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Chapters (64)
  1. CAPTURED!
  2. Other Books
  3. Title Page
  4. Map
  5. Introduction
  6. BOOK ONE
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. BOOK TWO
  33. 26
  34. 27
  35. 28
  36. 29
  37. 30
  38. 31
  39. 32
  40. 33
  41. 34
  42. 35
  43. 36
  44. 37
  45. BOOK THREE
  46. 38
  47. 39
  48. 40
  49. 41
  50. 42
  51. 43
  52. 44
  53. 45
  54. 46
  55. 47
  56. 48
  57. 49
  58. 50
  59. 51
  60. 52
  61. 53
  62. 54
  63. 55
  64. What’s next onyour reading list?

Ambrose Spike and Brother Dan selected a long barrel stave and set about carving it with their woodworking tools. As he worked, the hedgehog muttered, “A sword, like the great sword of Martin that Matthias carries. Wish I had it here as a model. Still, I can remember fairly well what it looks like.”

“I can recall the exact details of our Warrior’s sword, fortunately,” Brother Dan sniffed.

Ambrose sniffed back at him. “See that barrel of October ale yonder? I’ve got to remember to tap it before autumn. See those barrels of cider, I’ve got to remember to add honey to them in a day or so, or they’ll go bitter. Now that big barrel of strawberry cordial, well, I’ve got to remember to strain it off into jugs for the evenin’ meal tonight so that it’ll be cold and clear. So you carry on recallin’ what you like about the Warrior’s sword, Dan. I’ve got enough to remember, thank you.”

*   *   *

Evening was falling with a glorious red sunset as Cornflower and Sister May, accompanied by several moles, slipped from the tunnel exit into the gatehouse cottage. Barring the door, Foremole checked at the windows to make sure they had not been seen.

“Nary a sign o’ burdbags, missus. We’m be safe enuff.”

Cornflower went into the bedroom and opened the chest where Matthias kept his warrior’s garb.

“See, it’s all here, Sister May, the armour and everything. All my Matthias took was his sword. He likes to travel light.”

Sister May helped Cornflower to unpack the helmet and greaves. Laying the burnished breastplate upon the bed, she eyed it doubtfully.

“Dearie me, it’s all very heavy. Are you sure you’ll manage to walk with it on?”

Cornflower shrugged. “I won’t know until I try, but I’m fairly strong. Give me a paw with this shoulderplate, will you.”

Shortly afterwards, she clanked out into the living room, fully armoured,

Foremole shook his head admiringly. “Burr, you’m looken a soight a’right, missus. Oi never see’d ought loik that. Strewth, but for your face oi’d say ’twas Marthen acummed back agin.”

Sister May emerged, carrying a piece of filmy gauze. “Not to worry, Mr. Foremole. I’ll make a face mask, and in the dark she’ll seem quite pale and ghostly. I must say, Cornflower, all that bulky armour makes you look quite large and impressive.”

Cornflower clanked about, gazing down at the gleaming metal.

“Let’s hope it fools the birds tonight.”

40

Basil dodged about in the rays of the setting sun.

“I say, look you chaps, this must have been a herb garden. Aha, mint. Yumyum, I’m rather partial to a bit of fresh mint. Achoo! Bless me, there’s thyme around here somewhere. It always makes me sneeze. Achoo! Ah, here ’tis, hmm, very tasty too. Achoo!”