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The story of Sandokhan had taken three days to tell. Burrlo had listened to every word with great interest and whenever they had to go to bed or have a meal, Burrlo, Rollo and Jube would retreat back down to the cellars for the rest of the tale. "And if I remember correctly, Mattimeo never went abroad again. Instead he lived his life at Redwall with Martin and Tess until the end of his days. He had finally found the peace he was desperately searching for. As for Sandokhan, we never saw him again," said Rollo, bringing an end to his narration. "But'm wot 'appened to Sandy-koon aftur Mattmayo left?" "Well according to Mattimeo he eventually got married..." "To'm Ritsuko?" "Hoi! Who's tellin' this 'ere story, you or Rollo?" Jube interrupted. Burrlo scratched his velvety head, "This'm sounded loik it'm be a tall tale to Oi, zurr Rollyo." "Did you 'ear that, Rollo? This 'ere mole thinks we're makin' it up!" "I think you should show him, Jube," said Rollo. Jube then rose from his stool and reached behind one of the massive casks of blackcurrant wine. He produced a long object wrapped in cloth. "Mattimeo gave this to me. It was one of Sandokhan's gifts, but he said Martins' sword was the only weapon he needed to carry," said Jube as he laid it down on the stone floor and unwrapped the cloth. It was a katana sword encased in a green scabbard. "Want any more proof, young mole?" Burrlo just shook his head dumbly as the cellar hedgehog bundled the sword up in the cloth and went to replace it behind the barrel. "There you are! What are you lot doing skulking about down here?" All three turned and saw a volemaid standing in the doorway leading out of the cellars. "Ah Sister Ivy! We were just telling my apprentice the story of Sandokhan," Rollo explained. "Ah, Sandokhan. He did so much for me," said Ivy. She then pulled out a golden bell on a necklace of wooden beads. "I still remember the day he left, that was when he gave me this," she said. She jingled it gently, the clarity of the sound echoed around the cellar. "There you go, Burrlo. More proof that we ain't be tellin' fibs," said Jube. "Right then, if I remember correctly we still have some sorting to do young mole," said Rollo as he lead his apprentice back upstairs to his study. After all, there was still several stacks of old tomes and books that had been waiting for the recorders' attention for the past three days. As Sister Ivy walked out into the orchard, she inhaled the pleasant afternoon air. She then felt something touch her cheek. She looked up and saw the cherry blossoms dance on the gentle wind, covering the path to the gatehouse cottage in a blanket of subtle pink. They were in full bloom again.

Far to the east of Mossflower in the land of Jima, two fox cubs sparred with their wooden bokkens laughing as they did in front of a grand house. Inside, the sunlight filtered through windows and made shadows that danced on the walls. A fox sat at a low table with a vixen cub in his lap teaching her how to read and write. "And then you just do a line inside that little box and there you are. Easy isn't it?" The young vixen nodded before her father kissed her on her brow. "Now Matsori you help your mother, she's expecting and needs a lot of rest," said the fox as his daughter got up and ran off to the kitchen, nearly running into her mother who was heavily pregnant. "Watch where you're going, you could hurt somebeast," said the vixen as she approached her husband. "Have you finished yet?" She asked as her husband handed her a book which she opened and read the title page, "To the ends of the earth. A Samurai's tale by Sandokhan; son of Christos and Nanya." "My contribution to the family history," said Sandokhan as he went to scratch his severed ear. He then grunted in frustration, "It still itches! How can it itch if it's not there? Anyway Ritsuko you should be resting." "It's a beautiful day outside. Oooh! And the twins know as well. They're kicking like creepers today." "How do you know they're twins?" Sandokhan enquired. "Tin-Jin told me," Ritsuko replied. "Why won't that monk ever allow us the thrill of discovery?" Sandokhan mused as his wife giggled lightly at his remark. "I better get those sons of ours inside..." Ritsuko said as she stood up. Sandokhan put a paw on his wife's. "I'll do it. You go see to Matsori," said Sandokhan as he stuck his head out of the front door. "Tsuzuku, Wataru! Inside!" The two cubs were quick to respond to their fathers' call and ran inside the house. Suddenly the peace of the scene was broken by a screech above them. Sandokhan saw a massive eagle land in front of the house with a wooden tube grasped in its' talons. The fox took the tube and read the message it contained.

"Enemy abroad, Triad to assemble immediately Come armed and tread softly"