Prologue, Chapters 1-3 Summary

The book opens with a prologue told in the voice of Sister Rosabel, the Assistant Recorder of Redwall Abbey. Rosabel explains that she has been working on recording a story from the history of the Abbey and invites the reader to sit and listen as she relates it.

Book One is called "The Babe at the Ford." Chapter 1 opens in the camp of Sawney Rath, a ferret who leads a clan of stoats, weasels, foxes and other creatures who call themselves the Juskarath. Sawney is deeply influenced by omens and superstitions as interpreted by his seer, a female fox named Grissoul. He eagerly asks Grissoul if she has seen any more signs of the Taggerung, a legendary figure that is believed arises once a generation to become the greatest warrior of the clan.

A stoat named Antigra insists her...