CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
The army made its forced march through the remainder of the long night and through most of the next day, eating from their packs on the trail. By late afternoon, they had finished the river crossing and began to fortify their position. Three hours later, Kazlen Vor arrived with his cavalry virtually intact. Riley could tell they were in high spirits, but weary. As the sun began to set, the enemy arrived on the far side of the river.
Once darkness had fallen, Riley gave Shar the heavy-duty long-blaster and sent him upstream with a company of men. Meanwhile, the rest of the army took advantage of the chance to rest. As the sky began to lighten, the men had been roused and were in position. The river, which had been forty yards wide and several feet deep, now stood empty
