sighted on the gates, leaned back and threw it. It hissed through the air
and slammed into the gate. Tarel threw his javelin, sighing as he watched
it break through the gate.
"Wonder when Siker's goin' to alert us?"
Just then, a clear sharp whistle split the night air. Lavender nodded to
Tarel.
"Douse the fire, come on!"
Tarel doused the fire, grabbed a javelin and followed Lavender across the
sand to where Siker, Saner and the others were waiting near the gate.
They stood watching. The gates began to give into the flames. They
buckled near the center and caved in. The doorway was open. Siker waved
his sling.
"Up and at 'em, troop!" he yelled.
Bounding over the burning wreckage of the gate, the small band of otters,
squirrels and mice raced toward the east wall. No one noticed Lavender
and Tarel as they slipped off toward the slave compound.
He whistled low and Fith appeared beside him. Fith nodded.
"Right, here they come. Everyone ready?"
There was a low growl of assent. Lavender and Tarel pressed their faces
to the gates.
"Listen, all you guys in there," said Tarel. "I don't have a key. Any
ideas on how to get out?"
Esel piped up.
"Sir, we could make a rope with our belts, toss it over the wall and
climb out one by one."
Tarel smiled.
"Right, good idea, young'un! Let's get to it!"
Belts and sashes were collected from the slaves and tied together into a
long rope. Esel swung the makeshift rope around his head and let it go,
nodding with satisfaction as it flew over the wall. He felt a tug on the
rope; then Tarel's voice.
"Okay, we've got it. Start climbing. Old ones first."
With the help of Esel, the older beasts started up the rope. They were
helped down on the other side by the strong paws of Lavender and Tarel.
Soon, all the old ones were out. Tarel called his next instructions.
"Now, the babes and mothers."
One by one, they went over the wall. Last to go were the youngest
creatures. Esel and Fith stood at the back of the line, watching as their
friends climbed up the rope and disappeared over the wall. Then it was
their turn. Fith smiled at his friend.
"You go first, Esel."
The squirrel bowed his head, grasped the rope and shot up it with all the
skills of a born climber. As his head popped over the wall, he could hear
the roar of fighting by the east wall. Esel jumped down, coming to land
on the ground with a thump. Tarel nodded to him.
"Hello, anyone else in there?"
Esel brushed off his frayed tunic.
"My friend, Fith."
Just then, Fith's head appeared over the wall. He paused to gather the
rope up, then leapt down and was caught by Tarel. Lavender herded the
slaves together.
"Okay, listen. Everyone follow us closely, don't stray, stay together."
They headed off in the direction of the main gates.
securely round it as he fired arrow after arrow into the vermin's ranks.
Down below, Siker's otters and the mice were making short work of the
rest of Verbanth's band. Saner gritted his teeth in anger. If only there
was someway to get to that Verbanth! He stood on the west wall, whirling
his scimitar and yelling.
"Cut 'em down! Chaaarge!"
Saner took out another vermin with one of his arrows, using the second to
stab the vermin creeping up on him. Finally, Saner could stand Verbanth's
shouts no longer. He unwrapped his tail from around the rampart and took
off like a streak across the east wall.
at once, advising and comforting. Esel turned his head and saw Saner
streaking down the east wall toward the west wall where stood Verbanth.
Rage filled the young squirrel. He turned and suddenly dashed for the
west wall stairs. Fith cried after him,
"Esel! Where are you going?"
Lavender turned around at Fith's call and saw Esel racing for the west
wall. Without a word, she took off after him.
the vermin. Soon, there was no one left to fight. Siker turned as a loud
shout rang out.
"Verbanth! I am coming!"
Siker's eyes widened as he saw two streaks racing toward Verbanth. One
was Saner, the other was a squirrel he didn't recognize. Dashing after
the squirrel was Lavender. Siker and the others stood, watching, waiting
to see what would happen.
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