Rolling the tapestry up, they stood it behind one of the doors. Dippler tore down a silk wall hanging and draped it over the prize, effectively hiding it from view. “There, it should be safe enough here for the moment. What’s up, Song? What’re ye lookin’ round like that for?”

“Where did the Marlfox go? There’s another thing, too. Have you noticed that it’s gone quiet out there?”

Burble looked up from the chair he was covering with drapes. “Yiss yiss, y’right there, mate, there should be a grand ould battle ragin’ round this castle by now, but there’s not a single peep from outside. Well now, there’s me plunder all wrapped up nice’n’tidy. Let’s go an’ take a look!”

As soon as Dann and his party had charged, the guards fled back into their barracks and locked themselves in. Torrab posted two hedgehogs and several freed slaves in front of the barracks, calling in a loud voice so the water rats could hear, “Stay thou by here, slay any who come out!” She turned with a shrug to the bemused Dann. “Mayhap yon vermin do not move without command from some Captain or Marlfox. They bear the look of beasts who be not overburdened with much intelligence.”

Dann took a parting glance at the dull-faced soldiers penned within their own barracks. “Aye, I think yore right, Torrab. Let’s go and see how Gawjo an’ the others are farin’ at the front entrance.”

Ullig and Wilce were in the main barracks, demoted to the rank and file. When they saw Gawjo and his small force enter the courtyard, both vermin grasped immediately their chance of being restored to favor. After a hasty conference together, they took up weapons. Ullig faced the horde of soldiers, who were lounging about awaiting orders from Toolam, who had not yet appeared. “Arm yourselves, there are enemies within our gates. Hurry!”

The rats looked at him but made no move. Wilce shook her spear at them, haranguing the indifferent vermin. “You heard him, idiots. Pick up your weapons!”

One, bolder than the rest, sat down on his bed. “You ain’t officers no more, yore only the same as us. We ain’t takin’ no orders of’n yer!”

Wilce’s brain was racing as she challenged the speaker. “Us, common soldiers? Don’t be stupid. Who told you that?”

Slightly unsure of himself, the water rat pointed out one of his comrades. “Er, he did.”