Chapter 1

Xaviel was a sable Captain. He was clad in a chain mail vest, red sash for a belt, and a short cloak. He sat by his firing eating a piece of roasted wood pigeon, he then spotted his spy, a river rat named Hulgo, he was clad in a raggedy tunic with a worn down belt and a rusty dagger at his hip. The sable swallowed his food and spoke.

"Make your report, rat."

"W-w-well, sir. I've spotted a platoon of animals from Redwall Abbey."

Xaviel leaned forward, his face making a gesture of interest.

"Redwall?"

"Yes, Redwall. A safe haven for anybeast."

Xaviel then leaned back on the log, taking another bite of wood pigeon.

"Well, keep following them, once you have the exact location, we will surprise them, take them as hostage, and let them lead usvto this Redwall Abbey."

The rat spy smiled and bowed to his Captain.

"Oh, thank you, thank you, Captain Xaviel."

"Yes, no begone with you."

The rat saluted and slinked back into the forest. A tall and lightly build ferret named Furaug, dressed in a black leathered vest, belt, grey trousers, and leather boots walked up to Xaviel. The ferret crossed his arms as he and his leader watched the rat spy make his way back to Sam and Elmtail's camp.

"Do you think he'll be slain, Chief?"

Xaviel looked up at his Second-in-Command.

"I have high hopes for our spy, but let's not put all our eggs in one basket."

"I second that, sir."

Back at Sam and Elmtail's camp, the two squirrels were the only creatures still awake. They both watched the burning embers dance in the fire.

"Best to put this out before we have a bigger problem than vermin."

Elmtail stated. Sam nodded in agreement and gathered pawfuls of sand and dirt, and helped Elmtail put the small blaze out. Elmtail yawned and stretched out his paws.

"Nnnngah, best to get some rest, once the son has come up, we march east."

"Nnnyah, I second that, Elm."

The two warriors from Redwall laid down, they used their bushy tails as pillows.

The same starry sky was blanketed all across Mossflower, The creatures of Redwall were all in bed. Except one beast who was staring at the sky twinkling with a million diamonds. Matthias, clad in a green habit look up at the sky, he placed his paws in the wide habit sleeves and sighed.

"Be safe, Sam, and Elmtail. May Martin watch over you two."

A mousemaid walked up the steps to the ramparts, it was Cornflower. She was dressed in her smock and apron and was carrying a drink tray. A large pitcher of elderberry wine with two clay cups were with the mousemaid. Cornflower was getting grey in the face, Matthias looked over his shoulder and smiled at his wife. Cornflower placed the tray on the battlements and poured herself and her husband a cup of elderberry.

"What are you doing up here, Matthias? You know you're not the Warrior of Redwall anymore. That's Matti's job."

Matthias smiled and took a sip of wine.

"Mmh, thank you, Cornflower. I know, I'm no longer the Redwall Warrior, but sometimes looking up at the night sky gives me peace, as if Martin himself is smiling down upon us all."

Cornflower chuckled as she poured herself another cup of wine.

"That's because he is, I remember 7 seasons ago, when Ironbeak and his flock came here, apparently, his crow, Mangiz, said his visions were clouded by mouse clad in armor."

Matthias swallowed the last mouthful of wine and placed the cup back up on the tray.

"We better head off to bed, don't want to be groggy."

"I second that."

Cornflower stated. She took the tray from the battlements and carried it down from the ramparts to the Abbey kitchen.

Night donned closer to the Mountain of Salamandastron, where Orlando the Axe ruled. The Badgerlord placed his double bladed axe on a pedestal and got into his night smock. A Long Patrol hare named Brigadier Humpfrey Hopukk knocked on Orlando's dormitory door.

"Yes, who is it?"

The hare opened the door and stood to attention.

"Brigadier General Humpfrey Hopukk, sir. Came in to report there are no vermin camps posted all around our mountain sir."

"Splendid, Brigadier, completely splendid. Get some rest and have the night watch take over."

"Much obliged, sir."

Humpfrey said saluting his Badgerlord. The hare closed the door behind him. Orlando peered over to his window and saw the sky turn from peach to black.

"I hope you are safe in Redwall, Auma. May you be the best Badgermum those beasts have ever seen."

Orlando the Axe said quietly as he crawled into his large bed. This bed was big enough for four shrews, three mice and squirrels, and big enough for two hares.

Unfortunately for Orlando an army of Corsairs lead by an albino weasel clad in a black overcoat and belt was marching to Salamandastron.