“Very well,” said Baldric. “But while I want their bridges burned, I do want them to cross here, sustaining as much damage as possible. If we stop them entirely, they will attempt the Bridge Fortress further upstream, and they may seriously harm the Black Wood itself.”

They set about their various tasks, and Éhal made her way to rest, calling Vaka to guide her.

“Vaka,” she said, “is it yet morning?”

“It is,” said Vaka in his deep voice.

She moaned. “I can see nothing. My sight is now gone entirely. I am in darkness.”

“You may yet be cured,” said Vaka.

“Perhaps,” she said, “but for now it is not an easy thing to depend on others. To be a burden.”

“You are no burden, miss,” said Vaka.

“Not yet,” said Éhal darkly. “But if you are faced with having to defend me in my blindness, that will change.”

The gnomes and goblins laboured like ants. Soon they were joined by the few trolls who accompanied them while a few wights and warlocks looked on, and studied Baldric’s positions. There was no sight of the man who led them.

Within three days it became apparent that their huge bridges were nearly complete. There were eight of them, evenly spaced along the river, more than a furlong apart.




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