He looked at Amber for help. She picked up her plate and stood. aEllie, switch seats with me.a Ellie slid over. Beaming Tayan a smile, she said, aI understand now--you have me be the sighter to get money. That is very clever.a Tayan handed her back the coins. aEllie, these are yours.a She eyed him suspiciously. aIall keep them for you, if you want.a aWho is in that turret, you or me?a he asked.

aI am, because you want me to be.a aThe point is that you are the sighter. The money you get for being sighter belongs to you.a She frowned at him. aSlaves canat have money.a Amber took her turn to explain. aEllie, Tayan wants you to keep the money for yourself. You deserve it.a Ellie looked at her then back to Tayan. aWhat am I going to do with money?a aRight now, just hold on to it,a he said, putting the coins in her breast pocket. aWhen we get to someplace where you can spend them, Amber will take you shopping.a She looked at him, blank-faced. aI am very confused.a aYou will understand in time,a Amber told her. aFor now, just do what Tayan wants you to.a Jacob, another gunner in the wagon crew, appeared over Ellieas shoulder. aHey, Ellie, the rest of us are sitting over at that table, why donat you join us?a Ellie glanced at him. aI am supposed to sit by Tayan.a Jacob was taken aback by her reply. He looked down his nose at her. aToo good to sit with your fellow crewmembers?a aYou can go sit with them,a Tayan told her quickly. Leaning towards her, he whispered, aMaybe you should.a Amber had gotten up and was whispering in Jacobas ear. He frowned at first then nodded in understanding. Ellie looked over at the other men. The look on her face made Tayan think she would rather be with them.

Tayan picked up her plate and handed it to Jacob. aCould you take this for her?a aSure,a he said then reached over and picked up her cup. aCome on, Ellie. Bart really misses you.a Ellie got up hesitantly. Again, Amber said something quietly to her. She looked at Amber and gave her a grin then went over to the other table. Satisfied, Amber sat back down, sliding to her original place beside Tayan.

Tayan turned to see Ellie sit down with the others, all smiles. She was quickly caught up in the chatter as they ate.

aWhat did you tell her?a Straightening up, Amber took a breath that made her chest swell as she looked at him with a twinkle in her eye. aI told Jacob what weare trying to do, but not to let her know yet. I only told Ellie we wanted to be alone for the night.a aGood, very good,a He refrained from telling her that it sounded like a wonderful idea. A chuckle came from the other side of him. General Cooper gave him a smirk and a wink.

aWhat?a he asked, a little too self-consciously.

General Cooper waved his fork over his plate as he shook his head. aNothing. Nothing at all.a He kept checking over his shoulder at how Ellie was faring. She seemed to be having a good time. He was quite pleased to hear her laugh. Hers wasnat a smooth, clear sound--she laughed in snorts. The donkey-like noises she made soon got everyone else around her laughing. He couldnat help himself, and neither could Amber. Ellieas mirth spread quickly; and the more it spread, the louder she snorted.

He leaned toward Amber as he chuckled. Meeting eyes with her, he felt her gently squeeze the hand he hadnat realized he was holding. He held hers a bit tighter, thankful for her presence. Their laughter subsided as they gazed into each otheras eyes.

Suddenly, the last thing he wanted to do was laugh. The soft look she was giving him and her closeness made his heart beat faster. He wanted to wrap his arms around her, to kiss her and never stop. The sounds around him faded and the only thing in his world was her. Her lips quivered, and a soft hand caressed his face. He reached out to touch her cheek, to let her know that he was one person who would never think of her as anything but beautiful.

General Cooper broke the moment by slapping him on the back. aThat girl has a hell of a laugh!a Acutely aware he was about to kiss a Sister of the Cloth in front of hundreds of people, he snapped his attention back to reality.

aAh, yeah, sure does,a he said, getting his breath back.

Amber composed herself, or tried to. She was so flushed her ears were red. Like him, she was pretending that nothing had happened. Across the table, men had their heads down, avoiding their eyes. She took a few breaths, unable to speak. She tried to get a drink from her cup, but her hand shook so badly she put it down. Not looking at anyone, she stood up.

aPlease excuse me,a she said in a whisper then all but ran away.

Tayan was ashamed of himself. Amber had to be embarrassed to tears by his actions. How dare he try something like that! He would apologize to her tomorrow--that was, if she ever spoke to him again.

aDidnat interrupt anything, did I?a Cooper asked.

aOh, no,a he replied quickly. The rest of the dinner he made small talk with those around him. The whole time the image of her horrified look stayed with him.

