After the storm that hit Conrad's ship, Celanawe and Em wake up on the shore of the island Ildur. Conrad is nowhere to be seen and they come upon the palace of a ferret king named Luthebon. Twenty seasons ago, Luthebon slayed a mouse named Merek that carried the Black Axe. When Luthebon's son is murdered by a fox, he promises to give Cenalawe the axe if he defeats his son's murderer.