Tim’s voice came out of the gloom. “Really, Auma, not you too. Voices, drums, chanting. I thought you had a bit more sense than frightening others.”

“Huh, I can’t hear anything, but I agree with Auma. Sometimes it’s best to expect the worst. That way you’re never disappointed,” Jube said philosophically.

“Thanks for cheering us all up, hedgehog,” Tess scoffed. “Here we are, locked in a cell below ground and manacled without a hope or a weapon between us, and you’re chattering on about us being the dinner at some sort of evil ceremony—”

“Hush,” Sam interrupted, “I can hear paws coming this way and a dragging sound too!”

Cynthia gave a little scream.

Mattimeo stood up, resolute. “Well, let them come, and we’ll make an end of it one way or another. Let’s try and do what our parents or Martin the Warrior would do in a corner like this: sell our lives dearly. We have manacles, and they can be turned into weapons. Let whoever beast it is come and try to do their worst.”

*   *   *

Supported by Flugg and two other shrews, Log-a-Log made his way painfully up the tortuous winding passages towards the surface. The shrew leader groaned and lowered himself slowly down, resting his back against a door.

“Log-a-Log, are you all right?” Flugg asked anxiously.

He nodded wearily. “I must sit here awhile. It’s all uphill to the copse. Let me rest and catch my breath.”

The shrews sat with him.

“When we get above ground you must leave me,” he said, turning to Flugg. “Go back and help our friends. Flugg, you have been my good comrade and brother for many seasons. Listen now. Once you leave me and I am no longer with you, the Guosim must have a new leader. That one is you, Flugg. Forget your name; now you are Log-a-Log of all the Guosim.”

Flugg banged the door angrily with his sword hilt. “No! Do not talk like that. You must live!”

Log-a-Log held a paw to his throat wound. “You cannot disobey me. The law and rules of the Guosim say this is the way it must be. If there were a river or a stream here now, I would ride a log on my last journey. Then you would have no choice. Hear me, I have spoken. What was that?”

Some creature was banging on the door from the other side.

Flugg banged in reply. Placing his mouth near the jamb, he called, “Logalogalogalog!”

There was more thumping in reply, followed by a voice calling, “Redwaaaall! Mossflowerrr!”

Log-a-Log struggled to his paws. “I’d know that voice anywhere. It’s just like his father’s. It’s Matthias’s young one. Get that door open, Guosim!”

There was a heavy padlock and hasp on the door, but one of the shrews named Gurn produced a small dagger.

“Stand aside. Let me try with this,” Gurn told the others.