It had been three days since Deathfang ruined the mega siege on Redwall and Cluny was beside himself working the vermin to their limits to make an example out of them all. "Get a move on you morons," He roared, "I want to see you all work like you've never worked before."

"But chief." Redtooth said wiping sweat from his head.

"No buts, or I'll have you squished like the bug you are."

Since they had not been part of the failed attack, the family of foxes was not doing any of the labor that the rest of the horde had to endure. "Look at them," Growled Ragear "sitting there like fat toads in a field of grain."

"You're right, Ragear," Replied Redtooth, "but don't let the girl with the black cloak hear you say that."

"Why not Redtooth?"

"Rumor has it that there used to be five foxes in their clan until they left one of their own to die at the fangs of Asmodeus."

"Why did they do that?"

"Because the other fox attacked Ashclaw but Sylvia stopped him. When she did this, she said, 'Never attack a Marlfox.'"

"Shut up you two or I'll tear you both apart limb from limb!" Cluny screamed at them.

Nearly an hour passed until Cluny's face was a picture of brilliance. "That's it," He shouted, "that is the answer to my problems." He signaled the horde to stop.

"Oh darn," Said Sylvia, "things were just starting to get interesting too."

"Now, Sylvia," Ashclaw said, "let's just listen to what the chief has to say."

"Alright, now as you know because of that idiot wolverine we've lost our ground. But tonight that will all change. We will unleash the greatest attack that those Redwallers have ever seen." The horde cheered and Cluny continued. "Tonight, we will attack Redwall head on and we will not stop. If you are dying tonight don't be afraid to look death in the eyes. You will fight through death's cloak even if you die you must continue to fight, even after you have out lived your time on this earth. Your corpses will continue to fight no matter if you are in the bowls of Hellgates. You will never give up, ever."

"He is insane." Starpaw shuddered.

"What was your first clue sister?"

"I know he was crazy before he wanted me to perform a resurrection. But I never thought he would go to these extremes just to be victorious in battle. I just don't like it."

Ashclaw grabbed her by the neck and said, "Remember what we discussed? We were supposed to pledge our loyalty to no one but Cluny."

"I know and you know something else? Now I don't care. Cluny's insane and I will not serve anyone who acts like he does. I will see you in the after-life a long time from now. And I pledge that I am going to make sure that Cluny is cleaved through the neck by the sword of Martin the Warrior." With that she stormed off toward Redwall.

---

The two sentries on the west wall were almost ready to fall asleep until they heard Starpaw knocking on the gate. When she passed through the gate, she heard words that sent chills rushing up and down her spine. "Hello Starpaw, remember me?" She turned around to see a snarling angry Deathfang with an insane glare in his eyes.

Starpaw just back away with a look of fear in her eyes, "How did you get into a place like this?" She asked.

"I might ask you the same question vixen." Said the wolverine with a look of suspicion on his face. "Are you havin' any fun workin' for that maniac Cluny?"

"Look you wretch," Starpaw said, "I left Cluny forever earlier and I am never going to be in any association with that freak again."

"Why, couldn't do another resurrection for him? Or, is it that you finally found out why everyone in Mossflower hates his gut's." He said leaning back onto the wall. "Go ahead and answer me."

"You knew all about this didn't you?"

"Guilty." He said. "And as of three hours ago so does the entire Abbey."

"How did you eves drop without me or the others knowing about it?"

"I take it that you have never heard of the Reaper of the Mountains, have you?"

"Well yes but only through the conversations of others, why?"

"Can you put the fact that the Reaper of the Mountains kills without leavin' a trace or making a sound? And that I spied on you twice."

"What do you mean?"

"A few years ago, you woke up and a few traps were set off and your gypsy cart fell into a pit."

"That was you?"

"Yes. I hope you also picked up more food that day."

"You are the Reaper of the Mountains?"

"And we have a winner!"

"This is not the time to be playing games."

"If you think I'm joking than you must not know that I was gonna tell you that you will have to tell the Abbot about your conversion and the fact that you broke that little pact with your brothers and sister."

"Why is it that you are always around when trouble is in the air?"

"I just so happen to be at the right place at the right time."

A few minutes passed and Starpaw tried to think of a way she could tell the Abbot truthfully that she could be of good service. She then remembered the Abbey infirmary, Yes, she thought, I could help by being an assistant in the infirmary.

She ran into the Abbey and was welcomed by Abbot Mordalfus. "Starpaw I hear that you have great healing capabilities and I wish that you would join Cornflower in the infirmary."

