When Stryke Redkite came to the Abbey, Ironbeak's rooks attacked her, but the Redwallers rescued her and helped to heal her broken wing. Ironbeak did not believe his rooks when they told him about the "big red bird", a mistake that he would soon regret. Ironbeak eventually took over the entire Abbey by night (as he had already conquered most of it), and held the Redwallers captive, preparing them for execution. Then Stryke Redkite burst into the room, tearing apart the black birds and attacking Ironbeak. The two birds battled, and Ironbeak ended up dead from a brutal blow of the kite's talons. His remaining followers were sent away on oath to never return again.