Dima Nero had sensed that his army was going to lose, so he made a bargain
with Lord Snowstripe. Dima Nero wanted to battle against Lord Snowstripe
one on one. Each animal could only choose one weapon to use. Though many
Redwallers and animals from Salamandastron warned the badger to say no,
Lord Snowstripe agreed to the match.
Lady Melanius went over to her brother and handed him her hardwood stick. "This stick will serve you well. You can decide whether or not to use it on Dima Nero. Also keep a close lookout for any tricks," she added. "Dima Nero is the master of trickery."
Snowstripe embraced his sister and promised to keep it safe. He chose the ancient battle sword of Lord Brocktree to bring with him. He was one of the few animals that could handle a sword as great as Lord Brocktree's. He told all of the animals on his side not to worry, especially Lynette, who was crying already.
Dima Nero chose a beautiful bone-handled scimitar that was once the powerful pirate Vilu Daskar's. Aradia gazed fearfully into Dima's eyes while the Firstblade growled, "Take one of my best archers to the top of my castle where nobeast can see them and kill the badger if the fight was going against me. Fail me and I'll make sure you die bit by bit."
Then silence fell upon the packed shore. Lord Snowstripe, clad in a simple blue tunic, went to the center of the arena and lifted the sword in front of his face in a formal salute, but salutes and formalities did not occur in Dima Nero's nature. Emerging with a beautiful copper chestplate and a magnificent spiked helmet, a screeching growl ripped from his throat and he charged. Metal struck metal as the badger met his rush, sending shockwaves through the paws of both beasts. Digging in their footpaws, they bent to the task of trying to push one another backward. Both were male animals in their prime, yet Snowstripe was younger and more agile, and Dima Nero was more tricky and experienced. Dima Nero allowed himself to be thrust back a pace, and then retaliated with a sharp kick to Snonwstripe's shin, sending him skidding across the sand. Then suddenly, Lord Snowstripe lashed out with his gigantic sword and ripped through Dima Nero's copper chestplate. Dima Nero let go of his sword and danced backward. The badger quickly scrambled up, but Nero flung a pawful of sand into his eyes. Snowstripe kicked upwards, catching Dima Nero with a sickening thud on the nose. Nero fell backwards. Snowstripe quickly pawed the sand from his eyes, and from flat on his back, Dima Nero beheld his foe, sword upraised.
"Time for the stripedog to die," Aradia snickered from above. "Let it fly!"
The archer expertly aimed at the Badger Lord's skull, but Lord Snowstripe straightened up so quickly so that the arrow thwacked through his left shoulder, right down to the bone. Fitting another arrow to his bow, the archer pressed the bow to his cheek, concentrating hard. "Dun' worry, I got him this time, ma'am!" The evil rat grinned.
Before he could let it fly, Lady Melanius had already grabbed a javelin out of Callista's hands, and flung it with all her strength, straight towards the rat archer. At the same time, losing control of herself, Lynette flung her spear as hard as her little muscles would allow towards Dima Nero and wailed, "You hurt my papa!"
Both spear and javelin made their mark. Without intending to, the javelin actually cut the bowstring. The archer turned around to show Aradia the bowstring, with the javelin growing out on both sides of his neck, and fell dead on top of her. With a moan of horror, Aradia heaved the body off of her and ran away.
The spear that little Lynette had cast made perfect aim. Though the force of it was not very strong, the spear struck directly into Dima Nero's chest. The scene in his haunting dreams had become true flesh and blood. Letting out a cry that nobeast would forget, Lord Snowstripe pulled the shaft out of his shoulder without a flinch and flung it into Dima Nero's face. The Badger Lord hauled the great sea rat upright until they were touching face to face. Filled with the Bloodwrath, Lord Snowstripe growled, "Now I see your face, Dima Nero! Look upon me!"
The Greatrat looked fearfully into his tormentor's eyes, and one word escaped his mouth before he bled to death from his spear wound, echoing around the silent, crowded shore.
"Mercy!"
Dima Nero crumpled to the ground, in front of Lord Snowstripe's feet.
The Rapscallion captains, not knowing what to do now that their leader was dead, screamed and ran for their lives with the ordinary soldiers. Every evil beast was heading toward the boats ashore. Lady Melanius was the first to react. "Charge!" she screamed.
Like a rumble of thunder, all the animals charged. "Redwaliaaaaaaaaaa!" was the combined cry of Redwallers and Salamandastron animals. It was the last sound that the defeated Rapscallion vermin heard before they met their death. Lady Melanius made sure none escaped, and Lord Snowstripe and his warriors headed back home, satisfied with their great accomplishment and ready for another Salamandastron feast.
