“Huh, I’m not sleeping out in the open again. There must be a hole or a cave hereabouts. Might be a bite of grub, too.”

“Oh lie down and get some rest,” Splitnose murmured sleepily. “You’re as bad as Cludd or Scratch. Get some sleep, and we’ll see what it’s like around here in the morning. I’m not moving. Might even sleep late, too.”

Blacktooth moved off. “Right. You stay here. I’ll be back if I can’t find something better. I could swear there’s water running nearby. I’ll go and take a look.”

“Mind the swans don’t eat you,” Splitnose called out, his eyes already closed.

* * *

Blacktooth was back sooner than expected. He danced about, giggling quietly to himself.

“Splittie. Hey, come on, snoreface. Wake up! Heeheehee, guess what I’ve found?”

The stoat grumbled as his companion shook him awake. “Two frogs and a dandelion. Now beat it, will you? I need sleep.”

The ferret could not contain his excitement. “I found a big stream, a camp, a fire and food—and those two mice and the mole!”

Splitnose came awake. “Where?”

“Not far. Over that way a bit. Listen, if we’re quick and quiet we can take them prisoner.”

The stoat leaped up. “Great. You say they’ve got food and a fire?”

“Yes, half a roast fish, packs too, full of goodies,” Blacktooth told him. “You know those woodlanders—they love their rations.”

“We could march ’em back to Kotir.”

“Heehee. Aye, could you imagine old Cludd’s face when we walk in with three prisoners? The Queen’d prob’ly make us Generals. Oho, I’d give that Cludd a few dirty jobs to do. I’d make him jump!”

“Right, Blackie mate, lead me to ’em.”

They sneaked silently across to the river bank armed with their spears.

* * *

The three friends lay asleep around the fire, unaware of the eyes that watched them from the top of the bank.

* * *

Fortunata struck deeper into Mossflower, aware that Tsarmina was watching her from the high chamber window.

The vixen had cast off her borrowed finery from Kotir, reverting to the frayed old healer’s cloak and bag of herbal remedies. She leaned heavily upon an ash staff. Fortunata was more suited to this type of work; she preferred subterfuge to warfare. Besides, the rewards promised were greater.

* * *

Tsarmina moved from the window to ring her table bell. Cludd entered, saluting with shield and spear.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Get somebody to clean this room up, it’s filthy. Drill the troops and keep them on the alert. They’re not here to eat me out of house and home. Oh, get a foraging party together. We must keep something in the larders if we want to outlast the woodlanders.”

Cludd saluted again. “It shall be done, Milady.”

The wildcat Queen settled back in her chair. Now was the time to play the waiting game.

* * *

Columbine lay behind a screen of bushes, nibbling a green hazelnut. The mousemaid often volunteered to go on watch outside Brockhall, imagining herself to be the first to sight the travelers’ return. That Gonff! He would probably come back singing at the top of his voice,