“Ahh, what can they do? You heard the Queen. We’ll just sit tight here until the moment’s right.”

“Huh, sez she! Those woodlanders aren’t as green as they’re grass-colored,” Whegg answered back cheekily.

Brogg shoved him playfully. “You let me and Milady worry about that. Had your breakfast yet?”

“No, not yet. I’m starving. Any chance of slipping off for a bite to eat, matey?”

“Matey! You mean Captain, don’t you?”

“All right. Captain, then.”

“Aye, go on. But send a relief up here. I’ve got other things to do beside standing guard for the like of you.”

Whegg rubbed the stiffness from his limbs as he hobbled downstairs, making for the pantry rather than the mess as there was more chance of food down near the larder. A fox passed him, wiping and scrubbing its paws against the stones.

“Damp down there, mate. Water’s coming up between the pantry floorstones,” he warned.

“Water? Where?”

They both looked up to see Tsarmina coming down the stairs. The fox beckoned over his shoulder.

“Down there, Milady. Anyhow, it’s always been damp below stairs.”

Whegg shook his head. “Only in the cells and beneath them, not on ground level. Besides, it’s summer, and there hasn’t been a drop of rain since spring.”

Tsarmina pushed past them urgently. “Follow me you two!”

They hurried down to the pantry passage. Water was leaking through the floor, and all three jumped back onto the bottom stairs.

“It was only damp when I was here a moment ago,” the fox said in surprise. “Look, you can see the water covering the floor now!”

Whegg touched the water with his paw. “But how? I mean, where has it all come from?”

Tsarmina’s eyes were riveted on the water. “Get through to the dungeons, rat,” she said shakily. “Tell the guards there to come up and report to me. They’ll know.”

Whegg saluted. Stepping gingerly down, he slopped off along the wet passage.

Tsarmina backed up several stairs and waited.

Moments later, Whegg came swishing hurriedly back, his face a mask of disbelief.

“Milady, the staircase to the cells is completely underwater. It’s like looking into a well. Ugh! There are two drowned weasels floating in there.”

Wild-eyed, Tsarmina began rubbing her paws as if trying to dry herself. Suddenly she turned and bounded upstairs. Soldiers’ voices were shouting everywhere.

“The parade ground’s like a lake!”

“Bottom barracks is flooded!”

“The supplies will be ruined!”

“Front hall’s awash, mates!”

“All the cell guards have been drowned!”

Screams and cries rang in her ears as the Queen hurried to her chamber. Grabbing the bow from the wall, she began firing arrow after arrow at the empty face of the woodlands.

“Show yourselves! Martin, come out and fight!” she shrieked.

* * *

In the high branches of a poplar, Martin stood, supported by Lady Amber and four squirrels.

Barklad patted him resoundingly. “Look, Martin, it worked. Kotir is flooding!”

“How high is it, matey?” Gonff called up from ground level.