Dippler was wakened by the point of a rapier pressing against his throat. The Guosim shrew opened his eyes to be confronted by his hulking former comrade. Fenno’s brutal features split in an ugly grin, and he leaned close to Dippler, keeping his voice low. “You an’ yer mates snore too loud, Guosim. I ’ad a feelin’ we’d meet up again someday. Quiet now, one peep outta you an’ yore dead. We’ve got a score t’settle, me’n’you.”

Despite Fenno’s warning Dippler managed to whisper, “Promise you won’t harm my mates?”

Fenno stared into Dippler’s hard, unfearing eyes. “I ain’t promisin’ nothin’ to you, Dippler. Log a Log’s liddle pet, ’twas you started all this trouble fer me. Now get up on yore paws. Make one false move an’ I’ll slay yer friends!”

Dippler rose slowly. Behind Fenno he could see Burble, still snoring loudly. But Dann had one eye open, and he winked at Dippler. Fenno kept the rapier point pressed to Dippler’s throat, so Dann had to be careful of his next move. Rising silently behind Fenno, he suddenly grabbed the big shrew by both ears and pulled him roughly backward. Fenno could not keep his balance and fell flat on his back. Dippler’s footpaw was speedily on Fenno’s rapier paw, stopping him from wielding the blade. The bullying shrew sneered up at him. “So it takes two of yer, eh? Why not wake the other one, then all three could gang up on me, cowards!”

Dippler looked across to Dann, his eyes bleak. “Stay out of this, mate. ’Tis my fight!”

Dann nodded his head, then drew his sword and tossed it over. “So be it, friend. Here, borrow my blade.”

Burble sat upright, rubbing his eyes. “Can’t a beast get a bit o’ sleep round here? What’s goin’ on?”

Dippler caught the sword, cautioning Burble, “Nothin’ t’do with you, Burb. Stay out of it. This is personal.”

Dann and Burble moved away from the two shrews, and Dippler took his footpaw from Fenno’s rapier. The big shrew sprang upright, swishing his blade.

“Now I’m goin’ to slay you like I did ole Log a Log!”

Dippler was unused to the heavier weapon, but he leveled it at his enemy. “You can’t kill me like you murdered Log a Log. I’m facin’ you, Fenno. You stabbed Log a Log in the back!”

They circled each other, blades flickering, each looking for an entrance. Fenno was a skilled swordbeast. “I’ll chop ye t’ribbons afore you can swing that clumsy thing!” he taunted.

Dippler parried his strike awkwardly and stood waiting for the next thrust, trying to accustom his paw to the blade. “Yore a bully an’ a murderin’ coward, Fenno, you always were!”