When he got up, he decided he couldnat wait until tomorrow. He checked on Ellie; she was still with the wagon crew. Their plates were empty, but they were heavily engaged in conversation.

They had built a roughly oval fort with log and dirt walls. The area they dined in was towards the river side. When Amber ran off, she was headed for the priestsa tents, which were gathered in the back. He went that way, searching for her.

Amber sat at the base of the thick stump with her knees drawn up to her chest. This stump was used as an offering table. On it, the gold cup that signified Odin sat between two candles. The candles were not lit, for which Amber was thankful. She was able to pray then sit in hiding with no one to bother her.

She didnat wipe away the tears that took jagged paths down her face as they paused in each depression. In a way, they felt cleansing, as if they were washing away the lust that she felt. At the table, she had been ready to give herself to him right then. Now, she didnat know why she had felt like that. Maybe there was something about his laugh, or the way he looked at her. She had ignored the whole world and Leighna and would have given both up just to taste his lips on hers. Once again, she had disgraced herself.

A shadow moved in front of her, kneeling down on one leg. His voice sounded sad.

aAmber, I am very sorry for what I did. Please forgive me.a What he did? She tried to focus on him, but his form was backlit by the fire in front of the tents. Hugging herself tighter, she shook her head. aNo need, it was my fault.a aI donat think it was your fault I tried to kiss you,a he said slowly.

She half-heard what he said. Her mind was on the prayer she had offered. aI wanted Leighna to forgive me,a she explained, aBut even as I asked it, I knew what the answer was.a She looked up at the shape of his head, where his gorgeous eyes were. aTo be forgiven, I first need to feel regret. I canat regret wanting you.a aI...a he started then lost the power of speech.

aActing how I did in front of everyone, that I asked forgiveness for,a she went on, trying to grin. aI canat help how I feel. Every time I look at you I have to think before I speak, or else I might burst out and tell you how much I love you, or that given the choice between Motherhood or being your wife, I would rather be your wife.a Tayan sat down, holding a hand to his forehead. aAmber...I...a aYou still love Lucinthia,a she said, telling him what she knew he was thinking. aTo me, that makes you the sweetest man alive. Iam glad you feel so deeply, it only makes me love you more,a She noted that now he held both hands to his head, as if to crush something inside. Blinking, she attempted to clear her vision of tears. aYou must get on with your life some day, and when you do Iall be waiting.a She wished with all her heart he would say something, do something to let her know she had poured her soul out to him for a reason. She ached to have him tell her that he loved her at least half as much as she loved him. He didnat. He only sat holding his head as if it were about to explode.

Neither of them spoke for a while. The night air seemed to deepen the tension as she waited for him to react. After what had to be hours, he staggered up and turned away from her. His voice was thick.

aIam...so...damn sorry,a he choked. He jogged away.

Amber had to bite down on her fist to keep from crying aloud. Her tears were not only for herself but for him. He would go on as he was, pining over his dead wife. Never would he know the joy and tenderness they could give each other.

Chapter 21.

In the morning, Tayan was glad to have the column start moving. His job was easy. In the command shack, all he had to do was stare out the window unless they ran into trouble. The worn look on his face and the dark circles under his eyes spoke of the sleepless night before.

He ran it through his head a thousand times. What could he have said differently? If he let her think that some day he would be selfish enough to take her away from her vocation, it would mix her up even worse than she was. If he had stayed with her to explain it then he would have ended up hugging her and possibly causing her worse disgrace. Amber was a good friend; he had to do what was best for her.

The engine noise became louder as the door to the interior of the wagon opened. Jacob the gunner popped his head out. aRequest to enter command.a Captain Angler waved him out. aCome up.a Jacob shut the door behind him, much to the relief of Tayanas ears. He stood watching out the window and glancing at Tayan. After a couple minutes, he got up the nerve to speak.

aLord Tayan, I want to talk about Ellie.a He took in the nervous look on the manas face. aWhat about her?a aI want to buy her,a he said quickly.

Tayan returned to staring out the window. aI donat sell people.a Jacob dropped his eyes. aI really want her, but she said that only her Master can...a He stopped as Tayan eyed him. The half-elf lord wasnat in the mood to discuss most subjects, and Ellie was at the top of the list.

aDo you want to own her or marry her?a Jacob shrugged. aI want her, however I can get her.a aThen be patient.a Jacob waited a few seconds then asked, aThatas it? Just abe patient?aa aThatas what I said.a Jacob shifted like he wanted to resolve this right now. He noticed Captain Angler giving him the evil eye, so he decided to leave.

aYes, MaLord.a He swung the door open and disappeared into the wagon.

