The wind picked up an incredible amount of force as they dropped, and the ground came at them quickly. She focused on the entrance as they sped at it. He pulled up, and she was pressed against his back so hard it took her breath away. Approaching from the opposite bank, they flew over the valley so fast she was sure no one had seen them.

aThatas it!a she cried. aI remember the large rock sticking out of the wall.a Shilo gave a nod and banked to turn around. Again he raced for the valley, this time drawing his sword.

Samas heart was in her throat. aWhat are you doing?a aThey saw us, we have to get rid of them. Can you at least glide?a Her mind spun--was he really going to attack the hoarcs single-handedly? aNo! We should get the others.a aNo time. As soon as I set you down, go inside and keep them from getting past you,a He turned again, twisting onto his side as he banked hard and dropped into the valley. aJump off when we pass the cave.a Jump off! He was going to leave her to fight all those hoarcs by herself? He had to be insane! She had been holding onto him for so long, she didnat think her arms would work, let alone be strong enough to fight.

There was no more time for talk; the entrance was coming up. A few hoarcs looked up and saw them coming.

She was wondering what to do when Shilo flipped upside down and pulled her hands free. She let out a shriek as she covered her head and curled herself into a ball. Something slammed into her back then the world spun. Gyrating visions of grass then sky filled her sight as she tumbled along.

Her landing ended in a skid on her stomach. She pulled her stinging face off the ground to see a hoarc staring down at her. Angered by what Shilo had just done, she yelled, aDamn you! Help me up!a The hoarc grabbed her and helped her to her feet. Three others ran to her while the rest searched the sky. It occurred to her that not one had drawn a sword.

aMaster?a one hoarc asked.

She was about to tell him she wasnat his Master when a plan formed in her head. aYes...have everyone come out, now!a she barked.

Shilo appeared at the top of one rldge. In an instant, he ran a hoarc through then shot up to disappear on the other side. She pointed at where he went.

aGet him! He is one of a whole troop of flying men getting ready to attack...off that way!a Hoarcs ran to do her bidding. Another dozen piled out of the cave. Weapons drawn, they ran up over the hill to fight the group of imaginary Shilos.

Sam ran to the entrance. Peering into the dark, she tried to sense if there were anything else within. Finding nothing alive in there, she returned her attention to the hoarcs. They had all left the valley--she could hear their battle cries as they ran away. Now and then there were curses and a brief scream as Shilo came from a new direction to impale another one. Soon, the cries called out of treachery and began to get louder as the creatures came running back.

Sam set herself to fight and realized she had left her sword back at camp. The only thing she had to fight with was her mind. The bits of magic she was learning would be useless against a pack of bloodthirsty hoarcs. Neither Odifas teachings nor Friedaas would do any good. She knew where the hoarcs were, and prayer wasnat going to stop them. The only weapon she had was herself.

She called up the anger, nursing every bad feeling shead ever had to the surface. Her lips curled back and her wings stiffened as her rage grew. The world looked the same, but somehow a bit different. She saw the hoarcs running at her. Those were the ones who deserved her rage. They were the ones who wanted to hurt her.

The hoarcs were watching the sky, swords out as they ran. She focused on one and locked onto his mind. Lashing out with her will, she made his arm jerk up, stabbing the one beside him. The other didnat fall but cried out in anger and slashed back. As these two fought, she found another. This one she pushed to the side, making him bump into another hard enough to make them both fall. Again, they started fighting with each other.

Shilo came down at them again. She concentrated on the hoarcs set to strike back at him and made one swing his sword into the head of the one by him. She made the arm of the one on the other side of him twitch, and he dropped his sword. Shilo dove down and impaled two with quick strokes then climbed away again.

Not knowing what was happening, the hoarcs fled towards the safety of the cave. As they came closer, it was easy for her to pick one to control. The hoarc she chose she willed to start stabbing those ahead of him. She put an intense desire in him to kill the one who wore leaderas bars across his shoulders. As he attacked his commander, she shifted her attention to another and made him turn and attack a group of his comrades.

