"El Elyon is good!" I said out loud.
"All the time," Ayaya echoed.
The darkness of the cave closed around us as the sound of rock being pulverized echoed back to us from the herd ahead.
*****
The dawning of the third day occurred just as we came clear of the tunnel and stepped into the Wastelands. The Tricans had not stopped and neither would we. There would be no stopping until we reached the encampment at the forest.
The day moved on with no sign of the enemy and it passed with no sign of the enemy. Our progress was good and I allowed a brief rest of about four hours during the darkest part of the night. Before the sun was up though we were back on the move.
The sun had not reached quite halfway into the sky when it became real to me that pursuit of us was close at hand. Pausing, I stared off behind us but I sensed no pursuit from that quarter. I looked to the West and the kingdoms of Ayenathurim and felt more certain that it was the direction from which the attack would come.
Sar'ran got off his horse and put his ear to the ground for a moment. I looked to him and he nodded without a word and pointed off to the West.
"How long is it till we reach the encampment do you think?" Thanuel asked uncertainly.
"The people we protect should reach it just as the sun is going down," I said, as I thought out the remaining journey ahead in my mind. So close, but yet so far.
Sar'ran spoke up, "There is no time for us to reach the encampment. At our present rate of speed we should see the enemy within the hour and from there they will be on our position in an hour or perhaps a little more. They are moving very quickly!"
I nodded, already aware of that truth. I turned from gazing toward the West to looking at each of my friends, some from a long time to those quite recent. They visibly straightened and perceptively they all knew what was in my heart to do.
"Prepare the army and inform the convoy to pick up their pace as much as possible."
"Yes, Sir!" they all affirmed and rode off to see that it was done.
I alone stared off to the West. I wasn't alone for long though. I glanced off to the side and silently acknowledged Bruton, who had stepped away from the caravan, along with most of the Yesathurim warriors who had come with us.
I could see dust clouds put off by the enemy now. They were running themselves to death in their eagerness to put us to death. Such hate was unfathomable and yet there was no denying its existence.