52

Dawn brought a mad bustle of activity to the army on the ridge, with fires being relit, Corporal Rubbadub beating all creatures to stations, and Chieftains roaring commands.

Damug Warfang had stolen a march on them. Perigord listened as the squirrel Lookout reported what he had seen at daybreak.

“Major, those fires last night were nought but a bluff. Da-mug mustve lit em an carried on marchin forward. They split into two forces, and right now theyre lyin in the rift at both ends o the valley, waitin on some kind o signal to move!

On the right flank, half of the Rapscallion army crouched, led by the Firstblade himself. He sat motionless as the rat Henbit, who had headed the scouting expedition, told what he had discovered.

“Mightiness, there cant be moren three undred creatures atop of that ridgea few haresnotters an some Waterogs. The rest aint much: squirrels, mice, an moles, wid a scatterin o those liddle raggy beasts that sail the streams, shrews I think they call em. They got plenty of weapons, but no chance o winnin agin a thousand of us. Back side of the ridge is too steep an rockyyoud be best advised to attack from this side, Sire.

Damug Warfang peered upward, noting the piles of rock heaped along the heights and the big tree trunk positioned at its center. “A thousand wont be needed to conquer three hundred. Bluggach, you take half of this five hundred. Gribble, take word to Rapmark Skaup that he will send half of his force with Captain Bluggachs fighters. Between them they should take the ridge. That is my command. Go now.

The little rat scurried along the defile to where the ferret Skaup lay waiting on the left flank.

Tammo stood with Pasque on one side of him and Galloper Riffle on the other. He leaned slightly forward and looked down the line. Tight-jawed and silent, the front rank waited, while behind them the second rank, mainly archers, checked shafts and bowstrings.

The young hare felt his limbs begin to tremble. He looked down and noticed that the footpaws of Pasque and Riffle were shaking also. Behind him, Skipper drummed his tail nervously on the ground.

“Me ole tails just bumpin about for the want o somethin tdo, the otter leader chuckled encouragingly. “Tis all this waitin, I spose, mates. Can ysee em, miss Pasque?

Gripping the cord of her sling like a vise, Pasque nodded. “Indeed I can, Skip, theyre lyin in the rift down there, waitin the same as we are. Dyou suppose theyre nervous too?

Sergeant Torgoch was pacing the ridge, keeping an eye on the front rank. He winked as he halted in front of her. “Nervous, missie? I can see em quakin in their fur from ere! He waved his pace stick to where Perigord was perched on the pine trunk, leaning nonchalantly upon his saber. “Wot dye think, sir, shall we tell em wot we thinks o vermin?

Waving back with his blade, the Major smiled. “Capital idea, Sarnt, carry on!

Swelling out his chest with a deep breath, the Sergeant roared in his best drill parade manner at the Rapscallion army, “Nah then, you scab-tailed, waggle-pawed, flea-ridden excuses fer soldiers! Are ye sittin down there cos yore too stoopid tmove, or are yer afraid? Then he turned his back on the foebeast and waggled his bobtail impudently. Laughter broke out from the Redwallers ranks.

Gurgan Spearback clumped up in his oversized boots, wielding the massive mallet that was his favorite weapon, “Hearken tme, all ye vermin wid half a brain to lissen. Remember what thy mothers told thee about climbin. If you come climbin our hill, well spank thee right ard an send you away in tears!

Hoots of derision from the ridge accompanied this announcement. Then Lieutenant Morios deep booming voice called out a warning: “Stand to arms, here they come!

Five hundred Rapscallions clambered out of the rift from both flanks, and charged. They made a blood-chilling sight: painted faces, bristling weapons, and blazing war banners. Drums pounded as they screamed and howled, racing like a tidal wave across the valley floor toward the slope of the ridge.

Nobeast could stop it now. The battle was begun.

Captain Twayblade held her long rapier point down. “Steady in the ranks there, let em come! Stand by the first three rockpiles! Slingers, wait my command! Steady, steady now, chaps!

The vermin pounded up the slope, increasing their pace until they were running at breakneck speed, spearpoints, pikes, and blades pointing upward at their adversaries.

Tammo stood his ground, deafening noises thrumming in his ears, watching the hideous pack draw closer until he could see their bloodthirsty faces plainly.

Sergeant Torgochs voice rumbled across the first rank. “Wait for it, buckoes, wait on the Capns command!

A barbed shaft whistled past Twayblades jaw. “Front rank, let em have it, she shouted. “Now!