After the door shut again, Captain Angler walked over to Tayan. aIt seems Ellie is becoming quite popular. Before we left this morning, it was Bart who claimed he had to have her. Sometimes I think these men spend too much time cooped up in this thing.a The way he said it rubbed Tayan the wrong way. aWhat does that mean?a Captain Angler shrugged. aNothing, just that maybe my men need more time with normal women.a aNormal women?a aYou know, ones who arenat green,a he said with a smirk.

Tayanas voice became hard. aI suppose they should avoid elven women as well. And letas not even discuss the dark women of the south islands.a Captain Angler opened his mouth then took a good look at Tayanas ears. aI did not mean to offend you, Malord,a he said slowly.

aYouare right about one thing,a he replied evenly. aEllie is not quite the same as most anormala women. Iad say sheas better.a Captain Angler gave a slight nod and became very interested in getting reports.

The wagons moved at a brisk pace the whole day. Lunch was served in shifts, half the crew at a time. Although they didnat travel at the blistering speed Tayan had heard about, they did move at a near horse-gallop, and they kept it up the entire day. By the time the sun was setting, they had gone from the river in the middle of the forest to the more lightly forested edge of the Jude.

Tayan retired to his quarters as the crews chopped wood and fetched water for the next day. He made sure he didnat go near the priests or the tents where crewmen whoad been burnt in their daily duties were being healed. It was best if he stayed away from Amber for a few days, if not the entire trip.

Sitting down, he leaned back to the sounds of axes and saws. Head learned by now it took full water tanks and many trees to keep these things going all day long. That thought led to another one--where would they find the wood or water once they hit the plains?

He got up and went to find General Cooper. It happened that Cooper was on his way to see him. He no more than opened the door and stepped out when he saw the General approaching with a small entourage. All five battlewagon captains were with him, as were Sir Parson and Amber. Seeing him, Amber dropped her gaze and slid behind the knight.

He tried to pretend he didnat see her at all. Keeping his attention on General Cooper, he put on his best smile. aGeneral, I was just coming to find you.a aAs we were coming to discuss matters with you, Malord.a Waving a hand, he added, aYou first, please.a Tayan nodded towards the logs being cut up. aYour wagons use quite a bit of wood. Do you have another source of fuel?a aCoal, Malord, but we are very far from the mountains. It seems we were thinking along the same lines. My captains agree--we must slow our progress. Traveling so quickly is burning up all our reserves; and if weare going on the plains, wood will be hard to come by.a aMy thoughts exactly,a he agreed. aWhat will happen after weare on the plains for a week or two?a The captains looked at Cooper and shook their heads. Planting his hands on his hips, Cooper said, aThere is no way we can operate that long without some kind of fuel. Even if we are fully stocked, the longest we can go without resupplying is three days, and that's at an easy pace.a Tayan folded his arms across his chest as he thought. aWe've been traveling at a pace of a weekas worth of normal travel, every day. Iave crossed the lower part of the plains before--itas two months of grasslands. Letas say we use every corner of every wagon to store wood. How much farther would that get us?a aFuel is not the only issue,a Cooper said. aWater is also needed, and lots of it. We can stuff wood just about anywhere, but that will do no good when the water runs out. We get into one fight and use the cannons, we'll deplete our water in a single day.a aIam supposed to meet Zodiac at a lake in the middle of the plains,a Tayan reminded him. aIf we make it to there, we can get everything we need before we go on.a aHow far is this lake?a aAt the speed weave been going, about four days.a Cooper sighed. aThat would be eight days if we travel at the most efficient rate. Malord, that is out of our range.a aWe have to make it within range,a he replied heavily. aGet rid of anything we donat need and pack as much wood as we can into these wagons. Weall hang canvas to catch rainwater if we need to.a Pointing back at his quarters, he said, aThatas first. Gut it and start filling it with wood. Do you have coopers?a aThree, but it will take a thousand barrels to hold enough water for even two days of travel.a aThen they better get started.a Tayan helped strip his quarters, keeping only the bed. The only reason he kept that was night fell before they could fill up both rooms with the four-foot-long chunks of log. As his and other sleeper wagons were turned into woodbins, the engineers got together and devised inverted tent roofs. Instead of coming to a point on top, supports were positioned so the canvas caught rain and funneled it down into the center. Many complained about this, since they had a wide stream not too far from where they stopped. Changing the design of the tents had only begun, though, before the camp settled in for the night.

