In the kingdom of Malkariss, Matthias fights the slavemaster, Wearet, and falls into the abyss. There he grimly hangs on the rope that previously lowered a mysterious basket. But as Mattimeo and friends are released by the dying Log-a-Log, the Wearet cuts the rope and Matthias falls into the basket - and meets Malkariss himself! In Redwall, Stryk recovers slowly and becomes a close friend of Cornflower, but Ironbeak uncovers the 'hauntings' are a ruse and cunningly imprisons Constance as he prepares his final attack. The defenders are revealed and weakened - and Ironbeak is sure of victory. Matthias faces the evil, pale polecat Malkariss - whose slaves, seeing Matthias courage, turn on him and stone him to death. Matthias looks up to the high-above battle to see his son Mattimeo and fights to get to him. But he fails to see Slagar the Fox taking deadly aim at him with his bolas - and Slagar has never been known to miss.