Inside Kotir, Skalrag made his way down to the cell areas with a dagger. Cludd was standing guard down there. "Right. Get your keys out," Skalrag said. "The queen wants a word with the traitor Gingivere."

"But Cap'n Skalrag, her majesty gave strict orders that he was never to be mentioned again, only fed and kept under lock and key. That's what she said."

"Well, she's the queen," Skalrag chuckled, patting the weasel's paw. "If she decides to change her mind, who are you and I to say different? Tell you what: you give me the keys. That way I'll take all the responsibility. You go and get your supper and have a game of shove acorn with your mates."

Cludd handed the keys over. "Thanks, Cap'n. Give me a call if you need help."

"I won't need help. I can take care of a crazy half-starved cat anytime, or my name ain't Skalrag."

Cludd pretended to leave, but he really slipped into an empty cell and commenced to spy on Skalrag.

Gingivere was ready with Ferdy and Coggs as the key grated in the lock.

"He's gone," Skalrag whispered, holding a paw to his muzzle. "Quickly, now. There's no time to lose. Gingivere, you walk in front of me, I'll have my dagger out as if I'm marching you to the queen's chamber. Ferdy, Coggs, get behind me, under my cloak, and keep as close to me as possible. Don't make a sound; your lives depend upon it."

They went up the stairs. Cludd followed a safe distance behind.

Skalrag led the prisoners out the castle door and across the courtyard. Quietly, he opened the gate and they all slipped out into Mossflower Woods.

Once the castle was out of sight, Skalrag said, "Okay, I think you're out of the danger zone now." Ferdy and Coggs stepped out from under his cloak.

But just then Cludd appeared from behind a tree. And he had a spear! "I knew you were a spy, Skalrag! I'll be taking my cloak back now."

Acting quickly, Skalrag knocked the spear out of Cludd's paw. "Gingivere, take the kids and run! I'll take care of this guy!"

Flexing his powerful limbs, he hurled himself like an uncoiling spring at the oncoming weasel. Disregarding weapons, the two creatures locked together on the ground, snarling and tearing at each other like savage beasts.

It was not too long before Cludd realized he was outmatched. He tried to pull free from the fox, but to no avail. His breath sobbed raggedly in his throat as he strained to reach his spear. Skalrag, aware of what Cludd was up to, squirmed over, rolling him in the opposite direction to the weapon. Suddenly Cludd grabbed a pawful of dirt and ground it into his opponent's eyes. Skalrag rolled off him, furiously trying to clear his vision. Seizing his chance, Cludd bounded up and snatched the spear.

Next thing Skalrag knew, he was pinned down. Cludd stood over him, spearpoint to his throat. "I'll send you to Hellgates!" he screeched.

Skalrag closed his eyes. This is it, he thought.

Suddenly Cludd slumped over on top of him. Skalrag opened his eyes again. There was an otter javelin sticking in the weasel's back!

Skipper rolled Cludd's body off Skalrag. "Ahoy, matey. You did us proud back there."

Skalrag sat up, spitting out dirt. "Thanks. You showed up just in time. Are Gingivere, Ferdy, and Coggs safe?"

"Aye, Amber and me met up with them and she's guiding them back to Brockhall. I decided to go on and see if you needed any help."

"Well, I'm glad you did."

Skipper pulled the fox to his feet. "Come on, matey."

"Come where?" asked Skalrag.

"To Brockhall with me."

"Nothin' doin," said Skalrag. "I'm hooked up with this Tsarmina person now, an' I guess I'll stick. She's given me more of a run for my money in the last twenty-four hours than I've had since I parted from my dear old friend Lord Badrang."

"You don't mean to say you're going back to Kotir!" cried Skipper.

"Why not? I can still be a spy for you guys, can't I?"

"But Tsarmina will kill you with her own paws when she learns what has happened here."

"Listen, I can fix it so she'll never know I had anything to do with it. You run along, an' I'll beat it back to Kotir. So long, Bo!"

Skalrag carried Cludd's body back to Kotir. Ashleg met him at the gate. "What happened?" the pine marten asked.

"Get Tsarmina for me, will you?" Skalrag responded.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A few minutes later, Skalrag was standing before Tsarmina and Fortunata in the throne room. Tsarmina wasn't happy about being woken up.

"What is the meaning of this, fox?" she demanded.

"Your majesty, your brother has escaped!"

"Escaped! How?"

Skalrag shrugged. "I don't know. You see it happens like this: Claude, or Clyde, or whatever his name was…"

"Cludd," Fortunata interjected.

"Yeah, that's it. Cludd and I were outside when we saw Gingivere running through the gate. We chased after him and got as far as the river, when up jumps a bunch of otters who commenced takin' pot shots at us with sling stones. Must've been half a dozen of 'em! They killed Cludd, but I croaked the whole bloomin' six o' them. I tell you it was some scrap while it lasted. Gingivere got away in the confusion. It's too bad about losing Cludd, but leave it to me, we'll get even with those Corim guys yet. Just lead me to 'em."

Tsarmina stared at him for a while. Finally she said, "You have done well, Captain Skalrag. You are a fox after my own heart."

A half hour later Skalrag walked slowly back up to his room, and to say that he was puzzled would scarce have described his mental state.

"I can't quite make that dame out," he mused. "Either she's a mighty good loser or else she's a deep one who'll wait a year to get me the way she wants to get me."

And Tsarmina a few moments later was saying to Fortunata:

"I should have killed him, but it is seldom I find one with the courage and effrontery he possesses. Why think of it, Fortunata! He kills one of my men, and lets my prisoners escape, and then dares to come back and tell me about it when he might easily have gotten away. We can still use him, Fortunata, but we must watch him. Can I trust you to keep an eye on him?"

Fortunata nodded. "Aye, milady. Two eyes!"