Morning brought Ellie stumbling into Tayanas quarters. He awoke to find her in the doorway holding her hand out to Jacob, who gave her a large bowl.

aYou got it?a the man asked, holding his hands out as if expecting her to drop it.

aYes, thank you, Iall be back in a while.a Ellie came in and smiled. aTayan, I brought your breakfast. We are in a hurry to get our wagon started, I hope you donat mind that I canat serve you as I should.a aItas okay,a he said with a yawn. He took the bowl then eyed her as she knelt in front of him. aEllie, you donat need to do that.a aItas comfortable. Iall be sitting all day in the turret,a she said cheerily. aItas hot in there.a Quickly, she added, aBut not too bad.a He noticed she still wore her gray clothes under her coveralls. aWhy donat you take off a set of clothes?a aI canat--I have to wear the coveralls.a aYou can take the gray stuff off.a She frowned at him. aI am a slave, I canat take those off.a He had been wondering when a good time to tell her would arrive, and now seemed to be as good as any. aEllie, the day you climbed up into that turret, you stopped being a slave.a aWhat?a aYou are a cannon sighter now.a She stood up, a pained look on her face. aI donat understand.a He took her hand and pulled her gently to sit on the bed. aI want you to listen closely.a He waited until she gave a slight nod then he said, aDonat get upset. You're worried that I freed you, right?a aYes.a aI didnat have to. Ellie, you freed yourself,a She started to pull away, and he tightened his grip to make her stay put. aWe both know you were a good slave, a damn good one. Now, you're a damn good cannon sighter. The other men in that wagon depend on you.a aI...did that for you,a she said. A tear rolled down her cheek.

aAnd you did well. Captain Angler is paying you, just as he pays the other crewmen. The money you get you can spend on food for yourself, clothes, a place to live of your own.a He watched her closely. She had a lost look on her face, but at least she wasnat carrying on. aHow do you feel?a She swallowed and shifted her gaze to him. aLike I just stepped off a cliff.a Her analogy was amusing, and not too far from the truth. aIn a way, you have. Only, in this case the cliff was holding you prisoner.a aI am to be alone,a she choked.

He put an arm around her and spoke as soothingly as he could. aYou are not alone. You have a whole crew who want to be your friends. If you need me, Iall be here for you.a She bit her lip. aWhen I am not in the wagon, what do I do?a aWhatever you want.a aHow about where I sleep?a aGet a room somewhere, you have money,a Trying to anticipate her next question, he said, aAnd when youare not on the road riding in the wagon, you can walk into any inn and get a meal.a aYou will stay with me?a she asked cautiously.

aThatas what I said.a He tipped his head to touch hers. aI know you are confused; but believe me, in a few months youall be wondering why you stayed a slave for so long.a She sat in silence for a moment then took his arm from her shoulders and got up. Going to the door, she shut it and started removing her clothes. Tayan averted his eyes, waiting for her to put something back on.

aHere, I will not be needing these anymore.a He looked up to see she was holding her gray slave clothes in her hand. She was also naked. This was the first time he had seen her scars. Not thinking, he stared at them and traced a few of the thick welts that covered her stomach.

aDear Odin,a he breathed.

aIf I can find no place to sleep, would you let me share your bed?a she demanded with anger in her voice.

He sensed she was asking about more than actual sleeping arrangements. He stood up and took her in his arms. aEllie, you will find a man who loves you and does not care about your scars.a She didnat hug him back, just stood with her arms hanging on her sides. Her voice was tinged with acid. aLike you do not?a He slipped back enough to hold her face in his hands. Looking into her eyes, he said, aI love someone else. If I did care for you, those scars would not matter one bit.a aYou are confusing as hell!a she snapped then brought her hand to her face. Moving out of his grasp, she went to her coveralls and snatched them up. She looked at them and shook them at him. aI donat know what Iam doing. Please tell me you are not going to let me starve!a aYou will not starve. I will help you however I can.a aYou better,a she mumbled and quickly put her clothes on. Once dressed, she opened the door, pausing before she went out. Her voice was a mix of fear and anger. aI feel betrayed. After all I went through for you, it is clear you want nothing to do with me. I will be the sighter for Captain Angler, and I will do my best. Maybe he will appreciate me!a She slammed the door on the way out, which made an echoing clang.

He sat down with a sigh and picked up the bowl of fruit. She hadnat taken the news very well, but at least he had done what he needed to do. He remembered the day Duke Toma had told him he couldnat change a born-and-bred slave into a free woman. Picking up an apple, he told it, aSee, you bastard, I did it.a By afternoon, the trees had thinned dramatically. The landscape inclined upward, and the wagons chugged louder as they built up more pressure to climb. They followed a section of ancient road cut into the hills. The crest of one hill was split, the road carved into solid rock; and to each side were soaring rock walls. When the road descended, it was easy to see that the ridge it ran on had been built just for that purpose.

