"Coward Tain," gritted Bekki.
"-and where there is a surrogate, there also is Modru's eyes and ears and voice." The lad from Twoforks fell silent, awaiting his liege lord's response.
King Blaine nodded at Arth. "I know, Lord Arth, but remember, we defeated one of his Hordes at the battle of the downs, and a surrogate was with them there. Nay, I'll not forget that Modru's presence rides among them, yet I'll not let that stay my hand, for the fate of the Planes rides on that which we now do, and to do nought is to allow evil to reign."
"My lord," said Arnson, "seven of my ships are downstream of the bridge, and I can take those crews and set sail down the river and-"
"Do so," said King Blaine, ere the skipskaptein had finished," and set fire to any enemy ships you find waiting."
Arnson smiled in triumph at his Jutlander counterpart and said," I am sure Kapitan Dolf will be glad to hold ward at the bridge."
"Indeed," said King Blaine, even as Dolf glared at the Fjordlander. "And now, Hrosmarshal Linde, sound the horn."
And so Linde sounded her black-oxen horn, and Larana her trump of silver, and host and legion mounted up, and in squads and companies and brigades they followed two Warrows wending into the hills.
And nigh H?l's Crucible on a track through the crags, Arylin, Flandrena, and Vail, along with Tipperton, Linnet, and Nix, paralleled the march of the foe, turn by turn and from above the scouts keeping watch on the enemy.
The hideous stench of H?l's Crucible wafted over all as the tainted vapors rode outward on the chill wind, but by this time all had become inured to the malodorous reek. In his and Linnet's turn to observe, now and again Tipper-ton's eye was drawn to the vast rift and the dimly seen foothills and mountains beyond, and each time he looked an elusive thought seemed to slip 'round the edges of his mind, yet the more he pursued it, the more it fled his grasp. Nevertheless, as he rode in the valleys behind the watch hills, he said to Vail, "I can't but help believe this is some viper's egg of a plan yet to be hatched by vile Modru."
"Why so, Tipperton? -Oh, not that I disbelieve thee, yet I would have thy thoughts."
"Well, although I cannot quite catch hold of a nagging suspicion on the edge of my mind, other things vex me as well, and I cannot read their riddle: look, the Fists of Rakka and the Lakh and Rovers and Askars make no effort to cover their tracks, nor do they go in stealth, taking advantage of the cover of these hills; they do not send sentries in among these ways to see if they are watched; 'tis almost as if they seek to be seen. Too, they veer not from this course, but the only thing ahead is the shield wall and beyond it a drop to the Avagon Sea."
"Perhaps 'tis there ships await them, or ships yet to come," said Flandrena, riding alongside.
"If not," said Linnet, "then when King Blaine and the host arrives he will have them trapped between H?l's Crucible and the deep blue sea."
Vail nodded, then said, "As do thee, Tipperton, I, too, think something is afoot, for they move at a deliberate pace, slow and unhasty, as if'-Vail shook her head-"I know not."
Arylin signalled down from the hill above, and Vail said, "They continue their course."
Tipperton sighed, then said, "Come, Linnet, it's our turn to ride ahead and set watch. Let's do so from that hill yon."
Together they rode away, passing below the hill on which Arylin and Nix sat vigil.
"I am glad to see you survive, Lady Linde."
Linde sighed and looked down at the wee Waldan riding at hand. "There are but seventeen of us left, commander. Seventeen."
"So few?" Rynna glanced back at the meager number of Harlingar riding after.
Linde's face drew gaunt. "Aye. Of one thousand Jordians sent by King Ranor, only seventeen of the brigade yet live."
"Oh my," said Rynna.
They rode in silence for a while, and then Rynna asked,
"Where is the Gargon's head you bore away when you left Darda Erynian."
"It is lost, Lady Rynna, lost, lying somewhere in the wrack of war. After the Battle of Gunarring Gap it was gone."
"You fought there?"
"Aye. When word came that King Blaine had landed in Jugo, we set sail from Pendwyr and joined his force."
"And the battle…?"
" 'Twas bloody, yet we won in the end."
Again they rode without speaking, wending among the crags and hills, but at last Rynna said almost to herself, "Like so many things."
An eyebrow raised, Linde looked at the Waldan.
Rynna sighed. "Many things lie somewhere, lost in the wreckage of war… innocence not the least of these."
Linnet and Tipperton watched as the column of foe marched along the rim of the rift below. Sheltered by the hills and out of view of the enemy, Vail and Flandrena made their way southeastward to take up the vigil atop the next craggy mound. Leftward, Nix and Arylin made their way down from the previous station. In the far distance rightward Tip and Linnet could see the shield wall and beyond it the indigo waters of the Avagon sea.
"How is the health of your father, Arth?"
Arth shook his head. "He is dead, Healer Darby, slain at the Battle of the Downs."
"Oh my, but I am sorry to hear of that," said Beau.
"It was just west of Stonehill," said Arth. "Da was a hero: saved the King's life."
"The mayor saved Blaine's life?"
"Aye. King Blaine was unhorsed. A Ghul on Helsteed was riding him down. Da charged in between and engaged the foe and fought furiously. But Ghuls shrug off wounds that would slay any ordinary man, and in the end Da was speared through and fell."
"What of the King?"
"He caught up Da's horse and mounted and charged the Ghul, but by this time I had won past and with my sword I took off the corpse-foe's head."
"Good," said Beau.
"The King then gave me command of the folk of the Beacontor muster, and we've been with him ever since, though nearly half altogether have been slain. I alone remain of the entire Company of Twoforks."
"You alone of all those men?" Sudden tears spilled down Beau's face.
Arth nodded, his own cheeks wet as well.
"They've stopped alongside the shield wall," said Nix, as Tipperton and Linnet came up the back of the hill to the crest in response to his signal.
Tipperton peered 'round the crag and down toward the enemy. As Nix had said, the foe stood on the broad flats along the rim of the rift, the shield wall stretching away eastward. Sheer and high was this barrier and some ten miles long, a perpendicular stone rampart spanning the width of the narrow neck between the ocean and the mighty rift below, the hundred-cubit-thick barricade keeping the two apart. Beyond the wall, beyond the foe, they could see the waters of the Avagon Sea and hear the roar of the ocean crashing against the hard stone.
"Have you seen any ships on the sea?" asked Linnet, taking a place beside Arylin.
"Nay," replied the Dara, "though they could be anchored beyond our sight at the base of the cliffs."
Linnet nodded and glanced at the rim, where the land dropped down steeply to an unseen shore below. "Vail and Flandrena rode ahead to look," said the damman.
"But if there are ships, then why are these forces waiting?" asked Nix. "Why aren't they climbing down the cliffs to board the craft?"
Ere any could answer-"Hist," said Arylin, "I ween they draw into formation."
"Be ready to cut and run," warned Nix, "for if indeed they are forming up, they may send sentries into these hills."
"Oh my," said Tipperton.
"What?" asked Linnet.
"They are facing back the way they came," replied Tipperton. "As if-"