Crouching low with the sword point held out in front, Martin waded out of the water toward his foe, the red glitter of total war shining hot in his eyes, his teeth bared in a wild laugh.

Tsarmina’s craven heart failed her.

The wildcat began circling nervously as Martin closed in. Like a dream from the past, she recalled that winter evening in her father’s bedchamber when she had smashed the rusty sword of a captive mouse. She remembered the words he had spoken as he was dragged off to the cells at Kotir: You should have killed me when you had the chance, because I vow that I will slay you one day!

Unaware of the water behind her, Tsarmina retreated, backing off as the little warrior came toward her, bloodied but unbowed, the mouse who would not lie down and die. Martin, the one that fought like a great male badger.

Back, back, she paced, her eyes shifting from the gleaming blade to Martin’s piercing eyes. Deeper and deeper into the waters of the lake went the Queen of the Thousand Eyes.

Even though Martin had halted upon the lake shore, he seemed to be getting larger, towering in her vision. She had to get as far away from this threat as she could.

Suddenly Tsarmina realized she had gone too deep. The energy drained from her body; dry land seemed miles away. Water filled her world, dark, swirling, eddying, tugging, longing to fold her in its wet embrace, pulling her down, filling her mouth, nostrils and finally her eyes.

The dream had come true. The nightmare was alive!

* * *

Back in the shallows, Martin dragged his wounded body onto the land. Trying to lift his sword one last time, he managed to gasp out, “Sleep in peace, Boar. Mossflower is free!”

The shining sword slid from the warrior’s grasp and he fell to the earth, a limp sodden bundle.

* * *

The captives on the lakeshore were seated in ranks. Paws on heads, they disputed in low voices with each other.

“I think we’re safe. These woodlanders are not killers.”

“Huh, if we’d been captured by Bane or Tsarmina it would have been a different story, mate.”

“I’ll say. We’d all have been floating face down in that lake by now, those who hadn’t sunk.”

“Aye. Instead the woodlanders fed us and cared for us.”

“Better grub than I ever had at Kotir.”

Bella forestalled any further comment by standing upon a mound and calling for order.

“Attention, all of you. Listen to me!”

Murmuring died away as the former army of Kotir listened to hear what was in store.

The badger pointed over their heads at the lake. “Look! Turn your heads and see—Kotir is gone forever. Now you have no leader or walls to hide behind. The war in Mossflower is at an end. You are defeated.”

Late afternoon sun emerged through the clouds as Bella continued. “We do not make total war upon you because we are not killers. However, that would not be the case a second time. Remember that.”