Tayan marveled at the engineering that had gone into its construction. Huge amounts of dirt and rock had been moved to make two wide surfaces, one beside the other. They stopped on one section that was elevated a good hundred feet from the valley below. In the valley was a stream feeding a small pond. Tayan send scouts to find a way down to get water. None was found, so a bucket brigade was set up from the road down the steep banks of the ridge to the pond. It took all of the men and Sir Parsonas knights to form a living chain.

They worked until nightfall, filling the wagons. Thankfully, enough wood had been collected that they didnat need to work into the night gathering that as well. Tayan decided to send two tractors ahead in the morning so crews could find and start felling trees before the rest of the column moved.

His foresight paid off. The advance tractors found a small lake surrounded by the last thick group of trees they could see for miles. One of the boilermen came up with the idea of lining the inside of a towed wagon with tarred canvas then filling it with water. The idea was sound, but when it was filled the wheels sank into the ground and they broke the hitch trying to move it. Experimenting, they found the most they could fill one was halfway before the wagon became too heavy. Using this method, they half-filled four towed wagons. The men that had been riding in the wagons now rode either inside the battlewagons and tractors or clung to the outside and top of the machines. General Cooper did some figuring and decided they had increased their range another two days.

The stop at the small lake cost them a dayas travel. Then one of the tractors broke down and cost them another. They finally set off again, and the road became straight and flat.

After the fourth day on the grasslands, Tayan walked back to a collection of tents near the last tractors that pulled the horse wagons. Two priests were talking in front of the largest tent as he came up. The white collars on their brown robes told him they were Brothers.

aGood afternoon, Brothers,a he said and gave a slight bow. aIs Father Fisher available?a Both men smiled, and one said, aHe is involved at the moment, Malord. I will see if he can be disturbed.a The Brother went in. He came back out and held the flap open. aFather Fisher will see you, Malord.a Tayan uttered a thanks and went in. Father Fisher sat in a folding chair, leaning on his walking stick. On his seeing Tayan, a grin crept across his aged face. aWelcome to Odinas house, Malord. Please, have a seat,a he said, indicating a mat in front of him.

aMy business is brief.a He knelt on one knee. aWe need to get these wagons to a lake, the only one on the plains. General Cooper has told me that by using the ancient roads we have extended our ability to travel. Both I and the general have done everything we can conceive of to reach this destination. I would like to ask if there is any way Odin can help us.a Father Fisher eyed him. aDo you attend church?a aNot since my wife died,a he answered honestly.

aAhh,a Father Fisher breathed, as if this was an answer. He shifted his cane to lean on his shoulder. aA time when you need Odin the most, yet you turn your back on him.a Tayan wasnat so sure now about his decision. He had wanted this to be quick, fearing he might see Amber. aLook, Father, I donat have much time.a aYou have no faith,a the priest stated. aIf you had faith then you would know Odin is with you and will guide you if you let him.a Tayan shrugged. aI thought maybe an extra prayer or two might help.a aPrayer always helps,a Father Fisher nodded. aContinue to pray, and keep watch for Odinas signs.a A mental picture, as clear as a sign hanging off a building, came to his mind; it read abig mistake.a aI was hoping you would offer a prayer.a The priestas face became solemn. aI have offered many prayers, prayers not only to ask that our holy mission be victorious but also prayers to keep us safe and our souls at ease. Just a short while ago, I was offering prayers with Sister Amber to help her through her troubled times.a Involuntarily, Tayan rubbed his forehead. aI never meant to hurt her. Could you tell her that for me?a aI am a priest, not a messenger service.a aI didnat mean it like that,a he said defensively. aItas just that I canat be around her, not anymore. She doesnat need me interfering with the path sheas chosen.a He leaned towards the priest in an attempt to make him understand. aFather, itas not that I donat love her, I do. If I ever were to want another wife I canat think of anyone else Iad rather be with. The fact remains that Lucinthia died for me. How can I possibly ask Amber to leave her robes, and her life, for someone who canat protect the ones he loves?a Father Fisher was unmoved by his outburst. Slowly, he said, aA Sister will always be a Sister, even if she marries. Tell me more about the death of your wife. Did she live a happy life before she died?a aWe were happy. There were times when the pressure of being a princess got to her, but I did my best to make up for it.a As he thought about their last days together, his fist tightened. aThe day of the attack we had a fight. She wanted me to talk to my father and, I donat know, come to terms with him.a The pain of that day became fresh in his mind. It was the last day of her life, and instead of telling her he loved her he had an argument with her. He felt like he was going to choke as he continued. aA vlak was after us, and it caught us.a Tears clouded his vision. aI told her to hide so it wouldnat find her. I knew I was dead, but she had a chance to stay alive.a A sob escaped his throat. He squeezed his fist as if this would ease the agony. aShe could have lived! All she had to do was keep her mouth shut!a His knee gave way in his grief. He fell to sit and look at the floor. aShe screamed for him!a he cried. aThe last words I heard from her was her screaming for him!a aDid he come?a Father Fisher asked calmly.

