The Burning Bridge

Will wakes up, dazed and concussed, and the Skandians decide to take a rest before they resume walking to meet Morgarath’s army. Will and Evanlyn listen to the Skandian warriors, who only fight for loot and profit, discuss the upcoming battle with pessimism. With the bridge destroyed and Morgarath weakened, they are planning to desert when they get to the Plains of Uthals. They are taking Will and Evanlyn with them as hostages, hoping to use them to their advantage to find passage through Araluen.

Halt and the Araluen war leaders discuss their new battle plans. Halt suggests that they use the element of surprise to get around the Skandians who are supposed to attack them from behind, attacking them from behind instead. His plan is approved, so he and Gilan take some men to sneak around the enemy force and stop it before it reaches the Plains.

Meanwhile, Will, Evanlyn, and their Skandian captors make camp for the night. When a group of Wargals led by Morgarath himself approaches them on their way to the battle site, Erak, the Skandian leader, tells Will and Evanlyn to hide.