While the Redwallers took their breakfast outside on the lawn, a meeting was convened in Cavern Hole. In the smaller, more intimate surrounding of the room that was separated from Great Hall by a downward flight of steps, the Abbess, Foremole, Hollyberry, Bremmun and Nasturtium gathered to discuss events. Bremmun pushed away his untouched breakfast.

“Friends, it staggers belief: Brother Hal dead! Where is young Samkim now?”

Abbess Vale held up a paw for silence. “He is confined to the Infirmary. Now, Bremmun, we are all as shocked and saddened by Hal’s death as you are, but please let us not say anything in haste or jump to conclusions that we may be sorry about later. So, has anybeast got something to tell us that we do not already know—and let me add, we know little or nothing of what took place, except that poor Hal is no longer with us.”

Sister Nasturtium spoke up. “I cannot contribute any evidence, Mother Abbess, but I must say what I feel in my heart. I do not think that there is a single Redwaller who believes that Samkim would be so careless as to endanger another’s life. It would be horrible to even think of accusing him.”

The Abbess folded her paws into wide habit sleeves. “I agree with you, Sister, and no one has accused him yet.”

Bremmun disagreed. “Friar Bellows told me that when he found Samkim standing over Hal with a bow in his paws he said to him, ‘Samkim, what have you done?’”

Brother Hollyberry interrupted Bremmun. “Aye, and the young un didn’t say a word. It was as if he was struck dumb by the shock of it all. But I have something to tell that may throw some light on things. Those two stoats, Dingeye and Thura—has anybeast seen them this morning, because they weren’t in their beds when I woke up.”

Foremole stood up decisively. “Hurr, then you’m guddbeasts stay yurr whoil oi go’n foind ’em. May’ap they do know sumthern.”

“Vermin!” Bremmun ground his teeth aloud.

The Abbess rapped the tabletop sharply. “Bremmun, there you go again. I can see you are ready to condemn Dingeye and Thura without any proof or evidence. This must stop instantly. Redwall has a reputation for goodwill, justice and fair play. We are here to uphold it!”

Bremmun made a shamefaced apology. To save him further embarrassment, Hollyberry opened a parchment upon the table. “Friar Bellows gave me this. It was in Brother Hal’s paw.”

They read the record written down long seasons ago and by simple process of deduction came to the same conclusion that Hal had.

Nasturtium spoke for them all. “Well, now we know how the sword of Martin was found by Samkim—the lightning tore it from the weathervane and it fell to earth. To what purpose, I wonder?”