The Urchin of the Riding Stars (21 page)

Urchin woke up early in the morning, wriggled out of his nest, and looked into Padra’s chamber just in time to see the captain flop onto his bed and fall asleep. He spread a warm cloak over him and slipped away to draw a bowl of spring water and patter up the stairs to the Throne Room, but Captain Granite guarded the door.

“Spring water for the king, sir,” said Urchin.

“Leave it with me,” ordered Granite, but the king’s voice rose past him.

“It’s Urchin! Let him in! Urchin, are the spring flowers out in Anemone Wood yet? Fetch some more water for Captain Husk!”

Urchin glanced past Granite long enough to see the king looking bleary-eyed, with Husk in front of him. Husk turned sharply.

“Oh, please do!” said Husk, taking the bowl, and Urchin scampered back to the spring. He was back as quickly as he could, with more water, but the door was shut and Granite glared down at him.

“Take that away,” growled Granite. “It’s not wanted.”

There was no point in arguing. Urchin scurried away down the corridor, found a window where he could empty the bowl, and remembered just in time to look down.

“Oops,” he said. He’d nearly drenched Brother Fir, Needle, and a young squirrel with spring flowers in her paws. Brother Fir looked up.

“Come and join us!” called Fir. “It’s a lovely morning! Spring’s here at last!”

Urchin had recognized the other squirrel. It was Crackle from Anemone Wood, who had wanted to work in the tower.

“Hm!” said Fir as Urchin joined them. “Is that water for us? Jolly good. Needle and I have just taken a long walk and had a most interesting talk about Threadings. And we met our little friend here in the wood.”

“Urchin, you look all grown up,” said Crackle shyly. “All groomed and everything, and you walk differently.”

“Do I?” he said.

“You’re becoming a true tower squirrel,” said Fir. “This delightful young squirrel has brought flowers from the wood for the king.”

“Oh!” said Urchin. “He was just asking me about those. He wanted to know if they were out yet.”

Crackle gasped. “He asked
you?
You’ve seen him?”

“Then,” said Fir, “if the king is asking about the spring flowers, we must take them to him before they wilt. If I go with you, my dear, you’ll be allowed in.” And he limped up the stair with Crackle clutching her flowers beside him.

“What’s Crackle up to?” asked Urchin.

“She’s not up to anything,” said Needle snappily. “I met Brother Fir this morning in a corridor—he was looking at some Threadings, and I wanted to talk to him because I was worried. Husk wants the new Threadings ready for the Spring Festival; and we’re all working so hard to finish them, we’re not getting enough sleep, and we make mistakes. They’re all those new Threadings with the kings and queens looking like Husk and Aspen. Brother Fir and I went for a long walk and we met Crackle, and she was crying. Since Gleaner came here, she doesn’t have a friend.”

“I’m not surprised,” said Urchin.

“Don’t be like that!” she snapped. “She only used to be spiteful because she was trying to stay friends with Gleaner. And when Gleaner honors the wood by setting her paw in it, she just boasts about Lady Aspen. Crackle’s trying hard to be my friend—she’s much nicer than she was. And we’re so desperate to finish the Threadings, she might get a job in the workrooms. I should be there now. If I’m late, I’ll be in trouble. Good-bye, Urchin.”

“I’m going to the wood tomorrow to see Apple,” he said. “Do you want to come?”

“What have I just told you?” she said. “I haven’t time!” And she trundled away.

Urchin went back to the Spring Gate to find Padra awake and eating a fish. As he opened the door, Padra looked past him.

“Lost your shadow, then?” he remarked.

“Shadow?” said Urchin.

“Gloss,” said Padra. “He’s never far from you. He’s so sly, he’ll double-cross himself. Now, while we have a moment…”

He opened the door, looked both ways, put his ear to the ground to listen for moles, and finally, with a claw to his lips, knelt in the hearth. The ashes were barely warm, and he spread them in a pale dust across the hearth.

“I wanted to take you along these tunnels myself,” he whispered, “but there might not be the chance, not if we’re both being watched. So here it is.” He drew a few lines and circles in the dust. “That’s the place we both know about,” he said, and Urchin, knowing he meant the Old Palace, felt his heart quicken with excitement. “There’s the tower. I can’t put in every single tunnel, but these are the main ones.”

Drawing and whispering, Padra sketched the plan of the tunnels. Urchin watched intently. There was an entrance in Hollybank Hill and another under the bank at the east shore, and one through the stream, but not possible for squirrels. Urchin hoped he’d remember, but it was complicated.

“And here,” said Padra. “If you follow it long enough, this tunnel should come out under the tower, but I don’t know exactly where. I’ve never followed it all the way along. Take a good look at it.”

When Urchin had looked, Padra stood up before the hearth. “Now,” he said, “without looking, tell me the nearest entrance from the north rocks when the tide’s out.”

