Book 1, The Wall, Chapters 17-20 Summary

Ragear wanders into Mossflower Wood exhausted. Seeing Matthias, he decides that capturing him will please Cluny and improve his status. Instead, Matthias knocks him out, ties him to a tree, and continues to the large clearing around St. Ninian's. There are a dozen guards and little cover for crossing. Basil Stag Hare startles Matthias, introducing himself as an expert scout, fighter, and camouflagist. Matthias finds him an odd, old-fashioned creature, but amiable. Basil teaches Matthias to bob and weave across open ground and volunteers to act as a decoy. Finding the church empty, Matthias realizes that the Horde is attacking the Abbey. Leaving, he frees the Voles and orders them to follow - directly to the rat sentries, who have tired of chasing Basil.

In Chapter 18 Cluny masses his forces in the roadside ditch while...