Lady Melanius went over to her brother and handed him her hardwood stick. "This stick will serve you well. You can decide whether or not to use it on Dima Nero. Also keep a close lookout for any tricks," she added. "Dima Nero is the master of trickery."
Snowstripe embraced his sister and promised to keep it safe. He chose the ancient battle sword of Lord Brocktree to bring with him. He was one of the few animals that could handle a sword as great as Lord Brocktree's. He told all of the animals on his side not to worry, especially Lynette, who was crying already.
Dima Nero chose a beautiful bone-handled scimitar that was once the powerful pirate Vilu Daskar's. Aradia gazed fearfully into Dima's eyes while the Firstblade growled, "Take one of my best archers to the top of my castle where nobeast can see them and kill the badger if the fight was going against me. Fail me and I'll make sure you die bit by bit."
Then silence fell upon the packed shore. Lord Snowstripe, clad in a simple blue tunic, went to the center of the arena and lifted the sword in front of his face in a formal salute, but salutes and formalities did not occur in Dima Nero's nature. Emerging with a beautiful copper chestplate and a magnificent spiked helmet, a screeching growl ripped from his throat and he charged. Metal struck metal as the badger met his rush, sending shockwaves through the paws of both beasts. Digging in their footpaws, they bent to the task of trying to push one another backward. Both were male animals in their prime, yet Snowstripe was younger and more agile, and Dima Nero was more tricky and experienced. Dima Nero allowed himself to be thrust back a pace, and then retaliated with a sharp kick to Snonwstripe's shin, sending him skidding across the sand. Then suddenly, Lord Snowstripe lashed out with his gigantic sword and ripped through Dima Nero's copper chestplate. Dima Nero let go of his sword and danced backward. The badger quickly scrambled up, but Nero flung a pawful of sand into his eyes. Snowstripe kicked upwards, catching Dima Nero with a sickening thud on the nose. Nero fell backwards. Snowstripe quickly pawed the sand from his eyes, and from flat on his back, Dima Nero beheld his foe, sword upraised.
"Time for the stripedog to die," Aradia snickered from above. "Let it fly!"
The archer expertly aimed at the Badger Lord's skull, but Lord Snowstripe straightened up so quickly so that the arrow thwacked through his left shoulder, right down to the bone. Fitting another arrow to his bow, the archer pressed the bow to his cheek, concentrating hard. "Dun' worry, I got him this time, ma'am!" The evil rat grinned.
Before he could let it fly, Lady Melanius had already grabbed a javelin out of Callista's hands, and flung it with all her strength, straight towards the rat archer. At the same time, losing control of herself, Lynette flung her spear as hard as her little muscles would allow towards Dima Nero and wailed, "You hurt my papa!"
Both spear and javelin made their mark. Without intending to, the javelin actually cut the bowstring. The archer turned around to show Aradia the bowstring, with the javelin growing out on both sides of his neck, and fell dead on top of her. With a moan of horror, Aradia heaved the body off of her and ran away.
The spear that little Lynette had cast made perfect aim. Though the force of it was not very strong, the spear struck directly into Dima Nero's chest. The scene in his haunting dreams had become true flesh and blood. Letting out a cry that nobeast would forget, Lord Snowstripe pulled the shaft out of his shoulder without a flinch and flung it into Dima Nero's face. The Badger Lord hauled the great sea rat upright until they were touching face to face. Filled with the Bloodwrath, Lord Snowstripe growled, "Now I see your face, Dima Nero! Look upon me!"
The Greatrat looked fearfully into his tormentor's eyes, and one word escaped his mouth before he bled to death from his spear wound, echoing around the silent, crowded shore.
"Mercy!"
Dima Nero crumpled to the ground, in front of Lord Snowstripe's feet.
The Rapscallion captains, not knowing what to do now that their leader was dead, screamed and ran for their lives with the ordinary soldiers. Every evil beast was heading toward the boats ashore. Lady Melanius was the first to react. "Charge!" she screamed.
Like a rumble of thunder, all the animals charged. "Redwaliaaaaaaaaaa!" was the combined cry of Redwallers and Salamandastron animals. It was the last sound that the defeated Rapscallion vermin heard before they met their death. Lady Melanius made sure none escaped, and Lord Snowstripe and his warriors headed back home, satisfied with their great accomplishment and ready for another Salamandastron feast.