Leaving orders for his band to camp in the ditch at the roadside out of sight, Bane circled Kotir by himself to spy out the lie of the land. The more he saw of Kotir, the more he fancied it. There would be no more winters in the freezing northlands once he gained entry to this place.

Striding purposefully around the woodland edge at the south side, he practically bumped into Tsarmina returning from the forest. It would have been hard for a bystander to tell who was the more surprised, the fox or the wildcat. As Tsarmina quickly nocked an arrow to her bowstring, Bane’s paw shot down to the curved sword he wore at his side. There was a moment’s silence as they both stood still, gathering their wits. Finally Bane cocked a paw toward the fortress.

“Whose place is this?”

“It is mine. Who are you?” Tsarmina demanded haughtily.

“They call me Bane. I’m a fighter, but if there’s an easier way of getting what I want I’ll always try it.”

“Hmm, a fighter. My name is Tsarmina, Queen of the Thousand Eyes. That is my headquarters; it is called Kotir.”

“Thousand Eyes,” Bane said thoughtfully. “There was only ever one with that name, old Verdauga Greeneyes. He was a wildcat, too.”

“Yes, he was my father.”

“Was?”

“Verdauga is dead now. I alone rule here. If you want, you may come into my service. Kotir is in need of fighters. Are there any with you?”

“Sixty in all. Trained warriors—foxes, rats and weasels.”

“I don’t trust foxes. Why should I trust you?”

“Ha, who trusts who these days?” Bane snorted. “I’m not particularly fond of wildcats. I’ve fought alongside your father, and against him, too.”

“No doubt you have, but that is in the past now. You say you have threescore warriors at your command. What would be your terms if you came to serve Kotir?”

“Make me an offer.”

“I’ll do better than that. I’ll make you a guarantee, Bane,” Tsarmina told the fox. “There are certain creatures—otters, squirrels, mice, hedgehogs . . . woodlanders. One time they used to serve my family, now they choose to live in Mossflower Woods and resist me. Once we have flushed them out of hiding together and enslaved them, then you can have an equal place alongside me. We will rule Mossflower jointly.”

Bane’s paw left the sword hilt. “Done! I’ll take you at your word.”

“And I will take you at yours,” Tsarmina replied, clasping the proffered paw.

Their untruthful eyes smiled falsely at each other.

Tsarmina saw that at least Bane had told the truth about his followers; ragged and unkempt, but fighters to a beast.

They entered Kotir together.

Bane felt as if the place had been built for him.

The uniformed soldiery of Kotir looked askance at the tattered but well-fed band of mercenaries.

Bane’s fighters cast scornful eyes over the ill-fed soldiers in their cumbersome livery.

* * *

Tsarmina and Bane were closeted together in the Queen’s chamber. She listened to his ideas with respect; treachery could come later, but for now she gave the fox full credit as an experienced campaigner.