For once, Max thought, we can all agree on something.  

Britt ordered the crew to have weapons at the ready. Max reached under the bench and strapped on his sword belt, feeling at the pouch where his two spare crystals were secured. Looking across the three lead ships, he noticed that they didn’t have many archers among them. He knew then that they would be relying on his and Sanka’s power.   

Each time Max turned around to see if the others had caught up, he could see more ships stacking up. Soon the wide-set banks of the Bareback River had become plugged with ships. They continued to advance slowly until the city came into view.  

Max heard Britt shout, “Bring the ships to the port-side bank!” Red quickly repeated her order, shouting a bit more loudly. Max saw Red glaring at them. 

Soon the three lead ships slid onto shore and the warriors at the bow jumped down, helping pull the boats safely onto the muddy banks. Max slid the oar in and stood with Sanka. They shared a glance; Sanka’s obvious resolve bolstered Max’s confidence. They had the power here. 

Britt led the rest of the crew off the ship. “Gather on the grass,” she said, pointing at the golden slope that rose up from the riverbank. Max joined her as their crew was the first to gather on the Plains. She whistled and waved for others to join. Soon Red and his crew had joined them and the two continued to flag more crews to gather up. As the group grew in size, Max looked out at the city of Aquina. In full daylight and from their vantage point, he could see the long sprawl of roofs spreading out away from the river. Smoke rose from the northwest end of town. Max was surprised that there weren’t any people in sight.  

What’s happened here? he wondered. Where are all of the horses and people? 

Chapter 87

Marching to War

Kirsten reached down and grabbed her pack. She groaned under the weight of the crystals and armor that had been added since leaving Brookside. Shifting uncomfortably, she attempted to adjust the shoulder straps.  

“Why don’t you put some of that stuff on the carts like everyone else?” Bo asked. 

Kirsten looked at him, his forehead creased with concern for her. 

“I thought you would’ve known this about her by now,” Thomas said, approaching them with a lightly packed satchel slung over his shoulder.  

Kirsten scowled at her brother’s bright expression, thinking, What’s he so happy about? We’re walking into certain doom and he’s always been fearful. Aloud, she said, “Thanks, Bo, but I would rather have my gear at the ready if I need it. Besides, I’m not going to let these crystals out of my sight.”  

“You don’t have to let the crystals go, just that armor. We didn’t need it before,” Bo said. 

Kirsten raised her eyebrows at him, “Seriously? If I would’ve been wearing armor that goblin wouldn’t have been able to bite half my shoulder off.” She saw him wince as she walked toward the long line of soldiers heading out from camp. 

Behind her now, she heard Thomas grunt, “Ouch, Bo. Better luck next time.”  

Bo’s armor rattled and bounced on his pack as he jogged to catch up with her. Kirsten didn’t look at him when he came alongside. After a few seconds he said, “Just let me take some of your armor.”  

Kirsten clenched her jaw, “Bo, really, I can carry it. It’s not that bad. You’re carrying your armor, too.” 

“I’m not carrying a week’s worth of bread and jerky and I don’t have magic rocks weighing me down,” he said. 

“He’s got a point there,” Thomas said, easily catching them.  

“You’re making some poor donkey cart all your food, water and armor? I thought we were raised to take care of ourselves,” Kirsten replied sharply. 

“I am taking care of myself, by preserving my strength. And I do have enough food and water with me here,” he held up the leather satchel and continued, “for the day, until we make camp at least.” 

“Where did you get that anyway?” Bo asked. 

“One of the Southland natives,” Thomas said, feeling at the simply designed leather bag.  

“So that’s where you were last night,” Kirsten said accusingly. 

Thomas frowned, “What’s the big deal, we could be dead by sundown. At least I know when to say yes when I’m offered help. This bag is perfect for a day’s outing.” Thomas then stepped out ahead of them, adding over his shoulder, “Don’t complain tonight when your muscles are stiff as a board and the rest of us are more limber than a Lumbapi at twilight.”  

Kirsten rolled her eyes and watched Thomas speed up and disappear into the long line of Westlanders marching east. “What does that even mean? Limber as a Lumbapi at twilight?” she asked, glancing at Bo.  

He shrugged in silence, looking down at the trampled grass beneath their feet. 

Aw, crud, Kirsten thought. My stubbornness just put him in a funk. She prepared to apologize, something she wasn’t good at, especially with boys she liked. Before she could say anything, she noticed that Bo had a slight limp. When she stared at him, he glanced back with a concerned look and attempted to weight himself more evenly in his stride.  

“You’re limping,” Kirsten said.  

Bo adjusted his pack straps, “It’s not that bad.”  

“Why are you limping? I thought you’d been healed?”  

“I have been, but some of my muscles aren’t as strong as they were before. It’s not that bad,” he said again. 

“You know, my pack is on the heavy side,” Kirsten said.  

Bo stopped and faced her. She stopped, too. “I’m sorry I said that you didn’t need armor.”  

“No, you’re right. Look at Thomas,” she said pointing absently into the crowd. 

“Can we both agree we need to ditch the armor at least?” Bo said. 

Kirsten nodded and said, “Yes, it’s only been half a mile and my shoulders are going numb.” She looked behind for the Army’s wagon train. She pointed at a wagon and said, “There’s one.”  

Bo grinned and they changed direction toward the wagons.  

After flagging down a driver and unloading their heavy armor, Kirsten slid her arms into the shoulder straps of her pack and sighed with relief. “That’s so much better.”  

“A thousand times better,” Bo agreed.  

As the wagon driver carted away their gear, she said, “But I'm still not letting that wagon out of my sight.” 

“No way,” Bo said, keeping pace with Kirsten and walking normally again.  

They kept a steady rate behind the five-wagon-long train. Walking along the edge of the Army, now marching ten abreast, Kirsten continually scanned the grassy rolling hills of the Bareback Plains.  

“Maybe we’ll get to see the wild horses again,” Bo said. 

Suddenly Kirsten heard Thomas answering, “I’m so jealous you two got to see them.”  

Kirsten whirled around to see him coming up alongside her, “Where did you come from?”  

“I see you two decided to take my advice,” he noted, making sure they could see him eyeing their packs. 

“We made a compromise,” Bo said. “Unload the armor, but keep it within sight,” he pointed to the wagons rolling along in front of them.