[2] Ferahgo the Assassin, a terrible weasel warlord, and his son Klitch lead their army of Corpsemakers to Salamandastron, to take over from the Badger Lord, Urthstripe the Strong.

As the young squirrel and mole attempt to restore the symbolic weapon, a deadly fever ravages Redwall Abbey.

At the same time, Mara the badgermaid leaves Salamandastron with Pikkle Ffolger, her friend the gluttonous hare, only to be tricked by Feragho's son Klitch and his lackey, Goffa.

The two join forces with the Guerilla Union of South Stream Shrews of Mossflower (Guosssom) to take the Blackstone from the mysterious badger ghost.

Meanwhile, two stoats, named Dingeye and Thura, have recently deserted Ferahgo's army and are unbeknownst to them are being tracked by a group of six vermin from the horde, lead by a fox, Dethbrush.

Because of this overdose, Urthstripe knows that the food and water have been poisoned, and eventually corners Farran in the lower tunnels, where he kills him by force-feeding him his deadly substances.

Meanwhile, a young squirrel named Samkim and his good mole friend Arula are wreaking havoc, as will happen with youngbeasts.

One night, after the Abbey celebrates the naming of that summer as The Summer of the Lazy Trout, a lightning bolt strikes the weathervane of Redwall, and the sword of Martin the Warrior falls from its resting place high above the Abbey grounds and falls at the feet of Samkim, who is dumbfounded by his discovery.

Dingeye and Thura's stay is cut short when they are forced to flee the Abbey after accidentally killing one of the Redwallers (Brother Hal) with the same bows and arrows that Samkim and Arula had used.

Samkim and Arula pursue the two beasts, intent on not only rescuing the legendary sword of their Abbey Champion, but exacting vengeance upon the murdering vermin.

Faith Spinney mentioned that there is an old wives' tale saying that the Flowers of Icetor from the Mountains of the North boiled in springwater can cure Dryditch Fever, so the brave otter Thrugg sets off to find them.

With the dormouse babe Dumble along for the ride and an injured falcon whom they meet on the road named Rocangus, the trio eventually makes it to the pines where a group of crows terrorise any passerby.

After being rescued by Laird McTalon and a group of falcons, Thrugg succeeds in securing the flowers from the ruler of the mountain: the mighty golden eagle, Wild King MacPhearsome.

Samkim and Arula meet Spriggat, a bug-eating hedgehog, and Alfoh, an old shrew leader before they sail out onto the Big Inland Lake.

When an entrance is opened as the hares try to take Urthstripe to safety to tend to his wounds, Klitch points out the opportunity and the horde enters the mountain.

Mara, Samkim, and company all arrive in time to aid the forces of Salamandastron, and in the ensuing battle, Urthstripe, seized by the Bloodwrath, saves Urthwyte's life but is lethally stabbed.

After Urthstripe's death, Mara, Pikkle, Samkim, Arula, Urthwyte and Loambudd find the badger treasure that Ferahgo was looking for and bury him there.