Saxtus wandered through to watch some creatures working on the great Abbey tapestry. Brother Hubert was supervising the design from sketches he had found in the gatehouse. He tossed a hank of light brown thread to Sister Serena.
”This color should suit if you're starting the face of the Warrior.”
Saxtus sorted a thread out of a slightly darker tone. ”Excuse me, Brother, but I think this shade is the correct one.”
Hubert held it up to the light, inspecting it carefully. ”Hmm, you could be right, Saxtus, but how do you know that this is the color of Martin's face?”
”I sort of sensed it.”
oo Lord Rawnblade Widestripe strode through the 369.
entrance hall of Fort Bladegirt, the sword Verminfate sending out showers of sparks as he clashed it against the stone columns leading to the main stairway.
”Gabool, it is I, Rawnblade the badger. Show yourself!”
The rumble of the badger Lord's challenge echoed back at him from empty chambers and deserted corridors as he mounted the stairs, his keen dark eyes searching everywhere. Rawnblade sniffed, but the odor of searat permeated the air throughout and he could not distinguish the scent of his enemy. Kicking aside the debris of cast-off clothing, useless weaponry and stale food the rats had left behind, he ascended the wide stone stairs.
Heedless of whether the rats had won or lost the battle, Gabool listened to the sounds of the badger ringing through his fort as he nerved himself up for the confrontation he knew would inevitably come. Gripping both sword and dagger, the Searat King ranged about his upper chamber, holding a muttered conference with himself.
”Hahaar, I'll sleep tonight. Once I'm rid of the badger, I'll destroy that useless bell. Aye, that's it! Kill the badger an' roll the bell off the high cliffs inter the sea. What'll be left to worry me then? I've seen 'em all off-Graypatch, Saltar, Bludrigg. Look out, badger. You're next, an' the bell to follow yer! Then they'll see who's the Ruler of Terramort-me, Gabool, King of Searats. I'll build a new fleet, each craft bigger an' faster than Darkqueen. They'll scour the coasts for slaves, fine silks, wine an' the best of prime vittles. Haharr, Gabool won't need no bell to announce hisself; they'll know who I am wherever they see my s.h.i.+ps hove in an' hear me name.”
”Gabool, you sp.a.w.n of h.e.l.l, where are you?”
The deep thunder of Rawnblade's voice vibrated 370.
upward from the banqueting hall. Gabool pressed an ear to his room door.
”Keep searchin', badger. I'll lead you a merry dance before I'm done with yer. Gabool ain't feared of a stripe-dog no more. Oh no, matey!”
Rawnblade stood before the great bell. It was exactly as he had imagined it. Only a bellmaker with the skills of Joseph could create such a wonder. His hefty paw stroked the stained and discolored surface of the brazen object as he walked around it, reading the mysterious badger hieroglyphics near the belltop, smiling with satisfaction at the message only a badger Lord could interpret.
”That is yet to come. . . . But meanwhile!”
Rawnblade smashed a wooden stool with one blow of his sword. Picking up a severed stool leg, he began belaboring the bell.
Bongboo m bo ngaboombo ngbong!
As he struck the bell, Rawnblade breathed upon a section of the metal and rubbed it clean. He continued to smite the great bell, harder and louder.
Boombongboomboombongbooooongggg!
Peering at the polished section, the badger watched Gabool enter the banqueting hall and begin creeping up on him, sword raised to strike. Rawnblade stopped beating the bell and turned slowly.
”So, you like my music, eh, rat?”
Gabool leaped forward, his sword flas.h.i.+ng down like lightning. Rawnblade swung his battlesword sideways, the power of the sweep knocking Gabool's blade flying; it clattered into a corner. The searat stood helpless, his paws deadened by the numbing force of the blow. Rawnblade nodded to the curved sword lying on the floor. ”Pick it up and have a proper try!”
Mariel came das.h.i.+ng into the banqueting hall with Jospeh, Tarquin, Dandin and Durry. The mousemaid swung her Gullwhacker, shouting, ”Stand and fight, rat!”
Gabool cackled harshly. ”The bellmaker's brat, eh? Go away, mouse. I've killed you once. You're naught but a ghost!”
Mariel's jaw tightened as the Gullwhacker whirled above her head. ”You're wrong, seasc.u.m. I'm no ghost! I beat you once and I'm going to do it again, this time for good!”