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FINN WALKED THROUGH the gates of Gilgin with Henge, Elina, and the Oracle Ilmar at his side. A guard ran ahead to announce his return. On top of one of the towers of the gatehouse, a team of engineers was assembling on a catapult. Boys ran back and forth through the streets, carrying battle axes and bundles of arrows to the supply depots along the wall. A cart filled with boulders was unloading next to the gatehouse. Someone expected a siege, and they were preparing for an assault on the gate. They passed several patrols as they made their way through the city. A company of soldiers was training in a plaza in the Deeps.
The Inquisitional Palace was the epicenter of all the activity. A messenger boy ran past Finn to push through the door first. Finn stepped aside to let two sergeants leave.
The guard who had run ahead was waiting for them in the hallway. "I'll take you to Gudmund; follow me."
Gudmund had set up his command station in center of the Hall of the Vein. A map lay on his table, showing the lands from Gilgin to Uneltemus, with several markers arranged on top. Another map, depicting the countryside around Gilgin, hung on a stand behind the desk. A group of officers had gathered round the desk, together with Rockbreaker and Trondjemite.
The rebel leader looked up as they entered. He spread his arms as he saw Finn. "Welcome back!" He walked over and gave Finn a hug. "Give me a moment to finish our briefing and then I'll be with you." He gave Elina a wave. "Hi, sis. Nice to see you back." He hurried back to the table, Finn and Henge drifting after him.
"Right," Gudmund said. "Where were we? Oh, yes." He tapped a point on the map. "We need advance scouts in this region. An early warning can mean the difference between losing half the incoming supplies and diverting them to one of the other cities. I think that's it. Any questions?" No one spoke up. "Great, then I'll see you all tomorrow."
Finn looked at the map. "Who's attacking?"
Gudmund pointed at a marker north of Brimir. "The Ochloroc are on the move. If the stories from Uneltemus are true and they come here directly, then they will be here in a week." Gudmund drew his finger along one of the roads leading to Gilgin.
"They will go to Brimir first," Henge said. "They have no reason to bypass it."
"I agree," Gudmund said. "Which gives us more time to prepare."
"Have you sent Brimir any aid?" Finn asked.
"And give the Inquisition more troops or supplies to attack us with afterwards? That's a terrible idea." Gudmund scoffed.
"There is no us and them now," Finn said sternly. "We humans and Manhir can only win if we all stand together."
"The way I see it," Gudmund said, "we're letting our enemies fight each other so we can defeat whoever is left."
"You haven't seen what the Ochloroc do to a city," Finn said. "No one deserves that."
"I have seen what the Inquisition can do," Gudmund said quietly.
Elina placed her hand on Gudmund's shoulder. "This is different. As much as it pains me to say it, the Inquisition needs our help."
Gudmund shrugged off the hand. "You can do whatever you want. Help the Inquisition for all I care. Just know that no Rebellion troops are going to Brimir with you. Good luck helping without an army."
"We will help," Rockbreaker said. "We have fought side by side with humans against the Ochloroc before. We will do so again."
"How fast can you move out?" Finn asked.
"We will be ready by morning," Rockbreaker said.