I was still a little unsteady on my feet but I was back on my feet a few days later. Actually moving helped, or at least I would like to think that it did. We had left the burnt remains of the head hunters' glade behind as so nothing more than so much ash now buried under the snow that kept falling. That snow was covering just about everything like a burial shroud. I used to like snow. I liked to play in it when I was younger. That was in the past though and now it sent shivers down my spine.

Maybe it was not due to the snow though. I was walking alongside the cart with the troll shamans still tending Quu'za. She still hadn't woken up. The shamans reassured me that she wouldn't die. They weren't exactly sure if she would ever wake up again either though. Seeing her laid low like this was depressing, especially considering how lively she usually was. The harpies who always seemed to hand around nearby seemed to feel the same way.

I motioned for one of them to come closer. “If she doesn't wake up and the shamans allow it I want her moved back to my domain with one of the returning supply caravans as soon as we reach Gothol'gathrak and set up for the siege. I want her to be taken care of in my home. Maybe some of the healers and priests back home can do more for her. I want you to pick a handful of your comrades to accompany her. Understood?”

The harpy nodded reluctantly. I didn't bother to ask for her name. I memorized the colors and patterns of the ribbons she used instead. These seemed to be pretty unique. I didn't give her a chance to speak up either. “You and those you take along will watch over her. You will go looking for healers. She has a younger sister. You will let her know as well. My friend Eld'tide or her mother will be the ones to talk to, to make sure your expenses are covered.” I paused briefly. “You will be welcome as guests in my house. Any questions?”

She had perked up a little as I kept talking and I was glad to see it. She nodded at first and then shook her head. “I understand. No questions. I will make sure everything is carried out according to your will!”

I watched her speed off to speak with some of the other harpies who had been marching along nearby. Giving them clear purpose probably was for the best, even if it meant that I would loose the support of a handful of them in the days to come. I leaned in a little closer and ran my fingers through the feathers atop Quu'za's head, ruffling them softly, before addressing the troll couple tending to her. “Take good care of her, yes?”

As they nodded I moved on to walk next to the wagon with Leumina. She was awake but she wasn't well. Not entirely anyway. She had been up and about already. She even had wanted to ride on her own horse, which now trotted along on the other side of the wagon instead, but the healers had mandated that she take some more time to recover. She still had trouble talking. Even simple words caused her trouble, never mind stringing them together into sentences. The look on her face was telling. Frustration was clearly written all over it.

I patted her back and motioned for her to stay put. “I know it is frustrating but I'm sure you'll pull through. They healers said as much as well. You'll speak again. It only looks so bad because any progress you can make in days or even weeks will look so insignificant, considering how we take language for granted. Remember, it is a skill that initially takes us years to master. Don't let frustration get to you because you can't replicate the feat in a few days.”

She sighed, nodded, opened her mouth to speak but quickly closed it again in the end.

I patted her on the back again. “Focus on your bow for now, whenever frustration threatens to get the better of you. Tortho has suggested you learn the sign language of his scouts and rangers in the meantime to communicate if all else fails. I think he is a pretty good teacher too, speaking from my own experience. I think you should take him up on the offer.”

She nodded again, with a little more enthusiasm this time, making an affirmative gesture as she did so.

Apparently she was already a little ahead of me in that regard. Just as well. I flashed her a smile and moved ahead towards the front of our column. The healers suggested that Leumina had gotten lucky. Supposedly most people who lost the ability to speak like that often lost more than that, fine motor control first and foremost. I wasn't sure if she would have been able to take it if she had lost the ability to walk or draw and fire her bow as well.

I knew that war always came with a price. I had fought and bled. This was getting to me anyway. It was different if others, others you had come to like, paid the price for your decisions. Maidens! Crone! Please spare my friends another day! Before I could get lost in doubt and self loathing though I noticed that the column had slowed down. I could see the wagons, riders, men and women branch out ahead, leaving the surprisingly good road to set up a temporary camp.

I glanced up into the sky. It was hard to gauge the sun's position exactly with the snow laden clouds in the way but it most certainly wasn't time to set up camp for the night yet. My dark elf master of scouts approaching me suggested that there was something else going on. I raised a hand in greeting. “What is up?”

He flashed me a grin in return. “We are getting close to their outermost defenses. They probably are aware that we are coming and if we get much closer we might get into range of their artillery.”

He led me to a spot where a few more of his men and women had put up a tarp in between some trees above a large, moderately flat stone. A simple map, drawn onto sheep skin had been spread out on this makeshift table. As I started looking it over he started explaining. “There are two major outposts about half a days march from the city itself. One here, the other along the road leading west ward.”

He tapped several symbols that had only recently been added along the road we were taking, a little ahead of the carved figures representing our army. “There are small fortifications along the flanks of the hills to either side of the road. Some are probably just observation posts. Others serve as firing positions for crossbowmen, ballistae and catapults or similar weapons.”

He tapped the road itself. “There is nothing blocking our way as far as we can tell, but they could take us under fire as we pass through. Never mind that we would have them in our back if we did that. It would leave our supplies open to attack as well.”

He pointed at the positions furthest from the road. “I suggest we try to breach the firing positions of their ballistae first. Those are open to the sky due to the nature of the weapons. I might be wrong but I think that they are connected with the rest of the positions by some subterranean tunnels. There might even be tunnels leading all the way to Gothol'gathrak.”

I nodded as the others looked on in silence. “We dangle the army in front of them, just outside the range of their weapons, as a distraction, and sneak in around the back?”

He grinned. “That is what I would suggest. We could besiege and break them the classic way with the toys the Wall Breakers brought but I suggest we not give away their capabilities yet if we don't have to.” He started grinning even wider. “Besides, if we take those fortifications intact, or at least mostly intact, we can use them ward off any relief army that might approach from this direction.”