Slings whirled and a battering rain of stone struck the leading Rapscallions. Tammo saw the look of shock on the face of a lean scarred weasel as his round weighty river pebble struck it hard on the forehead. The creature toppled backward with a screech, rolling downhill, still clutching a broken bow. Loading the sling swiftly, Tammo swung out and hit a rat who was almost upon him.

Now Major Perigord was standing with the front rank, whirling his saber and calling to the moles who were behind the hills of stone. “First three rockpiles away!

Boulders, rocks, soil, dust, and stones showered down on the advancing Rapscallions. The vermin were seasoned fighters, giving as good as they received. Ducking and dodging, they battled upward, thrusting with pike and spear, slinging, firing arrows, and hurling anything that came to paw.

Tammo was on his third sling when he heard Sergeant Tor-goch bellowing, “Down flat an reload slings, first rank. Second rank, shoot!

Tammo and Pasque threw themselves down side by side, fumbling to load up their slings. Skipper and the second rank stood forward, shafts drawn back upon tautened bowstrings, and sent a hail of arrows zipping down into the massed vermin. From where they lay, the first rank twirled their slings and added to the salvo.

Then everybeast in the Redwall army grabbed for the spears tying on the ground between the ranks. Tammo, Pasque, and Riffle, like many others, did not have a proper spear, but the long ash poles with fire-hardened points served just as well. Staves, spears, pikes, and javelins bristled to the fore all along the line.

The Rapscallions were completely taken by surprise. They had expected their opponents to stand and defend the ridge, not to mount a counter charge with spears. Many a vermin heart quailed then as the war cry of Salamandastrons Long Patrol cut the air.

“Eulaliaaaaa! JS death on the wind! Eulaliaaaaaa!

The Redwallers charge broke the Rapscallion advance. Drums from below in the rift pounded out the retreat, calling the vermin back.

Damug Warfang estimated that he had lost threescore in the first assault; the Redwallers had lost about half that number. Slightly more than he had expected, but the Greatrat was satisfied. Now that he had tested his enemies, he knew their strength and also their weakness. However, the Firstblade was surprised at his adversary; for peaceful Abbeydwellers they showed great ferocity in fighting and much cunning in their maneuvers. Despite this he was confident they would be unable to resist the might of his full army.

Arven sat still as a mole plastered boiled herbs to a deep graze in his side, lifting one paw up to allow the healer better access to his wound. The mole stopped bandaging, blinking at the sight in the valley below.

Damug Warfang was standing on the grassy sward with his entire army formed up behind him.

“Bo urr an lackaday, zurr, lukkee, tis a tumble soight!

It was indeed terrible, and impressive. Almost a thousand well-armed vermin, lined in columns, flags streaming, drums beating, with the Greatrat in full armor, sword drawn, out in front.

Log-a-Log stopped sharpening his rapiertip on a whetstone and glanced quizzically at Major Perigord. “Wot dyou suppose Warfangs up to now?

The hare viewed the scene below dispassionately. “Tryin to frighten us with a show of force, what else? That was only half their blinkin number he threw at us in the first charge.

Sergeant Torgoch saluted with his pace stick. “Shall I stand the troops ready for action again, sah?

Perigord sheathed his blade and started downhill. “I think not, Sarnt, the blighter obviously wants to parley. Huh! Were all supposed tbe tremblin in our fur at the size of his force. I expect he wants us to jolly well surrender.

Arvens voice echoed the Majors final word incredulously. “Surrender?

Tare and Turry, the Long Patrol twins, helped Arven upright. “Hah, fat chance of that, old lad!

About a third of the way downhill, Perigord halted, calling out, “I take it yve got somethin to say, rat. Well spit it out an be quick about it, a chap cant dally here all day, wot!

Damug Warfang waved his sword eloquently at the massed Rapscallions backing him. “What need of words, hare, when we could destroy you in a single sweep!

Perigord shook his head and smiled mockingly. “Oh, is that all youve got tsay? Wasted your breath, really, didnt you? Still, what else can one expect from vermin?

The Greatrat smiled back as if he were equally at ease.Just think for a moment what we will do to the ones you left behind at Red wall Abbey. I imagine theyre the creatures not fit to fight, babes and oldbeasts. Have you considered them?

