Part 18 (1/2)
”And you, Skan, are you for the Guosim or against it?”
”Guosim, huh!” Skan said scornfully, though he avoided Log-a-Log's eyes. ”A pile of old fuddy-duddies making outdated rules and regulations, why should me and my friends get ourselves slain or injured sorting out the troubles of others. I say we mind our own business.”
Log-a-Log smiled coldly. ”So, it has come to this. You have been pus.h.i.+ng and prodding me for quite a while now, Skan. Perhaps you would like to be the new Log-a-Log of the Guosim? Well, now is your chance. Lef s see if you fight as bravely as you talk. Come on, Skan, knock this council stone from an old fuddy-duddy's paw.”
The shrew leader stood in front of the young rebel, holding out the stone for all to see. He looked relaxed, though his whole body was tensed like a steel spring. Skan stood half a head taller than Log-a-Log. For a moment it looked as if he were about to do something, then he saw the light of battle in the shrew leader's eyes and his nerve failed him. He turned away.
”Yah, who wants to be bothered with the Guosim? I'm away to roam free and do as I like. Come on, shrews.”
Skan and his group of followers marched off into the fading light.
194.
There was an audible sigh of relief throughout the shrew camp. The main body, who were with Log-a-Log, sat back and relaxed amid a general chatter of conversation.
Orlando nudged Matthias. ”He's not short of courage, your friend Log-a-Log. That Skan was bigger and heavier than him by far. Do you think he could have beaten him?”
Matthias smiled knowingly. ”Log-a-Log may be small, but he's the fiercest shrew warrior I've ever seen, though he's no bully like Skan. The rest of the Guosim know this. Log-a-Log is a good leader, he's as wise as he is brave.”
Log-a-Log came and sat with them. He clapped Matthias on the back. ”Sony about that, old RedwaUer, though it's none of your fault. Skan and his pals have been niggling at me all season, and it had to come to a head sooner or later. Ah well, at first light tomorrow we'll follow the fox. He's travelling south; my scouts have cut his track several times over the past few days.”
Slagar rose silently while the rest slept. He made his way quietly through the camp and across the foothills until he was at the base of the gigantic cliffs which stretched away in both directions as far as the eye could see. Drawing out his leather-thonged weapon, he twirled it until the metal b.a.l.l.s dacked together loudly in the still night air. There was an answering rap from the top of the plateau, as if two rocks had been banged sharply together.
Slagar the Cruel smiled beneath his silken mask. He looked up and saw the two rope ladders uncoiling themselves as they fell from the heights. Giving each of mem a tug to make sure they were secure, the fox stole off back to the camp and his slave line.
The peace of a warm summer night lay over Moss-flower. It was a peace that would not last.
195.
General Ironbeak perched in a great cedar which stood near the northern woodland fringe close to Redwall in Mossflower country. On the bough beside him, the crow Mangiz watched golden dawn light flooding from the east. On a lower branch, three magpie brothers, Quick-bill, Brightback and Diptail, awaited the raven General's orders. In the trees to either side of them a small army of rooks were gathered, basking in the mild summer weather; it was a welcome change for all.
The birds respected Ironbeak as a shrewd commander. He had given them victories and kept their bellies full, and he was the most feared fighting bird in all the far cold northland. General Ironbeak had led his fighters from the bleak places of the north to this new territory, and they marvelled at the warm weather, the vast green forest with its cool shade, plentiful water and easy foraging. They sat in the lower terraces of the foliage, content in their new surroundings, but ready to fly at Ironbeak's bidding.
The raven General relied upon the word of his seer, the crow Mangiz. He seldom arrived at any decision without first consulting him. Today was different. During the night, Quickbill the magpie had made his report, apprising the General of the latest news from 196.
Redwall. Now Ironbeak and Mangiz perched side by side, their eyes half closed, not looking at each other as they talked.
”Arrah! It is as I said, my General. The great redstone house is only a smallflight from us. You heard Quickbill, soon the sparrows will be gone and there will be none to give warning against us/'
The raven blinked as sunlight caught the corner of his eye. ”My good right wing, Mangiz, it is as you foretold. Truly the redstone house is a wonderful place. Tell me more of it.”
The impa.s.sive crow ruffled his neck down into dark breast feathers. 'The sparrows fly south, my visions told me this. Where they go I do not know. Grakk! That need not concern us. The roofs.p.a.ces will be unguarded, and we can take care of any old ones or nestlings that are left. Below on the ground there are many earthcrawlers, a great stripedog, hedgepig, waterhound and mice wearing robes. There are no warriors or fighters to do battle with.”
Ironbeak came alert as the distant sounds of the Matthias and Methuselah bells tolled out a new day in die Summer of the Golden Plain.
”Listen, Mangiz, the bells are welcoming us. It is a great thing to have a redstone house with bells. Arrakl The only time before this that I heard a bell was upon the northland's great waters. It was on a s.h.i.+p that sank in a great storm. I never knew that houses had bells. What else does your vision tell you about the redstone?”
