Part 39 (1/2)
around the rock ledge s.p.a.ces, it was almost a piteous whine.
”You have looked upon Malkariss. You must die.”
Matthias shuddered. The horrible thing had its paw upon his sword, which had fallen dose to the basket. As he was about to lever himself upright, a chunk of rock struck Malkariss upon the back and he arched in pain. Another rock hit the white polecat, striking him on the paw. He released the sword with a whimper. More ,ocks pelted in.
Matthias scrambled away, retrieving his sword as he went. Thin, ravaged creatures, fur welted with lash-marks, their paws manacled, were advancing on Malkariss like a grim army. They hurled rocks at the cringing figure. Dragging slowly forward, pulling slave chains along the ground, they chanted: ”Die, evil one, die!”
”We will bury you with pieces of your own Kingdom!”
Gaunt young hedgehogs, squirrels, mice, moles and otters were picking up big rocks from a pile of debris with both paws. They gathered around the fallen tyrant, heaving the stones onto him with all the force they could muster. Matthias watched in horror as Malkariss was buried beneath a growing mound of rocks. Malkariss could no longer be seen, but still the slaves continued hurling rocks onto the pile.
The Redwall Warrior grabbed a half-starved otter and pulled him to one side.
”Here, hold your chains tight across that rocky slab. Do not be afraid. I am your friend.”
The otter did as he was told, hope s.h.i.+ning in his dust-necked eyes.
”Strike hard, friend!” he cried to Matthias.
The Warrior's sword whistled downward through the air. With a sharp snap it sheared the links of chain like a billhook chopping gra.s.s. Nothing could withstand the great sword of Redwall, whose metal had come from a falling star.
396.
Once he had severed the lead dragchain, Matthias set about cleaving the manacles from slaves. Young creatures wept openly, and some cheered and began to dance, with broken chains dangling from their paws. The mouse warrior was freeing them two at a time as quickly as he could, for sounds of battle raging above had reached his ears. A black-robed rat ran up, brandis.h.i.+ng a whip, but before he could reach Matthias, a squirrel felled him with a whirling length of chain.
”Well struck, squirrel,” the mouse warrior called out. ”I am Matthias of Redwall. What do they call you?”
Despite his scrawny appearance, the squirrel laughed and swung the chain until it whirred around his head.
”Elmtail. I am called Elm tail. I will buy my freedom with this chain that bound me as a slave!”
”Thaf s the way, Elmtail. When I have freed your friends we will do it together, mate!”
The slaves began cheering, and those already liberated swung their chains aloft.
The battle on the ledge was in full flood. Side by side the woodlanders stood in a tight circle within a circle. The outer ring of shrews, with jess and Jabez, was stabbing and thrusting with swords and javelins, all the time moving in a clockwise direction. The inner circle fired over their heads. Urged on by Basil and Cheek, they pelted stones and arrows into the tight-packed horde of rats that surrounded the woodlanders on all sides.
Commanded by Nadaz, the rats fought back with fanatical vigor, and many a good shrew fell to the stabs of their short spears.
Orlando would stand at the center of the circle until he regained his breath, then with a mad roar he would charge out to wreak slaughter upon the rat horde, only coming back into the circle to wipe the gore from his axe and lick wounds.
Whenever Basil saw a particularly vicious attack, he too would go vaulting over into the thick of it, his long 397.
flailing limbs laying rats senseless, to be trampled under the ma.s.ses of their own horde, ”Yahooooo! Take that, you blighter! Here, old lad, have some of this harespaw pie and lie down for a bit.”
Thud!
Another rat would stretch his length on the rocky ledge.
More blackrobes pressing up the winding causeway steps piled in to fight, fired on by Nadaz.
”Kill! Kill! Slay the invaders who dare come to the land of Malkariss.”
Jess Squirrel angrily turned a rat's own spear upon him. ”Waifll I get my paws on that one in the purple robe. I'll make him sing a different tune!”
Cheek flexed his throwing paw and spoke his mind to a nearby shrew archer.
”There's just too many of 'em. If we lose a creature we're one short, but you can knock ten vermin out and twenty spring up in their place.”
