There were nearly a hundred of the landing craft, each carrying a maximum of eighty men, which meant that for Miro's army to cross, they would have to take multiple journeys. If the first wave was unsuccessful, the boats wouldn't be able to return. The second wave would stay on the wrong bank, and the brave men who first reached the enemy side were doomed.

Then Miro saw how low the Black Army's dirigibles were flying. It would improve the accuracy of their fire, and they were still high enough that nothing could touch them. Nothing except…

"Send in the colossus," Miro said to Marshal Beorn.

"The plan was to wait," Beorn said.

"Unless you have a better way to take out those dirigibles, pass the order."

Beorn passed the message, frowning, clenching and then unclenching his fists.

The thunderous shaking of the ground told Miro his orders had been followed. To his right, he saw the top half of the colossus, twice the height of the tall trees around it. The animator in his controller cage atop its head was bathed in glowing colours as he moved the massive construct forward. But it was slow, too slow!

All of the landing craft were in the water now, each filled with men wearing nothing but armour of steel and leather, and many with no armour at all. Miro could see the boats being tossed around by the vicious river, but they were crossing under a combination of paddling and poling. The second wave of men massed in orderly ranks on the Alturan bank.

The Black Army's dirigibles swooped low and prismatic orbs fell through the sky. Great eruptions of water gushed from the river, and immediately two of the landing boats exploded in flashes of fire as blood and the pieces of soldiers were thrown into the air. Another craft tilted too much as a series of orbs detonated in the water around it, and the river rushed in, capsizing the craft and sending the armoured men to their deaths as they spilled out.

"Come on," Miro pleaded, "hurry."

The colossus reached the riverbank. So much of their preparation had been for this moment. They had tested the idea on land, in the safety of the Dunwood, but on a wild river, in the heat of battle, was another matter altogether.

Miro knew the animator in the controller cage well. His name was Luca Angelo, and the Halrana said he was the best animator of them all. He had seemed a steady man to Miro, calm under pressure, and Miro could only hope those qualities would hold him in good stead now. If the plan was successful, Miro would honour Luca in whatever way he could. He knew, though, that all the man wanted was to be reunited with his family in Ralanast.