Rinkul was festering with hatred for the ragged pair of mystics who had entered the Rapscallion camp. He gathered a dozen of his cronies about him and issued secret orders. “Let me know every move that pair make, see. An’ the dumb one, keep a keen eye on ’im, ’specially once it gits dark!”

Tammo managed to give Rinkul’s cronies the slip. He slid off at twilight, while the hillside camp was still teeming with Rapscallions going about the business of cooking, fishing, and foraging for supper.

Rockjaw Grang was awaiting his arrival. He fed the young hare from the last of his supplies and passed on the information Taunoc had vouchsafed to him. Getting back was more difficult. Tammo could see Rinkul and his band searching for him as he peered over the hilltop. There was only one thing for it. Keeping bent double, Tammo shuffled into the camp, trying hard to look inconspicuous. He was doing fine until a heavy paw descended upon his shoulder. It belonged to the big, slow-witted rat Lousewort.

“Er, er, tell me a funny riddle like you tol’ Cap’n Bluggach.”

His companion Sneezewort shook his head in disgust. “Oh, belt up, seedbrain, that ’un can’t talk—that’s the dumb ’un!”

Lousewort was not convinced. “But he’s magic like the otherbeast. Maybe he kin put a spell on hisself so that ’is voice comes back!”

Lousewort’s voice was so loud that he attracted the attention of Rinkul and his gang. Immediately they spotted Tammo and began making their way toward him. The young hare acted quickly. Moaning and uttering dreadful croaking sounds, he waved his paws wildly at Lousewort and Sneezewort. Unsure of what the ragged creature was about, the two rats backed off nervously. Rinkul and his vermin tried to shove past them and seize Tammo, but he pushed Sneezewort and Lousewort into them and ran off. Extricating themselves from the tangle, Rinkul and two others gave chase.

Tammo threw himself into the shelter, where Midge was waiting. He barely had time to gasp out the information when Rinkul appeared. Ducking his head under the canvas awning, the ferret drew an ugly-looking blade.

“’Tis time ter settle up wid you two ragbags!”

Midge gave an evil cackle and raised his paws dramatically. “Beware o’ my magical powers, fool. Raise that blade at me an’ I’ll turn yer into a toad, right where y’stand!”

Sneeringly, Rinkul began raising the blade. Midge also raised his paws higher, threatening his adversary. “Don’t say I didn’t warn ye. Snakeblood an’ lightnin’ come strike this abode, an’ turn yonder ferret into a fat toa—”

“What’s going on here?”

At the sound of Damug Warfang’s voice, Rinkul swiftly sheathed his blade. Lowering his eyes humbly, he shrugged and said, “Just a bit o’ fun, Sire. The ragged one was gonna show me’n’my mates a few spells an’ tricks.”

Damug strode between them, eyeing Rinkul suspiciously. “Get out of here and leave these creatures alone!”

Rinkul and the other two vermin bowed and hurried off, relieved that the Firstblade had not sensed their intentions. Damug bade the two hares to be seated. He stared at Midge for some time, then asked, “Could you have turned Rinkul into a toad?”

Cocking his head to one side, Midge returned the stare boldly. “That’s my business, Warlord. Now I’m really goin’ to show yer some magic. D’you want to know where t’meet the Redwallers?”

Damug leaned forward eagerly. “Aha! Your voices have spoken to you, Seer! Tell me!”

Midge shook his head knowingly. “Not so fast, Damug Warfang. Answer my questions an’ you’ll find that you already know, the information’ll come out by itself.”

For the first time, Damug looked puzzled. “You speak in riddles, Miggo. What do you mean?”

“Be silent, an’ speak only when I ask you a question!”

Tammo was as mystified as Damug. He feared that Midge had gone too far with their dangerous game. But as he listened, Tammo was surprised by his friend’s skills.

Midge tapped the patch that covered his eye. “Tell me, Firstblade, ’ow many good eyes ’ave you’n’I got between us?”

The Greatrat answered without hesitation “Three.”

Midge cackled knowingly. “Haharrharr! You said it. Three! That’s the time you’ll meet those Redwallers, three days from now!”

Damug’s voice quivered with excitement. “What are their numbers—how many will they be, Seer?”