The shrew sighted and shot his arrow, nodding with satisfaction at the result.
”Right 'twixt the eyes. They never come back for more after that. Whafs that you say, otter? Oh aye, there's no stoppin' 'em, is there? Still, we've signed for the trip, so we might as well make the best of it, eh!”
Above the din of the battle, Jess caught a ripple over on the far side of the ledge at the tunnel mouth. She fought her way to Basil.
”Over there, look. It seems we've got some kind of reinforcements.”
Basil did an extra-high leap, taking great care to kick a rat flat on the head as he went.
”Yahaha! Well, blow me old whiskers, Jess, if s the young uns!. Mattimeo! Over here you, young scalla-wag. Redwallll!”
The cry was taken up in answer across the melee: ”Hooray, we're saved! Basil, you old grubweUer, we're coming! RedwallUll!
398.
Mattimeo and the former captives were battling their way through the throng. Using flailing manacles and spears from fallen rats, they drove across the platform with their cell door in front of them as a s.h.i.+eld. Pus.h.i.+ng, shoving, thrusting and whipping out left and right with everything available, the young creatures fought their way to be reunited with their friends. Nadaz danced and screamed louder, urging his rat horde to greater efforts. The inevitable victory he had foreseen began to waver as the tide of battle flowed in favor of the brave wood-landers.
The Father Abbot was delivering a stern lecture to Cornflower concerning her ghostly antics.
”I did not approve of this venture from the first, my child. One false move and the General's birds would slay you and Sister May. Constance could be badly hurt too.”
Cornflower avoided the stern gaze. ”But, Father Abbot, we have got the birds frightened. If the ghost of Martin walks the Abbey by night, we will make the rooks and others lose heart and they will not enjoy living at Redwall. Maybe they will fly off to their northlands and leave us in peace.”
The old mouse held up a paw for silence. ”We went over this argument once before. At first I thought it might have done some good; perhaps it has. But, Cornflower, you are taking this whole thing too lightly, treating it as a big joke. I feel it in my whiskers, one of you will be badly hurt or captured. The whole charade must stop.”
A rebellious gleam shone in Cornflower's eyes. ”Matthias would have approved of it. I'll bet he and Basil would have kept it up until those birds were scared out of their feathers.”
Mordalfus peered severely over the top of his gla.s.ses. ”I am glad you mentioned Matthias. Have you thought of my duty to him as Abbot? What if he came marching back out of the south with our young ones, as I am sure he will 399.
do one fine day? How do you think I would feel, having to report that whilst he was gone I allowed you to play foolish tricks until you were killed? You see, Cornflower, I have a responsibility as Father Abbot to you, Matthias and all the creatures within our walls. Now will you please do as I say.”
Cornflower sighed deeply and bowed. ”I will do as you say, Father Abbot,” she said reluctantly.
The kindly old mouse rose stiffly. He patted her lead. ”Thank you, Cornflower. Now, Constance, will you take all the warrior's armour to the gatehouse and put it back carefully.”
Constance gathered the armour and climbed into the runnel.
Ironbeak was stalking the edge of the Abbey pond. The silver glint in the waters told him that there were fish about. He marvelled at the abundance of food the earthcrawlers had within the walls of the redstone place: orchards, gardens, a great storehouse in the area below stairs, even a pond with good water and fish for the taking. Sometime soon it would all belong to him. He looked about in admiration, staring at the strong outer wall that would keep other earthcrawlers out. His quick dark eye caught a movement over by the main gate. The big stripedog had materialized practically out of thin air. It was carrying something. Ironbeak crouched in the reeds and watched intently.
Constance took a quick glance around to check n.o.beast was observing her. Swiftly she unlocked the gatehouse door and slid inside with the armour. The door closed behind her. Ironbeak could see the key still sticking out of the lock. Seizing his opportunity, he rose and glided silently across to the gatehouse. The deed was accomplished in a trice. The raven leader slammed tile door. Sticking his beak into the handle ring of the heavy iron key, he gave it a swift turn and withdrew it from the lock. There was a scrambling noise from inside.