Jess lifted Warbeak lightly, and carried her up into a sycamore tree. Laying her on a broad bough, she covered the Sparra Queen with leaves in the time-honored Sparra fashion.

Matthias sat at the foot of the sycamore, his head in both paws, grieving for Warbeak.

Basil came over and patted Matthias. “There, there, old lad. I know it’s a pity she had to die so far from Redwall, but she saved us by her courage.”

Matthias plucked at a blade of grass. “Yes, the Queen loved Redwall. That was the bravest thing I’ve ever seen any creature do, Basil. She threw herself and her warriors at those rats, knowing she and her sparras stood no chance. They flew in against arrows and attacked with only beak and claw.”

Orlando wiped his axe blade on the grass. “I never knew your sparrow friend, Matthias, but she saved all our lives by her brave action. I’ve seen creatures ten times her size without a quarter of her boldness. What a warrior!”

Jess Squirrel looked up to the leafy shroud on the tree bough. “Good old Warbeak, eh? Totally mad, of course. She’d rather die than miss a good fight. I’ll bet wherever she is now that she’s chuckling at us standing round blubbering like a load of Abbey babes who have to go to bed early, instead of getting on with our search for the fox.”

Matthias rose dry-eyed. He stuck his swordpoint into the ground.

“Aye, Jess, you’re right. We’ve got some burying to do here, then we will leave this place. I never want to set eyes on it again. We must carry on south.”

*   *   *

Later that day they halted in a quiet place, an ash grove, far from the clearing where the battle had taken place. Matthias took stock of the situation. The surviving sparrows would fly back to Redwall, taking with them the news that the warrior mouse and his friends were alive and well, still on the trail of the young captives. Log-a-Log and the remainder of the now depleted Guosim voted firmly to stay with the friends and see the mission through. They settled down to study the map and writings that had been sent from Redwall.

Matthias scanned the parchments carefully.

“By the fur, I wish we had met up with Warbeak before we did. Listen to this:

‘Those who wish to challenge fate,

To a jumbled shout walk straight.

Sunset fires in dexteree,

Find where Loamhedge used to be.

At the high place near the skies,

Look for other watchful eyes.

Sleep not ’neath the darkpine trees,

Be on guard, take not your ease,

Voyage when the daylight dims,

Danger in the water swims.

Make no noise with spear or sword,

Lest you wake the longtail horde.

Shades of creatures who have died,

Bones of warriors who once tried.

Shrink not from the barren land,

Look below from where you stand,