Thacker spoke to the minotaurs about Riser's idea of using a vanguard to reach the city sooner. Riser would have spoken to them himself but the minotaurs didn't take him seriously. Thacker was one of them. He was a fighter. They listened to his words. As Riser had suspected, the minotaurs welcomed the opportunity to run.
They loaded ten carts with the more capable human fighters, cramming twenty into each with a few supplies to keep them going for a day or two. The carts were heavy to get moving from a standing start, but the minotaurs worked in packs of three or four to get them moving, and then worked in pairs to maintain their momentum.
Riser rode with Thacker in the lead cart, along with a select group of his warriors. They gave him odd looks to start with but they accepted him once they realised he was friends with Thacker. The vanguard pulled away, running at a rapid pace, if not quite matching the pace that Riser had travelled before.
He climbed down and ran alongside them when the minotaur pulling his cart complained about the weight of his exoskeleton. Riser didn't mind. He had joined the others for company rather than any need to rest. His exoskeleton was fast enough to keep up with the others without exerting himself too much.
Thacker watched with interest as Riser loped alongside the cart, exerting little effort, and the other warriors gave him envious looks when they thought he wasn't looking. They all wanted exoskeletons. He knew it, but he was keeping this one for himself.