Luckily it was a lock of simple and ancient design. Gurn’s dagger jiggled and twisted a few times, then there was a click, and he pulled the padlock curve from the hasp ring.

Inside the cell Auma had her ear to the door. She listened carefully.

“Keep quiet. We’ve given them our challenge, now let’s see what they do.”

“Are they shouting flogaloggle or whatever it is?” Jube piped up. “Daft sort of war cry, if you ask me.”

“We never asked you, Jube. Be quiet,” Mattimeo commanded curtly. “What’s happening out there, Auma?”

“I think they’re unlocking the door, Mattimeo.”

“Right, this is it. Get your manacles ready and give the best fight you can manage. If we don’t meet again, my friends, goodbye.”

Auma’s voice was hoarse and urgent.

“They’ve unlocked the door, wait, it must open outwards. . . .”

Mattimeo felt for his companion’s paws in the darkness.

“Why wait? Let’s rush them.”

“Chaaaaarge!”

They hit the door. It flew open wide. Mattimeo flung himself upon the first creature in his path. Tim and Sam leapt on another. Even the dim passage light dazzled their eyes, which were accustomed to nothing but complete darkness. Grappling on the floor, the young mouse heard his name called by a deep gruff voice:

“Mattimeo, it’s me, Log-a-Log!”

Mattimeo had Flugg by the throat. His paws dropped with a clank of manacles as he yelled out. “Stop, they’re friends!”

Immediately, the fight halted. Mattimeo and his companions stood in the torchlit passage, rubbing their eyes. Gurn shook his head admiringly.

“What a bunch of young warriors. Don’t rub your eyes too hard. Let me open those manacles with my dagger.”

Cynthia began sobbing again, but this time it was with happiness.

The friends were smiling at each other. Gradually it was dawning on them that they were no longer the prisoners of Malkariss, Slagar, Nadaz or any other evil creature.

Mattimeo’s laughter boomed around the passage walls.

“Hahahaha, free. We’re free. It’s my father’s friends, the Guosim!”

“It’s certainly your lucky day, young ’uns, most of your parents are here. There’s Matthias, Orlando, Jabez, Jess, even old Basil Stag Hare. We joined forces with them to search for you. They’re down on the big ledge fighting the hordes of Malkariss.”

Mattimeo could hardly believe his ears. His father, the Champion of Redwall . . . here!

Auma let out a great whoop, Sam leapt high into the air, Jube wrinkled his nose knowingly.

“Told you so, I said we wouldn’t get far without my old dad catching us up. Do you remem—”

He was seized by Tim and Tess and whirled around, then Cynthia joined in.

“Good old Basil, the Redwallers are here! Hurray!”

Flugg was knocked flat by the whirling dancers, but Mattimeo helped him to his paws. Dusting himself off, the shrew grinned broadly.