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felt earlier was spreading to his shoulders.
    â€œBring up the reinforcements!” he snapped. “Gerard, your command. Keep them on that line, by whatever means. Watch the cliff for signals. Coordinate the attacks.” He tossed the lieutenant the ram’s horn. “Elyon’s strength,” he said, holding up his fist.
    Gerard caught the horn. “Elyon’s strength. Count on me, sir.”
    â€œI am. You have no idea how much I am.” Thomas turned to Mikil. “With me.” They swung into their horses and pounded down the canyon.
    His second followed him without question. He led her up a small hill and then doubled back along the path toward an overlook near the top.
    The battlefield stretched out to their right. His archers were raining arrows down on the Scabs again. The dead were piled high. To see the Horde’s front lines, an observer might think that the Forest Guard was routing the enemy. But a quick look down the canyon told a different story.
    Thousands upon thousands upon thousands of hooded warriors waited in an eerie silence. This was a battle of attrition.
    This was a battle that could not be won.
    â€œAny word from the three parties to the north?” Thomas asked.
    â€œNo. Let’s pray they haven’t broken through.”
    â€œThey won’t.”
    Thomas dismounted and studied the cliffs.
    Mikil nudged her horse forward, then brought it snorting around.
    â€œYes, I know you’re impatient, Mikil.” There was something about the cliffs that bothered Thomas. “You’re wondering if I’ve gone mad; is that it? My men are dying in a final battle and I’ve dismounted to watch it all.”
    â€œI’m worried about Jamous. What’s your plan?”
    â€œJamous can take care of himself.”
    â€œJamous is in retreat! He would never retreat. What’s your plan?”
    â€œI don’t have a plan.”
    â€œIf you don’t come up with one soon, you may never plan again,” she said.
    â€œI know, Mikil.” He paced.
    Mikil spit again. “We can’t just sit here—”
    â€œI’m not just sitting here!” Thomas faced her, suddenly furious and knowing he had no right to be. Not at her.
    â€œI am thinking! You should start thinking!” He thrust an arm out toward the Horde now being pounded by boulders again. “Look out there and tell me what could possibly stop such a monstrous army! Who do you think I am? Elyon? Can I clap my hands and make these cliffs crush—”
    Thomas stopped.
    â€œWhat?” Mikil demanded. She glanced around for an enemy, sword in hand.
    Thomas spun toward the valley. “What was it you said earlier?”
    â€œWhat? That you should be with your men?”
    â€œNo! The cliffs. You said we’d have to bring the whole cliff down on them.”
    â€œYes, but we might as well try to bring the sun down on them.”
    It was an insane thought.
    â€œWhat is it?” she demanded again.
    â€œWhat if there was a way to bring the cliff—”
    â€œThere isn’t . ”
    He ran to the edge. “But if ! If we could bring down the canyon walls near their rear, we could box them in, bring them down here, and we would trap them for an easy slaughter from above.”
    â€œWhat do you want to do, heat the whole cliff with a giant fire and empty the contents of the lake on it so that it cracks?”
    He ignored her. It was reckless, but then so was doing nothing.
    â€œThere’s a fault along the cliff there. Do you see it?”
    He pointed and she looked.
    â€œSo there’s a fault. I still don’t see how—”
    â€œOf course you don’t! But if we could , would it work?”
    â€œIf you could clap your hands and bring down the cliff on them, then I’d say we have a chance of sending every last one of the Scabs to the black forest where they belong.”
    A battle cry filled the canyon. Gerard was