army of oarslaves dedicated to the destruction of Terramort. After an argument over who would be the one to kill Gabool, Joseph uncovered his plan for a three-pronged assault on Fort Bladegirt through several tunnels. Mariel and Joseph would attack the fort from opposite sides as Tarquin battered down the main gates with a ram. Lord Rawnblade planned to break through the walls with a massive boulder and charge in. At first, the plan worked perfectly and the searats were completely caught off guard. Mariel and Joseph's slingers were cut down by arrow fire, Tarquin provided a loud distraction by ramming the gates. As Gabool fearfully watched the onslaught, Rawnblade entered the battle. Assailed by three searats at once, Joseph would have lost his life were it not for the timely intervention of Mariel's Gullwhacker. Into Gabool's Lair When the path was clear, Dandin, Mariel, Joseph, Durry, and Tarquin rushed into the fort after Rawnblade, who had gone in before them. Rawnblade, full of the bloodwrath, fearlessly banged on Gabool's bell, challenging the pirate king. Gabool thrust a dagger into the badger's chest and quickly retreated further into his lair. Fortunately, Rawnblade's breastplate absorbed the impact. Mariel and the rest arrived as Rawnblade split the door into two halves and set off, hard on the heels of Gabool. In the meantime, Gabool had set a trap. As his pursuers confronted him, he taunted Rawnblade, who furiously charged toward him. When the badger stepped on a carpet between him and Gabool, he plummeted down into a dark pit. A scorpion, Skrabblag, residing in the pit, quickly moved to attack. The spirit of Martin, however, took control of Rawnblade and prompted the badger to fling the poisonous creature out of the pit and onto the face of Gabool. The scorpion gripping, the searat with its pincers, struck Gabool's head with its lethal stinger. Skrabblag detached himself from Gabool as the former pirate king convulsed and died. Dandin quickly killed the creature before it could do further harm, and the party left Terramort forever. Durry, Tarquin, Dandin, and Joseph each commandeered one of the abandoned pirate ships, and set sail for Redwall with the Trag warriors and the bell. When they reached their destination, all Redwall came to greet them. An enormous feast was prepared, thereafter known as the Feast of the Bell Rising, so named for Rawnblade's generous gift to the Abbey.