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creature was assembled, packing the rails and rigging.
Bella stood with her paw upon the tiller, red-eyed with grief but calm and composed.
Martin took command instinctively. The warrior mouse seemed to have grown in stature and
confidence since his return, every woodlander now looked upon him with a respect that bordered upon
awe. He stood on the peak of the after end gallery, the sword glinting under a full moon.
 Friends, I have heard all, and my companions have told you everything that happened to us on our
quest. Now I am back.
Abbess Germaine nodded approvingly at the commanding figure.  Tell us what you want us to do,
Martin.
The warrior mouse drew his sword and leaned on the pommel stone as his blade pierced the deck
timbers.
 Trust me, Mossflower will be saved. I have been thinking of a plan that I will not explain at present.
First I must see certain things before I know it can be executed properly. Now we must sleep until the
morning. Tomorrow, after the little ones are somewhere safe, you will see what I intend. Do not worry any
more. Our force has been doubled by the numbers who have sailed back with us, and we have seasoned
warriors with us now. Boar the Fighter cannot be here tonight, but I know that his strong spirit watches
over us. From beyond the gates of Dark Forest he has sent me with this sword to make an end of Tsarmina
and all who follow her. I promise you that I will.
Every creature who saw Martin the Warrior that night knew, without a shadow of doubt: he was the
one chosen to keep that promise.
Book 3 - Of Water and Warriors
Chapter 46
Deep beneath Kotir the water level had risen gradually. Now it was above the rock sections removed by the
moles.
Hour by hour it had risen fractionally. To the casual ear the trickling had stopped, but it was still
adding silently to the volume, as it seeped in from below the surface of the gradually rising lake.
Standing at her high window, Tsarmina breathed deeply, filling her lungs with the soothing summer breeze
that blew in from Mossflower Woods.
At last the accursed dripping had stopped!
She felt light-headedly happy. Dark, fearful night had given way to this beautiful calm sunlit morning,
taking with it the haunting sounds of the water.
Brogg was right, she thought, even though he was only an oafish weasel. There was a certain sense to
his logic. Imagination was a strange thing, which played odd tricks upon an overwrought mind.
Now a new resolution was forming in Tsarmina s devious brain, one she considered worthy of her
talents.
Mossflower must be conquered!
The eagle was gone; Bane too. And her forces were stronger now with the addition of his one-time
mercenaries.
Tsarmina allowed herself an audible snigger. That Bane! He had even taken the trouble to restore and
repair all the Kotir woodwork, in anticipation of taking over from her, the Queen of Mossflower. Stupid fox!
Furnishing herself with a bowl of milk and a roasted woodpigeon, she mentally thanked Bane for his
supplies, adding another point to her favor. She sat down to breakfast and some earnest thought as to the
final solution of the woodlanders.
Tsarmina rang the bell to summon Brogg.
 Your Majesty?
 Ah, Brogg. Put aside that sword and sit over here at my table.
 Thank you, Milady.
 This morning I was thinking of appointing some new Captains. However, I have since changed my
mind, Brogg. You will remain as the one and only officer, giving out my orders, of course.
Brogg sat to attention, his chest puffed out proudly.  Oh, thank you, Milady, thank you. I ll make you
proud of me. You won t regret this. Wait and see, I ll 
Tsarmina silenced the babbling Captain with a wave of the woodpigeon carcass.
 Enough chattering, Brogg. Let me tell you what you must do to earn this great honor.
 I am yours to command, my Queen.
 Good. I want traps, lots of traps. Snares, nets, pits anything we can think up.
 Traps, Milady?
 Yes, traps, you great buffoon. I want traps laid all over that forest out there.
Brogg grinned as recognition dawned.  We ll capture some woodland prisoners. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]