High Rhulain

Leatho wriggled away from the gagging paw. “Fair enough. I’ll give up if’n ye promise not to smother me with that great mauler of yores.”

They had lain there a while when Banya returned. She dropped some button mushrooms, a pear and a few bilberries into Kolun’s lap.

“There! That should keep the life in ye a liddle longer.”

She slouched down between her two friends. Leaning close to Leatho’s ear, the tough ottermaid dropped her voice to a whisper. “Don’t make any sudden moves, Shellhound. I’ve just found out we’re bein’ followed!”

The outlaw did not stir, his lips scarcely moving as he enquired further. “Who is it, an’ where are they?”

Banya closed her eyes as if she were napping. “Cats, nine of ’em altogether. Don’t know where they came from. They’re not far behind us, but out of sight. I only spotted ’em by accident. I’ve got no idea how long they been trailin’ us. What’ll we do, mate?”

Kolun had been listening in. He twitched an eyebrow. “Nine, eh? That’s only three apiece. Give the word, Leatho, an’ we’ll rush the villains. Shouldn’t take long.”

The outlaw retained his relaxed position. “No, stay where ye are an’ let me think awhile. Take a nap.”

One of the cats came tip-pawing back to where Scorecat Fleng and the remainder of his crew crouched behind some rocks. The scout made his report.

“The ottermaid never saw us. She gathered some vittles an’ gave ’em to the big ’un. They’re takin’ a rest in the woodlands up ahead.”

Fleng peered over the rocks, but the otters were too far off for him to see. “Takin’ a rest, eh? They surely ain’t guessed that we’re on their tails. Good! Now I want ye to get forward to where ye can see ’em. Come back an’ tell me the moment they make a move. The rest of ye lay still back here ’til I gives the word. This should work out nicely.”

Banya began to think that Leatho had taken sufficient time to think. She whispered hoarsely, “Ahoy, Shellhound, are we goin’ to lie here all day?”

The outlaw stirred. He rose with a yawn, then murmured, “Time to go, mateys. I’ve got an idea we can use those cats to our advantage. Banya, keep yore eyes peeled on the trail behind. Let me know when you think we’re out of their sight.”

The three otters strolled off unhurriedly. Banya’s sharp eyes spotted the cat scout. She waited until he had run back to make his report, then winked at Leatho.

“Their spy has just shifted. We’re on our own, but it won’t be for long. They’ll soon be back on the track.”

Leatho went into a swift crouch. “Right, stay low an’ keep goin’, as fast as ye can. I want to get well ahead of ’em. Move yoreself, Kolun!”

The trio sped forward noiselessly.

Day was sinking into dusk as Weilmark Scaut leaned over the pier end. He watched a dozen coracles heading back in. Each one had an otterslave paddling and two guards as passengers. The cats carried a variety of nets, hooks, ropes and grapnels.

Riggu Felis joined his weilmark, the swinging mesh of chain mail on his helmet catching the last sunrays as he addressed Scaut. “Still no trace of her?”

Scaut coiled his long whip slowly. “Nay, Lord. They’ve dragged the lake from end to end without a single sign of Atunra.”

The warlord stamped his footpaw against the pier boards. “Under here, did you make certain they searched beneath this pier? Lots of things get caught twixt the stanchions.”

Scaut saluted with his whip as he replied dutifully, “That was the first place we searched, Sire!”

The chain mail veil rattled as the wildcat hissed angrily. He turned and saw his wife and son emerge from the fortress, with a retinue of catguards.

Pitru was clad in an armoured breastplate and greaves, overlaid with flowing red silk. Using his scimitar tip, he clipped blithely at the timber decking as he swaggered up to greet his father.

“A pleasant evening. Did you have any luck with your fishing? Those guards have been at it all day. They should have a fine haul between them!”

Riggu Felis looked the young cat up and down witheringly. “Still strutting around in borrowed finery I see, my wayward whelp, and not short of clever remarks, too. Take my word on it, sooner or later I’ll find my pine marten, and you’ll pay dearly for Atunra’s death!”

Pitru gave his mother a look of wide-eyed innocence. “I can’t imagine what he’s talking about. Poor Atunra, do you know what happened to her, lady?”

Kaltag stared in disgust at the warlord. “The pine marten was not of our blood, yet you search all day for her. Would your time not be better served trying to find and punish the murderer of my son Jeefra?”

Just as the wildcat was about to snarl a reply, a slingstone whirred out of the dusk. The missile clanged as it dented the warlord’s helmet. Temporarily stunned, Riggu Felis fell on all fours.

After a shocked silence, Scaut pointed at the shadowy figures of two otters retreating back into the shrubbery on the left shorebank.

The weilmark began shouting, “Call out the guards! Sound the alar . . . unhh!”