Mossflower

The following morning, Tsarmina and her troops track the woodlanders all the way to the river—the same spot where Stormfin killed the Gloomer. Tsarmina fears water and dislikes the spot. While there, her forces are ambushed by Skipper and a band of otters: “Bella appeared on the opposite bank. ‘Stay out of our woods, cat,’ she said, pointing a blunt claw at Tsarmina. ‘Take your vermin away from Mossflower and leave us alone, or you will be defeated someday’” (249).

At the same time, the travelers are bidding farewell to the bats. They continue their journey toward the coast through a thick mist. By the time they reach the bottomland, the mist doesn’t diminish, and they are attacked by six large toads who take them hostage. The travelers are led to the toads’ leader, Marshgreen, who informs them they will be thrown into an abandoned well called the Screamhole as a sacrifice to the creature who dwells at the bottom. After being pitched in, they land with a muddy splash.

Down in the well, they are overjoyed to discover Gonff. He is standing in a hole in the pit wall and clinging to a vine. He offers to help his companions to climb up. Then, he informs them that a giant eel is imprisoned at the bottom of the well. It was trapped by Marshgreen, and it hates the toads. Martin speaks to the eel, whose name is Snakefish. He will help the eel escape it if he promises not to eat the travelers. Snakefish agrees and says he is far more interested in revenge against the toads.

Martin persuades Dinny to dig a hole in the side of the well as an escape route. It takes some time, but eventually, the four travelers are able to lift themselves to safety with the assistance of Snakefish. The eel also escapes and wreaks havoc on the toads. Martin captures Marshgreen and forces him to guide the group out of the mists and toward Salamandastron.

Back at Kotir, Abbess Germaine and Foremole, leader of the moles, inspect the vacant castle while all of Tsarmina’s forces are out in the woodlands. Columbine and Old Dinny have accompanied them. They explore the entire fortress, finding nothing until Old Dinny discovers an escape tunnel hidden in the lake beneath the dungeon. It leads to a hollow log that is far outside the castle.

That night, after Tsarmina returns with her troops, she is troubled by nightmares about her brother. When she awakens, she notices mouse and mole prints in the dust on the floor. Now completely delusional, she is convinced that Gingivere is still hiding somewhere in the castle. Ashleg is so disturbed by the queen’s behavior that he flees into the woods, never to return.

At Brockhall that evening, the Corim assemble to discuss the hidden escape route from Kotir. Columbine explains that a lake once existed there but has since dried up. Because the castle is located in a depression below the woods, it might be possible to redirect the nearby Moss River and flood the fortress. Foremole will plan the tunneling into the castle while Skipper’s crew will build sluicegates to hold back the river until the tunnel work is done. Abbess Germaine approves of the plan because it prevents an open war, saying, “This will avoid unnecessary bloodshed on both sides, for friend and foe alike. A death is always a death. Bloodshed is an awful thing” (271).

Meanwhile, the four travelers have been guided to the coast by Marshgreen, who then departs. The group must slog through deep sand along the shore without food or water. They must also fend off hungry gulls. Seeking shelter under a rock overcrop, they next encounter a giant crab and must battle for their lives. After escaping the crab, the group continues along the shoreline until they encounter a dead sea rat being attacked by gulls. The band realizes that the rat owns a nearby cottage. When they enter it, they find food, water, and shelter for the night.

Back in Mossflower Woods, the inhabitants are busy with their tunnel project. Tsarmina is also busy stalking her brother in the forest. Her delusion continues until she shoots one of her own men with an arrow. Convinced that she had killed Gingivere, she returns to Kotir, where her troops are worried about her mental health. In reality, Gingivere has taken his leave of the woodlanders, intending to get as far away from his sister and Mossflower as possible.

The next morning, the travelers take all the supplies they can carry for their final trek to the mountain in Salamandastron. That night they make camp, only to be disturbed by a party of three hares named Trubbs, Wother, and Ffring. The rabbits speak in turn, completing each other’s sentences. They said they were sent to bring the visitors to the heart of the mountain through “five flights of stairs hewn into the rock, one more cave and another steep corridor led them to their destination. The very heart of Salamandastron!” (295).

Back at Kotir, a new warlord arrives. He is a fox named Bane, and he leads a pack of 60 mercenaries. He intends to set up for himself in the fortress until he meets Tsarmina. She offers to let him rule at her side if he helps her conquer Mossflower Woods. They accept each other’s terms, although both are lying and want sole control of the region. Unaware of this new threat, the woodlanders continue their excavation project.