High Rhulain

They struck off inland, with the rain still drizzling, though the mist was breaking up into patches over the valleys and woodlands. Zillo kept their spirits up by tapping out the pace on his rudderdrum and singing the song about Holt Summerdell.

“All the long-ago seasons we loved high up there,

in those warm afternoons an’ the sweet evenin’ air,

alas though they’re past I remember it well,

that dear little spot we called Holt Summerdell.

When ye’d rise in the mornin’ the air was like wine,

through the curtain came stealin’ the golden sunshine,

with the twayblade the clubrush the burr an’ the sedge,

round the clear crystal waters that flow o’er the edge.

Ye could ride on the slide there or sport in the pool,

where trout roamed the deep reeds so green an’ so

cool,

on some flat mossy rock ye could lie there an’ bask, as

the ould ones would say, now wot more could ye ask?

But the times are all fled like a mayfly’s short day,

though sometimes within me a small voice will say

go follow yore dream to the place ye loved well,

that dear little spot we call Holt Summerdell.” ’

The otterbabe riding on Leatho’s shoulders whispered in his ear, “Uz gunner go ta H’old Suddermell? Soun’s ferry nice!”

The outlaw tickled the little one’s footpaw. “Aye, darlin’, I’m sure Mister Zillo will take us there.”

The old bard chuckled. “Sure I’ll take ye there, right enough. Wait’ll ye see it! Then ye’ll wonder how anybeast doubted me.”

The outlaw nodded. “I don’t doubt ye, Zillo. Tell me, though, how did ye manage to escape from the cave without Felis harmin’ or capturin’ anybeast?”

Ould Zillo shrugged. “ ’Twas all Deedero’s doin’. Ye recall how ye left me’n’her in charge afore ye went off? Huh, I didn’t have much say in the runnin’ o’ things at all. That big ottermum just took over. Aye, an’ ’tis just as well she did, mate. Let nobeast ever tell me that Deedero Galedeep ain’t got a head on her shoulders!”

Kolun tapped Zillo on the shoulder from behind. “Go on, tell us how my missus did it.”

The bard had to smile as he recalled the deeds of Deedero. “Sure, ’twas worth writin’ a ballad about. First thing she did was to get yore boat pulled up alongside the cave. Then she fed all the little ’uns an’ bedded ’em down in it so they were out o’ harm’s way. Then she split us into two groups. I was in charge of the gang who went out collectin’ seaweed an’ water-logged driftwood. We had to stack it all by the main cookin’ fire. Next thing she had us doin’ was pourin’ all o’ Birl Gully’s punch into the seafood stew, that an’ a jar o’ veggible oil an’ any other leftovers we could find. I tell ye, Kolun, that missus o’ yores should’ve been a warlord!”

Leatho pressed the bard. “Go on, wot did she do then?”

Zillo took up the tale again. “Lissen t’this. Deedero takes her gang out by the land entrance o’ the cave. They strip all the branches from two blackthorns, the ones with the big sharp spikes. So she lays ’em out, where any foebeast would tread on ’em in the dark. Then she posts some o’ the wives close t’the cave an’ tells ’em to report to her any sudden yowls or miaows.”

Leatho interrupted. “But supposin’ it would’ve been us comin’ back to the cave ahead of Felis. What then?”

Birl Gully roared out laughing. “Harrharrharr! That would’ve been yore bad luck, mate. But as it ’appens, things turned out right. ’Twas the wildcat an’ his guards who came chargin’ along that way. Harrharrharr!”

Zillo continued. “Must’ve been close to midnight when our sentries ’eard the yowls an’ catcalls. They hurried back, an’ Deedero sent everybeast off into the sea, pushin’ the boat away up the coast. The little ’uns thought it was no end o’ fun. Now there was only me’n’Deedero left there. She orders me to heap the seaweed an’ dampwood on the fire. Right away there’s smoke billowin’ everywhere. I saw Deedero take a long pole an’ push the big cauldron over, topplin’ it all over the floor. It smelled pretty strong, I can tell ye. Well, that was it. Me’n’Deedero got out o’ there an’ went swimmin’ after the others . . . leavin’ Riggu Felis an’ his catguards t’clean up after us, o’ course!”

Leatho thumped his rudder down in admiration. “Blood’n’thunder, I think we’ll have to call yore missus General Deedero from now on, Kolun!”

The big otter tucked his oar under one arm, puffing out his chest proudly. “Aye, an’ to think she chose me as her husband. Yowch!”

Deedero had caught up with them and stepped on Kolun’s rudder. “Quick march there, dumblepaws, step out lively. An’ you two, Zillo an’ Shellhound, stop skylarkin’ about an’ move yourselves. If’n we don’t get these little ’uns someplace safe by dark, with good hot vittles in ’em an’ a pillow to lay down their heads on, it ain’t no wildcat ye’ll have to worry about. It’ll be me. Understood?”

They stepped out smartly, saluting all the way.

“Aye, marm, very good marm!”

“We’re kickin’ up a bit o’ dust now, marm!”