One by one, she got them fighting each other. The rush to get back to the cave was forgotten as they turned into a confused rabble. Shilo was still diving down to pick off one or two at a time, but it was the hoarcs themselves that did most of the damage. A few ran off alone to escape the slaughter. Spilling into the valley they had been assigned to protect, the hoarcs fought and killed each other until only a couple wounded ones were left alive. They were too badly hurt to fight any more, so Sam went out and picked up a sword and killed them herself.

Standing alone in the hoarc dust and scattered weapons, it dawned on her what she had just done. Her anger faded, and pride began to swell. She had done this by herself! She was no longer a child who ran away from her motheras minions. She had stood her ground and destroyed them.

Shilo came down, flapping to a stop beside her. She looked at him, still amazed she had won. aI did it, I really did it!a aYou were great,a he agreed heartily. aWhat did you do?a aI made them fight each other. I just willed each one to fight another, and they did what I wanted them to,a she explained.

He winked at her, giving her a smile. aWe knew there was something special about you. Ready to go get the others?a For the first time in her life, she felt confident. She no longer had to run in fear. aYou go. Iall stay here in case more come.a Shilo looked at her for a moment then rubbed his chin. aUmm, Sam, you do great with hoarcs, and Iam sure youall do good against pilgyns, too, but what if Momma shows up?a The enthusiasm she felt died. Nothing could stand against her mother; even Odif had been badly hurt fighting her. The anger tried to come back as she thought about Shilo ruining her victory with thoughts of possible defeat. She reasoned it out. He was trying to keep her safe. She pushed the anger down and got behind him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

aSlower, please,a she said.

Shilo took her back then returned to the spot with Jo-Jo. As the wizards moved everyone through the magic gate, Shilo went back again to fetch Gloredaniel once she had gotten everyone through the portal. The transfer went smoothly, there was enough room for Scorpio and Entaurus to walk through, carrying Odif between them. Although Sam only knew a little about the man who had died, she understood Odif was lost without him. Behind the blank face stained with tears there was no feeling from her; it was like she was an empty shell.

While they waited for Shilo and Gloredaniel, Sam sat on the side of Odif opposite Scorpio. He held the grief-stricken druidas hands and leaned her against him in a physical attempt to provide comfort. Sam took the mental route, doing her best to send feelings of sympathy as well as friendship. Once, Odif started to respond and think about her brother, only to break down into tears again.

Frieda came over and tapped Sam on the shoulder. aCan you see in the dark?a aNot as you mean. I know where objects and people are, but they donat appear like they do in the light.a Frieda hooked a finger at Porthalen, calling him over to her. aTake two of your men and Sam. See if there is anything down there that might hear,a she said, indicating Odif.

aI sense no one close to us,a Sam offered.

aSound travels, go make sure weare alone.a She didnat want to leave Odif; but with the woman clearly out of her senses, she was the only one available who could sense things at a distance.

aIall be right back,a she told Odif, laying a hand on her head.

Walking off into the dark of the cave, she was glad to find out the elves also could see without light. She kept her mind open, searching until the sound of crying was lost behind them. In the damp blackness, she felt nothing ahead but some small rodents and a few bats. By the time they got back, Shilo had returned, and Odif had quieted.

Odif rose as they approached. She watched them, and once they were with the group she said, aI have a request, a final request.a aWe arenat dead yet,a Scorpio objected softly.

aBefore I am, I want you all to know what to do with my body, if anyone survives.a Scanning the faces, she said, aThe halshaken believe in the rite of Shankar, the dividing and consumption of their body. Druids also believe in a form of Shankar.a aYou want us to eat you?a Gloredaniel choked.

Shilo raised his eyebrows with a grin. aI know what I want to nibble on.a His mirth died as Frieda shot him a glare.

Odif paid no attention to him. aThis is how I want my remains divided. My head is to be taken back to Longforest and buried at the base of an oak. My heart is to be...a aYou want us to cut off your head!a Scorpio gasped.

Her face was emotionless as she looked at him. aYes. May I continue?a aYou want to be chopped up,a Theo said, gaping at her.

aMy heart is to be taken to Tayanas grave and laid with him. If you canat find him, burn it and pray for him to find it.a She looked right at Scorpio then took his hand and laid it on her left breast. aThis is yours. If you survive, take it with you...a Scorpio jerked his hand away. aYou canat be serious!a aI am very serious,a she said flatly. aIf you donat survive, it will be a pillow for your head.a aAnd what if I die, and you donat?a he asked.

aI will die here,a she stated. aIf you die before me, I will leave it with you.a aDamn! She is crazy!a Hutch breathed. Scorpio just stared at her.

