Martin moved gingerly, easing aside the body that had fallen on top of him. It giggled. He pulled his cellmate into the shaft of sunlight where he could view him more clearly.

Gonff winked broadly at him, played a short jig on his reed flute, then began singing,

I knew a mouse in prison here,
More than a hundred years.
His whiskers grew along the ground,
And right back to his ears.
His eyes grew dim, his teeth fell out,
His fur went silver-gray.
“If my grandad were here,” he said,
“I wonder what he’d say?”

Martin leaned against the wall. He could not help smiling at his odd little cellmate.

“Silly, how could the grandfather of a hundred-year-old mouse say anything? Sorry, my name’s Martin the Warrior. What’s yours?”

Gonff extended a paw. “Martin the Warrior, eh. By gum, Martin, you’re a fine, strong-looking fellow, even though you could do with a bit of fattening up. My name’s Gonff the Thief, or Prince of Mousethieves to you, matey.”

Martin shook Gonff warmly by the paw. “Prince of Mousethieves, by the fur. You could be the King of the Sky, as long as I’ve got a cellmate to speak to. What did they throw you in here for?”

Gonff winced. “Stop squeezing my paw to bits and I’ll tell you.”

They sat down on the straw together, Gonff massaging his paw. “They caught me running down the larder stocks of wine and cheese, you see. But don’t you worry, matey, I can open any lock in Kotir. We won’t be here for too long, you’ll see. Leave it to Gonff.”

“You mean you can—we can—escape from here? How, when, where to?” Martin’s voice tumbled out, shaky with excitement.

Gonff fell back against the wall, laughing. “Whoa, matey, not so fast! Don’t worry, as soon as I get things organized we’ll say byebye to this dump. But first, let’s get you fed. They should be ashamed of themselves, keeping a great lump like you on bread and water.”

Martin shrugged and rubbed his hollow stomach. “Huh, what else is there? I was lucky to get bread and water sometimes. What do you suggest, fresh milk and oatcakes?”

“Sorry, matey. I haven’t got milk or oatcakes. Would cheese and elderberry wine do you?” he asked seriously.

Martin was lost for words as Gonff opened his tunic and spilled out a wedge of cheese and a flat canteen of wine.

“Always keep this for emergencies or trading. Here, you may as well have it. I’ve had enough of cheese and wine for a bit.”

Martin needed no second bidding. He wolfed away at the cheese, slopping wine as he gulped it into a full mouth. Gonff shook his head in wonder as the wine and cheese vanished rapidly. “Go easy, matey. You’ll make yourself ill. Take your time.”

Martin tried hard to take the good advice, but it was difficult after so long on starvation rations. As he ate he questioned Gonff. “Tell me, what have I walked into around here, Gonff? I’m only a lone warrior passing through; I know nothing of Mossflower and wildcats.”