‘You mean the Lord of Light’s birthday?’ Spital shrugged and licked the mango juice from his paws. ‘S’pose so. I likes all them lights in the sky.’
Once a year, in the depths of winter, the sky erupted in a magical blaze of colour and light. It always happened on the night of the Lord of Light’s birthday and reminded the mice that their god still lived and was watching over them. But Tamina had not been thinking of the midnight lights.
‘I mean presents. What do you want this year?’ Tamina’s father had promised her a sail-boat. The previous year, he had given her a necklace of coral and pearl, the year before that a diamond pendant, and the year before that –
Spital looked blank. ‘Dunno. Got an apple last year.’
‘I got an orange,’ said another mouse.
‘I didn’t get nuffink,’ whispered a third. His name was Chowdmouse, and he was the smallest orphan there.
The cardinal murmured in Tamina’s ear: ‘These children are poor, my dear, and have no parents to care for them. Each year, I try to find money for presents. But it is not easy, for there are so many orphans, more than are with us tonight.’
For the rest of the meal, Tamina was unusually quiet. When it was time for her to return to the ship, Mother Bibo brought her cloak. ‘I’ve brushed and sponged it, dear, but I’m afraid it still smells of burning from when you were rescuing the cardinal and that scamp, Cranberry.’
Tamina flung the cloak round her shoulders and thanked the old cook with a dazzling smile and a kiss. As Matthias opened the door for her, she took out her purse and gave it to him. ‘Please take this. Use it to buy presents for the children.’
Tamina had plenty of pocket money. The purse was bulging with gold. But before Matthias could say a word, Tamina had gone.
The cardinal lived in that part of Aramon called Mankinoles. Many poor mice lived there, as well as artists, poets and university scholars. Even at this late hour, the streets were crowded, and filled with delicious smells from the cheap taverns and cook-shops. In the small square, where Casey and the other beavers were eating their picnic supper, coloured lanterns twinkled in the trees. As Tamina strolled through the cheerful crowds, several mice nudged one another and pointed her out as the tamarin princess who had rescued their cardinal. Normally, this would have filled her with pride. But tonight she was feeling something she had never felt before: the pleasure of having done something for others less fortunate than herself.
As midnight approached, Gweir toiled to the summit of the hill overlooking the city. For a while, he rested, preparing himself. Then, raising his staff above his head, he invoked the dreadful power of Viperius, the Snake-god. The stoats believed that he dwelt in a cave far beneath Ravanola’s palace in Kalamaris: the House of the Snake.
‘Mighty Snake-god, send the lightning!
From the sky let torrents fall!
Let the storm clouds burst asunder,
Let the sky be rent with thunder!
Viperius, I call upon you,
Snake-god, mightiest of all!’
A cold wind blasted the hilltop. Rolling clouds smothered the stars. Suddenly, a dazzling flash of lightning lit up the city, a roar of thunder shook the ground and Gweir raised his hood as a thick curtain of rain sluiced down. Within seconds, every mouse in Aramon would be scuttling for shelter.
As it was peacetime, the city gates were never closed. Mice patrolled the walls, but they were running from the storm to the shelter of their guardhouses. Malatesta’s squad could enter the city in perfect safety. Wearily, for much power had flowed out of him, Gweir trudged down the hill, heading for Abbot’s Cove, where the stoat lord would soon be waiting.
When the storm struck, Tamina had left Mankinoles and entered a quieter part of the city, where shops and taverns were closed and the houses were in darkness. Pelting through the downpour, she sought shelter beneath the porch of a house. But rain was flooding through the thatch and she was quickly drenched. This is hopeless, she thought; I must find somewhere else. But the rain had turned the narrow lanes to rivers, the lightning was bouncing all around her and the houses trembled to the thunder’s roar. Every step was an effort and she had to make several stops in shop doorways. At last, the Great Cathedral reared above her. Shelter at last, she thought gratefully, as she splashed up the steps and pushed open the door.
Like tall trees in a dark forest, two long lines of pillars stretched to the far end of the cathedral where, at the top of a wide staircase, a solitary candle illuminated the High Altar. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, Tamina gazed in awe at the great arches, soaring to the invisible roof. Suddenly, her fur began to tingle, a strange, alien smell hit her and all her instincts cried out ‘Danger!’
