Into the fire

"Hush," said Nix, suppressing a yawn. "Let Ry

Overhead cold stars wheeled through the wee hours of the morning. Silverleaf and the others had returned late, and Ry

And now as Ry

"Oh no," groaned Dinly, looking at Beau. "Another half the world away. I don't, uh, I…"

Ry

"East they ran, did the foe, the King close after: across Valon and over the Argon River they fled; across Pellar; and over the Ironwater, where they now stand.

"And the King holds on this side of the river, for the enemy wards the opposite shore, and to try to cross in the face of the foe is nought but begging for death."

"Oi, now wait a moment," said Farly. "They made no opposition at the Argon?"

Ry

"Yet now they ward the Ironwater?" asked Farly. "Less wide, less formidable than the Argon?"

"Indeed," replied Ry

"Why there and not the Argon?" asked Tip.

"Voren thinks it's because H?l's Crucible is at their backs, and it daunts them to think of fleeing across that wasteland dire."

Tip flipped through his maps and frowned. "Well, Lord Voren is right about that. -I mean, H?l's Crucible is just beyond the Ironwater."

"Does the King have a plan?" asked Nix.

"Aye," replied Ry

Beau sighed. "I suppose we've got a long ride ahead of us; as Dinly says, another half a world away."

Ry

Li

"That's what I'd like to know, too," chimed in Nix. "Are we to abandon the High King? Leave him deadlocked with the foe?"

"On the contrary," said Ry

Chapter 35

The next morning the Warrows stood on the high northern bluffs of the headland and watched as a swift Fjordlander Dragonship set sail from the docks below. With spike-bearing, round wooden shields fixed at hand along its top wale and its square sail set by a beitass to catch at the wind, a crew of Human warriors with axes in their belts rowed the longship out of Hile Bay and toward the ocean beyond, soon to slip eastward through the indigo waters of the dark blue Avagon Sea. Amidships stood half a dozen horses separated one from the other by slender poles affixed thwartwise from wale to wale, and at the prow stood Vanidar, Aravan right behind, the warleader and his trusted advisor sailing away from the caer.

As they slid from sight 'round the shoulder of the headland, Ry

"Do you think his plan will really work?" asked Li

"I don't see why not," said Nix. Then he pointed down at the long stone wharf. "Look, even now workers bear planks to the shipwrights below." On the jetty, men carted great loads of lumber toward the shipyard.

"Huah," grunted Beau. "Like a string of ants haling choice bits of fruit home to the hill."

"Well, as to the work these ants do, let us hope it bears sweet fruit as well," said Li

"The fruit this will bear is more like to be bitter," said Ry

Dinly yawned long and loud. "Oh my, but I don't think I got enough rest last night, and we rose ere the sun this day. And speaking of last night, Ryn, could you say again just how all this came about. I was rather sleepy, you know, and I think I may have missed something in the telling."

"Well, Dinly, speaking of getting up early, what say we have some breakfast, and Ry

They stepped to their ponies and mounted and rode toward the camp, faring down the slope Silverleaf and his captains had ridden up the evening before…

Bearing the flags of Darda Galion, Darda Erynian, Arden Vale, and Kraggen-cor, seven rode away from the camp of the legion and toward Caer Pendwyr above-War-leader Vanidar, Corons Eiron and Ruar, Chieftains Urel and Durul, DelfLord Volki, and Commander Ry

"We have come in answer to the High King's call," said Silverleaf to the warders above, "and Lord Steward Voren has summoned us unto council. I am Warleader Vanidar, Lian Guardian"-he gestured to those behind-"and these are those whose armies I serve."

Ry

"Welcome, my Lord Vanidar," called down the gate captain, "we were told to expect you"-his gaze widened at the sight of Ry

Before Vanidar could respond, Ry

Now the captain's eyes widened, and he breathed, "Waerlings." Recovering, he turned and spoke a command to unseen soldiers below, and Ry

Through the gateway they rode, and beyond the earthen dike were pitched row after row of tents, among which flew standards from poles, demarcating where soldiers from various lands were encamped.

Riding alongside Ruar, Ry

" Tis Pellarion," replied the coron. "The High King's flag."

"Well, they greatly outnumber the others."

"As it should be," replied Ruar. "The remainder are but token forces, left here to show the unity of the Free Folk."

Riding at hand, Coron Eiron barked a laugh. At Ry

Ry

Eiron shook his head. "Uneasy sits this truce, I would say."

"Truce?"

"Aye, for they are eld enemies but temporarily united against a common foe."

Ruar shook his head. "Humans."

Eiron cocked an eyebrow. "Forget not, Alor, we were once as mad as men."

Ruar reluctantly nodded, as across the encampment they rode.

They came to another wall, this one of stone and high, and once again were permitted entry through a warded gate, beyond which lay the city proper, with its cobblestone ways and buildings of stone and brick and tile, stucco and clay, most of which seemed to be joined to one another, though here and there were stand-alone structures. Narrow streets and alleyways twisted this way and that, the pave stones of variegated color. Shops occupied many first floors, with dwellings above. Glass windows displayed merchandise, the handiwork of crafters and artisans: milliners, coppersmiths, potters, jewelers, weavers, ta