“It is a logical thing to do, Ray. We’ve already stripped the small forests for miles around. Half of the coven can focus on artifacts while the rest get to actually use their magic,” Fay said.

  “Didn’t I already agree to this?” I asked as I took the thinly sliced meat out of the pan and put it into two bowls. I carried them back to the bed and stretched out as I passed one to her and began eating. The smell of the meat overpowered the scent of the camp that made its way in through the door flap, for which I was grateful. Sanitation was rapidly going up the list of jobs I had for Atas and Khan.

  The nomads were usually dispersed across vast ranges but with thousands of them all camped so close together as a result of the undead horde spreading across the steppe their usual habits wouldn’t be sufficient. Disease was as much of a threat as Mortimer at the moment.

  “I don’t think you gave me a definite answer!” she mumbled around a mouthful. Her stomach was swelling noticeably now.

  “Well then yes, it sounds like a good idea. I need to go with the crafter Huskar to Riverwheel later. You can bring some of the coven. I’ll want guards around them though, they’re too valuable to risk.” I finished my meal and stretched back before resting a hand on her stomach. She rested her own hand atop mine for a moment before resuming her meal.

  “We don’t need-” she began.

  “They. It won’t be you, love. And they will have them whether they need them or not! I know they’re powerful and this is supposed to be a safe area but we don’t know what’s coming north from Urkash. It’s better to be safe than sorry.” I smiled to take any sting out of my words. She glared at me for a moment then put her bowl down and snuggled into my side. After a few minutes of comfortable silence she pulled back and leant over to kiss me.

  “Fine. But I’m marching south with you!” Her tone and fierce expression let me know this was not an argument I could win. I nodded and stroked her cheek gently with a finger.

  “I’ll be keeping you by my side where I can be sure you’re safe. And where you can keep me safe!” I chuckled.

  I got up and pulled on one of my new tunics. It was missing the left sleeve so the tattoo was permanently displayed and the right had been modified with extra padding to make the black pauldron more comfortable.

  “Kril is going to be - very reluctantly - handing out the artifacts we got from the legion after the council. I’ve already told him but make sure the coven gets some of the recovery items. They’ll need them if they’re going to be growing forests.”

  Fay came over and helped me buckle on the pauldron that covered my right shoulder in impossible metal. She was still naked and I ran my eyes over her body, earning a slap on the pauldron.

  “Go on! I’ll join you in a few minutes. Haylin will be there to represent the coven at the start.” I smiled and turned to leave but paused and glanced back as she began dressing.

  “Have things improved with her and Jandak?” I asked. She shrugged to settle her dress then shrugged again.

  “It seems so. He’s certainly been diligent in trying to remedy the situation,” she said with a throaty chuckle. “Ask him! Women don’t share private conversations with men! Get on love, they’ll be waiting for you.”

  I checked in with Glimpse as I emerged from our yurt and made my way towards the Legion camp. Everything looked to be in order. The crafters were just setting off down the pass up north. I ordered my crow south as I made my way through the busy camp. Warriors saluted and women nodded their heads but my attention was focused on the information Glimpse was feeding me.

  An early group of crafter Huskars had already stepped in to take over the smelting process at the Pass and production had jumped considerably. Arming a few hundred with steel weapons now seemed easy compared to arming more than ten thousand cavalry. Fortunately we’d been stockpiling the excess and had managed to keep up with demand, but only just. War meant ammunition, arrows and javelins in this case, and replacement armour. The machine we’d built to supply those needs would come under a lot more strain in the coming months.

  The Legion camp was half a mile east of Mondit and the contrast was stark. Mondit felt like barely organised chaos, no particular pattern was evident in the tents and work spaces. The Legion camp was not only on an entirely different scale due to the Huskar’s stature but it was laid out with mechanical precision.

  The large tents were massive and square. A rudimentary fort had been thrown up around the camp, complete with a ditch and sturdy palisade. I entered through one of the four gates, nodding at the heavily armoured giants as I passed. They slammed fists against their chests in salute.

  I made my way to the massive marshalling ground at the centre of the mobile town and headed towards the command tent. The smell was different here compared to Mondit and it took me a moment to realise what it was. Sanitation. They had latrines carefully set up on the downslope edge of the camp, well away from the living areas.

  “Legate Mond!” barked the guards at the entrance to the main tent. Partially out of respect and partially to let those inside know that I had arrived no doubt. I greeted them and swung the bottom of the flap aside to enter.