She crept to one of the side aisles and peeped from behind a pillar. Not a shadow moved. But Tamina was certain that enemies were somewhere about. Her cloak was heavy with rainwater; it would hinder her if she had to run – or fight. She slipped it off and laid it on the floor. Then, she inched forward until she reached the next pillar. Now she could see, beneath the candle, a high glass dome. Beneath it, on a velvet cushion, lay the softly glowing Ruby of Power.
Though she had never seen it before, Tamina had heard of this, the greatest treasure of Carminel. She moved to the next pillar, pausing for a moment in its shadow. She peered round it, and stifled a gasp. At the foot of the wide staircase, tall iron railings kept all but the priests away from the altar. But the gate in the railings stood open and a shadowy figure was gliding up the steps.
Despite its heavy cloak, Tamina recognised it as a stoat. She had seen them during her life on the islands and had learned to fear them. Slowly, the figure lifted the glass dome and set it to one side. At once, an angry light gleamed from the ruby; but in one rapid movement the stoat tilted the cushion, tipping the ruby into a small sack.
Tamina held her breath. More stoats had emerged from the opposite aisle and were waiting at the iron gate. Tamina crouched on all fours and crept to the next pillar.
Malatesta hid the sack among the folds of his cloak. He could feel the presence of the mouse-god, the Lord of Light, in this house of shadows; now that he had the ruby, he could hardly wait to get outside. He called softly: ‘Piebald! Scratchfur! We’re leaving!’ From the far side of the nave, two other stoats appeared. Tamina froze. She gave a cautious sniff. But there was no trace of an enemy on her side of the nave.
A sudden flash of lightning lit up the cathedral. Malatesta’s white cloak glimmered like a ghost. The raiders had reached the end of the nave and were almost at the door when Scratchfur said: ‘Wait a bit! I smell something funny!’
‘So what?’ snapped Malatesta. ‘Let’s get out of here.’
‘No, wait. It’s a sort of burnt smell. Coming from over there.’
He hurried across to the side aisle and searched among the shadows. Malatesta stood fuming by the door. ‘Whatever it is, leave it!’
‘Found it! Only an old cloak. Soaking wet. Don’t half pong.’
Malatesta’s paw was on the latch. ‘All right, let’s go... What did you say?’
‘I said it pongs.’
Malatesta strode over to where Scratchfur was holding the cloak. ‘Soaking wet,’ he murmured. ‘Someone has just come in. The cloak smells of burning, but I can smell something else . . . tamarin!’
Tamina did not wait for them to catch her. Leaping to her feet, she sprinted along a row of chairs to the centre aisle and fled towards the altar, hearing the stoats pounding after her. There must be another way out, she thought – and there it was, a little, low door, over to her right. She ran towards it, but Scratchfur was pounding up the side aisle and he flung himself in front of the door. Tamina took a flying leap and her booted feet caught Scratchfur straight in the stomach. As he collapsed with a grunt of agony, Tamina recovered her balance, jumped over him and twisted the door handle. But the door was locked and Tamina spun round, snarling, as the stoats closed in.
9. Caladon Defiant
Earl
y next morning, Roamer clambered down into the Avenger’s hold, following the sound of hammering and the powerful stench of tar. ‘How’s it going, Rio?’
‘I nearly finish, Capitano.’ The carpenter paused from his hammering and mopped his brow. ‘A nail here, a nail there, a coat of tar and the Avenger, she ready for anything!’
‘Good. Let me know when you’ve finished. Have you seen the princess this morning?’
Rio grinned. ‘That crazy tamarin? No. I reckon she got up early, went to the ‘King’s Head’ to see to the wounded. Then I guess she go shoppin’ – she got plenty gold!’
As Roamer emerged on deck, Cranberry, Spital and Chowdmouse came pelting, wild-eyed, up the gangplank. ‘Captain Roamer!’ yelled Cranberry. ‘Message from the cardinal! He’s found Princess Tamina’s cloak in the Great Cathedral and she ain’t nowhere to be seen. He says will you come at once!’
Shouting for Lukas to follow him, Roamer ran down the gangplank and set off up Vittles Lane. After the storm, the sky was blue and sunlight sparkled on the puddles. The lane was already crowded with early shoppers and loud with the merchants’ cries of ‘What do ye lack? Come buy, come buy! Fresh oranges, juicy red apples, dates and figs for the Lord of Light’s birthday!’
