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Tavi frowned down at themoment "What do we know about enemy numbers?"

"There appear to be quite a few of the an eyebrow

Cantus shook his head "It's hard to get within sight of the horde during daylight, even for fliers There is a constant battle for control of the air with those wasp-ot I can spare only a handful of fliers to use for reconnaissance, and they've returned reports varying from three hundred thousand to ten times that nuia They see Princeps Attis"

"They don't dare do anything else," Tavi said "If the High Lords get a chance to catch their breath, they can still be very, very dangerous to the vord"

Fidelias cleared his throat He pointed a finger toward the far end of the northeastern causeway, the one that ended at Garrison "Offhand, I'd say your pessimistic scout was the most likely to have been correct in his observations"

"Why?"

"The geography," Fidelias said "Princeps Attis is seeking advantageous ground Calderonrumbled

Tavi began to ask Cyricus to expand the sand table's view of the Calderon Valley, only to find that the stuttering youngit Tavi made a mental note to himself: If he survived this war, he si man a job Initiative like that was uncommon

"Ah, thank you, Master Cyricus," Tavi said "Princeps Attis is leading the vord into a funnel," Tavi said "Once they've passed the western escarp to be forced to crowd in closer and closer Sea on the north, i the advantage of nu there because my uncle has turned the place into a bloody fortress"

Fidelias glanced up at Tavi, frowning

"You saw the holders of the Calderon Valley throw up a siege wall in less than half an hour at Second Calderon," Tavi said "Now consider thatto five years to prepare"

The Cursor lifted his eyebrows and nodded "Still If the nuht not be enough And if he's leading the vord into a trap, he's going to be stuck in it as well There won't be any way for hio"

"He knows that," Tavi said, frowning "And the vord know it, too Which is why he did it"

Cyricus frowned "Y-your Highness? I d-don't understand"