A trace of a grin crossed her face. aThe right one is for the gardens at Glenholden. Chop it up and bury the pieces to feed the flowers and plants. The remaining parts of me are for whoever needs them, or a shallow grave.a aWhy?a Entaurus asked, appalled at what she was saying.

aSo roots will be fed by my corpse,a she explained. aIt is important that someone do these things, if at all possible.a Frieda crossed her arms over her chest. aWell!a she huffed, aAt least you donat want us to eat you.a Odif met her eyes. aIf anyone is that hungry, I would not begrudge them a meal.a aEating the flesh of humans or elves is a deadly sin!a Frieda scolded. aI will have none of it!a aThen go hungry.a Odif bent over and picked up a sword left by the hoarcs. aWe better get moving.a

Chapter 20.

The bridge spanning the Jude River was flat except for ends that angled down. The supports looked to be made of incredibly long, solid blocks of stone set on edge. The pylons were similar monoliths, dividing the bridge into thirds. The four-hundred-foot-long, fifty-foot-wide surface was carpeted with small trees and grasses. Vines hung down in a green curtain on both sides. A family of deer grazing its way across looked up at metallic creaking and chugging sounds then fled as the first wagons came into view.

The tractor stopped with a hiss and a billow of steam from the wheel cylinders; the wagons it towed spilled men out. The first few drew up with their crossbows and watched for danger as others started across the ancient bridge. Other steam tractors pulled up beside the first, and soon a row of five machines faced the river. Behind them, trees cracked and bent to the sides as the first battlewagon arrived. It stopped behind the tractors and lifted colored flags, red over blue, to halt the line behind it.

Tayan and General Cooper wound between the steel wagons to get a good look at the bridge. A squad of men ran back from the other side, stopping to salute.

aGeneral Cooper, no hostile forces on the far bank. My men hold both sides of the river, sir,a a young corporal announced.

Cooper returned the salute. aVery well, prepare for crossing.a The corporal left and Cooper frowned at the bridge. aThese old bridges are very strong, we should be able to cross with no trouble.a Tayan knew this was true. Of the three that existed, any could still take a full regiment of cavalry across their span. The enormous weight of Cooperas steam wagons, however, was something else.

aSend over Sir Parsonsa cavalry first then wagons, one at a time. Start with the smithas wagons and the supplies. Once all the tractors are on the other side, weall send the battlewagons.a General Cooper gazed at him curiously. aDonat you want to see if they'll hold now? If they canat cross, theyall have to go all the way to the north end of the river.a aIam in a hurry--whatever crosses goes on,a Tayan stated. aAny left behind will have to try to catch up.a Pointing to the column, he said, aBack those things up. The longer theyare on the bridge, the more chance theyall have of falling in.a Sir Parson rode up, his horse more manageable as it became used to being near the loud wagons. aLord Tayan, will this hold?a he asked, eyeing the bridge.

Tayan nodded. aIt will hold your cavalry. Get them across now, take the priests with you. Donat forget Ellie.a aYes, Malord.a While Sir Parson wound his men between the wagons, he had the foot soldiers cross carrying everything they could. Every removable object was taken out of the battlewagons, lightening them as much as possible. A long stream of men formed as pieces were carried by hand and in the few common horse-and-wagon teams they had acquired.

While this was going on, Tayan studied the crude map in the command shack atop the first battlewagon. They were a hundred miles north of Tolina; the ancient road they were following would run almost to the plains. Hopefully, by then the forest would thin enough as to not impede their progress. The plains showed as a large empty space on the map. He had traveled them before and knew his best chance was to go west until they found the road that ran north to south. Zodiac had to be close to that road somewhere.