But Roamer ignored the cheerful scene. After yesterday’s raid, he was convinced that Malatesta had been up to something; now he feared that the stoats had indeed come ashore and that Tamina had found them.
Matthias was waiting for them in the cathedral. He was holding Tamina’s cloak. ‘She must have sought shelter from the storm,’ said the Cardinal. ‘But I fear something has happened to her. Come with me.’
Roamer and Lukas followed him down the side aisle. ‘This door is kept locked,’ said Matthias. ‘But look… ’
Several chairs were upturned and the dust on the floor showed a mass of paw-marks. ‘Looks like there’s been a struggle,’ said Roamer. ‘Hello, what’s this?’ Delving under a chair, he picked up a brass button. It was engraved with a spider.
‘Ravanola’s sign! There were stoats in here last night, and they must have found Tamina. There was a struggle, and she – ’
‘Got caught,’ finished Lukas, scowling at the scuff-marks. ‘But what were the stoats doing here?’
‘There’s only one thing they’d have been after,’ said the cardinal; ‘the ruby. But it’s still here.’
The buccaneers looked towards the High Altar. Beneath its glass dome, the jewel was winking in the sunlight. ‘I must go,’ said Matthias. ‘I shall tell the Red Duke what has happened. Then, I must return to Mankinoles; the poor and the sick are waiting for me. Last night, Tamina gave me enough gold to buy a home for my orphans. I cannot bear to think of her in danger. You’ll find her, won’t you?’
‘If I have to sail to the ends of the earth,’ said Roamer grimly. ‘And when I’ve found her, heaven help Malatesta!’
As the cardinal hurried away, Roamer said: ‘There’s nothing more to be done here. Let’s get back to the ship. As soon as Rio’s finished, we’ll set sail and find Tamina!’
The buccaneers were almost at the door when Cranberry came pelting down the aisle. ‘Captain, wait! Spital’s found something.’
Spital was crouching by the iron gates leading to the High Altar. ‘Someone’s tried to pick this ’ere lock.’
Roamer and Lukas bent to examine the scratches surrounding the keyhole. ‘But they failed,’ said Lukas. ‘The ruby’s still there.’
‘I wonder,’ said Roamer thoughtfully. ‘Lukas, do you think you could open this gate?’
‘Easy!’ Lukas placed the point of his dagger inside the huge lock. He moved it up and down, then left and right until they heard a loud click and the door swung open. Roamer led the way up the steps. Lifting the glass dome, he placed it to one side. For a long time, he stared at the ruby. Then, he reached out his paw and picked it up.
‘Captain Roamer! What do you think you’re doing?’ Duke Flambeau and Captain Balbi were running up the steps. Cranberry, Spital and Chowdmouse immediately dodged behind Lukas’s broad back. They were scared of the Red Duke.
‘I was just going to ask Lukas what he thought about the Great Ruby of Carminel.’
‘It’s very fine, Skipper,’ said Lukas with a grin. ‘But we’ve taken better ones from the sea-rats!’
‘Blasphemy!’ squealed Balbi, hopping up and down, his eyes bulging. ‘You ignorant clodhopper! Why, that ruby – ’
‘Is not the Ruby of Power,’ snapped Roamer. ‘The real ruby has a tiny beating heart. This one doesn’t. What’s more, the ruby exists to protect the Royal House, and always glows when a member of it is near. You, Duke Flambeau, are the king’s uncle. But this ruby isn’t glowing.’
‘You mean – it’s a fake?’ gasped Balbi.
‘No, it’s real. But it’s not the Ruby of Power. Malatesta’s taken that, so that when Ravanola invades, we shan’t have its protection.’
‘Clever of him,’ murmured Flambeau. ‘No one ever comes this close to the ruby, except the priests and they’d only see what they were expecting to see. Captain Roamer, you must set sail at once! Rescue the ruby!’
‘And our princess,’ whispered Chowdmouse.
