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Princess,” Skuld interrupted. The look of concern on his face told her he had overheard much of Ionascu’s conversation. “Captain Bahr says it’s time to get ready.”
    She blinked rapidly, hoping to erase the devious thoughts in her mind. “Thank you, Skuld. Are we ready?”
    “As far as I’ve been told. Those river Men will never know what hit them,” he beamed proudly. “Captain’s got me up on the bow with Ironfoot.”
    Maleela thought that bit was too much and decidedly more dangerous than the youth was prepared to handle. She wasn’t prepared to confront Bahr, her uncle, directly about something she was sure would be brushed off. Skuld had undergone numerous challenges and death-defying acts since stowing away about the Bane . Who was she to debate that?
    She laid a warming hand on his wrist. “Be safe, Skuld. We’ve come too far for any of us to get hurt now.”
    “It’ll be all right. I promise.” He gave her that youthful smile of his and marched off to take his position on the bow.
    Skuld suddenly discovered self doubt. He’d been so sure of himself right up until hearing Ionascu. The man made his skin crawl. He couldn’t understand why Bahr kept him on. Useless, the former spy was their greatest liability. After hearing his conversation, Skuld was now convinced Ionascu served some nefarious purpose and Maleela was his target. He decided to look after her. The only trouble was in not letting her know.
    “This is no place for a boy,” Ironfoot said as Skuld approached.
    The Dwarf warrior stood with his hands on the bow rail. He reveled in the wind kissing his face. Having spent the majority of his life underground, Ironfoot took in each new sight with delight. Iron torcs made his biceps bulge. A horned helm sat on a nearby crate. His battle axe and pair of black powder pistols were close by. He only wore his chainmail chest armor over a leather jerkin. Dwarves were no strangers to war, and he was in no hurry to get dressed.
    Skuld would have been taken aback a few months ago but he’d come to realize his companions were of iron spines. It was his duty to match them. “Captain Bahr sent me.”
    The Dwarf nodded. “I figured. Has the Giant spotted anything yet?”
    Avoiding the obvious height reference, Skuld replied, “I don’t know.”
    “I can’t see a damned thing from here,” Ironfoot said. “It’s been long enough between battles. I figure it’s time to get our hands dirty again.”
    Skuld flashed back to the bodies being dumped into the river. All of his childhood dreams of becoming a mighty warrior died a little more with each new fight. He didn’t see how anyone could come to disregard life so casually. Ironfoot glanced back at his sudden quietness and looked on the boy with understanding.
    “This isn’t an easy life, Skuld. We fight. We die. If we’re fortunate we get to live a full life in between. Don’t be so quick to judge. No one on this barge kills because they want to. Now be a lad and go see if the Giant has seen our opponents. I’d just as soon not get my head shot off while waiting to don my kit.”
    Glumly, Skuld nodded and headed back towards the bridge and Groge.
     
     
     
    The barge scraped over a series of low rapids. Stone and wood colliding echoed over the gently rolling valleys on both sides of the river. Bahr cringed, the sound louder than thunder to his ears. Torchlight illuminated small areas on the surrounding hills.
    “There are many figures moving in the night,” Groge called back over his shoulder.
    Bahr strained but couldn’t make anything out. Small trees rose up on both sides, preventing his line of sight from extending very far. Large boulders populated great portions of the shore, making the going more treacherous. His only option was to trust the young Giant until the enemy gave themselves away.
    “How many can you see?”
    Groge paused, silently counting. He turned and gave Bahr a dreadful look. “More than thirty.”
    “That means