The seer crow shut his eyes tight. ”The place has big lands enclosed by a wall. Enough food grows there to feed the whole northland, and there is a pool with fishes in it. Take my word, it is a place of plenty.”
Ironbeak's bright eyes shone. ”Yagga! Well told, my Mangiz. You are seldom wrong. Quickbill, take your brothers and watch the redstone house. Do not be seen. When the sparrows are gone, report back here. Grub-daw, Ragwing, take sentry duty. The rest of you keep low and hidden. Rest awhile, my fighters.”
197.
The three magpies dipped their tails in salute before winging off through the trees. Amid a ruffling of feathers and scratching of talons, the others settled down to enjoy a rest in the warm summer morning. Ironbeak shuffled restlessly along the maple bough. He was clearly impatient.
”We have travelled far together, my General,” Mangiz said soothingly. ”Wait now, the great redstone house will soon be yours. You will conquer it from the top downwards. Walls were built only for earthcrawlers. We will arrive like silent arrows from the sky. Patience, Iron-beak.”
The raven leader settled down, rea.s.sured. ”This is a good land to be in, Mangiz. It is not cold like those northlands, and the redstone house will be mine. It was your visions that first saw it; if you say the signs say wait, then we wait.”
Cornflower and Mrs. Churchmouse stood on the south ramparts, keeping tight hold of baby Rollo as he waved and shouted. The bells pealed merrily while the Sparra folk of Queen Warbeak flew south across the woodlands in the cloudless blue morning. Constance and the Abbot cheered as l.u.s.tily as any at the brave sight. The Sparra Queen circled the Abbey once, then dipping her wings she dropped like a stone, taking up a zinging flight as she brushed by the creatures on the battlements.
”We find um, you see, we find um!” she called.
Warbeak flew high, shooting like a speeding arrow into the vanguard of the feathered squadron. Soon they became dark specks which rapidly disappeared into the distance over Mossflower.
John Churchmouse flexed both his paws and ma.s.saged the back of his neck wearily as he descended the wallsteps with Brother Sedge.
”Whew! Well, thank goodness that's over. Maybe we can catch up on a little sleep now, eh, Sedge?”
Brother Sedge grubbed charcoal-stained paws into his 198.
red-rimmed eyes. ”Aye, it's straight up to the dormitory for me, John. It certainly takes it out of you, sitting up all night drawing maps and writing poems. I just hope that one of those birds finds Matthias and the others. I'd hate to think that we worked in vain.”
John stretched wearily. ”Ho hum! Well, there's at least twelve copies and they're all carried by trusty Sparra scouts. If they can't find them n.o.beast can. I wonder whaf s for breakfast?”
”Breakfast indeed, John Churchmouse,” Mrs. Church-mouse rutted airily as she pa.s.sed by. ”You've done nothing but eat all night. Still, I suppose you could find room for some nutbread, blackcurrant cordial and elderberry pancakes before you sleep the day away.”
John leaned wearily against the Abbey wall. ”Hmm, s'pose so, dear. I'll be in soon. Tell that baby Rollo to save a pancake or two for me. Basil certainly taught him how to deal with the rations, the little nosebag.” He wiped his grimy paws on his habit and blinked owlishly. '”s funny, I could swear I saw a magpie above the west wall just then, did you see anything. Sedge?”
Brother Sedge stifled a yawn. ”Oh come on, John, lef s get breakfast. You're seeing things. There hasn't been a magpie ever recorded in this neck of the woods.”
The morning wore on with the gentle pace of Red wall life. Three magpies winged their way low and slow to the maple at the north fringe.
That same morning saw Matthias and his friends marching shoulder to shoulder with Log-a-Log and the shrew army, south through the trees, upon the trail of Slagar. Orlando stopped in a clearing and pointed ahead with his axe.
”Is that a cloudbank on the horizon, or some sort of landrise?”
They halted and gazed in the direction he was pointing.
Matthias shook his head. ”Could be anything. What d'you think, Log-a-Log?”
199.
The shrew leader shaded his eyes. ”That must be the Great South Cliffs. I've heard of them, but the Guosim have never wandered that far south before. Well, lef s press on and see for ourselves. I reckon we should make them by late evening if we march at the double.”
A short meal break was taken for shrew oatcakes and water. Keeping the cliffs ahead as a bearing, the searchers set out at a fast double pawstep.
Slagar had split his band in two, half in front and half behind the slave line as they began the ascent of the rope ladders hanging down from the top of the plateau. The masked fox snapped out instructions.
”Listen you lot, keep your paws tight on those rungs. Don't look up or down. If s a good drop, even from halfway up these ladders. You wouldn't live through it, so if you want to reach the top in one piece then keep your wits about you. Threeclaws, you go first to show 'em. When you reach the top make sure the prisoners are well staked down until I get there. Stonefleck's waiting up there. Do as he says. Right, get going!”