Alderfay gnashed her teeth together. Commander Okabe had stole the thunder from her thoughtful analysis and made her feel like a fool.

"The Frognari and Centaur are natural allies, yes, but this Biomancer cannot be the Emissary of Ur Hor. It's simply not possible," said Okabe.

"But why? It makes perfect sense, who would want the Outlanders gone more than some disgruntled Frognari?" argued Alderfay.

Kate, Hela, and Cadet Greener sat around the heavy, oak table of the war room, waiting for the bold Kobold to make his assertion.

"This Frognari may, very well, share certain values of the Centauri hoard, but that doesn't discount the fact that the Emissary search party, by all qualified reports, has been spotted the far west of the continent. Unless this is some dissenting group, then their employ of the Frognari Biomancer coincidental to the messianic search—and not indicative of an alliance between the greater Frognari or Centaur." Okabe was certain of this conclusion.

"Still, at the very least, we should separate the Frognaris from the rest of the Guard. Something is going on here, and I want to keep an eye on them until we know exactly what's at stake." Alderfay was practically shouting.

"Are you suggesting that I send my own troops down the oubliette?" cried Okabe.

"I'm suggesting we do what is necessary—to protect this fort! The Centaurs have never made an attempt at the high walls of Siger, but with the addition of the Frognari Biomancer, the calculus is all but changed. I didn't get a chance to see her powers and we only have Cadet Greener's account to go off, but we cannot ignore the possibility that an attack may be imminent."

"On that matter, Sub-commander, we are in agreement. If it pleases you, have the Frognari men move their bunks to the mess hall. You can attach a unit of Diggers and Elves to watch over them, but they are not to be harassed in any way. These are brave men that I will not have scorned because of your unconfirmed suspicions. Then make sure that the rest of the Guard has this place on total lockdown. Close and bar the front gate and the tunnel gate. Have men posted on watch positions around the wall day and night."

"Sir!" replied Alderfay, "I will get to it at once." A quick salute and Alderfay was on her way from the windowless chamber. The others got up to leave as well, but Okabe gestured for Kate and Hela to stay.

"Sit, Miss Redrock. I'm sorry that your return to the Sanctum will have to be delayed until we have secured the fort. Also, I wanted to let you know that, while you were away, some Diggers came through looking for you," said Okabe.

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"What did they want?" she asked.

"Well, they weren't so much looking for you as the plans to your prototype. They claimed to be from the Sanctum Provisions Office and their credentials did, indeed, check out, but there was something weird about them. For one thing they came through the front and not from the Tunnel Line, which while not entirely out of the ordinary raised a red flag—maybe they were coming directly from some business at Junction—but there weren't any Elves or Crafters with them either, usually when we get a visit from the Sanctum brass it's a mixed group, but these fellows were all Dwarves."

"Did you give them the plans?" asked Hela.

"No, after moving the chest from the pavilion, I brought it up to my office and locked the plans in this strongbox," said Okabe, revealing to a steel safe hidden behind a portrait of Maru, the Kobold Matriarch. "So, when the Diggers showed up, I offered them the empty chest and said, 'She must have brought the plans with her.' They were incredulous at first, but eventually they got the idea and left."

"Thank you, Commander Okabe. I didn't think to secure the plans before heading into the wilderness. Who do you think those men were?" asked Kate.

"I don't wish to speculate, but if my assumptions are correct the two pillars of the Sanctum—the Dwarves and the Elves—are poised to crumble."

"Oh goodness!" gasped Hela. "You think that the Dwarves have a plot against the Elves?"

"And vice-versa, but it's not my place to say. I must only concern myself with the safety of this fort. The lockdown should only be for a couple of days, then you can return to the Sanctum."

The two women took their leave of the Commander and

That night an alarm was sounded by one of the guards watching the eastern section of the wall. He didn't notice it at first, but all along the wall thick, rough-barked vines had started growing, slowly at first but than faster up the wall. The next day Okabe made a survey of the defacement and concluded that the work of the Biomancer was surely at play.

"They're building a ladder for the pumpkin-heads," he said. "Burn them as quick as they come up."

For the next five days the Guards took oil and torches to the vines in an effort to keep back the growth, but it was like fighting the tide and eventually they ran out of oil. The vines created a vast net, almost like a ramp, directly up to the walls. Men were posted every six-feet along the parapet.

It was later that night that the first of the pumpkin-heads sauntered to the vines and started to climb. One blast from the double-barreled blunderbuss sent him to the ground, but then came two more, and then ten, and thirty, and hundreds.

"Fire in teams of three," cried Alderfay. "One man shoots while two reload."

The efficiency of the defense kept the pumpkin-heads at bay for the night, but as dawn struck the earth, Alderfay could see the approaching army of Cenaturs. There was a silence amongst the guards. If the pumpkin-heads could breach the walls or open the gate, it would spell certain doom for the Sanctum Guard and all inside. All the guns of Fort Siger would not stand a chance against the ten-thousand Centaur tribesman, who were currently just out of range, sharpening their spears and stringing their bows.