Arula was drinking from her beaker as he issued this statement. Unable to laugh and drink at the same time, she fell forward, sputtering out a spray of cider. “Burrhurrhurrhurr! You’m pore beasts ’ad a drefful toim of et all, tho’ I do say it moiself. Hurrhurrhurr!”

Thrugg strode cheerily up and grabbed the unhappy stoats. “Righto, mates, vittles is finished. Back to the galley now, me lucky layabouts!”

Thura gave a heartfelt moan of despair. “I’ve gone all limp, mucker. That dishwater’s gone ter me brains an’ it’s affectin’ me paws. No more pots ’n’ pans, please!”

Dingeye wriggled feebly in Thrugg’s grip. “If I dies, mucker, promise you’ll put a pot an’ a pan on me grave, ter show wot caused it all!”

Samkim interceded with the otter on their behalf. “Let them stay here awhile, Thrugg. They look more worn out than two of last season’s apple cores. Oh look, Sister Nasturtium is here!”

The Sister was a plump mouse, very pretty and jolly, and she had always been very popular with the young ones. They pushed about, making room for her.

“Yurr, marm, cum an’ set along wi’ us’ns.”

She sat with them, helping herself to food. Samkim began coaxing her into singing; Nasturtium was famed throughout Redwall for her fine voice.

“Sister, these two poor stoats have never heard you sing. Could you do a little something for them, please?”

She gave a good-natured laugh. “It’s not them, it’s you who wants me to sing, Samkim.”

The young squirrel flushed. “Oh please, Sister, we all want to hear you.”

Nasturtium put aside her food and took a sip of cider to clear her throat. Other Redwallers gathered closer to listen to her melodious voice.

“In days of old a warrior bold,

All pawsore, tired and lame,

Came marching through the winters cold,

And Martin was his name.

Martin, Martin, the Warrior of Redwall,

With courage and his trusty sword, he came to save us all.

Now in those high and far-off days,

The country was oppressed

By vermin cruel, whose tyrant ways

Would let no creature rest.

But truth and brav’ry won the day,

For through all Mossflow’r wide,

Good honest creatures made their way

To stand by Martin’s side. . . . And they cried:

Martin, Martin the Warrior of Redwall,

With courage and his trusty sword, he came to save us all.

The evil ones he put to flight

And justice he restored.

His heart was strong, his cause was right,

And mighty was his sword.

He helped to build our Abbey here,

The land rings with his fame.

Now peace lives here, we know no fear,

For Martin was his name.

Martin, Martin the Warrior of Redwall,

With courage and his trusty sword,

He came to save us all!”