Wiping the tears from his eyes, he looked up. aOh, yes. He came, he killed the vlak, but that didnat help my wife, did it?a Father Fisher sat on the floor in front of him. aYour wife gave up her life for yours, just as you were trying to do for her. You should be thankful for such deep love.a Tayan glared at him through his clouded vision. aI should be thankful that son of a bitch let my wife die? He managed to save me, why not her! Can you tell me that?a To his surprise, Father Fisher slapped him. Raising a bony finger at him, he said, aListen, young man! You are too quick to pass judgment and far too quick to hate. Might it occur to you that he couldnat save her? Too many souls are lost for just this reason. You are consumed with things that might have been.a The slap calmed him but didnat change what he felt. aThings that might have been,a he whispered. aIf Odin is as merciful as you say, I might have never been.a aI never said Odin is merciful. Odin does have his plan, and that is what we must accept.a Struggling to his feet, Father Fisher went back to his chair. He sat down and eyed Tayan sadly. aIf your wife lived a happy life and went into Odin and Leighnaas embrace when she passed on then you should be thankful. When you pray, talk to your wife as well. Let go of the anger you hold.a Tayan couldnat remember the last time he had prayed. Even when he did go to church he just bowed his head and waited for the aamen.a As he thought about it, to ignore Odin for so long then to ask help to find this damned lake, just didnat seem right. He had no idea why he had told the priest as much as he did about Lucinthiaas death. It was just something that had eaten at him for so long he had to let it out to someone.

aIam not too good at praying, but Iall give it a shot.a aJust talk, Odin will listen,a Father Fisher suggested.

aEven if I donat forgive him either?a he whispered.

aStart by forgiving yourself then ask Odin for guidance.a He gave a sarcastic chuckle. aRight now, Iall settle for a lake.a aI will pray for you,a Father Fisher said sternly. aUnless you set your soul right, a lake is of no consequence.a aIt is to those steam wagons.a aThe will of Odin is not carried by steel machines that move. It is carried by us.a Father Fisher flicked his eyes to the far corner of the tent. aMalord, if you insist that this lake is so important, I must have someone stay with you to help you set your soul right.a aThat has been my task all along,a Amber said from the corner of the tent.

Tayan twisted his head so hard to look at her he felt his neck crack. She had been there the whole time! She had heard every damn word he said. How was he going to explain it?

She came over to him. Squatting down, she cupped his face in one hand as she locked eyes with him. aI was so consumed with my feelings I forgot why I came with you. We will conquer evil. First, we must do as Father Fisher said and get your soul straight.a Standing up, she twitched her fingers, signaling for him to take them. aCome on, we have much work to do.a The power of speech eluded him as he took her hand and got up. Many thoughts raced through his head; he ached to organize them enough to say something intelligent. Amber wasnat supposed to know he loved her. The last thing he had wanted her to find out was that he had let his wife die. Yet, every time he thought he had what he wanted to say straight, it either sounded like he was wallowing in self-pity or that he didnat care enough about her.

They were walking along a line of steam tractors when Amber broke the silence. aI have come to find that life is not as simple as wead like it to be. I am not as crude as Odif, so I wonat slam you into one of these wagons and yell at you. I am going to ask that you believe me when I tell you that all things work out in the end.a A grin cracked his face. aSo, when is the end?a aI donat know.a She clasped his hand and laced her fingers through his. aI do know that, whether as husband and wife or a Lord and his Priestess, we will see it together.a He looked to see her eyeing him. aYou arenat going to give up on me, are you?a aNope. Howas Ellie?a aSheas doing good. Iam no longer her favorite person in the world, but she knows sheas free.a Amber gave his hand a squeeze. aVery good. Can we go see her?a aSure.a He lifted their clasped hands. aSecond battlewagon from the front. They were spreading the canvas in case it rains tonight.a Looking up at the clear sky, he added, aI donat think weall have much luck there.a She jerked on his arm to get his attention. Looking at him sternly, she said, aHave a little faith, honey. Have a little faith.a Tayan didnat see any sign of rain on the horizon, though his own mood was less cloudy. Seeing her frown made him grin--he loved the way she knitted her brows together. aIall try.a She tried hard not to grin back. Still, a corner of her lip curled up. aWe will pray together tonight. You will start, and it will be meaningful.a He cringed inside, but what had he expected? aI will, it will be,a he said, wondering if he could pray and actually mean it. The sun was on the horizon; he had a few hours to prepare himself. Until then, he had things to do. aLetas go see Ellie.a Ellis was quite pleasant with Amber, though she ignored him until Captain Angler growled at her to show some respect. Even then, she only gave him a crisp greeting and stated she had to get back to work. She might hate him, but she was free. To Tayan, this was an equitable trade.