The news that Malatesta had taken Tamina ran like a shockwave through the Avenger. When the news reached the ‘King’s Head’, the wounded buccaneers hobbled back to the ship, furious that their princess had been captured and desperate to sail to the rescue. By midday, Rio had completed his repairs, and the rest of the crew, sent out by Roamer to scour the markets for food, water and beer, returned with enough provisions to last a year. By the time the ammunition lockers had been replenished with new cannon-balls and the powder magazine re-stocked with fresh barrels of gunpowder, the sun was sinking, the sea-mice were ready and the Avenger was tugging at her anchor on the ebbing tide, as if impatient to set sail.
Suddenly, Roamer remembered something. ‘Caladon’s present! I must take it, Lukas. I promised him. I shan’t be long.’
At the Great Fortress, the Red Duke was in his study, working on an important-looking document. As Roamer entered, Flambeau looked up in surprise and let his sleeve fall, as if by accident, over the paper. ‘Why haven’t you sailed?’ he demanded angrily.
‘I forgot this.’ From under his cloak, Roamer took out a beautiful model of the Avenger, complete with sails and rigging. He had made it himself. ‘It’s for Caladon.’
‘Oh, very well,’ said Flambeau, impatiently. ‘I’ll take it to him. Now go!’
Outside the door, Roamer paused. He was wondering why Flambeau had been so careful not to let him see that document. The duke had looked furtive, almost guilty... Following those instincts that rarely let him down, Roamer slipped behind one of the fine tapestries that lined the Great Hall and waited. At last, Flambeau came out. Roamer counted to ten, and followed.
He padded silently behind the duke along dimly-lit passages and up spiral staircases cloaked in shadow. At last, Flambeau reached a long, tapestry-hung corridor. He entered a room, shutting the door behind him. Roamer crept to the door and listened.
‘I won’t sign,’ said Caladon. He was trying to sound brave, but his voice was shaking.
‘Oh, but you will.’ Flambeau’s silky voice was full of menace. But Caladon plucked up his courage.
‘I can’t! If I do, you take all my power as king!’
‘Foolish child! With the ruby missing, we face great danger. For the good of the country, I must take full royal power. Now sign!’
‘There’s no danger,’ said Caladon stubbornly. ‘Roamer will get the ruby back.’
The mention of Roamer reminded Flambeau. ‘The captain sends you this.’
‘Oh! It’s the Avenger! Roamer – or Lukas – must have made it! It’s beautiful!’
‘If you do not sign, I will smash it.’
After a long silence, Caladon said quietly: ‘Don’t smash it. I won’t sign. But please don’t smash the ship. Give it to some other child... No!’
Outside
the door, Roamer flinched at the crash and the splintering of wood as Flambeau hurled the ship to the floor and stamped on it.
‘That’s nothing to what I will do!’ roared the Duke. ‘You will be deprived of food and drink until you obey me. I shall spread the word that you are ill, and that no one is to go near you. I shall come back tomorrow morning. Around breakfast time. Except you won’t be having any. Then perhaps you’ll sign, you stubborn, defiant little fool!’
10. Escape
Footsteps approached the door. Roamer darted behind a tapestry and pressed himself against the wall, listening for the slam and the click as Flambeau turned the key. Peeping out, Roamer watched as the duke hurried down the corridor, his long shadow trailing behind.
Remembering how Lukas had picked the lock in the cathedral, Roamer gave Caladon’s door the same treatment. As he flung it open, Caladon’s joy at seeing him turned to excitement when Roamer said: ‘You’re coming with me. I won’t leave you here for that brute to torment.’
‘Am I sailing with you?’ He stared sorrowfully at the wreckage on the floor. ‘I wouldn’t sign his stupid paper, so he smashed the ship. I’m sorry.’
‘Don’t be. You did well. But I daren’t take you aboard the Avenger, it’s too dangerous, though I’ll make sure Flambeau thinks I have. I’ll take you to the cardinal’s house in Mankinoles. He’ll look after you, so on with your boots and your cloak, and we’ll be off. Is there another way out of here?’
Drawing aside one of the curtains that lined the walls, Caladon revealed a low door. ‘My private staircase! Only to be used in time of danger. That’s now, I reckon. It leads to the postern gate at the rear of the fortress.’
‘That’ll be guarded. But it can’t be helped. Let’s go.’
The dark, narrow staircase smelt musty with disuse. For a long time, they crept down, feeling their way over the uneven treads. At last, a glimmer of light appeared, the steps ended and a passage stretched to a low door.
The Ruby of Carminel Page 4
