just a little above where my Prince is. It can
cut two days off your travel time."
91 "Then why do we wait?" cried The Hawk, "Show us the way!"
92 The river was not an easy crossing, and several men nearly drowned.
But they reached the far bank, found the trail, and marched in their
loin cloths while their soaked clothes dried. The Lady Hawk was bashful
about such things, but when the other women stripped off without
embarrassment, she did likewise. "You people have no shame!" she
laughed to her mate, as they marched along. Everyone knew that she spoke
only in jest.
93 The days dragged by. Everyone was foot sore and tired....and The
Hawk wondered how good they'd be in a fight. But his people pressed on
without complaint, and his pride in them grew with each passing mile.
94 Finally they passed out of the foothills and rejoined the road. They
topped a rise and below them, in the plains they could see thousands of fires. The Zoan messenger
looked pleased. "The enemy has not passed our defenses," he cried, "we
have made it! You are in time!"
95 The Hawk ordered his people to sleep where they fell, there was no
time to make a camp and he dared not light fires. It did not matter. His
people were too weary to know if it was cold or hot. As soon as most fell
down they were asleep,with just a few on guard who had been sleeping on
the dogs.
96 "As soon as the light comes," The Hawk told one of his men, "wake
me. I want to see the lay of the land."
97 To the Zoan messenger he ordered, "Go down and tell Bright Star we
are
here, and that we will make Our presence known at the proper time in
the morning."
98 The messenger saluted and hurried off. The Hawk laid down and went
to sleep. It seemed like he had barely