She was extremely amazed at how fast the Abbot had things figured out. "Father Abbot, I do want to do the right thing. And if you want proof of this so that I will not resort to the same thing as Sela…" She took out a dagger and dipped it into a beaker that contained a green liquid that engulfed the dagger in a flash. She stabbed her paw and said, "With this dagger in my paw I pledge my eternal loyalty to you, Father Abbot Mordalfus of Redwall Abbey and if I commit one tiny act of treason let the poison in my veins take a day out of my life." With that she removed the dagger and the poison was forever imbedded in her blood for the rest of her days.

---

The sun had set and Cluny's plan was put into action, the army, minus Starpaw, struck out towards Redwall. Cluny's insanity had put them all in a state of shock even though the ex-slavers had sworn their loyalty to a mad fox prior to meeting the raving lunatic in helmet, battle armor, and batwing cape that stood in front of them. He drew his sword and shouted, "Tonight shall be a night worthy of remembrance. Remember what I told you and do not give any weakness to the enemy. Never give up. But most importantly do not retreat, unless I say you can." He sheathed his sword and shouted, "On to Redwall!"

The vermin started to chant, "Redwall, Redwall, Redwall must fall." Cluny chuckled evilly and led the horde to Redwall for a massive night siege.

---

Matthias and the creatures in charge of Mattimeo's training were out in the orchard practicing fighting under intense darkness. Mattimeo was blind folded for this exercise. Deathfang was put in charge of the session, he selected one score of shrews from Log-a-Log's best night fighters to be the vermin for the exercise. "Alright, Matti, this is the best way to fight when your eyes are virtually useless. Just relax and use your other senses to find the location of your enemies." He armed Mattimeo with a bamboo sword and the shrews with clubs before he continued. "Let the battle begin."

The shrews dove at Mattimeo, who ducked and ran with all of his speed towards the shrews with his sword in the air. He jumped and hit a big shrew in the back of the neck knocking him unconscious. The other shrews were taken out as they touched the tops of the blades of grass. When it was over Deathfang clapped his hands. Before he could congratulate Mattimeo on a job well done, Foremole came running towards them. "Maister Mattwise, Cluny and ee vermin be's 'eadin' for ee front gate."

"Alright everyone to the front gate arm yourselves." Deathfang called out as he drew his scythes "Agony" and "Turmoil".

When they had reached the main gate the rats were outside awaiting Cluny's orders. The searat raised the visor of his helmet and shouted, "This is the only chance that you will get Redwallers, surrender now, or die."

"Go throw yerself off a cliff rat." Deathfang shouted back.

This angered Cluny so much that he lost his temper. "Attack!" He roared.

Deathfang jumped over the wall and shouted his battle cry, "Eulaliiiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaaaaa!" and charged at the rats with the Bloodwrath in his eyes and his scythes slicing the air. The first rat in the attack line ducked directly under the blade. As it passed over him, he was frozen with fear. The rat next to him was sliced in half across his waist. At that moment, Deathfang's past came roaring back at him. His old habits returned. When the vermin came at him, he let out his most fearsome battle cry, "Bloooood, fuuurrrrr, and faaaannngggssssss!" at that moment, the Reaper of the Mountains, was reborn. He vanished and took to using the darkness to his advantage. His scythes sliced and cleaved at the vermin on either side of him. Those who weren't killed instantly were frozen in fear as the blades passed in front of them.

Mattimeo, Matthias, and Matthew jumped down from the wall and joined in the fight while Iris, Burntpaws, Marian, James, and Natalie began a contest to see who could pick off the most vermin. Mattimeo remembered the training session he had just finished and blindfolded him. He concentrated for a minute and drew the fire hardened short sword that Deathfang had given him and charged into battle with his father. Both father and son fought in perfect synchronization with each other, knocking vermin flat on the ground.

But the ranged weapon fighters were having a fine little bout picking off vermin after vermin who seemed impossible to kill. Burntpaws was having the time of his life firing arrows he carried in a finely crafted sharkskin quiver that had been given to him by his Grandmother. Iris carried a quiver crafted from an old oak tree that she used to play under when she was little. The sky was filled with arrows javelins and sling stones that fell like icicles onto the vermin who dared to venture too close to the Abbey.

Deathfang and Matthew were cutting through the army like a hot knife to a stick of butter. They were both impervious to the weapons of the enemy, and they showed no weakness to the enemy. The vermin found a good opportunity to cut the two warriors off from each other. Unfortunately for them they led Deathfang in a path to Cluny. When the rat saw that his strategy had been taken out, he shouted a retreat back to the camp. When it was all over, they Redwall defenders returned to the Abbey for a well deserved rest.