Veil Sixclaw

Veil Sixclaw is the son of the evil ferret warlord Swartt Sixclaw. When Swartt is traveling through Mossflower, he attempts to attack Redwall Abbey, but fails. However, Veil's nursemaid is killed. The infant is lost, but Swartt does not care at all about him, and makes no effort to look for him. He leaves him to his fate and goes on.

However, some of Redwall Abbey's inhabitants find the ferret infant, and bring him back to their abbey. It is decided that he will be placed in the care of Byrony, a gentle young mousemaid, and her mole friend Togget. As Veil grows up, he becomes more and more difficult. He is untrustworthy, unlikable, and nasty to everyone. Eventually, in a move, that shocks everyone at Redwall, he tries to poison Friar Bunfold, but ends up killing someone else. He is imprisoned while a decision is made about what to do with him.

Eventually, it is decided that he will be banished from the abbey. He is sent off and told never to return. Veil wanders into the woods, alone, while Byrony, who looked after him like a mother, is held back, weeeping.

Overcome with grief, Byrony and Togget set out to find him. They travel with him to the mountains, where they meet Swartt Sixclaw, Veil's father, and Sunflash the Mace, a badger lord who is mortal enemies with Swartt. Eventually Swartt throws a spear at Byrony, but before it hits her, Veil jumps in front of her and takes it for himself. He has died saving Byrony's life.

Swartt is killed by Sunflash, they all return to Redwall Abbey (where Sunflash meets Bella of Brockhall, his mother) and Byrony is made Abbess. But never will she forget Veil Sixclaw, the ferret whom she raised and cared for.

There has been much controversy about whether Veil was good or evil. After Bryony's return to Redwall, she claims that Veil was truly evil, but he certainly defies the common boundaries of vermin and goodbeast.

Books
Veil appears in Outcast of Redwall.