residents take refuge in a basement called Cavern Hole, stocked with many supplies. Then Cornflower has an idea to dress up as a ghost and scare the rooks; they succeed, but General Ironbeak doesn't fall for the trick. He traps Constance in the gatehouse, then slips his army through the barricade. Malkariss After a long journey up cliffs, fighting a horde of archer rats, and crossing a desert and a gorge, Matthias's gang finally arrive at the underground kingdom of Malkariss, where Slagar has been trading his slaves. There, the heroes fight the massive army of rats, while Matthias frees the slaves held there and is reunited with his son. Then while they fight Matthias fights a large fiend called the Wearet and is thrown off a walkway into a pit where he confronts Malkariss who is revealed to be an ancient and somewhat repulsive polecat. Malkariss is about to kill Matthias with his own sword when the tyrant's slaves appear and destroy their master by pelting him with the stones and rocks which they had been using to build. Matthias frees the slaves and a great battle ensues during which Malkariss' kingdom is destroyed and his minions defeated. Later, Slagar reappears and kills Vitch, a rat slaver he worked with. Matthias and Orlando attempt to kill Slagar, who flees, only to plunge to his death down a well shaft. The company return to Redwall after Stryk Redkite kills Ironbeak and his seer Mangiz and the woodlanders of Redwall send off the remaining ravens with iron collars around their necks. The book ends with the residents of Redwall celebrating with a feast. Father Abbot declared the season Autumn of the Warriors' Return. The epilogue reveals that Tim had since become the abbey recorder (in an extract from his diary). Tess and Mattimeo had married, and Basil officially adopted Cheek (now bearing the title Cheek Stag Otter). Characters in Mattimeo Matthias Cornflower Mattimeo Slagar the Cruel Vitch Tim and Tess Churchmouse Cynthia Bankvole Rollo Bankvole Sam Squirrel Mangiz Auma Cheek Jubilation (Jube) Stump Basil Stag Hare Jess Squirrel Orlando the Axe Jabez Stump Nadaz Threeclaws General Ironbeak Stryk Redkite Constance the Badger Abbot Mordalfus Sir Harry the Muse John and Mrs Churchmouse Grubclaw Winifred the Otter Halftail Skinpaw Scringe Wedgeback Snakespur Fengal Deadnose Ambrose Spike Mrs. Bankvole Ragwing Malkariss Reception Publishers Weekly said the book is a "truly thrilling conclusion" to