“We can’t bring the whole army through at once,” said Rigg. “Not unless we have them all in one compact body, so they can all hold hands.”

“Bring everybody through in as many groups as you need,” said Square. “Just bring them all to the same moment.”

“That means Umbo would have to do it all,” said Rigg. “I can do that moving into the past, but only he has precision moving into the future.”

Everyone looked at Umbo.

“I assume you meant to say King Umbo,” said Param gently.

“He doesn’t have to call me that,” said Umbo softly.

“He must do it above all others,” said Param, “because he is as much heir to the Tent of Light as I am, and there are those who would prefer his claim. He must speak of King Umbo by his title and with all authority, so no one has any doubt that Rigg supports his claim and mine.”

Umbo shook his head. “Let’s not get off the topic again.”

“Olivenko,” said Loaf, “are you advocating that we make a new plan, to appear in the midst of their camp and slaughter them in their sleep?”

“Not in their sleep!” cried Param.

“Queen Param,” said Olivenko. “The goal is a victory so decisive the enemy can’t recover from it. If we can kill one man in five before he even gets his weapon, the battle is nearly won.”

“Except,” said Loaf, “if we appear throughout their camp, then what happens to the organization of our army?”

“A mess,” said Square. “Nobody knows which way to face. It becomes a melee, till the enemy forms a line somewhere.”

“Haddamander entrenches and walls up wherever he camps,” said Olivenko. “Attacking from the outside would be brutal.”

“And attacking from the inside would reduce us to chaos immediately,” said Loaf.

“And we’re back to every plan having risks and benefits.”

“Can’t we make a plan to organize and avoid chaos?” asked Param.

“Every soldier would have to know the whole plan,” said Loaf. “Never a good idea.”

“Why isn’t it a good idea?” said Umbo quietly.

Loaf shook his head. “The less the footsoldiers know of the plans of the commanders, the better.”

“Isn’t that so they can’t betray our plans to the enemy?” asked Rigg. “But if we appear all at once, in the midst of their camp, with every soldier knowing exactly what’s expected of him and where to form up as soon as his assignment is complete—there’s no time for any of our soldiers to be taken and spill our plans.”

Loaf nodded. “I can see that. I’ve had it ingrained in me that footsoldiers can never know more than their immediate assignment, but . . .”