Ellie quietly appeared beside him. aTayan, you wish me to leave with the knight?a She still kept her head lowered, as if she didnat believe he wasnat going to kill her.

aYes. Have him take you to Sister Amber, and wait for me there.a aYes, Tayan,a she said dully. She started to leave then stopped and turned back. aTayan, may I ask a question?a aGo ahead.a aHow long will you make me live in shame?a Theyad been over this before; he wished she would believe him. aI told you, I am not going to kill you,a He reached out and held the stump of her wrist. aYou suffered for me, you should be proud and happy to be alive. I feel very glad to know you.a She shifted in place then lifted her head to meet his eyes. aIf what you say is true then you would have taken me as a woman by now.a aEllie, I have a wife.a She shook her head. aI know your wife died. Sister Amber is also yours, but you do not take her, either.a Her bow furrowed slightly. aDo you no longer like women?a He picked up on only her mention of Amber. aSister Amber is not mine,a he told her sternly. aWhat made you say that?a Ellie gave him one of her confused looks. aShe is yours, everyone knows that.a Obviously, she was not seeing things as they were. Not wanting to get caught up in senseless debate, he waved a hand at the door. aGo with Sir Parson. Iall see you on the other side.a Returning his attention to the map, he tried to remember if this bridge was linked to the ancient road that ran east to west just north of Old Castle. Many parts of the road were clogged with brush, and in a few places farmers had found the flat area prime for building their houses and barns. This far north, he didnat think they would run into any occupied settlements.

It was tempting to angle to the south and pick up hard roadbed so these machines wouldnat be slogging through mud. The more he thought about it, it seemed best to just go west as fast as possible. That was their best chance at finding Zodiac; and even if he didnat, he was sure these machines could wreak havoc all by themselves.

Cooper stepped up into the shack from below. aMalord, all the spare parts and ammunition have been transferred to the far side. The battlewagons each have enough fuel wood to operate only for a few hours, and the water tanks have been dumped, leaving minimal water. They are as light as we can make them.a Looking out the window, Tayan saw the bridge was clear of traffic. aVery well. Send the tractors over. Stay on this side until the last wagon crosses, just in case the bridge fails.a Cooper tried not to think about one of his expensive wagons falling into the river below. aAnd if it does fail, where should we meet?a He drew his finger over the map in the middle of the plains. aI know there is a road about here that runs north to south. That road is what Iam going for. When I get there, Iam going north to look for the city thatas supposed to be there. Like I said, if you have to find another way across, youall have to hurry to catch us.a aLetas hope that will not be a concern,a Cooper said dryly. Leaning out the window, he called, aChernault! Start getting your tractors over, one at a time!a Tayan watched anxiously as the first tractor lurched forward. It chugged up the incline, billowing smoke. Partway up, one rear wheel spun on crushed bushes, making it fishtail. The driver straightened it out and continued to move along the bridge, crushing brush and small trees. It made it to the other side and chugged down the far ramp onto dry ground. Cheers went up as it pulled over to wait for the others.

Cooper clapped his hands together. aAhh, yes!a Leaning out the window, he called, aChernault! Let the tractors with wagons behind go over!a While the others watched the progress of the tractors, Tayan watched the bridge. He picked landmarks on the other side and lined them up with the edges. When the tractors passed, the bridge didnat sag like he was afraid it might.

One by one, all twelve tractors crossed without incident. Each had followed the path of the first; parallel lines of bare rock showed where the wheels had gone down the center.

Russ Ironwright, the driver, and Captain Stark came up from below. Stark smiled broadly as Russ took hold of the levers that moved the steering wheels. aWe are ready to cross, Malord,a he announced.

General Cooper left with a salute. aSee you on the other side.a Tayan waited until Cooper was about to climb into the last wagon then he nodded. aCaptain, take us over the bridge.a aYes, Malord.a Speaking into a horn-shaped tube, he called, aSteam to wheels!a aSteam to wheels, aye!a came a hollow reply. aSteam is set to wheels.a aLow gearset, ahead full pressure!a As the reply came back, the battlewagon began to creep forward. Stark pointed at the middle of the bridge. aDriver, straddle the tractor tracks.a aYes, sir,a Russ replied. Concentrating, he moved one lever then the other, lining the wagon up.

The wagon picked up speed as it rolled towards the ramp. When it hit and started up, Tayan listened intently. The chugging and squeal of metal was loud, but he thought he heard stone breaking underneath. Going to the outside door on the left, he swung it open and leaned out, watching the machineas progress. Below, all he could make out was the vegetation being snapped off and crushed by the massive belted wheels. The actual roadbed was under a thick layer of dirt--even if the stone below was cracking he wouldnat see it unless a large gulf opened up. By then they would be dropping into the river.

