O the Wuddshipp is a goodship,
And we’ll sail her anywhere,
Rowed by mice, crewed by shrews,
And often steered by hare.
So hoist the anchor, loose the sails,
Give me a wind that never fails,
And we’ll sail the goodship Wuddshipp
From here to old Brockhall.

He had to sing it twice again whilst the shrews danced a hornpipe with the hares.

As the fires burned low, they settled back with full stomachs and renewed hope for the morn.

Martin and Timballisto slept side by side beneath the stars, each wrapped in a colorfully woven shrew blanket.

Dinny dug a flattish hole for the hares.

“Oh, thank you kindly, Mr. Mole.”

“Such charming manners and swift digging.”

“Ooh, and that beautiful velvety fur and strong claws.”

Dinny wrinkled his face and tugged his snout, slightly embarrassed. “Burr, bless ’ee, baint nought but an owd ’ole, missies.”

The moon rose like a white china plate over the peaceful scene on the banks of the River Moss.

* * *

Tsarmina faced the troops gathered in the large mess hall. She had specially arranged the gathering by sending Bane’s former mercenaries in first; her own soldiers, led by Brogg in his red velvet cloak, ringed the mercenaries by jostling them to the center of the floor. Brogg held up Bane’s curved sword for silence as the wildcat Queen addressed the assembly.

“Bane is dead. Those who served under him have nowhere left to go now. Move from here, and you do it without supplies or weapons. Besides, those woodlanders out there would take care of you in short order. Any creature want to say something?”

There was silence.

“Right,” she continued commandingly. “From now on you take your orders from me. Brogg will see that you get rations and a billet each. Later I’ll see about appointing more officers and getting you some proper uniforms. Take over, Brogg.”

The weasel Captain stepped up, twirling his new sword. “Altogether now. Hail Tsarmina, Queen of Mossflower!”

The response was less than enthusiastic.

Tsarmina made them repeat it until she was satisfied. “That’s better. You can learn my list of titles later.”

They stood in awkward silence, not knowing what to do next. In the hush that followed, Tsarmina’s ears rose visibly. Something was beginning to disturb her.

“Dismiss, all of you. Brogg, you stay with me.”

When the hall was emptied she turned to Brogg with haunted eyes.

“Listen, can you hear it?” she asked fearfully.

“I can’t hear a thing, Milady.”

“Listen! It’s water, flowing, dripping, spilling somewhere. Ugh!”

Brogg gave careful ear. Suddenly he brightened up. “Haha. Yes, I can hear it now, Milady. You’re right. There is water about somewhere. Damp d’you think?”

The sound of water produced so distressing an effect upon Tsarmina that she forgot to chide Brogg. She cowered in a corner, paws covering her ears to shut out the dreaded noise. Flowing water, seeping water, creeping water, dark, icy, swirling water!

“Brogg, quick, get as many troops together as you can,” she ordered desperately. “Find out where that water is coming from and stop it. Stop it!”