  A table intended for use by Huskars occupied the central space, benches and chairs arrayed around it. I couldn’t see what was on top of it, it was refreshing. My height had left me looming over most of the tribesmen but in the company of giants I was barely noticeable.

  “Legate! The troops are through the Pass and ready to deploy!” said Bon with a fist slamming salute as he rose from a chair at the head of the table. The tribal chiefs, along with Haylin, Kril and Trikilo were all standing on sturdy benches along the side of the table. I jumped up easily and looked at the map spread out on the table.

  It covered the northern tundra for hundreds of miles in every direction and extended down to include what looked like the Black Sea from back home as well as Greece. It stretched as far as the Adriatic in the west and to the east it ran to what I assumed would be the subcontinent.

  “How accurate is this?” I asked. The map was dotted with unfamiliar city names and points of interest.

  “The map is twelve hundred years old. The information on it is at least. We copied it out everytime the paper started to crack. This-” he pointed to a spot on the northwestern coast of the Black Sea, “- used to be called Kahlishmer. Based on what your Dreamer has explained, I believe this is close to the current location of Urkash,” Bon said as he resumed his seat.

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  “It’s in the right place,” added Kril. “That’s where we need to aim. A quick strike to decapitate the monster!” The obligatory cackle rang out in the tent making some of the chiefs wince and glare at him.

  “We’ve got to secure our flanks as we push south. I want the steppe cleared of the undead before we move into the shit-sitter territory.” I pointed at a mark on the map labelled “Giant’s Sun Stairs”. “That’s Hellath. We will retake the steppe, including Hellath before we move against the south. Pertabon, how are your men - Huskars - trained? What’s the squad size?” I asked. Bon looked up from the map and met my eyes before answering.

  “Ten units of eight in a century. Ten centuries in a legion. We’ve got fourteen legions with us, plus the support staff, Legate,” His voice was brusque and professional. I’d known that I'd like this giant.

  “Break off two legions. Split them down to squad level and send them east and west. Each squad will have a squadron of tribal cavalry with them. One sweeps east and the other west to secure the flanks as we push south to Hellath with the main force. The dispersed troops can sweep the steppe of the wanderers while we head for the heart of the problem. Chiefs and Kings, we’ll need scouts moving ahead to bring back intelligence on the enemy. Can small units of cavalry be dispatched today? If they ride a couple of days ahead of the main force and send back riders every day to update us we should be able to press on without fear of another ambush,” I asked the chiefs. Calpakter grinned his pointy toothed smile at me and opened his mouth but Jagapan spoke first.

  “Warlord, my warriors will be happy to serve in that capacity,” he called.

  “Why not mine?” demanded Calpakter.

  “Are you willing to switch to the cavalry role? You wanted to fight on foot and you’ll be too slow,” I answered, forestalling an angry response from Jagapan.

  “We’re still faster than undead shit-sitters!” exclaimed Calpakter, straightening his mohawk with both hands.

  “Lady Fayala!” boomed the Huskars guarding the entrance just as Fay slipped through the flap and made her way over. She jumped up onto the bench next to me and slipped a hand into mine.

  “I’m sorry I’m late. Have we gotten round to the wood situation?” she asked. The Mondyn warriors all nodded their heads to her in respect. The giants remained impassive.

  “Not yet, Fayala,” Kril said. “I still don’t like your idea of-”

  “It stands. We’ll need more wood. At least until we can find a site to provide coal,” I cut off my mentor. “Make sure the coven gets suitable artifacts.” Kril muttered something under his breath but nodded unhappily.

  “We will need to leave suitable guards behind,” said Bon. “The feral giants you’ve bonded are safe enough but the others may come south as the northern legions bring them into the fold.”

  “We need food, can you send some good officers to take control of the unbonded wild Huskar? It might instill a bit of discipline in them,” I suggested.

  “It can be done but it would impact the command structure for our southern forces. I’ll draw up a plan and bring it to you this evening, if that’s acceptable?” replied Bon. I nodded and turned to stare at the tribal leadership.Other than Jagapan and Calpakter I didn’t know these men. I’d given them Souls, the bare minimum to tie them to my cause, but they were unknown quantities to me.

  “Is there anything from you I need to be aware of?” I asked.

  “Lord, we need more time before we move south!” said one. A thin man with greying hair at the front, the rest of his head shaved bald bar an iron coloured fringe.

  “We can train on the march. Those who refuse to fight as cavalry will lag behind the main forces and miss out on the glory but if you’re willing to work with the Fangs to learn the new fighting style they will be able to keep up.” He nodded reluctantly. I glanced at Kril who shrugged at me. The other chiefs must be a problem for him as well.

