Allie officially hated tracking Wargals.

If it wasn't so darned easy, she would have snapped and massacred the lot of them on principle alone.

Anything that made so much noise, and repetitive noise at that, deserved to be strangled…

The female apprentice rode point, leading the group towards whatever destination the Wargals were headed for, while depending on Shadow and Storm to sense any dangers closer at hand.

Will rode far in the back, making sure no one tried to come at them from behind, leaving Evanlyn safe in-between with Horace.

Will had informed her that they were heading for the Fissure, and she could only imagine what Morgarath was planning.

The mountains were steep, and, as Horace had pointed out, getting an army over them and the gap would take months.

Can't go over, but…

The thought sent a chill down Allie's spine, and took root in the base of her brain like a stubborn cat.

Maybe you could go through.

Allie's fears were confirmed on the third evening of tracking the Wargals.

The ring and thud of something hitting stone and wood, like war drums being struck out of time with each other, reached her ears like warning bells over the breeze.

"We're getting close." She cautioned, feeling the tickle of Shadow's fur against her neck.

It wasn't until an irregular cracking sound became painfully audible that Allie brought them to a halt.

"I'll go see what they're up to." Will stated, dismounting Tug.

"Be careful."

Listening nervously as her fellow apprentice slipped away, Allie edged her mare towards the side of the path, fingers flexing over her recurve bow.

Time passed slowly, like molasses over tree bark, and her anxiety mounted with each second Will did not return.

Relax, she ordered herself.

He's fine. Those stupid Wargals wouldn't notice him if he was lugging around an angry cat.

The pep talk didn't stop her from being relieved once Will got back.

"So what's going on? Did you see anything?" Horace asked once the boy caught his breath.

"A bridge. They're building a huge bridge."

"A bridge?" Allie echoed, a chill dripping down her spine.

"Why would Morgarath want a bridge?" Horace wondered.

"It's a huge bridge, I said. Big enough to bring an army across. Here we've been discussing how Morgarath couldn't move an army and all its equipment down the cliffs and across the Fissure, and all the time, he's been building a bridge to do just that."

"That's why he wanted the Celts." Evanlyn voiced.

"They're expert builders and tunnelers. His Wargals wouldn't have the skill for an undertaking like this."

"They're tunneling, too." Will informed.

"There's a narrow crack-sort of a cave mouth-in the far side that they're widening."

Allie cursed.

"I should have known!"

"Known what?" Horace wondered, wary.

"I never felt right about those plans we got from Reacher. I thought he sounded sincere about having orders from Morgarath because he did. Morgarath doesn't care who dies to achieve his goals."

"So you think…" Will started, hesitating.

"The plans we found were fakes to influence our strategy. We wouldn't expect an attack from behind."

The realization was beginning to seep in for the apprentices, but it seemed Evanlyn was still in the dark.

"What are these plans you keep talking about?"

"Will, Alex and Halt-their Craftsmaster-captured a copy of Morgarath's battle plans a couple of weeks ago. There was a lot of detail about how his forces were going to break out of the Mountains via Three Step Pass. There was even the date on which they were going to do it and how Skandian mercenaries were going to help them." Horace explained.

"False plans." Allie reminded.

"And our army has no idea."

There was a heavy silence after that, which Horace broke.

"Then we've got to tell them. Right away."

"We've got to tell them." Will agreed.

"But there's one more thing I want to see. That tunnel they're digging. We don't know if it's finished, or half-finished, or where it goes. I want to take a look at it tonight."

"Will, we've got to go now." Horace insisted.

"We can't hang around here just to satisfy your curiosity."

"And give them another false lead?" Allie challenged, Shadow pacing along her shoulders.

"You're right, Horace." Evanlyn placated.

"The King must know about this as soon as possible. But we have to be sure that we're not taking him another red herring. The tunnel Will's talking about could be weeks away from completion. Or it could lead to a dead end. This whole thing could be yet another ruse to convince the army to divert forces to protect their rear. We have to find out as much as possible. If that means waiting a few more hours, then I say we wait."

"It'll be dark in an hour, Horace." Will reasoned.

"We'll go across tonight and take a closer look."

The Battleschool apprentice was silent for a while, so Allie kicked him in the shin to speed up the process.

"OW! All right! We'll look tonight. But tomorrow, we leave."

Allie's patience had been worn thin since crossing the Celtic border, and she was nearly out after being forced to wait with Evanlyn and the horses instead of scouting with Will and Horace.

Sensing her unease, Storm pressed against her shoulder, barrel-shaped chest rumbling with a soft, comforting nicker.

Patting the mare's forelock in thanks, she tilted her head towards the cave being made across the Fissure.

Someone had been groaning for a while, but they had long gone silent, which did nothing to ease her concern.

A soft meow signaled the approach of their friends, and the apprentice Ranger lowered her bow, gesturing to Evanlyn not to strike.

"Have we got something to tell you." Will voiced, joking tone strained.

Crouching in a circle, Will told them about what he had seen on the other side of the tunnel, scratching at the dirt with a stick to make a map.

"Somehow, we're going to have to find a way to delay Morgarath's forces." The apprentice Ranger concluded.

"I thought you said we should get word to the King." Evanlyn replied, confused.

"We don't have time anymore. Look."

Whatever had been drawn was wiped away, and something else scratched in its place.