He kept watching for any sign the bridge might be giving way as they leveled out and began crossing. Occasionally, he heard a loud pop, but he couldnat see any signs of damage to the bridge. They passed the halfway point, and he began to relax. The view was incredible; he could see a good distance downriver. The trees at the banks were so full they dipped their branches in the water.

He was watching the far bank where the side of the weed-infested road was lined with wagons and tractors when he felt, rather than heard, a loud cracking. The wagon lurched to the right.

aWe got a hole!a Russ called. Frantic, he hauled on the steering lever. The wagon righted itself then tipped again and slid back towards the hole.

aKeep going!a Tayan barked as he ran to the other side. Stark had already seen and was shouting orders down the tubes to increase speed.

Out the right side, Tayan saw a clean sliver of bridge had fallen away. They rode on the edge of a hole only a few feet wide, but a third of the bridge long. The edges of the hole showed raw ends of rusted steel bars that had been sunk into the stone. It also showed one of the stone beams popping out a spray of rock chips.

aMove this beast!a Stark yelled down the tube. aDriver, ease away from the crack onto solid bridge.a aNo!a Tayan countermanded. aWe are over a support beam--move and weall fall in!a Russ, wide-eyed with fear, looked at Stark. aCaptain?a Stark screwed his face up. aStay this course,a To Tayan, he said, aI pray youare right.a The bridge snapped out chunks of rock into the river; and on passing over the last piling they felt a slight drop. Finally, they moved down the ramp and onto solid ground.

Tayan moved to the open door. aLet me off then go to the end of the line,a He climbed down the ladder; and as soon as the machine slowed enough, he jumped off and ran towards the bridge.

Knots of people were gathered, looking at the underside of the bridge. Tayan ran up to Sir Parson, Amber and Ellie. He made his way to the bank and got a look.

Where the battlewagon had crossed, the beams underneath were spider-webbed with cracks. Here and there, small pieces of bridge still fell into the water.

aMost of that happened when you came across,a Amber told him as she gripped her talisman of Leighna. aWe were sure you werenat going to make it.a aIt didnat look good,a Sir Parson agreed.

Tayan went down the bank and got under the bridge. As he suspected, the other beams were intact, only the two they had traveled on were damaged. He studied the structure closely then ran back.

aRide over and tell General Cooper we can get two more across,a he said between breaths. aOne has to stay to the right, the other one to the left. Have them mark where the supports are, and move directly over them. If they move off the supports, theyall end up in the river.a aUnderstood,a Sir Parson said and ran to his horse.

Tayan looked around the people gather by the bridge. aWe didnat bring any wizards, did we?a aNo, Malord,a a knight said.

Cursing his own short-sightedness, he decided he would watch the bridge closely. Every wagon that was left behind would have a long way around to travel. That thought was less troubling than the idea of watching them fall into the river. It was tempting to just send the others back now, but he was fairly sure the bridge could hold another two.

Amber stood beside him as the next wagon began crossing. He held her hand out of habit, gripping it as if this alone would see the wagon safely across. The one coming over was on his left, the upriver side. The supports popped as it came on, and every now and then bits of rock would fall into the water. He held his breath as it passed the halfway point then the two-thirds point where it passed over the piling on this side of the river. The bridge was shedding pieces of stone, but it was holding together.

The wagon started down the ramp, and there were a series of loud bangs and snaps. The left side of the ramp broke free, and the wagon dropped. His scream accompanied others as it fell in a cloud of dust then hit the bank, still atop the broken slab of bridge. Steam escaped from view ports with a whooshing sound. Inside, men screamed in pain as steam filled the interior.

He ran towards the stricken wagon. On the top, a door flew open and men piled out, trying to escape being cooked alive. A mob gathered around and began helping those they could. Tayan counted the red-skinned, scalded men. There were twelve to a wagon crew, and all he could find were five.

Amid the clouds of steam, he leaped onto the hot metal casing to help the few who still screamed from within. When he grasped the main hatch in the cannon turret his hands were burned. He let go with a pained yell. Hands grabbed him and pulled him off and away from the dying men inside.

