Leaving the fate of Em in the weasel king of Ilder's paws, Celanawe trudges into the briar lair of a murderous fox. The Black Axe, a weapon forged by Farrer and now wielded by his youngest heir, is put to the test so that one lone mouse can slay the red-furred villain which has claimed enough ferret lives to have the king of Ildur afraid to send his own kin after it. The uneven brutal battle has an only more brutal end.