Pennybright was about to object when Bart Thistledown nudged her forward, murmuring under his breath, “Do as your Lord says, Pen. Go on, don’t question him when he’s in this mood—he’s dangerous!”

The young hare did as she was bidden, bobbing a curtsy to the badger Lord as she passed him.

The hares waited in silence until Urthstripe stood. His gruff voice was heavy and doom-laden as he spoke.

“Sergeant Sapwood and Big Oxeye are gone. I could not make out what way they were slain, but there were over a hundred vermin against them. No two hares were with me longer, or served Salamandastron more loyally. First Windpaw and Shorebuck, and now Sapwood and Oxeye. It has come to this, my friends.” His paw crashed down on the tabletop. “We are starved and surrounded by a vermin horde, trapped inside our own fortress!”

The booming echoes of the badger Lord’s voice died away as he glared down at the tabletop, the dark eyes becoming blood-flecked with rage. His paws clenched and unclenched, and a fleck of foam appeared at the side of his jaw as he pounded the table with each thunderous word.

“My mountain held under siege by a blue-eyed weasel and his brat!”

The chair behind him clattered onto its side as he swept out of the dining hall.

In the shocked hush that followed, Bart Thistledown set the chair upright and commented lightly, “Well, I’m glad I’m not a blue-eyed weasel, chaps. Yes indeed!”

*   *   *

Pennybright shared the water and apples with Lingfur and Barfle on the crater top. They gulped the water down but ate the apples sparingly, making each bite count, chewing hungrily.

Lingfur finished his apple first. “I’m still hungry, Pen. Phwaw! What I wouldn’t give for a big beaker of mountain-pear cordial and a plate of hot oat scones with honey to spread thick on ’em!”

Barfle chewed away at the core and apple pips. “Greensap milk I’d like, with hot oatmeal and a whole blackcurrant pie, all to myself.”

Penny closed her eyes longingly. “D’you remember those little cheese and onion pasties that Windpaw used to bake? I’d love to have one of those right now, with a flagon of new cold cider that’d been cooling in the bottom caves for two days, all sparkly and light gold!”

“Oh, what did we start talkin’ about scoff for?” Lingfur nibbled the soft wooden stalk that his apple had hung from the tree on. “It only makes you even worse hungry than you are now!”

Suddenly a battered and sandswept figure hauled itself wearily over the crater top. It was none other than Big Oxeye, alive and well.

“Cheer up, young Ling. I never knew when you weren’t bally well hungry, wot?” His familiar chuckle boomed out around the mountaintop. “Have some pears. They’re a bit hard, but I don’t suppose a young feedbag like you would care.”