“Bella is right.” Abbess Germaine put in. “I suggest that you let me preside over the rescue operation. We can use all of you, especially Chibb; he will be of more value to us now than ever before. Meanwhile, let us keep our hopes high and tempers in check. Bella is very busy working on something else for our benefit with Martin, and they must be excluded from the rescue attempt.”

Bella was astonished. She looked blankly at Germaine.

The old Abbess smiled back at her. “I too was out taking the air in the woods early this morning.”

Bella bowed to the Abbess. “Thank you for offering your help, old friend.”

Bella and Martin retired to the study. Immediately Bella closed the door, Martin turned to her.

“Bella, I have decided. I will find Boar the Fighter—I will undertake the journey to Salamandastron.”

Bella took hold of the warrior’s paws. “Are you sure you want to do this thing, Martin?”

Martin nodded firmly. “For you and all my friends in Mossflower, I will find this strange place, even if it is at the world’s end. And I will bring back your father Boar the Fighter.”

The door swung open. Gonff entered, rubbing a paw to his ear.

“Funny things, doors. Sometimes it’s as if they’re not there, and you can hear everything. By the way, Miss Bella, I’m surprised at you. Fancy sending my matey off on a quest without an able-bodied assistant.”

Martin hesitated. He looked to Bella. “I’d feel a lot safer with a good thief along.”

The kindly badger smiled. “Of course. Careless of me. Welcome, Gonff. We may need a brain as sharp as yours.”

They sat on the edge of a scroll-littered desk, while Bella settled comfortably into a dusty old armchair. She sighed and looked from one to the other.

“Well, I wish I knew where to begin. Fighting badgers have been going off questing for Salamandastron as far back as memory goes. My grandfather, old Lord Brocktree, went off when I was very small, then later he was followed by my father, Boar the Fighter.”

“Is there any record of whether they ever found it, or are there any maps of the way to Salamandastron?” Martin interrupted.

Bella stroked her stripes thoughtfully. “There must be a map somewhere. Both Lord Brocktree and Boar seemed to know where they were going. One thing I do know, it would be far too difficult to find the place of dragons without some form of key or map. You would need directions.”

Gonff smiled disarmingly. He picked up a bundle of scrolls from the desktop.

“Well, mateys, the solution is simple. Let’s find the map!”

* * *

It had been a confused and frightening day for the two little hedgehogs. Since they had been taken by Cludd’s patrol, not a word had passed between them. Both lay on the floor of Tsarmina’s room, trying to forget the pains that shot through their bound-up paws and the filthy-tasting gags tied roughly across their mouths. Ferdy snuffled through his nostrils for breath and exchanged glances with Coggs.