Erik said, ‘We’ve done well.’
Greylock said, ‘Given the total collapse at Krondor, well enough.’ He consulted reports that had come his way from positions to the north and south of him and said, ‘We have one nasty surprise.’
‘What?’
‘Great Kesh has moved to occupy everything in the Vale of Dreams.’
Erik said, ‘I thought Prince Erland had arrived at some sort of treaty with them?’
‘Apparently the Keshians didn’t agree.’
Erik shrugged. He was eating his midday meal with Greylock. Owen’s command would be pulling out after they finished eating, once Erik’s men had finished occupying the position Greylock’s command had dug. Erik’s men were pleased they didn’t have to create the barricades and could rest until the enemy put in an appearance.
‘As I judge things,’ said Greylock, ‘you must hold here for five days instead of four.’
‘I’ll try for six,’ said Erik.
Greylock nodded. ‘News from the north is good. Captain Subai and the Pathfinders have been able to get their men through the mountains with little trouble.’
Erik laughed. ‘Wait until the enemy is up there in strength.’
‘Well, part of the plan is to keep them from getting up there in strength.’ Owen sighed. ‘Reports are the fighting is the hardest in the north. There’s a company of Hadati alongside some of our boys, and they’ve dug in near a tiny pass southeast of Questor’s View.’ Erik called up from memory the maps he had studied and nodded. That position would have to hold; to let the enemy through in numbers up there would give them a clear route down the eastern face of the mountains, bypassing Darkmoor, straight to Sethanon. ‘But the enemy isn’t up there in sufficient numbers to dislodge them.’
Erik said, ‘I’m too tired to think. Once we’re dug in, I’m going to sleep.’
Owen rose, laughing. ‘I doubt it. You’ll check everything twice before you’ll decide you’re sufficiently dug in, so you won’t sleep until nightfall.’
Erik shrugged. ‘How much time have we gained?’
‘Two days. We still need to pick up three weeks.’
Erik said, ‘I don’t know if we can.’
‘If we don’t, we’ll have massive fighting in Darkmoor and along the ridge.’
‘What of the Armies of the East?’
Owen said, ‘They’re behind the ridge, waiting.’
Erik said, ‘I wish they were right over there.’ He pointed to an area where his men were readying weapons and supplies.
Owen put his hand on Erik’s shoulder. ‘I understand. It’s difficult watching your men get ground up bit by bit. But it’s necessary.’
Erik said, ‘Prince Patrick made that clear to me, as did Knight-Marshal William. But no one said I had to like it.’
‘Understood,’ said Owen. Turning to a sergeant of his command, he said, ‘Sergeant Curtis!’
‘Yes, General?’
‘Get the men ready to march.’
‘Sir!’ The sergeant turned and hurried away, shouting orders.
‘ “General,” ‘ said Erik with a grin. ‘Suppose Manfred regrets discharging his Swordmaster?’
Owen said, ‘Ask him when you get to Darkmoor.’ Owen mounted his horse. ‘Besides, he really didn’t have anything to say about it. It was Mathilda who gave me the boot.’
At mention of his father’s widow, Erik said, ‘I suppose I’m going to have to deal with her soon.’
‘Only if you stay alive, my friend,’ said Owen, then he turned his horse and walked him away. Over his shoulder he said, ‘So stay alive.’
‘Fare well, Owen.’
Erik left the campfire and started inspecting his men’s positions. Owen had been right, and it was hours after sunset before Erik found time to sleep.
Roo, Jason, and Luis stood with weapons ready as the two women hurried the children up the bank to a cave. They had moved without difficulty for two days, finding rough trails that kept moving toward their goals. They had found a woodsman’s cabin, abandoned but untouched, where they had spent one night, risking a small fire, though Roo worried the scent of smoke in the air might reveal then-position.
They had left the relative comfort of that cabin and were now no more than one day’s travel from the road Roo remembered, when they heard the sound of riders, growing louder by the minute. Roo didn’t know if the riders had picked up their trail or were just heading their way by chance, but either way they were rapidly getting closer.