Freezing rain turned to snow and heavy flakes piled up rapidly. Dru’s people got fires started in their shelters, then packed together, cuddled like nests of bunnies, and slept in shivering masses. Dru kept the five most alert pikemen awake with her to serve as sentries at the top of the trail. They prodded each other awake and dusted the snow off each other’s shoulders and caps as they paced back and forth. As daybreak turned the sky a sullen gray, Dru went and woke Neena and five others for duty, and she and her squad crawled into one of the huts and fell asleep instantly.
It was afternoon when Neena shook her awake. “Captain, there’s an enemy officer approaching the trail.”
“Hmm? Get into formation…” Dru slurred.
“No, Captain, he’s got a branch in his hand and just a couple of men wi
