The coal yard had parking for over twenty vehicles and was surrounded by a high security fence. Coal was a valuable input for the plastics industry and had to be protected from thieves. The people who lived in the mountains were allowed to work over the ancient spoil heaps and sell their pickings to government agents. Some of the coal in the yard came from that source but most was from the few mines that were still in operation.
The coal trucks were covered and that made them ideal for transporting resistance fighters and their weapons. Some were decorated for the big procession. Others were in their original colours. It was late evening. A band was playing and food was being cooked over open fires.
Everyone wore fancy dress. Men dressed as demons were dancing with women dressed as fairies. Women dressed as queens were serving beer. Men dressed as guardians were roasting sheep. There were scores of Liala lookalikes.
Similar parties were being held all over Elm Grove. Special travel permits had been issued and people had streamed in from all over the country to take part in the carnival. Most were ordinary workers who were expected to show their loyalty to the guardians by parading through the streets in decorated vehicles. Those in the coal yard were members of Plaid Koerno and had come to attack the prison.
The operation followed months of careful planning by Allain and the former commander. When he was killed Allain took full responsibility. Liala sat in one of the trucks and listened as Allain went over final details with his senior officers. They were standing around a glowing brazier and Bryn was with them.
Bryn had briefed them on his meeting with her brother. He explained that Crispin had found a way to make the trolls fight one another. Allain said there would be a test run later that evening. If it was successful then the operation could go much further than freeing prisoners.
Liala listened as they discussed possibilities. A full-scale assault against the guardian's power base might even be possible. Her name came up. Everyone agreed that Bryn had been clever to find her. She liked to think that destiny had brought them together.
Everything was going smoothly. Then some trucks arrived and the mood changed. Allain said something about northerners. The trucks screeched to a halt and the occupants jumped out. They were led by a powerfully-built woman, dressed as a fairy. She had coloured lights in her hair and looked ridiculous in hobnail boots as she tramped over the frozen ground towards them. Liala guessed she had a sense of humour. That turned out to be wrong.