"The fastest way to Kay's Anchor is straight through the forest near the River End village," Adam says, drawing a rough map in the dirt with a stick. The flickering firelight illuminates the map to the 9 men who are around him.

"The only problem is that there's a river in the way," David mentions, adding a line in Adam's diagram.

"Exactly," Adam says. "There are three ways across the river. One is to charter a boat at Cyfarfod to get us across, but the Squids will be everywhere. Another is to go around River End but that will add another few days to the trip."

"What about the third?" Billy asks.

Adam frowns slightly. "From memory, there's a ford halfway between Cyfarfod and the forest. I think that's our best bet. It'll add another half day to a day onto our trip, but I think it's worth it."

"You're the General, it's up to you," David says.

Adam gives him a withering look. "Don't you start," he says. "I spent years trying to get people to stop saying that, don't make me do it all over again."

With the route decided, the men roll themselves up in the few blankets they brought along to catch a few hours sleep before the sun starts to rise. Over the next few days, they move fast, getting up just before sunset and continuing until the moon is setting. No Squids follow them and they stay out of sight of all of the small villages dotted around the area.

Several days later they reach the forest that hides Kay's Anchor. Adam unconsciously holds his breath as he dives into the shade of the large trees. The last time he was here was almost 12 years ago, wounded, terrified and filled with the feeling of failure. The small group's run slows to a fast walk as they push through the undergrowth and brambles that fill the forest, following the barely visible trail that has been broken through the trees. It was never the easiest thing to get to Kay's Anchor, Adam remembers, but he shudders at the thought of what the first group would have had to struggle through.

Close to three hours of hard work later and the trees finally begin to decrease and the sound of a fast flowing river laughs through the air. As they get closer to the Nicene river and to Kay's Anchor, they hear the soft murmur of voices and once, the chink of chainmail. With the edge of the treeline only several steps ahead, Adam motions with his hand and the group of 9 slow, moving into a crouch behind bushes or trees and branches that still cover the forest. Adam's eyes search the area up ahead in a probably unnecessary action, but he wants to be sure that it is safe. He sees several people whom he recognises walking around and talking quietly with no fear or anxiety in them. Well, no more than usual. One person who is instantly recognisable walks into Adam's vision and he silently heaves a sigh of relief, tension leaving his shoulders slightly.

"Seems that Benjas listened to Cassandra after all," David mutters from beside him.

"Yes it does," Adam says back before standing up and walking forward out of the trees.

The 9 men follow him and spread out among the group of Sky Army recruits, meeting with friends and (occasionally) family. Adam moves through the crowd until he finds Jordan who is just finishing a conversation with another recruit. Adam waits patiently for them to finish and then quietly talks to Jordan.

"How many recruits have we got?" he asks, his eyes drifting around the people in their dull work clothes and warriors in chainmail and tunics embroidered with a bow and a sword.

"With 11 of you who just arrived, 92," Jordan says. "You were right, there were recruits in the city who didn't know that we were there, and they got out with the rest of us. The last scheduled group of recruits arrived about ten minutes ago, so everyone's got here safely."

"Make that 91 recruits," Adam says quietly.

Jordan gives him a questioning look and mentions that Adam is "here earlier than we had planned. Did something go wrong?"

"The Squids executed Bluey," he whispers. "We had to clear out before the same happened to us."

"So this is really happening then," Jordan says. "There's no going back now."

"I guess not."

The two stand watching the recruits, some standing and talking, others sitting, some resting or sleeping, preserving their energy while they can, all while the wide river chuckles behind them and the small waterfall roars in the distance, out of sight of this part of the river.

"So, you decided to take up my offer after all," a familiar male voice says from behind the two men.

Adam turns, a slight grin on his face. "Well, you need help and we probably do too."

"Yeah, you kinda do," General Mitchell says, his smile fading as his eyes scan over the recruits. It pains him to see an army that was so big from what he remembers become so small and insignificant. It reminds him that the same can happen to his army too, and to any army. He shakes his head a little, getting rid of the thoughts. Now is not the time. "I only brought a few of my men, enough to defend if that's needed, but not enough to attract attention from the Squids, since we technically are invading their territory."

"The Squids can get screwed," a nearby recruit says. Several people who heard grin, but there are no cheers or agreements or even nods, just slight grins.

Mitchell notices this, but he doesn't comment, only says, "So, what's the game plan?"

"This isn't much of a game," Jorden mutters. "And if it is one, I hate it."

Adam ignores Jordan's truthful statement. His eyes are squinted ever so slightly as he surveys the recruits at Kay's Anchor, only partly seeing the scene as a memory plays in his mind.

"When we split up, only a small group of us went to the Captial," he murmurs to himself. "Others scattered to the villages dotted all over the Squid's territory. Logically, they would still be there, completely unaware that the army's making a comeback."

Mitchell frowns, overhearing what Adam is quietly saying. "So what?"

"We have to get them," Adam says quietly. "We can't just leave them behind, we have to get as many as we can, but we also have to stay hidden."

The General of the Benjas whistles softly. "That's going to be very dangerous, Adam. You're going to be risking your whole army to do it."

"But the benefit is that we can double the number of recruits that we have here." Adam looks square at Mitchell. "The risk is worth it. We need all the help that we can get."

"We'll do the same process," Jordan says. "Send groups of five to all the larger villages around the place, do the same graffiti that was done in the Capital."

"Ten groups," Adam adds, "with one of the men who worked in the Capital leading them, me included. Don't try to argue Jordan," - for Jordan had opened his mouth to do just that - "you know that you can't change my mind about things like this."

"I can take this part of your army back to my main base," General Mitchell says. "It's a good distance away from the Squid territory and it's got plenty of space. I can leave men here as well and we'll ferry people across as they come here."

"That'll be awesome if you can do that," Adam agrees.

"Well, I'm assuming that that's what you called me here to do," Mitchell replies. "Your messenger wasn't all that clear you know."

"That's because I wasn't all that clear." Adam glances at Mitchell, noting the tunic over his mail shirt and the belt at his waist that holds his sword and a dagger. He points to the latter object and asks, "Can I borrow that?"

Mitchell glances down and takes his dagger out of its sheath. "Uhh sure? Just don't break it, my armour isn't going to make me another one."

Adam thanks him, takes the dagger and walks off into the forest, disappearing in a few steps due to the tangled nature of the trees. Mitchell watches him go.

"He's not going to do anything drastic, right?" he asks Jordan after a few minutes.

Jordan shrugs. "Drastic? Maybe. Dangerous? Not yet. Why won't your armourer make you another dagger?"

"I've broken about seven in the past six months."

The Commander of the Sky Army chokes a little. "What do you use them for?!"

"Anything. Fighting, training, cutting up stuff, picking locks, opening packets-"

"Picking locks?"

"Well yeah. I mean-" Before General Mitchell has a chance to defend himself, Adam steps out of the forest and Mitchell is instantly thrown back to the past. The man walking out of the woods has wavy hair cut short enough so that it is out of his face but long enough so that it could be gathered into a short ponytail. His eyes are hard but not cruel, just determined to do what he has to. This isn't Andy the lumberman anymore, with his long hair and vacant look. This is General Adam of the Sky Army.

"Thanks," Adam says, handing Mitchell back the dagger. He then claps his hands together and rubs them, a slightly evil lilt coming to his lips. "Alright, let's get moving. The rebellion is starting and I'd hate to be late."

I hate being late for a rebellion, it's so embarrassing.