Chapter 10.
The nine weasels trudged through Mossflower, heading as far away from the Abbey as possible. They kept their footpaws moving automatically, trying not to brood on their situation. Scirf started to sing the old Mountain Hiker Song.
Back at Castle Rayn, Tagg and Nimbalo were also looking for food. The castle was in uproar, so nobeast had noticed them sneak into the kitchens. They heard various snippets of panicked gossip around them."We'll all be murdered!" shrieked a scrawny weasel jill."No, don't panic, stay calm," a jack told her. "Those no-good rodents are no match for our soldiers."Another jack laughed and made a comment Tagg couldn't hear. Whatever he'd said, it triggered a huge argument. None of the weasels even looked towards the otter and mouse."Go easy on the food, Nim," Tagg warned him quietly. "It'll probably have to be rationed within a day or two."Tagg tried not to look at the whole dead mice and voles, obviously for eating, hanging by their footpaws from the rafters. He hoped Nimbalo wouldn't see them, although since Nimbalo was currently investigating a pot of vegetable stew the chances of him noticing anything else were very slim.Tagg picked up a lump of something dark brown and sticky from a plate and chewed it. Not bad. It tasted meaty - some sort of fish?"What are these?" he asked a passing kitchen-weasel."Roast slugs, sir."Tagg managed to spit it out without anyone seeing."Stick to the veggibles, Tagg old mate," Nimbalo advised him, helping himself to some stew. "Or at least ask wot summat is before stuffin' it in yer mouth!""You don't have to tell me," Tagg groaned, wiping his mouth on his forelimb.At this point, Nimbalo had the misfortune to notice a fly next to his ear. He waved his paws at it, chasing it away, and it flew upwards. Naturally, his eyes followed it."Go on, gerrout o' it. . . what the. . .?"Tagg groaned as Nimbalo stared at the dead mice and voles. The mouse started to tremble and produced a shrill whining noise. Several of the kitchen-weasels left off what they were doing and stared at him."Is your friend hurt, sir?" asked a timid-looking jill."I don't think so. . ." said Tagg worriedly.Nimbalo felt dizzy and sick. He heard voices around him, but could not make out any words; it was as if he was listening underwater. He clutched his head and turned round slowly. The faces of the animals surrounding him were blurred, but he could still tell that they were. . .WEASELS! He was surrounded by weasels! PREDATORS!He tried to scream, but all that came out was a squeak. He skittered around on all fours, looking desperately for an escape route."Nimbalo! Stop that, you're scaring me!" Tagg shouted, trying to keep the panic out of his voice. Nimbalo spun round - and saw the escape route he needed.Ducking between Tagg's hind legs, the mouse fled.
