RUMAL LEANED HARD OUT AND felt his stomach drop. Over the tops of the mountains leading into the valley more enemy marched. Thousands of troops of armed Arumites.

He cursed, pounding a fist against his thigh while Kassie demanded to know who they were.

'Arumites, Kass. Our guys are screwed.'

'What do we do? Do we attack them?' Kerak asked.

'No, Kerak. We deal with the dragons.'

'What'll we do?' Kassie shrieked against the wind. 'We need to split ...