Immediately the fighting ceased. The big badger and the twelve hedgehogs looked in surprise at the newcomers. Basil Stag Hare took charge.

“Steady in the ranks thah, chaps! Right, listen out now, all fightin’ an’ skirmishin’ to cease forthwith. Otherwise this blighter here’ll chop you into bits with the great sword of Redwall. Now, what’s all the jolly old tiz-woz about, eh?”

The badger added his voice to those of the hedgehogs as they all began talking at once.

“He stole our Jubilation!”

“Rubbish, I’ve never even seen a jubilation!”

“Yew great stripy ol’ liar!”

“Liar yourself!”

“Don’t you call her a liar or I’ll break that there ’atchet over your skull, so I will!”

“I’d like to see you try it, spikebottom!”

“Ooh! D’you ’ear wot ’e called me, Dad?”

“Never mind wot ’e called yew, sticks’n’stones won’t break our bones. You just give us back our Jub’lation, badger.”

Matthias struck the steel axehead with his sword blade. The sound rang out like a bell, restoring silence again. The warrior mouse pointed at the badger with his sword.

“One at a time, you first.”

The badger leaned upon his axe haft, his powerful chest heaving. “My name is Orlando the Axe. I come from the western plain. My daughter Auma was taken by Slagar and his slavers, and I was searching for her when all these mad hedgehogs attacked me without any reason.”

The old male hedgehog began dancing excitedly. “Harr, so that’s it! Slagar an’ his varmints, I might’ve knowed it. He’s the one as stole our little Jubilation.”

Matthias pointed the sword at the hedgehog. “Who are you and what is jubilation?”

The hedgehog waddled forward. He was the most untidy creature, with leaves, flowers, roots and creepers stuck to all his spines.

“I’ll tell y’who I am, young feller,” he said. “I’m Jabez Stump. This here’s my wife Rosyqueen and these are my ten daughters. I’ve got a son too, splendid liddle ’og, name of Jubilation, at least I did have a son till that thievin’ fox passed this ways.”

Matthias bowed. “I too had a fine young son stolen from me by Slagar. I am Matthias the Warrior of Redwall Abbey. Allow me to introduce my friends. This is Jess Squirrel, champion climber and tree jumper. Her son Sam was also taken by Slagar, along with three others from our Abbey, two churchmice and a little volemaid. That young otter is Cheek, both by name and by nature. And last but not least, Basil Stag Hare, retired regimental scout and foot fighter.”

Basil made an elegant leg. “At y’service, sah! Well, well, it seems that we all have a reason to catch up with that foul blot Slagar. I suggest we join forces. Actually, we lost the slavers’ trail, and we’d be terribly glad of any help you could give us, wot?”