Fenno swung and feinted. Bringing his rapier slashing down across the young shrew’s footpaw, he grinned nastily. “Bit by bit, I’ll carve ye nice an’ slow, young ’un!”

As he spoke he leapt forward, swinging sideways, aiming across his adversary’s eyes. Dippler was ready this time, and he swayed backward, chopping the heavy blade down and breaking Fenno’s rapier into two pieces. Fenno was quick; he jumped with both footpaws on the flat of the sword and headbutted Dippler. The young shrew saw stars, and fell flat on his back. Fenno grabbed the sword and dived at Dippler. Desperation and a quick turn of speed aided the younger shrew. He rolled over to one side, seizing the broken rapier and leaping upright. Fenno hit the ground in a cloud of dust. Dippler brought the broken rapier down forcefully with both paws as the hefty shrew rolled over. Breathing heavily and hardly able to lift his head, Dippler stood over the body of his enemy. “Shouldn’t ’ave let yer turn over, Fenno. I should’ve got you in the back, the way you killed Log a Log!”

Dann retrieved his sword. Kneeling, he examined the hilt of the broken rapier protruding from Fenno. “Dipp, this is your sword. I recognize the hilt.”

The young shrew took a glance at it. “That’s my blade, all right. How did that scum come t’be carryin’ it? I lost it back in the caves.”

Burble pondered a moment, then held up a paw. “Ah, I’ve got it, yiss yiss. Yore rapier wasn’t a great heavy blade like Dann’s, ’twill have been swept straight through yon mountain by the river into that stream. I’ll wager that’s where the big shrew feller found it, on the bed o’ the stream shallows, yiss yiss!”

Dippler picked up the bottom half of the blade and flung it into the stream, where it sank and went rolling away with the current. “Aye, per’aps yore right, Burb. Doesn’t make much difference now though, does it? No rapier could stand up to the steel in Martin the Warrior’s blade.”

Dann slung his sword over his back, into the belt that carried it. “Right y’are, Dipp. The sword ain’t been made that could best this blade!”

Later that afternoon they followed the streambank away from the mountain. The going was easy and they covered a fair bit of ground by nightfall. Dann was about to suggest they make camp when Burble gestured for silence. They stood quiet while Burble listened. He pointed to an ash. “Stay there by that tree. I’ll be back soon. Keep quiet now an’ keep yore heads down while I take a look around.”

Dann caught Burble’s paw. “Hold hard there, mate. What is it? There’s somethin’ yore not tellin’ us.”