Scratch rubbed the top of his head indignantly. “Oh yes. Go off and follow those three. Who knows where they’re going, or how long it’ll take? Huh, you must think all the acorns have dropped off my tree, Cludd. I know where you’ll be, mate—grabbing all the glory for yourself. ‘Yes three,’ Milady, no Milady, three bags full Milady. I saw them first, Milady, so I’ve sent daft old Scratch off chasing the odd three.’ Hoho, I’m on to your little game, weasel.”

Cludd seized Scratch roughly by the ear and began twisting savagely. “So! Open rebellion, eh, Scratch. Now listen to me, you scruffy half-baked excuse for a soldier, if I have to report your disobedience to Her Majesty, she’ll have you staked out on the parade ground for eagle meat, d’you hear me? Now get going, wormbrain. Here, you two, Blacktooth ferret and Splitnose stoat, grab weapons and supplies. Go with Scratch. Jump to it, that’s a direct order from me.”

The sulky-looking trio skulked off, muttering.

“Old bossy boots Cludd, eh.”

“Huh, how he ever got to be Captain, I’ll never know.”

“Take that spear away and he’d fall over flat on his nose.”

“Aye, Tsarmina’s pet, the baby-hedgehog catcher.”

Cludd waited until they were gone, then shouldered his spear. “Right, me laddos. Up on your paws. We’ll take the shortcut north back to the garrison, then Milady can arrange a warm welcome for her woodland visitors.”

Cludd put the remainder of his force into a swift jog trot. Soon the spot where the three paths had crossed was deserted as the last soldier vanished into the bright leafy shades of Mossflower.

* * *

Toward evening, Tsarmina grew restless. She had the two prisoners brought up from the cells. The wildcat Queen was reluctant to admit to herself that she could not get the better of two little hedgehogs. Hunger, she decided, was a great tongue-loosener.

Ferdy and Coggs stood before her, their eyes riveted to the big tray of crystallized fruit and nuts.

Tsarmina popped one neatly into her mouth, delicately licking the sticky sugar coating from her claws one by one.

“Mmm, delicious! I’ll wager that either one of you two young ’uns could eat this entire tray in one go. Come on, now. Don’t be shy. First to talk a bit of sense gets them all.”

Coggs licked his lips. Ferdy grasped his paw and spoke out for them both.

“Huh, I’d swap all that lot for just one slice of our mum’s apple pie.”

Tsarmina smiled winningly. “Of course you would. I suppose your mum makes the best apple pie in all Mossflower?”

Coggs wiped his damp whiskers with the back of a paw. “Oh, I’ll say she does. Hot out of the oven, with fresh cream poured on until it floats.”

Tsarmina nodded agreeably. “Lovely. That’s just the way I like it. By the way, what do they call your mother?”

Ferdy was caught completely off guard. “Goody.”

“Goody what?” The wildcat Queen kept up a friendly purr.