Skalrag walked right up to Kotir. Some soldiers were coming in the gates and he just slipped in among them.
He went up to the dining hall, the same one where Martin and Bugs had jumped out the window, and sat down at a table.
"How did you get in here?" said a voice. Skalrag turned around and saw Fortunata.
He shrugged. "A bunch of guys were coming through the gate. I just walked through with them. Nobeast stopped me; nobeast asked me any questions. Did I do something wrong?"
Fortunata shook her head. "Not if you could get away with it. Nothing is wrong that you can get away with. The crime is in getting caught. Tell me where you are from, if you don't mind."
"Why should I mind? I have nothing to conceal. I am from the Eastern Coasts."
She nodded. "I was sure you were from some far country," she said. "You haven't told me your name. Mine is Fortunata."
"I'm Skalrag," said Skalrag. "I used to be a Captain under Badrang the Tyrant until he died. Ever hear of him?"
Fortunata hadn't, but she didn't want to appear ignorant. "Of course," she lied.
"I understand this new queen of yours thinks she's pretty hot stuff. I'd like to join her army. Can you get me in?"
"I can't make any promises that she'll let you join, but I'll take you to her," Fortunata replied.
She brought him to the throne room. Tsarmina and Cludd were there.
"Who is this?" Tsarmina demanded when she saw Skalrag. "He is not of our horde!"
"No, milady," Fortunata said. "He is not even from Mossflower, but he wishes to serve you. His name is Skalrag."
"Where are your credentials?" Cludd barked at Skalrag.
"I have none," Skalrag replied. "I am a stranger from the Eastern Coasts, seeking military service here."
"What! No credentials? You are probably a dog of a spy from the Corim!" Cludd bellowed. "This is what you need!" he yelled, and struck at Skalrag.
Skalrag dodged the blow and punched Cludd in the face, so that the weasel sprawled backward on the floor fully ten feet from the fox. "Don't ever try to hit me again," he said.
Tsarmina showed her great fangs in an approving smile. "Well, at last a real warrior. Welcome to Kotir, Skalrag. I'm sure you'll do well here. Cludd, get up off the floor and give this fox your Captain's cloak to wear. From now on you'll take orders from him."
Sullenly Cludd undid his cloak, flinging it to Skalrag.
A stoat stumped in. "Er, your Maj of the green Queenest, er upper of all ruler and lower Moss. Er, er… The prisoners have gone!"
"Gone! What do you mean, gone?" The wildcat Queen left her seat in a single bound and picked the stoat up by his throat.
"Yuuurrkkgghhaaaarrr… 'Scaped."
Tsarmina threw the gurgling heap to the floor. Her voice echoed in the stairway as she dashed down to the cells.
"Escaped? Impossible! Guards, get down to the cells quickly."
The cells were searched.
The corridors were scoured.
The outer walls were surrounded.
The parade ground was gone over inch by inch.
The barracks were turned inside out.
But they couldn't find Ferdy and Coggs anywhere. The only place they didn't look was inside Gingivere's cell, which was of course where the two hedgehogs actually were. Skalrag participated in the search with the rest, and made a great show of looking into all the passages and chambers, but he knew he wouldn't find them.
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While all this was going on, Scratch the weasel, Blacktooth the ferret, and Splitnose the stoat were out patrolling the woodlands. Scratch caught a glimpse of Martin, Bugs, and Gonff moving through the trees.
"Hey, you," he said to Splitnose.
"Don't say hey," said Splitnose.
"I'll say whatever I want," said Scratch. He slapped Splitnose's face.
Splitnose raised his paw to slap Scratch's face. Scratch ducked, and Splitnose slapped Blacktooth instead.
"Hey! What did I do?" cried Blacktooth. He punched Splitnose in the stomach.
Splitnose doubled over. "OOOFFF."
"Say, cut out the comedy!" Scratch growled. "Look over there." He pointed at Martin and his friends.
Splitnose grinned stupidly. "Ain't those the creatures Tsarmina was looking for? We could march 'em back to Kotir, hee-hee."
"Yeah, could you imagine old Cludd's face when we walk in with three prisoners?" said Blacktooth. "The Queen'd prob'ly make us Generals. Oho, I'd give that Cludd a few dirty jobs to do. I'd make him jump!"
"Right. Come on," Scratch said. They started following them.
Bugs glanced surreptitiously over his shoulder and saw the three vermin in the distance. "Hey, don't look now, Doc, but we're bein' followed," he whispered.
"I wouldn't worry," said Gonff. "I know those three. They couldn't hunt their way out of a shallow hole."
Martin said, "Maybe not, but I think we should treat them as enemies. That way we won't be caught off guard." He put on a burst of speed. "Come on, you two. We can lose those vermin afore eventide."
The three friends ran in silence, measuring their stride and conserving energy. All that could be heard above the drumming of their paws was a descending lark and the chirrup of grasshoppers in the dry grassland warmth. The high sun above watched the scene like a great golden eye. The hunted jogged steadily on, with the hunters rushing behind to close the gap.