Major Chernault was beside him, guiding him away from the destruction. aWe canat help them. Theyare dead.a Tayan listened. He heard only the moaning from the men on the banks and the yells of priests as they called for water and bandages; there were no more screams for help. The steam now billowed out at a slower pace. Nothing lived inside it.

aDamn!a he bellowed, clenching his raw fists. aThatas it! The others go back!a aMalord, we have to pull the wagon up and re-man it,a Chernault told him.

His first thought was to leave it. It wasnat a battlewagon anymore, but a steel coffin for those poor men. On the other hand, he would not want to be left in a wreck like that.

aGet it cooled down and bury those men properly. No crossing except on the right side, by foot or horse.a aYes, Malord.a Chernault bowed then left to do his bidding.

He sat down hard. He had gambled with the lives of those men and lost. If he had shown more discretion, they would be headed north now, not burned alive. He had caused this waste of life.

He noticed Ellie as she did her best to wrap his hands. Seeing her struggle with one hand and her stump, he helped her cover his burns. She had no more than finished when Amber was beside him and spoke her words of prayer that healed his bubbled flesh. The lack of pain felt great, too great. He should be suffering, like those men.

aWe all know the dangers of the wagons,a Chernault told him. aOur engineers think we can shore up the remaining bridge and bring the others across.a aHow long?a aIt will take the rest of the day at least, maybe into tomorrow. It will also take time to pull that battlewagon up where we can repair it.a Other than the steam that had poured out of it, Tayan could see nothing wrong with it. aIs it broken?a Chernault began to rattle off possibilities. aOne boiler is ruptured for sure, possibly both. All the piping will have to be checked, and a drop like that most likely damaged the steering gear. If you look at the middle cannon itas drooping, so the elevation gear is either bent or torn loose by the fall. We can operate without it, so that isn't a priority. Iall have my men check the wagon out thoroughly. If it is damaged too badly, we may have to strip it for parts.a The promise of a fast trip across the plains died as he thought about how long they would have to sit here and wait. aGet started and inform General Cooper.a While Cooperas men took care of the bridge and the wrecked wagon, Tayan ordered camp set up. He had Sir Parson scout ahead with a few of Cooperas men so that once they were ready to go the path would already be laid out. A tractor went with them to uproot trees and make the road as clear as possible.

Tayanas quarters were in half of one of the towed steel wagons. Steps in the front led to a regular door and a room inside as well appointed as any palace guestroom. The rough, steel-framed windows were cover by heavy green curtains. The carpet was lush thick pile, and all three chairs in the sitting room were upholstered. He went to one and sat down heavily, resting his head against the back to stare at the ceiling.

aI should have had the bridge reinforced first!a he groaned.

Amber slid into a chair by him, much more smoothly. She reached over and tapped the back of his hand until he looked at her. aYou didnat know it couldn't take the weight. We all thought there wasnat going to be a problem.a aI should have made sure. What happened out there was my fault.a Leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees, he said, aI donat know enough about these wagons to make decisions like that.a Amber turned to Ellie, who was standing by the door. aEllie, would you get us some lunch, please?a Ellie left, and she turned back to Tayan. Softly, but firmly, she said, aAfter lunch, why donat you get into a battlewagon and find out how it works? By what I heard we have a couple days.a At times she seemed to have the simple wisdom that he somehow lacked. He looked up at her. aThat is exactly what I plan to do.a Tayan told Captain Stark he wanted to be worked like any other crewmember, and Stark did just that. He was put in white cotton overalls and went through every task in the wagon. The first was filling the boilers. He had no idea what a valve was; but by the end of the day he had turned every one at least four times. In the cramped innards of the wagon, he worked the hand pump that pushed air into the water storage tanks then watched little needles with marks on them called gauges to make sure the storage tank pressure was above the boiler pressure. Otherwise, water would flow out of the boilers and not in. He hauled wood and pumped the bellows to keep the sides of the firebox glowing. The work was hard, and became more challenging as the wagon moved. He learned to keep his balance despite sudden shifts while working continuously. At the riverbank, he hauled buckets of water to fill up the water tanks then opened and cleaned a large piece of pipe with a screen in it called a afilter.a By the end of the day, he knew what it was to be a aboilerman.a He was sure he knew everything that went on inside the wagon, but the grin of the crew chief told him he wasnat even close.

