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Marcus strode to the front of the ship, stepping over a pair of heavy, loose poles on the way - replaceed his fist to his heart in salute "Captain"

"Marcus," the captain replied He frowned and nodded down at Marcus's arlanced down He hadn't seen any blood splatter on his ar the tunneling, when Sha had gutted the sche ritualist The speckles of blood had been sht, but fortunately that helped to thin it out, disguising its true color Canim blood was darker than Aleran, but spread thin over the surface of his ar after another, sir," he answered

"Tell rey sky and nodded at the incorunted and turned to look as well His eyes weren't what they used to be, but he could h to understand what the captain meant

"That's not an attack force, sir," he said after a h of therinned as the wind began to gust harder than it had all ht as well"

"Scouts," Marcus said

The captain nodded "Maybe spread all up and down the Shieldwall"

With a grinding sound, the vessel nearest the Slive began toout before the cold wind Up and down the line, other ships were getting under way, though the Slive's sails were still furled

"Why?" Marcus asked

"Looking for us, naturally," the captain replied "I think odds are good that the vord knee left Antillus h this idea has worked out, it wouldn't take a genius to deduce that the only ht play a role in whatever we had planned"

Marcus grunted It made sense The vord could spare a few thousand fliers for scouting duties, and barring the windcrafters enslaved by the enehts were the fastest troops they possessed More ships passed the motionless Slive "What is the plan, sir?"

"Oh, we run," the captain said offhandedly "They're flying against the wind, and we're with it They can't maintain the pace as easily as we can They'll tire, and we should lose them within a few hours"

Marcus nodded "Yes, sir" He cleared his throat "I'm not a sailor, sir, but don't we need to use the sails if we're going to leave the vord in our wake?"

Behind the captain, Arinned wolfishly

"I don't want to take unnecessary losses in a general skir to remain behind If they see a lone ship, potentially unable to run, I believe the vordknights will see it as an opportunity to attack"

"You want to stop the off to tell their Queen about us," Marcus said, nodding

The captain spread his hands "That, and I need to explore a few theories It ht be better to test them now than e reach the enemy's main body I'd like you to coordinate efforts with Captain Demos and make sure he has someone who can advise hihts"

Marcus saluted "Of course, sir"