39?

Midge knew he was playing a risky game. Damug was no fool. He sat staring at the disguised hare across a small fire, which was laid in a pit at the center of his tent.

“Speak to me, Miggo, tell me something.

Midge stared into the flames awhile, then he spoke: “I see a mountain and a badger Warrior with eyes like blood. I see Gormad Tunn and a fleet defeated there.

Damug Warfang rose and, reaching across the fire, seized Midge around the neck. Lifting him high, Damug shook him like a rag. “Anybeast could have told you that, you sniveling wreck. Tell me of my future and tell me quickly, before your future ebbs away as I strangle you!

Fighting for breath and with colored lights dancing before his eyes, Midge Manycoats dangled above Damugs head. Grabbing what he needed from beneath his ragged garb, he planted the object, at the same time kicking out with a footpaw and catching the Warlord in one eye.

Midge managed to shout hoarsely, “I see! I see your future!

Damug dropped him, squinting hard, and pawed at his eye to make sure no damage had been done. Midge sat up, massaging his throat. Damug was sitting in his former position, the eye watering and smarting slightly. He stared unruffled at Midge, unwilling to let him see that fie had been hurt. “Well then, what do you see? Tell me. Midge went back to his former seat at the other side of the fire. Again he took out his pebbles and twigs, tossing them in the air and watching how they fell. He spoke like one in a trance.

“Here are ten twigs, each of them represents one hundred Rapscallions; this means you command a thousand. These stones are red, the color of blood, the color of a red sandstone Abbey. Only one stone can rule that place, that is your stone, the brown one. Brown, the color of the earth and the symbol of the Firstblade who will conquer all the earth.

Midge closed his eyes and lapsed into silence. After a while, Damug became impatient, wanting to know more.

“Where is this brown stone? I see only twigs and red stones on the floor. Tell me quickly, Seer, where is the brown stone?

Reaching into his rags, Midge cast a pawful of powder into the fire. The flames gave forth smoke as they burned blue.

“Aaaahh! Tis up to ye to find it, Firstblade. The stone cannot be found in yore heart. Allbeasts know that a Warlords heart is made o stone, so how can a stone be found within a stone? But tis also known that you are wisemayhaps the stone is in yore brain. Can you look inside yore skull, Damug Warfang?

Mystified, the Greatrat took off his helmet and placed it on the ground. He touched his own head, back, front, and beside both ears, all the time glaring through the firesmoke at Midge. “Find a brown stone inside my own skull? Do you take me for an idiot? Let me warn you, Miggo, if you think youre going to pull something from my ear, Ive seen that done beforetry it and youre a deadbeast!

Midge folded his paws, staring back at Damug. “Ill sit over here, Sire. If I tried anythin youd say it was a trick. My voices tell me the brown stone is inside yore skull; moren that I cannot say.

Damug touched his head again, this time more carefullyrunning both paws along his jawline, around his eyes and the base of his skull. Suddenly he jumped up angrily, shaking his head. “This is stupid! You talk in riddles. How could there be a brown stone inside my skull? Rubbish!

He kicked the war helmet to one side. From the mouth of the rabbit skull impaled on its spike, a brown stone rolled forth.

Trying not to show his immense relief, Midge pointed. “See, the skull belongs tyou. Did I not say the brown stone could be found inside yore skull?

Midge Manycoats had guessed correctly. Damug Warfang was like any other conqueror, superstitious and ready to believe in omens and signs.

Damug picked up the simple brown pebble and gazed in wonder at it. “You spoke truly, Miggo. You have the gift of a Seer. What is my future? Tell meI must know!

Midge knew now that he had his fish well hooked. Closing his eyes, he sat back, remote and aloof. “I need food and drink now, rest too. Have quarters prepared for me and my friend, Burfal the Silent One. Tomorrow we will talk.

Rinkul the ferret was smarting from the beating he had received, but that did not stop him. He limped about the Rapscallion camp, looking for the one called Burfal. There was something about the dumb creature that disturbed him. Using the hardwood stick to aid his walking, he crisscrossed the hillside, checking the creatures around their campfires. Maybe it was something in Burfals eyes, in the way he had looked at him.

“If yer after vittles, we aint got none ere, mate!

