“Friends, I have heard all, and my companions have told you everything that happened to us on our quest. Now I am back.”

Abbess Germaine nodded approvingly at the commanding figure. “Tell us what you want us to do, Martin.”

The warrior mouse drew his sword and leaned on the pommel stone as his blade pierced the deck timbers.

“Trust me, Mossflower will be saved. I have been thinking of a plan that I will not explain at present. First I must see certain things before I know it can be executed properly. Now we must sleep until the morning. Tomorrow, after the little ones are somewhere safe, you will see what I intend. Do not worry any more. Our force has been doubled by the numbers who have sailed back with us, and we have seasoned warriors with us now. Boar the Fighter cannot be here tonight, but I know that his strong spirit watches over us. From beyond the gates of Dark Forest he has sent me with this sword to make an end of Tsarmina and all who follow her. I promise you that I will.”

Every creature who saw Martin the Warrior that night knew, without a shadow of doubt: he was the one chosen to keep that promise.

BOOK THREE

Of Water and Warriors

Deep beneath Kotir the water level had risen gradually. Now it was above the rock sections removed by the moles.

Hour by hour it had risen fractionally. To the casual ear the trickling had stopped, but it was still adding silently to the volume, as it seeped in from below the surface of the gradually rising lake.

* * *

Standing at her high window, Tsarmina breathed deeply, filling her lungs with the soothing summer breeze that blew in from Mossflower Woods.

At last the accursed dripping had stopped!

She felt light-headedly happy. Dark, fearful night had given way to this beautiful calm sunlit morning, taking with it the haunting sounds of the water.

Brogg was right, she thought, even though he was only an oafish weasel. There was a certain sense to his logic. Imagination was a strange thing, which played odd tricks upon an overwrought mind.

Now a new resolution was forming in Tsarmina’s devious brain, one she considered worthy of her talents.

Mossflower must be conquered!

The eagle was gone; Bane too. And her forces were stronger now with the addition of his one-time mercenaries.

Tsarmina allowed herself an audible snigger. That Bane! He had even taken the trouble to restore and repair all the Kotir woodwork, in anticipation of taking over from her, the Queen of Mossflower. Stupid fox!

Furnishing herself with a bowl of milk and a roasted woodpigeon, she mentally thanked Bane for his supplies, adding another point to her favor. She sat down to breakfast and some earnest thought as to the final solution of the woodlanders.

Tsarmina rang the bell to summon Brogg.