Book 2, The Quest, Chapters 9-16 Summary

The Abbot hosts a late-night dinner to honor Matthias and Methuselah and wish them well on their quest. At 12:45 AM Matthias, Methuselah, and Constance are on the roof with the shield in its niche. Joseph Bell booms once at the day's first hour. The shield reflects moonlight onto the weather vane above the roof. Surely the sword must be attached to it, but it is far too high to reach for anyone but an expert climber. Jess Squirrel (Silent Sam's mother) happily volunteers. The annals record no one having made this climb before. The early ascent is easy, but Jess slows in the second stage. The slate roof is treacherous but Jess reaches the weather vane. She is returning, presumably carrying the sword, when sparrows attack her. Archers try to drive them off. A stray...