  “Atas, Khan. I’ll need Trikilo when we march. I’d like to leave you in charge of the Pass and Riverwheel. Is that acceptable?” My father in law and his cousin nodded quickly.

  “Yes, Mond. I’ll take the Pass and Atas will move to Riverwheel,” said Khan with a smile. At least they could be relied on. I wouldn’t need to worry about-

  “Lord! We’re the most numerous tribe! Surely our patriarchs are worthy of similar honours!” one of the other chiefs interrupted. I slammed my hand down on the table hard enough that it jumped and a split appeared in front of me in the wood. I didn’t know who this guy was but I wasn’t going to tolerate any politicking at this nascent stage in the campaign.

  “Trust is earned. They’ve earned it and you haven’t, lord. After the war there’ll be plenty of territory in the south to squabble over, as well all the steppes we’re going to reclaim.” I paused and drew in a deep breath to calm myself. Fay squeezed my hand gently. “We’ve been driven from our homeland! Until we take it back we have no honour! No reason to do anything except dedicate every power at our disposal to reclaiming what is ours! You’re the most numerous are you? Lot’s of warriors? The Mondyn squadrons could wipe your forces out in minutes! Without me or our magic! Do not start fighting for positions of authority until we at least retake holy Hellath!” I snarled.

  The chief who was the subject of my ire flinched and nodded and I saw a ripple of savage smiles run through the other humans present. They had needed to know I was going to prioritise their own goals and I got the feeling I’d just done that. There was a growl from outside.

  “Uh, Legate? Your wolf is here!” called one of the guards.

  “I’ll leave the rest of the planning in your capable hands. I want to escort the crafters over to Riverwheel and… help them settle in,” I said.

  “Enjoy dealing with Sulk and Klip,” snickered Kril. I shot him a glare but he just laughed harder. I kissed Fay on the cheek and jumped down. Outside Wilson was waiting for me, sitting on his haunches and staring up at the armoured Huskars like they were oversized snacks. He rose to his feet as I emerged and I leapt onto his back. We careened through the fort, dodging left and right as we threaded our way through the tents, legionaries and workers.

  As soon as we were clear Wilson put on a burst of speed and I had to clamp onto his fur with both hands. Some kind of wolf saddle would be needed. I’d have a chat with the leather workers at Riverwheel and see what could be done.

  With Glimpse orbiting overhead and Wilson rushing faster than I could manage on my own we sped back to the Pass and joined the road. Wilson stayed to one side, preferring the grass and dirt under his paws to the broad flags that topped the highway.

  We overtook three carts heading the same we were. Traffic was already increasing as a result of the expertise and physical capabilities of the Huskar working at the Pass. Finally we caught up with the main body of crafters heading to work with the smiths at my first permanent town and Wilson slowed so we could walk alongside them. They stretched out for a mile or so along the road, trudging along happily on their way to turn my town into a true industrial centre.

  “Legate!” called a Huskar that stood a mere four metres tall. He was at the head of the group and he waved me over with a friendly smile. I slipped off Wilson who took off to the south to hunt and made my way to join him.

  “Hello,” I began uncertainly.

  “Gartal, Lord.” He supplied his name. “I’m impressed! The wheels are a good innovation. Have you considered wind power?” he asked pleasantly. My jaw dropped and I turned to look up at him.

  “It’s less reliable than water,” I answered. “It’s useful though. I’m sure we’ll introduce it sooner rather than later though. How do you feel about humans?” I asked.

  “The original stock? Nice enough but you’re kind tend to be terrified of us,” he replied with a shrug. The east gate of Riverwheel slammed open and two horses sped out. I recognised the riders. My smiths apparently had somewhere to be. I mentally summoned Wilson back and got a disgruntled acknowledgement in reply. I could sense him getting closer again so he hadn’t ignored me.

  “Excuse me, I think I need to deal with this.” I jogged ahead under the gentle sunlight and moved to block the riders path. Instead of stopping they swerved around me and kept moving, both of them whipping their ponies as hard as they could. I turned and prepared to sprint after them but Wilson rushed in front of the horses and they both slewed sideways, spilling their riders into the long grass.

  “What the fuck was that about?” I demanded. I caught up with them as they pulled themselves painfully from the long grass.

  “No time! Got to get there first!” called Klip as he started running towards the pass. “Sorry about your bad leg Sulk!” he cackled as he ran ahead, ignoring me.

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