Mossflower

The scene now shifts to Brockhall, the ancestral home of the badgers. It is a giant burrow constructed beneath the roots of an ancient oak tree. On this particular evening, a feast is being held in honor of the new arrivals from Loamhedge. Gonff is on hand to introduce Martin to the assembled guests. The Abbess makes a speech, thanking the woodlanders for allowing the Loamhedge Sisters and Brothers to live among them. She offers the healing arts of her order to all in need.

During the sumptuous meal, someone suggests hiring a spy to keep an eye on Tsarmina’s court so that the woodlanders won’t be caught by surprise. Gonff suggests a robin named Chibb. He’s pompous but will work if paid to do so. Ben Stickle speculates that supplies will soon be running low at Kotir: “The cat and her soldiers can march about all season, but there’s no one left to order about and they ain’t no farmers, that’s sure. They’ll starve without others to do their labor” (96).

On the battlements of Kotir the next day, Tsarmina is reviewing her troops. She points out that they are a useless lot and have gotten out of shape. She gives orders to split the army into quarters. The soldiers are to hunt out any woodlanders and bring them back to Kotir as enslaved laborers. Their children will be held hostage to make sure they obey.

Later that day, a delegation of woodlanders calls on Chibb. They are carrying sacks of candied chestnuts, the bird’s favorite treat. He says he will only negotiate with a young Loamhedge mouse named Columbine, to whom Gonff has taken a fancy. After some haggling, Chibb agrees to spy on Kotir for the woodlanders. He demands extra payment for the risk of flying near Argulor, and Columbine offers to double his fee.

Back at Brockhall, all the woodlanders are now sheltering in the immense enclosure for safety. That evening, they enjoy a feast. None of the adults notices that two of the young Stickle hedgehogs named Ferdy and Coggs have decided to sneak off. They are intent on proving their valor by invading Kotir.

That same night, two patrols, led by Fortunata and Ashleg, are out searching for woodlanders. They are afraid to return to Kotir empty-handed. Unfortunately, the two groups collide and begin attacking each other in the darkness before they realize their mistake. They decide to camp and wait for daylight. At dawn, Chibb is circling Kotir when he notices a drainpipe and goes exploring. He follows it down to Gingivere’s cell and promises to return to visit the prisoner regularly with information.

Back at Brockhall, Bella gets up early, and Martin joins her for a stroll before breakfast. The badger confides her worries about defending Mossflower. Her father, Boar the Fighter, should have remained home and could have prevented the encroachments of the wildcats. Instead, he went on a quest like all the male badger leaders before him and was never seen again. Bella’s own mate Barkstripe was killed fighting the invaders from Kotir, and her son, Sunflash, also disappeared in battle. Their talk is interrupted when Goody Stickle comes looking for the two young hedgehogs who have disappeared. A search party is formed, but they’re too late because Ferdy and Coggs get captured.

Bella immediately plans a rescue, and Abbess Germaine volunteers to manage the operation. At this point, Bella draws Martin aside to discuss another special mission. She wants him to go to the land of dragons known as Salamandastron, where her father went questing. She hopes that Martin can bring him back to lead the woodlander army. The only problem is that no one knows where the land of dragons is located. Gonff overhears the conversation and suggests that a map must be hidden somewhere. He also says that he’s going along with Martin on the expedition.

Back at Kotir, Tsarmina questions the captured hedgehogs about their families and where they are hiding, but the youngsters refuse to answer. In anger, she sends them down to the dungeon, where they are placed in separate cells on either side of Gingivere. He thinks, “Whoever the prisoners were, he knew that Chibb the robin would be interested next time he visited Kotir” (130).

At Brockhall, Bella, Martin, and Gonff ransack the study looking for a map that will lead to Salamandastron. After following a series of clues and riddles, they discover the map concealed on the underside of a kitchen table. Bella says, “Haha, this is ancient badger script. Right, back to my study. I’ll have to translate it. Thank you, my friends. This is the route to Salamandastron. Once we’ve solved it, you are on your way!” (139).