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He looked back over his shoulder at two hundred and fourteen wagons like the one he currently endured Most of them were barely half-full, if not coees from Riva, many of them taken sick because of the rain and the lack of food and shelter Legions ionares were little better off than the civilians

Combat continued at the rear of the column, where Antillus Raucus had taken co bursts of basso soundfrequently crackled down fro their backtrail The least-battered Legions took turns at breaking up the enemy's moht up from the rear and handed to overworked healers in their ons had already been filled with the wounded who could not walk for theian Legion roup of the highest-ranking Citizens, including the covered wagon bearing the wounded Princeps Attis Technically, he supposed he could always go up to the Princeps and report in person on the status of the supplies If that happened to get him out of the bloody rain for a few hed It had been a perfectly fine rationalization, but his place was at the head of the supply column Besides, it was better that Attis had as few reminders of Ehren ex Cursori as possible

"How much farther, do you think?" Ehren asked the teamster beside him

"Bit," the man said laconically He had a broad-bri

"A bit," Ehren said

The teamster nodded He had a waterproofed cloak as well "Bit And a hed, and said, "Thank you"

"Welco horses approached, their hooves a drum of muffled thunder Ehren looked back to see Count and Countess Calderon riding toward hie on his head, and one side of his face was so deeply bruised that it looked like a frenzied clothier had dyed his skin to complement a particularly virulent shade of purple The Countess bore a nuhter h Lady of Aquitaine

She and her husband reined in as their horses drew even with Ehren's wagon "Sir Ehren"

"Countess"

"You look like a drowned rat," she said, giving hirin

"Drowned rat would be a step up," Ehren said, and sneezed violently "Feh How can I help you?"

A about Isana?"

Ehren shook his head gravely "I'm sorry There's been no word"

Count Calderon's expression turned bleak at this, and he looked away

"Your Excellency," Ehren said, "in my opinion, there is every reason to believe that she is still alive"

Count Calderon frowned, without looking back "Why?" He spoke between clenched teeth Ehren winced in sympathy The Count's swollen jaw obviously made it painful for hiin with, sir If the vord wanted her dead, there was no reason for thee a covert entry into a secured building They would have killed her on the spot"

Count Calderon grunted, frowned, and looked at A the question she could evidently see in his face "Why would they want her alive, Sir Ehren?"