“Sandstone Bank,” said Urchin promptly. “But, sir, why do I have to know this?”

Padra knelt and looked earnestly into Urchin’s face.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen in the future, Urchin,” he said. “If they watch me even more closely, or if I’m arrested—yes, I know it’s an unpleasant thought, but it could happen—I won’t be able to go the the Old Palace anymore, and you may have to go for me. More to the point, you may need a place of safety yourself or for your friends. So you need to know this.”

“Yes, sir,” said Urchin. Suddenly, danger seemed very close and real. His fur bristled. He wanted to say “Don’t get arrested, sir,” but it seemed silly, so he didn’t.

Padra went on asking questions until he was satisfied that Urchin had remembered it all, and finally said, “Keep reminding yourself of this. It should be written on your heart and mind. Keep it secret, and never forget it.” Then he swished his tail, and the only map of the routes to the Old Palace was a pile of ashes.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

N HIS OWN CHAMBER
, H
USK SHOOK WITH ANGER
. When the door opened, he jumped. Aspen glided in. “You left the king alone,” she said. “He’s distressed.”

“I had to calm down,” he said, spitting out the words in a low, tight voice. “Brother Fir brought in some little common squirrel with a paw full of weeds. We had important matters of state to discuss, and now the king just wants to talk about poppies and spring buds. Fir takes too much on himself, just because he’s the priest. Padra’s wretched page put him up to it. He’s dangerous.”

Aspen inspected her reflection in the mirror. “He could have an accident,” she said. “He could trip over something, or stumble into something, or fall out of something…yes!” She turned with a smile of inspiration. “He falls out of things. I’m told he makes a habit of tumbling out of the sky.”

Husk froze. Ice was in his spine. His nerves prickled. In a second he had hurled himself across the chamber to grip her by the shoulders, and she staggered against the wall.

“What do you mean?”
he gasped.

“My lord!” cried Aspen.

He gathered himself together. “My dear,” he said, “pardon me. I am so sorry, so very sorry. Please—are you hurt? Please, tell me exactly what you mean about ‘tumbling out of the sky’?”

“If you are quite sure you want to hear,” she said reproachfully, “it’s simply something Gleaner told me. She overheard Brother Fir telling him about the day he was found.”

“That dense squirrel found him,” said Husk, but he was trembling.

“Apparently not,” she went on. “Apple thinks she found him, but Brother Fir and Crispin…”

“Crispin?”

She gave him a stern look, and went on. “They found him first, and they saw him fall from the sky into the sea. I asked Apple about it and she denies it, but I think Brother Fir’s and Crispin’s memories are more reliable than hers. However, she did remark that Urchin had fallen from a tower window, on the night of our wedding.”

“He did
what?
”

“I can’t imagine how he managed it,” she said. “Maybe he just had no idea where he was.”

Husk turned so she could not see his face. He returned to the window, leaning his paws on the sill as he tried to breathe deeply and calmly.

“Send for Gloss,” he said. By the time the mole slid into the room, he had gathered himself together.

“I have watched the squirrel,” said Gloss. “I know more about him than he knows himself.”

“I don’t doubt it,” said Husk grimly. “I want him dead. At once. It must look like an accident.”

“Is that all?” said Gloss. “Consider it done. He intends to visit his foster mother in the wood tomorrow, and I know exactly the route he will take. There are all manner of tunnels on the way. It’s amazing that nobody ever falls into them.” He bowed, and left the room.

Aspen took Husk’s paws. “Hold on,” she said. “We’re nearly there. Leave the king to me. Urchin will soon be dead. Tay will have Padra arrested. We will have a magnificent Spring Festival.”

She called for Gleaner, who arrived surprisingly quickly. “Make sure nobody disturbs me this morning,” she ordered. “I have the king’s sleeping drafts to prepare.”

Gleaner bowed and trotted importantly down the corridor. “Nobody is to disturb Lady Aspen,” she said bossily to every animal she met. She was about to take up her post at the keyhole again when she caught sight of Crackle.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’m visiting Needle,” said Crackle. She was lost and looking for the way out, but didn’t like to admit it.

“Oh, her,” said Gleaner, and couldn’t resist a smirk. “Well, I know a certain squirrel friend of hers who needs to look out.”

“I don’t want to hear it,” said Crackle, but Gleaner wanted to tell it. She pressed close to Crackle, whispering, the way they used to when they were best friends.

“Between you and me,” she said, “and I wouldn’t dream of telling anybody else, and you have to keep it our secret—Urchin’s going to get what he’s been asking for. And about time, too. I’m always with Lady Aspen; I can’t help overhearing what she and Captain Husk say to each other. Urchin might have one fall too many!” And with a knowing wink, she pursed her lips and ran away.