"They said they have more Skandians coming up the cliffs on the south coast-to join with the Wargals we've already seen. They'll cross the Fissure here, where we are, and move north to attack the barons in the rear, while they wait for Morgarath to try to break out of Three Step Pass."

"Yes, we know that." Horace replied.

"We guessed it as soon as we saw the bridge."

Allie kicked the Battleschool apprentice in the shin again, glaring.

"But, I also heard them saying something about Horth and his men marching around Thorntree Forest. That's up here to the north of the Plains of Uthal."

"Which would bring the Skandians northwest of the King's army, leaving them trapped between the Wargals and Skandians who have crossed the bridge and the other force from the north." Allie explained.

"Exactly."

"Then we'd better warn the King, surely!"

"Horace, it would take us four days to reach the Plains." Will informed patiently.

"Even more reason to get going. We haven't a moment to waste!"

"It would take another four days for anyone to come back and hold the bridge, at the very least." Allie added.

"That's eight days, all told. Remember what that poor miner said? The bridge will be ready in four days' time. The Wargals and Skandians will have had plenty of time to cross the Fissure, assemble in battle formation and attack the King's army."

"But…"

"Horace, even if we get warning to the King and the barons, they'll be badly outnumbered and they'll be caught between two forces-with no way to retreat. The swamps of the fenlands will be behind them. Now, I know we have to get a warning to them. But we can also do something here to even the numbers."

"Plus, if we stop the Wargals and Skandians from crossing here, the King will have the advantage over this northern force of Skandians."

"They won't be outnumbered, I guess." Horace admitted in acceptance of Evanlyn's reasoning.

"And those Skandians will be expecting reinforcements. Reinforcements that will never arrive." Allie included, smiling mischievously as Shadow purred.

"…But what can we do to stop the Wargals here?"

There was a glitter in Allie's sightless eyes that signaled a bold idea.

"Burn the bridge."

Dawn impeded their plans, and the whipping and snarling of Wargals drew them to the overlooking rocks.

Pressed against the cool stone, Allie listened intently as the Celts continued their work, tense as a spring.

She hated not being able to help those poor people, but there was nothing she could do…

"We'll have to do it tonight." Will whispered.

"I've been thinking…" Evanlyn admitted softly.

"How will we get this fire started? There's barely enough wood around here for a decent campfire."

The thought troubled Allie for a moment…

Until she heard the 'THUD' of a hammer striking wood.

Will seemed to have caught onto her line of thinking.

"There's plenty of good firewood here, if you know where to look for it."

They waited until full dark before approaching the bridge, the two Ranger apprentices leading their ponies to the unfinished end.

"I hope it doesn't rain." Horace voiced.

"That'd ruin our idea all right."

The thought had occurred to her, but Allie hadn't wanted to worry Will.

She smacked the apprentice knight soundly upside the head.

"It isn't going to rain."

Feeling a tug on her arm that meant Storm had stopped, the female apprentice pressed a hand against the mare's wandering nose.

"Alert."

Huffing softly to show she understood, Storm lifted her head away to keep watch as Shadow curled around Allie's neck.

"You'll be all right without us?" Evanlyn worried, hesitating to cross the uncompleted section of bridge after Will.

"I'll be fine." Allie assured, smiling despite her own concern for their safety.

"Now go across, before you lose anymore darkness."

Once they had crossed, Allie let out a soft, tired breath before settling behind a boulder to 'keep watch'.

She hated not being able to help.

If she wasn't blind…

If I wasn't blind, I wouldn't have what it takes to be a Ranger, Allie reminded herself fiercely.

And they'd be doing this without me here to watch out for them.

With new determination, the female apprentice listened closely, ignoring the sound of wooden planks being torn free and focusing on the natural sounds.

Shadow glided down her back like a ghost, off to re-secure the area.

It felt like hours before the sound of footsteps approached from the bridge.

Nocking an arrow on instinct, Allie waited for the three-note whistle that signaled the newcomers were friends.

When it came, horribly out of tune and grating on the ears, she lowered the bow and stepped away from her post.

"Is it done?"

"Will's lighting it right now." Evanlyn assured.

Glad that the ordeal was nearly over, Allie faced the bridge, hoping to soon hear the crackle of flames.

Shadow had returned to her usual perch on the apprentice Ranger's shoulder by then.

Relieved, Allie smiled as Will ran across the thin beams without breaking stride, back where it was safe.

She knew something was wrong when the others fell deathly silent.

"It's gone out!" Horace shouted, pained.

Allie's heart went cold.

"…Maybe one side will be enough?" Evanlyn hoped.

"The right-hand pylon is damaged, but it's still usable. If the left-hand side survives, they can still get across to this side."

"And then they could repair the whole thing before we can get a warning to King Duncan." Allie realized, finishing her partner's explanation.

Hearing footsteps on the bare beam once more, she jerked towards the bridge.

"Don't you dare!"

"I have to relight it, Allie."

The wood groaned like a tortured beast, and her heart leapt in terror.

"I'll do it! I can-!"

"Allie."

Will didn't need to say anything else.

She knew that he was the only one who could cross safely, ignite the pylon, and get back.

She just wished it wasn't true.

"…If anything happens, I'm going after you."

"Is that a promise?" He replied cheekily, stealing across the gap.

"…Yeah." Allie admitted softly, fingers tight over her bow.

"It is."