The man saluted and immediately began blowing a quick signal on his horn. In the dark on the ground behind the wall, the mules went to work again. Their arms made a creaking sound, followed by a distinct report of wooden arm striking wooden crossbeam, followed by a rattling, thumping sound as the mule rocked wildly back and forth before settling down again. A few seconds later, the ground outside the walls was illuminated by a blossoming wall of flame, incinerating hundreds more vord.

But they never slowed down.

Bernard watched a while more, until every archer team in sight was down from the walls and in their second position. The legionares fought on doggedly, throwing down the enemy with sword and shield, spear and fury. “Any sign?” he asked Amara.

Amara swept her eyes over the sky. It was impossible to see even the stars of the moonless sky outside of the radius of the wall’s furylamps. “Not yet,” she reported.

Bernard grunted. “What about that reserve force?”

Amara looked up and down the walls for the telltale colored furylamps they were using to send messages. A flashing blue light would have indicated that someone had spotted the specialized troops Invidia had described. “Not yet,” Amara said.

Bernard nodded and continued watching the battle, unmoving, apparently unconcerned.

Amara knew it was a facade, for the benefit of the troops, and she tried to support it by appearing just as calm and steady as her husband—but despite her efforts, she bit her lip when she saw a young legionare, barely more than a boy, seized by a mantis’s scythes and tossed screaming into the swarm below. His companions in arms cut the vord responsible into quivering chunks—but they were too late for the youth. Wounded were being carried from the wall by field medicos every few seconds. Once more, the Marat and their gargants stood by, patiently waiting while dozens of wounded were loaded into their carrying harnesses, then turned to begin striding toward Garrison.

“This is getting tight,” Bernard muttered. “They’re pushing harder than they did before.”

“Should we sound retreat?”

Bernard stood calmly, looking down at the battle and giving no indication of his concern on his face or in his body language. “Not yet. We’ve got to know.”