True to her word, Amber stayed by his side and followed him to his quarters after dinner. She made him kneel down in the middle of the floor and begin the prayers. Kneeling in front of him, she held his hands with her talisman between them and waited for his stumbling devotion to be over. Not sure what to say, he asked Odin to help them find the lake so their mission could continue then tacked on a few words about promising to renew his faith. After his aamen,a Amber gripped his hand to let him know not to move and spoke more eloquently.

aLeighna, our light and salvation, we thank you for this day you have given us, and your help on our holy journey to rid the land of the evil that plagues us. Let us continue to walk in your light. I ask that you help this man find peace and keep him safe from the darkness that threatens us all. I also ask you to let Lucinthia know that he is thinking of her. His love for her withstands the separation of death. Let her feel this love and be joyous, and let him know the love she feels for him so he may carry on. It is in your divine light that we live, and in your name we pray, amen.a He was doing well, partially feeling some comfort from her prayer, until she mentioned Lucinthia. As she asked Leighna to let his wife know he still loved her, he found he was, indeed, praying along. More than anything, he wanted his dead wife to know the harsh words they had spoken meant nothing. He couldnat stand thinking she had died believing he was angry with her, not only for the argument but also because she had summoned his father, forfeiting her own life. Right after Amber finished her prayer, he gripped the talisman and prayed with all his heart.

aPlease forgive me,a he choked.

Amber put her arms around him, and he hugged her tight. Her softness and the sweet aroma of her hair was the very essence of love and forgiveness. He found it very hard to let go. Eventually he did, for no matter how badly he wanted her to console him, she was a Sister and he would not cause her disgrace again.

That night, they were hit with one of the worst rainstorms he had ever seen.

aTell me again what you saw,a Zodiac ordered the scout.

The man in brown leathers told him again, glancing every now and then at Stazor, who sat on his barded horse beside Zodiac. aWe found the lake, tracks are everywhere. Besides hoarcs and men, there were pilgyn tracks, and Gus said one set looked like vlak. The tracks cover the whole area ahead, but they are mixed up--we canat tell what direction they were going.a aThese plains are flat, so set trails arenat used,a Zodiac mused.

aCould you determine a general direction?a Stazor asked.

aNot really. For every set we saw going one way, another went in the opposite direction. Signs are all over the place, but we didnat run into anything.a aWith the lake ahead, it might be a crossing point,a Stazor offered. aEven evil has to stop for water.a aGo up the eastern side with your men,a Zodiac told the scout. aHave another team go up the west side. If this is a crossing point for them, they will have some kind of watch set.a aYes, MaLord,a The scout turned his horse and galloped off.

Stazor pulled his helmet off and wiped the sweat from his brow. aWhat if scouts find both sides are watched? Dare we split our forces?a Zodiac shook his head. aNot here. Once they find us, they are going to throw everything they have at us. Weare getting pretty close to home.a aI pray to Odin that evil has gone further south,a Stazor said. aOur two thousand are strong, but every one will be needed when we get to this city.a Zodiac looked back over the long column that wound through the shallow valley. Three abreast, they went back as far as he could see. He knew all too well, though, that once the fighting started numbers didnat matter as much as how well they were used. Decisions and information either made or broke the battle.

aIf needed, weall travel hard to avoid any battle we donat have to fight.a Stazor, who thought avoiding any evil thing was a sign of cowardice, didnat like to admit Zodiac was right. He consoled himself with aWeall clean up the stragglers on the way back.a aRight,a Zodiac agreed. Giving a look around, he added, aWe may as well stand down until the scouts find something.a Stazor called for a dismount. In unison, the entire column of knights swung one leg over and got off their horses. Here and there, squires ran back to the wagons to get water. No one rested, but stood ready to leap back in the saddle at a momentas notice.

