Dann came shinning over the back wall. At the top he gave a swift look around, then signaled down to the hedgehogs below. A moment later he had dropped down into the courtyard and was staring into the pen at the emaciated slaves pressing forward to the bars. Unshouldering his sword, he flashed them a quick smile. “Good morrow to ye, mates. I’m Dann Reguba. Anybeast fancy bein’ liberated today?”

Raising the sword high, he swung it down energetically, shearing the lock from the slave pen door with one mighty swipe. Slaves stood gawping in amazement. Dann swung the door open as they found their tongues.

“Did y’see that? He chopped off the lock an’ his blade ain’t even nicked. By thunder, that’s some kind o’ sword, mates!”

“Dann Reguba, wot sort o’ name is that?”

“I know, I’ve ’eard it afore. That ’un’s a mighty warrior, I’m with him. Woe t’the beast who stands in the way of a Reguba!”

A shudder of pride ran through Dann. He strode into the cage and was surrounded by creatures trying to shake his paw, all of them with tears in their eyes at the unexpected arrival of help. Torrab followed with her hedgehogs, bundles of arms strapped to their backs. They passed out spears, slings, blades and javelins to the eager captives. An otter spoke for his fellow slaves as he loaded stone into sling. “Just say the word, Dann. We’re with you all the way, mate!”

Dann closed the door, hanging the broken lock back in place. “Sit tight here, friends, you’ll get the word soon enough!”

Overhead a harsh screeching of birdcall cut the morning air, followed by a mighty flutter of wings and the hunting call of an eagle. Feathers fell like a miniature snowstorm into the courtyard. Dann had no need to look. He knew the Mighty Megraw was wreaking vengeance upon his enemies. Magpies shrieked harshly with terror, more feathers swirled to the courtyard stones and floated into the pen. Slaves ran to the bars, clutching at them as they struggled to catch a glimpse of retribution being visited on the hateful birds, straining and craning their necks upward, pushing against the bars.

“An eagle, ’tis a great eagle up there, huntin’ magpies!”

There was a thud on the pen roof, and the huddled carcass of Athrak rolled off onto the stones below.

“The eagle’s slain Athrak! Look, look!”

From above, the osprey’s war cry could be heard as he pursued magpies out across the lake.

“Remember me, mah bonny bairns, ah’m no half asleep an’ helpless now, ah’m the Mighty Megraw, death on wings tae ye! Krrreeeeegaaaaah!”

Guards came tumbling out of their barracks, still sleepy-eyed, buckling on armor and stumbling over weapons. Dann kicked open the slave pen door, and hurtled out with an army of slaves brandishing weapons behind him.

“Chaaaaaarge!”