Perigord seethed inwardly, but he did not show it. “Oh, if it comes tthat, old thing, I wouldnt worry if I were you. Ysee I fully intend slayin you, so ywont be round to see it

Damug was still smiling as he played his trump card. “Im a bit ahead of you there, because I intend killing you. Now! He let his sword blade drop and nodded.

The rat Henbit had lain near the ridgetop, concealed among the dead vermin that littered the slope. He sprang up, poising himself to hurl the javelin he held, not three paces from the Major. Suddenly he sighed, as if tired of it all, and let the javelin slide carelessly backward as he fell, an oak shaft in his back.

Perigord stepped distastefully over the fallen rat. “Dont like that sort o thing. Sneaky. Well shot, Corporal!

Rubbadub twanged a chord on the empty longbow string, grinning from ear to ear at his officers compliment.

“Drrrrrrubadubdub!

Then the Rapscallion army charged. As it swept across the valley, Tammo left off helping Pasque Valerian to bind wounded heads and paws and took up his position in the first rank, feeling slightly detached from it all.

Gurgan Spearback nudged him with a rough paw. “Art thou all right, friend?

The young hare shrugged in bewilderment. “Strange, isnt it, but here we are facin almost a thousand an all I can think about is the time o day. Look, tis almost evening, yet it only seems a moment ago it was mornin. Cant get it off my mind, really. Whats happened tthe rest o today? Whered it go?

Gurgan stumped the ground with his mallethead like a batsman at his crease. “Aye, I know what thou means. All I can think of is my wife, Rufftip, an our seven liddle ogs, avin a pickernick on our boat in the water meadows. Silly wot a body can think of at times like theseOofli!

An arrow protruded from Gurgans shoulder. Tammo stared, aghast. “Youre hit!

The Waterhog pulled the shaft out, snapped it, and flung it from himself bad-temperedly. “Tchah! When a beasts as full o spikes as I am, one more dont make much difference, though tis a great displeasure tbe shot!

Before Tammo could reply, Sergeant Torgoch was bawling out orders. “First rank, sling! Second rank, stand ready! Keep em off the slope!

At the point where valley met hillslope, the Rapscallions took the full force of the first stone volley. Owing to their numbers, Major Perigord had taken the decision to strike early and save his Redwallers being speedily overrun. He turned to the moles, saying, “Hows the fire comin along under that log, chaps?

“Eem a burnen broight an reddy tgo, zurr!

“Capital! Splash all that vegetable oil over the trunk now, quick as ylike!

Dry timber and resin gave a great whoosh as the oil buckets were hurled upon it. The evening sprang to light, sparks and flaming splinters crackling as they leapt from the blazing tree. Skipper and his otters rolled it forward using spearpoints and ash staves. It teetered a moment on the brow of the ridge, then took off with a crash, rumbling, rolling, bouncing, and spinning.

Lady Cregga Rose Eyes and the Long Patrol army had been plodding all day. The going was awkward and rough in the narrow rift; it seemed to stretch on forever. They had waded through mud and water, squeezed through narrow gorges, and climbed over collapsed debris.

Deodar was first to see it. “Look, Sergeant, up ahead, that light!

A sudden bright glow lit the evening sky from a ridgetop in the distance. It flared brightly then disappeared, leaving the hares blinking against the gathering darkness. Sergeant Clu-brush placed himself in front of Lady Cregga, blocking her way.

“Deodar, Algador, drop ypacks but old on to yore weapons. Scout up ahead, close to that ridge as ycan get. We needs hinformation quick as to wots goin1 on up yonder. So make all speed there an back. Run lively now, young uns!

As he spoke, the Sergeant had pulled Corporal Ellbrig and several others past him to barricade the rift. Both Runners hared off.

Lady Cregga glared fiercely at Clubrush. “Stand out of my way, Sergeant!

It would be said in later seasons that this was the first time a hare openly disobeyed a Badger Ruler. Sergeant Clubnish drew his sword.

“Sorry, Lady, but we got to wait ere “til the Runners gets back. If you goes chargin off now, not knowin wot lies ahead, you could get yself an all these slain, recruits an veterans. We must know wots goin on at that ridge first afore we goes at it. Now I know ycould snuff me out like a candle, marm, but Ill try to stop ye ifn I can, for the good of all ere!

Lady Cregga Rose Eyes raised the terrible axpike high over her head with one paw. She brought it smashing down into the rift wall, knocking out a great quantity of soil-bound rock.

“So be it, we wait! But those hares of yours had better be quick, Sergeant, because I wont wait long!