Scanning the horizon, Zodiac tried to visualize every way the enemy could come at them. The shallow rises would each hide only a few dozen. Dragons or anything airborne would be seen coming from very far away. Even those damn ballistas would launch their spears into the air, so they would have some warning. Duncan, or one of the other wizards, would know if evil was hiding by magical means. On this open grassland, surprise was out of the question.

An hour later, two scouts rode back at a full gallop. One was trailing a horse with an empty saddle. The scout he had talked to before pointed as he slowed his horse.

aThey got a fort on the east side! They got horses, and theyare coming!a Immediately, Stazor was back in the saddle, calling out for the knights to ready lances.

aHow many?a Zodiac asked as he locked his visor down.

aA bunch! Two, maybe three hundred men, armed and armored. They canat be but a few miles behind me.a Zodiac waved for his men to come forward. aGovernor, take your knights and meet them. Weall set up the second rank.a Stazor nodded and lifted his lance. Guiding his knights, he led them to form a long line across the marching path then turned them as one to continue on at a walk. Zodiac made the second line with his cavalry and set the rest of his infantry with bows in a third. Taking up places directly behind the archers, the wizards and druids fanned out. Squires and priests stayed with the wagons and waited for the wounded to be brought in.

The knights held their lances high; the banner of each company fluttered at the tips. When a cloud of dust grew and moved toward them, Stazor tipped his lance down then up, and they moved into a trot. Once the oncoming riders were in sight, the lances dropped. The knight charged.

The band of oncoming horsemen was large--Zodiac guessed about three hundred riders. Upon seeing the knights, the semi-orderly lines broke into chaos as some wheeled their mounts and fled. Before the knights could reach them the entire band had turned and was galloping away as fast as they could go. The Paladian knights followed, but the enemy horses were faster than the heavily barded mounts of the knights.

Zodiac called a charge just to keep up with Stazor. He had the archers race back to the wagons, knowing that as quickly as the enemy now fled they could swing around and attack from the side. He didnat want anyone left behind.

Eventually, the knights came back, but they still held a long front. Stazor slapped his visor up, glaring toward where the enemy had gone.

aTheyave no stomach for a fight!a he growled.

aOr theyare just tiring out our horses for later,a Zodiac told him. aThis trip has been long and dull--let them get a bit closer next time.a Stazor glanced at the line of knights. The horses were panting; a few had begun to froth at the mouth. Even heavy warhorses could not run far loaded down with their barding and the knightas armor. aYouare right, my friend. Itas been so long since Iave taken the field my enthusiasm has cost us the fight.a aI donat think they planned on fighting. Theyall spread the word weare here, so we better get moving and take that fort.a Raising an arm in the air, Zodiac called out, aGlier! Take the lead. Everyone, move out!a Glier rode by with his troops. The rest formed back up and moved out at a trot. After traveling another hour, they found the lake. Ahead of them, enemy scouts retreated as they started up the east side. Not long after they passed the end of the lake, the watchtowers of the fort rose above the land.

The fort was not very large. It was a square earthen structure Zodiac guessed was a hundred yards to a side located on the lakeshore. The gate was made of logs lashed together and was raised with ropes. Surrounding the fort was a dry moat, probably with spikes or sharpened sticks at the bottom. Atop the walls, men and hoarcs waited behind a log parapet.

Stazor was immediately for storming the fort. Zodiac thought about leaving some men to lay siege and moving on, but it wasnat good tactics to have an enemy fort at your back. Storming the stronghold didnat seem a good idea either. He knew they probably had those damn spears, and the cost was not worth such a small gain. He decided to send a probing sortie with a company of cavalry and two wizards. Once they had the fort surrounded at a respectable distance, he ordered the attack.

Two hundred horsemen charged in at an angle. He watched as they closed and traded arrow fire with the defenders. Other than a few lightning bolts from his wizards that toppled the watchtowers and a burst of fire to set the gate ablaze, no magic was used. When his men retreated, he noted their losses had been light--only twenty had been hit, and seven of those got back to be healed by the priests.

With the success of the first wave, he sent in infantry to lay down a constant barrage of arrows against the walls to keep the enemy from putting out the gate fire. Again, his men did very well. The gate fell into burning chunks of charred log. Beyond, the open courtyard was full of figures turning over wagons to make a secondary defense. His archers moved closer, and the defenders used catapults to throw rocks at them. His men closed right to the edge of the moat and traded short-range arrows. More were being killed now, but it looked like the defenders suffered greater losses. A scout came back and reported that the moat was only ten feet wide, an easy jump for a horse.