blowing, their eyes wide with terror. Unlike other mornings, it took no encouragement to get them started.
'Which way? What is the plan?' shouted Horns-buck from astride his huge, thick-necked bay stallion.
'Ride for Eru-Tovar, it's our only chance,' said Mika. 'It cannot be more than six days distant.'
'I say we should return to the Springs,' argued Hary. 'We'll never make it to Eru-Tovar. It's too far.'
'Don't be a fool, man. There's no point in going back to the Springs,' said Mika. 'They'd just wait until we starved or the Springs dried up.'
'But…' began Hary.
'No time for buts,' growled Hornsbuck. 'Mika's right. No sense in getting ourselves trapped.'
'I've no use for running,' snapped Hary.
'I've no use for dying,' Mika replied coldly. 'u and your wagons can do anything you want, I'm riding for the city as fast as this horse can take me. If you're smart, you'll come, too. If not, that's your decision.'
'I thought you agreed to join us,' hissed Hary. 'To help.'
'I made no agreement to die needlessly to salve your silly pride,' said Mika as he turned the grey. 'I've given you my counsel. If you choose to follow me, I will see to it that the nomads form a line of defense between the wagons and the gnolls. If you choose to ignore me, then say your prayers.'
Glaring at the man, Mika gave the grey a sharp kick in the ribs and it leaped away, only too willing, for once, to do as it was told.
Then, before the driver of the princess's wagon could react, Mika ripped the traces from his hands, flipped them over the heads of the mules and dragged them after him, forcing the mule-team to race at his heels.
Cob let out a yell but could do little more than cling to the seat with both hands to avoid being bounced off.
Recknass stuck his head outside to see what was happening, but other than glare at Mika, there was nothing he could do.
Hary stared after the runaway wagon in fury, then glanced back toward the rapidly advancing army of gnolls and trolls as though calculating his chances. They were close enough to see now, the sun glinting off their sharp pointed pikes, and the howls of the hyenas were loud and terrifying.
All around him, frightened drivers, yelling and cursing loudly, were whipping their teams into a gallop, the great mule muscles straining against the traces, the huge wheels thundering across the stony soil.
Nomads and wolves streamed past him on either side, raising clouds of dust under their frantic feet. Fear and urgency were a disease transmitted by mere proximity.
Hary felt panic rising in his own breast and as the dust settled he saw that he stood alone, surrounded by the few pathetic remains of their camp, bedrolls, cooking utensils and clothing left behind in the commotion. His own horse whickered in terror and ran, after a moment's hesitation. Hary followed in the wake of the flight of nomads and drivers alike who were already well on their way.
The advancing army was now close enough to see the telltale banner of dust rising from the wagons. The gnolls, trolls, and hyenas began screaming and yowling eerie caterwauls that sent shivers of fear up and down Hary's back.
Only at that moment did Hary comprehend how great was their danger and that, perhaps, Mika had made the right decision.
Kobolds were not unfamiliar to him, along with many monsters of other sorts. But never before had he encountered either trolls or gnolls in any great numbers, and as a result, he had indeed underestimated the enemy. He whipped his horse harder until, at a breakneck gallop, he caught up with the front line of retreat.
They drove the mules as fast as they could go, and soon the distance between themselves and the trailing army of horrors was increased to approximately five miles.
'What do you think, Mika?' shouted Hornsbuck as his bay matched strides with the grey stallion.
'Got to increase our lead,' Mika replied.
'The men are tiring fast,' Hornsbuck replied, yelling to be heard over the thundering hooves.
'The mules can eat on the run or go without, but the horses will need a feed. And rest-or they'll founder,' added Mika.
'Cursed gnolls! Blasted trolls! They never stop. It ain't human.'
Mika smiled, amused at Hornsbuck's unintentional joke. 'I have a plan. But it will have to wait for nightfall. Keep an even pace-and keep together- for now.'
'Gnolls can see just as good at night, if not better. What's your plan?' asked Hornsbuck.
When Mika gave no answer, Hornsbuck stared at Mika curiously, trying to fathom his silence. Mika's face was hard and his eyes distant, giving no clues to his thinking, so Hornsbuck had to content himself with dropping back to pass the word.
The mules were exhausted by nightfall, their backs covered with a thick layer of foam and their long ears drooping in front of their eyes. The horses and men were tired, too, but less so than the mules, which had been pulling the heavy wagons rapidly over the rough terrain.
Night came on fast, but barely fast enough to suit Mika, who had been riding wide circles around the wagon train all day, keeping a nervous eye on the trailing army, hoping that they would fall further behind. Their progress was also constant, but neither could maintain the grueling pace forever.
As night fell, Mika rode up to each wagon and gave the signal. Without wasting a moment, the drivers turned their wagons into a circle, then freed the mules from the wagons.
Breaking their normal pattern, they loaded a ready-packed sack of provisions, weapons, food, and water atop one mule's back, threw a saddle blanket across the back of the second, and rode the startled animal out into the dark prairie on the far side of the wagons.
While the drivers were dealing with the mules, Mika, Hornsbuck, and several of the nomads rode toward the army and observed it under the cover of darkness.
'I count nearly two hundred,' grunted Horns-buck, 'give or take a few hyenas.'
'I agree,' said Mika. 'I wish it were fewer. We might stand a chance if they catch up with us.'
'No chance,' said Hornsbuck. 'No chance at all, not with the likes of them.'
'There has to be a leader somewhere among them,' said Hary, who had rejoined them noiselessly. 'Perhaps one of us could go talk to them, make a bargain of some sort.'
'Ha!' Hornsbuck snorted, his immense leather-girded bulk heaving up and down as he shook with laughter. 'You do that, son, and let me know what they have to say!' Still laughing, he wheeled the bay and rode back toward the wagons.
'u would be dead in a heartbeat if you were lucky-or praying for death if they let you live,' Mika said contemptuously.
'Kobolds are sweet little kittens compared to gnolls. Gnolls lie awake nights dreaming up new ideas for torture. We are their dreams come true. Believe me, you do not want to fall into their hands. And trolls are worse. They do not reason, they exist for just one purpose-to kill. Trust me, Hary.'
'What is your plan?' asked Hary.
'We will leave the wagons,' said Mika, holding up his hand to forestall Hary's objections. 'There is no other way. We will draw them in a circle and start a few fires. The gnolls will think that we are making a stand.
'They are not stupid, and even though they outnumber us, they will not rush us directly. They will take their time and advance carefully.
'If they were sent by the mage, they will not want to risk harming the princess. They will take the time to surround us and then attack. By the time they discover that we are gone, we will have gained valuable distance and time.'
'Your reasoning is sound,' said Hary. 'We will sacrifice the wagons.'
They rode swiftly back to the wagons and found that the princess's wagon had been separated from the others, and stood waiting, surrounded by the nomads and the mounted drivers.
Six mules, those weakest and deemed least able to keep up the exhausting pace, had been staked out along the edges of the circle of wagons. They stood with heads down, too tired to even crop the meager grass.
'Move out,' Mika whispered, circulating among the men. 'And stay together. Your lives depend on it.' Slowly, quietly, they stole away, leaving the firelit wagons and the mules behind them.
'How long have we got?' asked Hornsbuck, keeping pace with the grey.
'I don't know,' answered Mika. 'But not long enough.'