Midge Manycoats eyed him scornfully. “What if they ’ad twice yore number? Redwallers are peaceful creatures, they toil at growin’ things in earth. Yore a Warlord wid a thousand at yer back, all warriors. But ’earken t’me, Damug, if we’re talkin’ in hundreds, then three is still yer lucky number.”

Damug thought about this a moment, then grinned wickedly. “Three hundred peace-loving beasts!”

Midge nodded. “You said it, Warfang, an’ ’tis little use lyin’ to yerself. Wot’s three ’undred farmers agin a thousand soldiers?”

Damug drew his sword, pointing it at Midge. “If there’s only three hundred, then why can’t I just march on Redwall Abbey and take it, tell me that?”

Midge brushed aside the swordpoint contemptuously. “Go if ye will, fight ’em there! Wreck the place, smash it, burn Redwall t’the ground. What’ll ye have then, mighty one? Go on, you tell me that!”

Sullenly the Warlord sheathed his weapon. “Mayhaps you are right, it is difficult to control a thousand when they sense plunder in battle. So, where is the place to be?”

Squatting by the fire, Midge tossed in a pawful of salt. Blue flames rose from it. “Beneath a blue sky west o’ here lies a valley. I see a hill with a rock like an otter’s tail atop of it, and three ’undred standin’ by, waitin’ for yore blades to bring ’em death. Now I see yore father, Gormad Tunn, tellin’ you t’make the Rapscallions great again. Keep the rift at yore back, my son, that’s wot ’e says, keep the rift at yore back!”

The blue flames from the salt died down, and Midge shrugged. “That’s all, I see no more.”

Damug continued staring into the fire. “So why should the whole of Redwall be waiting for us in this field?”

Midge smiled. “Think, great one. The Redwallers have friends throughout Mossflower. They have been informed that a great army is gathering to attack. They will not risk allowing you to reach their sacred gates. Tomorrow they will hold a Council of War, this I have seen. The quickest route to Redwall is through that field. The next day they will decide upon an ambush there. The third day they will set forth. All this I have seen.”

Damug sneered. “Well, what’s to stop us taking Redwall when the fools are all away playing soldiers in this field?”

Midge toyed with his cap while he rapidly thought of an answer. “Think again,” he said finally. “You are destined for complete victory, to be the unchallenged ruler of all Mossflower. Do you really want to deal with bands of insurgents, resistance fighters who know these woods better than their own right paws? No! Better to slay and take prisoners for slaves to serve you and your great army. True victory only comes through conquest, great Lord!”

Convinced at last, the Greatrat recounted the information. “Three days from now I will face the Redwallers west of here. They will be on a hilltop; I must keep the rift at my back. What does my father mean—keep the rift at my back?”

Midge closed his eyes, as if exhausted. “I can’t tell yer, that’s all I know.”

“Hmm,” Damug grunted. “Well, I will field a thousand, but the Redwall creatures number only three hundred. Are you sure you can tell me no more, Seer?”

Midge shook his head several times. “Nothin’ except a certain victory for you an’ yore army.”

Damug strode to the entrance of the dwelling and summoned two guards; then he turned to Tammo and Midge. “So be it. Pray to the fates that you have seen truly. These two guards will watch you and never leave your side until Redwall is mine. If you have tried to play me false, I will have you both skinned, roasted, and fed to my army.”

He fixed the two guards with a cold stare. “If either of you let these two out of your sight for a moment, I will make you curse the day you were born. Is that clear?”

Sneezewort and Lousewort (whose turn it had been to stand guard duty) bobbed their heads vigorously as they croaked, “Er, er, yes Sire!”

Immediately after Damug had left, the two rats leveled the heavy guard spears they had been issued with at Tammo and Midge. “Sit still an’ don’t bat an eyelid, you two, or yer deadbeasts!”

The two hares sat with spearpoints almost touching their throats, knowing that the nervous rats were capable of anything in their highly strung state. Tammo stared beyond them. Outside he could see Rinkul and his gang lurking. In a barely audible whisper, he said to Midge, “Touch an’ go, old chap, wot?”

Midge blinked his eyes in agreement. The situation was extremely dangerous. If they escaped the guards it would be like jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. Yet they had to escape and take Fourdun with them before dawn, when the Rapscallion army would break camp and march west.

“Time t’put the old thinkin’ caps on, bucko!” he murmured back to his friend.