Rinkul ignored Sneezewort and questioned Lousewort. “Mayaps youve seen a raggy ole beast about, one o the two who came inter camp earlier on? Did e pass this way?

Lousewort sucked on a fishbone and thought for a moment. “Er, er, ymean the Silent One? Stay away from im, matey, Firstblades orders. Did you ear, Capn Skaup knocked die livin daylights out o a few smarty-chops that tried interferin wid that dumb beast. Stupid fools, serves em right, I say!

Rinkuls hardwood stick rapped Louseworts nose viciously. “When I wants yore opinion Ill ask for it, mudbottom. Now, which way did the dumb beast go?

Sneezewort pointed toward the stream. “Went by us a moment back, eaded thataways.

Supported by his stick, Rinkul hobbled off to the stream. Lousewort hugged his nose tenderly as he watched the ferret go. “There wath no need for him to do that, wath there!

Tammo had seen the caged squirrel on the stream bank. Pulling faces, and pushing the two stoats guarding the cage, he made it clear that he did not want them around. The guards retreated a distance to the nearest fire, where they sat warming themselves. Word had got around regarding the Silent One, and they were careful not to offend him.

Drawing his dirk, Tammo pushed it through the bars and began prodding the old squirrel, pretending to have some cruel fun with him. Moving to the cages far side to ,ivoid the blade, the old creature cast a withering glance at his tormentor. “Do yore worst, vermin. I aint afeared of ye! Tammos whisper barely reached his ears. “Sorry, old chap. Cant speak up, they think Im dumb, ysee. Im no vermin, this is a disguise. Really Im a hare of the Long Patrol. Ill help you if I can.

Lying flat, the squirrel rolled over, closer to Tammo so that he could whisper back. “Get me some food an a blade!

“Ill try, but dont attempt anything on your own. Leave this to me an my friendhes disguised like me.

Before he spoke further, Tammo took a swift look about and saw Rinkul leaning on his stick, watching him. Throwing caution to the winds, Tammo dashed at the ferret and dove on him. They went down together. Tammo grabbed Rinkul, pulling him on top of himself and uttering little mute squeaks of distress.

A Rapmark stoat named Bluggach, who was seated by the fire with the two guards, grabbed his cutlass. “Lookit that, the addle-brained oaf, dont e know no better? Damug gave orders not ttouch the dumb un! Cummon, mates!

Rinkul found himself roughly hauled off Tammo, his protests lost among the angry roars of Bluggach and the two guards as they thrashed him with the flats of their blades. “Git off that beast. Wot dyer think yore doin?

“Weve all been ordered to stay clear of im!

“You wanna dig the soil outn yore ears, ferret!

“I aint gonna report this or Lord Damugd kill yer, but you gotta learn to obey orders. Teach im a lesson, mates! Gathering his rags about him, Tammo fled the scene.

Midge stuck his head out of a canvas shelter that had been erected between a bush and a rock. He peered into the night at the lumpy figure ambling aimlessly about.

“Tamm, over here, pal! Weve got our own special quarters!

Tammo scrambled gratefully into the shelter and crouched by the fire. Midge passed him some rough-looking barley-cakes, a piece of cooked fish, and a canteen of strong grog, but Tammo put it aside, saying, “Thanks, Midge, but Ive already eaten. I contacted Rockjaw and he gave me supper. But tell me your news firsthow did yget on with old thingummy Warface?

The friends exchanged information, telling each other all they had experienced since arriving at the Rapscallion camp. Tammo tightened his paw round the dirk handle, gritting his teeth. “Those vermin we were trackingremember the one that got away? Ive seen him, the ferret they call Rinkul. He was the last of the murderers who slew the old badgerlady and my friend Russa; the scum still carries her stick. First chance I get Ill make him pay for them!

Midge shook his head. “Thats not what we were sent here for, Tamm. Youll get your chance at Rinkul, but not hereit could cost our lives an the safety of Redwall. Lets rest up a bit, then when alls quiet well take food to the squirrel. Ive got a small blade with me, well deliver that to him as well. Rest awhile now.

Long after the midnight hour had passed and the sprawling Rapscallion camp lay silent, two figures made their way carefully down to the prisoner in his cage by the stream.