Chapter 22
For a hundred miles at least, the hilled plains spread south along the southern road, and for its length, the Sloanish forces marched or rode with deliberate speed. In the days following the first signs that one of the great monsters had left its home in the flatlands, that the procession headed towards Ailfrans had moved his carts to the lead of the train. In his presence, none would complain about the change, and a portion of the fighting men that headed the journey had a genuine regard for his input as well as that of his sister.
Of the thirty thousand or so that had left from Coldport half or more of their forces had been of those routed at Lake Trina some months before, and those men still carried their defeat heavy on their shoulders. The other half were a plurality of m
