* * *

Night fell upon the lakeside. A fire burned bright as Goody Stickle tended Martin, tucking the blankets gently but firmly around his injured body. Ben Stickle hurried hither and thither gathering firewood.

T. B. stood by, feeling totally useless as he listened to the fevered voice of his friend.

“Carry on the sweep of the blade,” Martin whispered. “Up and across, eh, Boar, you old battlebeast. Who will wield our swords for us now, warrior?”

T. B. was about to speak, when Goody held a paw to her lips. “Hush now, Mr. T. B. He’s a-sleepin’. I’m doin’ all I can to keep the life in the poor mouse until Abbess gets here.”

Trubbs and the hares built a bower of reeds and willow about Martin and Goody, speaking in whispers as they did so.

“Keep the old night breezes off, what!”

“Rather. Can do without the bally wind, y’know.”

“Nothing worse than a chill on the paws when a chap’s not on top form.”

Pale moonlight glimmered off the surface of the lake as Martin lay still, scarcely breathing. The woodlanders sat waiting.

An hour before dawn, the occupants of the small farmhouse were up and about. Columbine checked the Abbess’s satchel.

“Comfrey, elmbark, motherwort, verbena, rosehips. . . . I can’t think of anything we’ve missed out, can you, Abbess?”

The old mouse stood facing the western woodlands. “No, child. I’ve got everything I need. Now stop upsetting yourself and prepare breakfast for the little ones.”

Chibb perched on the farmhouse window sill, listening to Gingivere and Sandingomm.

“We must not let the little ones know,” Gingivere was saying. “Let them play. Soon enough they’ll grow up and have to face life’s problems.”

“You’re right, Gingivere. Spike, Posy, would you set the bowls and spoons out, please.”

“But Lady Sandingomm, you said it was Ferdy and Cogg’s turn today. We did it at supper last night.”

“You’re right. It’s not fair. Hey, you two, come on. Your turn for setting the breakfast things out.”

Ferdy and Coggs came running from the woodland edge. “Hurray, it’s Miz Bella. Look out or she’ll knock us all over.”

Bella came pounding out of the woods, lathered in foam and breathing heavily. Ferdy ran alongside of her.

“Miz Bella, have you been running all night? Have we won the war?”

“Come away, little one. No time for games now.”

Gingivere led Bella to the farmhouse, but she collapsed near the front doorstep, panting.

Sandingomm dashed indoors. “I’ll get something to dry you down and you can have breakfast.”

Bella shook her head as she caught her breath. “No time, friend. Some water to drink, then I’ll be on my way. Abbess, are you ready?”

Germaine patted Bella’s heaving flank. “Oh, I’m ready. But you’re not, Bella. You need rest. You’d never make it back like that, so lie still awhile.”

Still panting with exertion, the badger took a sparing drink of water and lay upon her side.