Following complex clues, which promise to lead to Martin's Sword, Matthias climbs high onto the Abbey roof, overlooking the kingdom of the crazy King Bull Sparra.
To finally lift the siege, Constance creates a special crossbow to snipe Cluny dead, only for the warlord to learn of the plan and use it to his advantage.
Cluny captures a travelling spice salesmouse and holds his wife. The fearful husband is forced to enter Redwall and take Cornflower captive in return for his wife.
Cluny seizes the family of a dormouse and threatens to kill them unless their father, Plumpen, betrays Redwall and opens the gates to his huge army of rats.