Free Sorcerer's Moon by Julian May Page B

enemy fleets based at Tarnholme and at Yelicum in the Firth of Gayle. But observe how constricted the entrance to Terminal Bay is.'
    'Ah!' breathed the other Eminences.
    'Once the bay is secured by our warriors, it can be readily defended from attack by sea - a situation which the local human pirates have taken advantage of for centuries!'
    'How much opposition might we expect as we move inland?' Kalawnn asked. 'Unlike the Green Morass, the region seems to have numerous castles and settlements.'
    'But most are very small,' Ugusawnn said. 'The fortified town of Dennech-Cuva would be bound to put up a good fight, since it is the ducal seat. We should probably beleaguer and bypass it, leaving the inhabitants to starve. The castles deeper within the Great Wold are pitiful things - barely more than strongholds for brigands. The region's rivers are deep, providing excellent corridors for troop movement, and the swamps are much more congenial to swift Salka progress than the terrain of the Green Morass, even though the distance to be covered is greater. There should be plenty of aquatic food for our warriors along the line of advance. We'll build a string of garrison lodges in suitable spots for hibernators. However, most of our army would spend the winter in a state of alertness in Terminal Bay. It doesn't ice over and it's full of fish.'
    'How far do you think we might penetrate this year?' the Judge inquired eagerly.
    'With luck, we'll get as far as the Wold Road before bad weather stops us. That's the main land route connecting Tarnto Cathra and Didion. If we control it, we own the heart of High Blenholme Island!'
    'Audacious,' murmured the Conservator of Wisdom, studying the map. 'Too bad we didn't choose this course in the first place.'
    'Beacon Lake would have been faster,' the Supreme Warrior growled. 'If we hadn't encountered them.'
    'Even if we don't reach the road this year,' the Judge said, 'we'd surely be able to get there by late spring, wouldn't we?'
    'Beyond a doubt,' said the Warrior. 'And with high mountains protecting our position on two sides and the bay secure at our rear, it would be difficult for the enemy to outflank us. Their main body of troops would have to come at us along the Wold Road. We could cut it at many points - not just one - by demolishing bridges and causeways through the wetlands.'
    The Conservator blinked his feebly glowing eyes. 'Is there any alternative to this proposal?'
    'Only an ignominious retreat to Moss,' said the Warrior, 'with a renewed assault in spring. This is what the foe will expect us to do, of course. But they will be taken completely by surprise if we strike from the Western Ocean this year.'
    'Do we have the resources to accomplish this?' asked the Master Shaman.
    'We do,' Ugusawnn stated, 'if we act without delay. And this new scheme also enables us to reclaim the element of shock that was lost when we stalled at Beacon Lake.'
    'Well thought,' said the First Judge. 'Shall we agree to put this plan into action?'
    The others concurred unanimously. The Warrior displayed a frightful smile of triumph and began to gather the map figurines into a golden box.
    'Before we disperse,' the Conservator of Wisdom muttered,
    'I must return to Kalawnn's earlier news of significant import. What was the nature of the sorcery channeled by the vile Likeminded Lights to the humans who climbed Demon Seat?'
    'I'm not certain, Wise One, but I believe it was a fairly insignificant display of power,' the Master Shaman said. 'A mere trifle. You must understand, colleagues, that the truly remarkable thing is the fact that the Defeated Remnant had the ability to channel sorcery at all! One wonders whether the struggle between the two factions of Lights might be entering a new phase.' He studied the enigmatic sigil called the Known Potency, which he still held in his tentacle. 'Perhaps the Great Lights would tell us what happened if I inquired.'
    The Warrior gave a thunderous snort. 'We'd do better to