Bella nodded approvingly. “I second that. Good thinking, Columbine. Are we all agreed?”

There was a low murmur of assent. Nobody noticed the look that passed between Amber and Skipper.

In the early afternoon, Bella left command of Brockhall to the Abbess and Columbine. Alone, the badger set out eastward into the woodland depths to find a second place of refuge.

Martin woke feeling pleasantly fresh. He opened his eyes to see Boar supervising the laying of a beautiful breakfast table. Hares were wreathing flowers across the board; the food they brought had been grown in small gardens dotted about the landward side of the mountaintop. Boar had small rosebuds and sweet peas twined in his beard, and a garland of ivy leaves sat on his head. The huge badger looked like some benevolent spirit come down from the mountain, holding a green wand in his paw.

Pointing to a high arrow window that streamed down golden sunlight on him, he boomed out to the waking travelers, “Welcome to Salamandastron on the first day of a new summer!”

Young Dinny’s heart leaped at the sight of Boar and the mention of his favorite season. “Burrhoourr, oi dearly loiks summertoid, Zurr Bowar!”

During a fabulous meal in which all took part, they were introduced to the other hares who lived in the mountain. Besides Trubbs, Wother and Ffring there was also Harebell, Honeydew and Willow, three doe-eyed beauties who could render Trubbs and company speechless with a single flutter of their eyelashes. There were four others, a huge fellow named Buffheart, his wife Lupin and their two young ones, Starbuck and Breeze.

“These hares are my eyes and ears,” Boar explained. “I can stretch out my paws through them and feel what is going on for miles around. They are also fearsome fighters. Yes, every one of them. Don’t let silly talk and pretty eyes fool you. They’ll show you later. As for the present, they’ll take your friends off and show them something of this mountain we live on. Martin, will you come with me? I would talk to you alone.”

* * *

The warrior mouse followed the silver badger up through many caves, flights of rock stairs and long passages. High up the pair went, into the topmost cave. It was still warm from the heat of the forge. Martin looked out of a long open window to see the beach below and the waters beyond, sparkling and glinting in early summer sunlight.

“This is where you heard my voice when you were down on the shore last night,” Boar whispered to him. “I must whisper now because if I were to raise my voice, the echoes would deafen you.”

Martin nodded, fearing to speak lest his voice did the same.

Boar smiled, patting the mouse warrior lightly. “You are wise beyond your seasons. Now, do not be surprised by what I am going to show you. This is for our eyes alone, Martin—we two warriors.”