Cluny and his horde have made their camp in the Church of St. Ninian while Cluny decides on his next move. Unexpectedly, he summons a black rat named Shadow and orders him to creep into the abbey at night and steal the tapestry of Martin the Warrior. He says, “In the bottom right-hand corner of that tapestry is a picture of a mouse dressed in armor, leaning on a big sword. I want it! Cut it, rip it, or tear it out, but get it for me” (63). Cluny believes that stealing the mice’s symbol of victory will demoralize them enough to surrender.

When dawn breaks the following day, Matthias and Constance assemble all the able-bodied creatures in the abbey. They intend to give everyone combat training. Matthias proves he is a natural with a quarterstaff, while Constance specializes in cudgel and wrestling. Other woodlanders have dug a trench with pickets outside the abbey walls.

Later that afternoon, Matthias seeks out old Methuselah to ask him about Martin’s legendary sword. The old mouse says that no one knows where Martin is buried, but he heard a rumor that the sparrows might have carried his sword away.