At the end of the day, Tayan slogged into his sitting room, exhausted. He took reports in filthy coveralls that once had been white. Ellie was aghast at his condition; Amber just grinned and asked what it was like to be working class.

The wagon sitting in the rubble of the bridge ramp was in bad shape. He understood when they told him that the boilers were ruptured, as well as one water tank, and that the left side feed pump was broken. He heard the bearings in the wheel engines were also gone, and the steering gear needed all new rods. He hadnat seen these yet, but he was sure he would tomorrow. The overall opinion was that the wagon could be repaired in three days.

News of the bridge wasnat any better. The ramps were being shored up with block and timbers, but the main span was too long to do anything with, and the river too deep to build more pilings in less than a month. Cooper came up with the idea to gut his wagons and tow the hulks across the bridge then reassemble them on this side. Again, this was a week-long task, further delaying them. The trek upriver to the beginnings of the Jude then back down the other side to meet them was also a weekas travel, if not more. Adding the possibility of another wagonas getting stuck, this time with no smith wagons to repair it, it made the trip more hazardous.

Taking the lesser of two evils, Tayan had Cooper start dismantling the wagons on the far side. Since they were stuck here, he ordered an area of forest leveled to build a temporary fort.

The next day he became a gunner and spent the day in the hot, sweaty turret, operating more steam and hauling rock. Ellie insisted on coming with him and ended up as the cannon sighter. To his surprise, and that of the other gunners, Ellie had a dead eye when it came to aiming the big barrels. After an houras practice, she was able to point the gun as accurately as the other two sighters were. It took her a bit longer to be able to call out the rotation and elevation, which was met with some mirth. Soon she was lining up shots at five hundred yards and landing them within feet of where she wanted them.

While Tayan learned one job then moved to another, Ellie kept perfecting her gunning skills. By the end of the day she won a bet by shattering a tree six hundred yards away with a single volley.

She tried to play down her accomplishment as the news spread. Every day thereafter, while Tayan went to other laboring tasks, Ellie sat in the cannon turret, angling the barrels higher and getting longer ranges with more precise hits. In a few days, she was telling the other gunners how to aread the feela of the way the wagon sat and watch for wind direction.

On the fourth day, the wagon that had dropped with the section of bridge was proclaimed ready to operate. The captain of the wagon and his second stood beside it with the other three survivors, ready to climb back in without a second thought. In gathering a new crew, General Cooper offered the lead gunner spot to Ellie.

Ellie shook her head. aI belong to Tayan,a she told him.

Tayan suddenly came up with a great idea. He put his arm around her and gave her a smile. aThat is just what I want you to do, be the lead gunner for Captain Angler. You're too good not to be.a Ellie frowned at him. aYouare giving me away?a aI never said that. Iam going to be up in that command shack, and I want the best sighter guiding those cannons. You do your job, and take the money Captain Angler gives you.a aYes, Tayan,a she said tentatively. aI am still yours, right?a He nodded. aDonat worry about that, just get up there and be the best gunner you can be.a This was a golden opportunity. He only hoped that she wouldnat have a hard time being accepted into the crew.

aYes, Tayan.a His concern about the other men putting up a fuss about having a Slavonic woman as a sighter was unnecessary. They accepted her without question. Most seemed eager to have her in the wagon with them. Tayan rode with them as they worked the wagon through drills and found that with Ellie on board they worked that much harder to perform flawlessly.

The other battlewagons had been dragged across and were being assembled a little quicker than the original estimate. They decided to have a feast to mark the occasion before moving on. On the day the last wagon was declared ready to go, boards and stumps were made into long tables, and fresh meat was hunted for the fire pits. Someone even came up with a keg of ale.

Tayan sat between General Cooper and Amber as the head priest gave blessings for the meal. Ellie sat on the other side of Amber, wondering why she wasnat serving. Over her gray slave clothes, she wore the brown coveralls of a gunner. Once the long prayers of thanks and hopes of victory over evil were finished, they dug in.

Right after they started eating, Ellie leaned over and held out her hand to him. aTayan, these are yours.a He took what she held out without thinking. Seeing the five silver coins, he asked, aWhy did you give these to me?a aCaptain Angler gave them to me for being lead gunner. They are yours,a she explained.