Mokkan raised himself on one paw, smiling. “That’s when the trouble will really start. There’re seven of us, we’d never be able to share all that wealth and rule the island together from Castle Marl. Not without killing each other off. Remember, we’re Marlfoxes, born to stealth and deceit. Only one of us could ever rule the island.”

Ziral made as if to sheathe her axblade beneath her cloak, then instead she suddenly brought it about in a scything swipe, only to find it locked against the curve of her brother’s ax. Mokkan forced the vixen’s ax to the ground and trapped it beneath his footpaw. He continued smiling at Ziral.

“You see what I mean, sister!”

6

6

Janglur Swifteye gazed in awe and admiration at the tapestry hanging on the west wall of the Abbey’s Great Hall. It depicted vermin fleeing in all directions from the figure standing boldly at its center, Martin the Warrior. The armor-clad mouse leaned upon the hilt of his fabulous sword, a friendly reckless smile on his striking features.

Janglur whistled softly. “Now there stands a warrior among warriors, by the seasons! He looks so confident an’ strong, small wonder those vermin are fleein’ for their lives, mate!”

Rusvul pointed to the name embroidered on the border. “Aye, that’s Martin the Warrior. He was the creature who freed Mossflower from tyranny an’ helped to found this Abbey of Redwall. I felt just as you do, when I first saw him. This tapestry means a great deal to any creature calling itself a Redwaller. But come an’ join the company at vittles afore that hare an’ his performin’ troupe do a vanishin’ act with all the food. Twist me tail! Those actors can put it away!”

Florian Dugglewoof Wilffachop was on his fourth bowl of summer salad with celery cheese and barley bread. Between salads he had demolished a number of strawberry cream tarts, a mushroom and leek pasty with gravy and a portion of woodland trifle topped with meadowcream that would have fed four Dibbuns for two days. The hare waggled his ears appreciatively. “I say, you chaps, this spread is absojollylutely enscrunchable! My compliments to the cook, Lady Cregga, marm!”

The Badgermum put aside her apple turnover with maple syrup. “Tell him yourself, mister Florian. He’s just resigned at the thought of having to cater for you again!”

The entire table of guests fell about with laughter. Florian looked slightly baffled, and attacked a wedge of plum pudding pensively.

“Flippin’ strange feller. You’d think a cook’d enjoy servin’ up dinner to a chap who enjoys his tuck, wot?”

Dannflor sat between Song and Dippler, advising them on the fare. “Here, Dipp, try some o’ this candied fruit sponge, you’ll like it. Song, here’s some deeper’n ever turnip’n’tater’n’beetroot pie.”