Damug Warfang sat staring at Sapphire across a small fire, which was laid in a pit at the center of the kindergarten.

"Speak to me, Sapphire, tell me something."

Sapphire peered into the flames. "I see victory for you and your army!"

"You told me that already," Damug snarled. "What exactly do I have to do to gain this victory?"

"If you want to win, you must not attack the Abbey of Redwall directly," Sapphire said. "Battle must take place, but not there."

Damug furrowed his eyebrows. "But how can I conquer the Abbey if I don't attack it?"

"West of Redwall, a valley lies beneath a blue sky," Sapphire told him. "I see a hill with a rock like an otter's tail atop it, and three hundred woodlanders standing by, waiting for your blades to bring them death."

Damug frowned. "Why would they be waiting for us in a field? Why wouldn't they be protecting their Abbey?"

Sapphire 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?"

"Go if you will," said Sapphire contemptuously. "But it's difficult to control an army when they sense plunder in battle, as I've seen many times when the Gems invaded other planets. Your troops will wreck the place, smash it, burn Redwall to the ground! What'll you have then, mighty one? You'll be the king of the ashes!"

"Mayhap you are right," Damug said slowly. "Well, I've got a thousand vermin soldiers already, and I'm hoping to double that number soon." He glanced at an Injector lying nearby. "Ye said the Redwall creatures only number three hundred. That means I'll have 'em massively outmatched, no matter where the battle takes place. Either way the victory is assured. So be it. Three days from now I will face the Redwallers in the field. Pray to the fates that you have seen truly. If I find you have tried to play me false, I'll shatter your gemstone! Is that clear?"

"Yes, sire," said Sapphire. "But you've got nothing to worry about. Throughout history, Sapphires have symbolized truth, sincerity, and loyalty."

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Ruby had found a hiding place just outside the kindergarten, between a bush and a boulder. She settled in to wait for word from Sapphire. Sometime in the middle of the night, she saw Sapphire sneaking out of the canyon. She jumped up and waved to her. "Over here, Sapphy!"

Sapphire hurried over to her lover. They crouched together behind the boulder. "I couldn't get away until now," Sapphire said. "They just went to sleep in there."

"Were you able to gain Damug's trust?" Ruby asked.

Sapphire nodded. "He swallowed my story hook, line, and sinker. He's going to meet the Redwallers at the ridge three days from now."

"Good," said Ruby.

"But he's planning to reactivate the kindergarten in the meantime, just as we feared!" Sapphire continued. "You've got to get back to Redwall as quick as you can, to warn everybeast!"

"Okay," said Ruby. "And you'd better get back inside the vermin camp before you're missed. We'll meet back here tomorrow night, same place."