Chapter 92: DO NOT CROSS THE JUNCTION

RAIGORO’S POV

From the junction, the shortest route to North Spur crossed the central service span above the buried load housings.

The upper ridge road used by the earlier reinforcements still existed, but reaching it from here required climbing back around the eastern ridge. That route would add hours North Spur might not have.

By the time the Duchess’s warning reached Raigoro, the battle had been grinding against the junction for hours.

North Spur’s latest signal had worsened.

Its outer line was still intact when the last detailed report left, but one anchor had failed and the station had requested additional infantry.

Raigoro had no fast safe road left.

He began preparing part of Arven’s force to cross the junction itself.

The front section of soldiers had already entered the service span when dragon wings sounded above the northern wall.

A Dragon Host pair dropped hard inside the northern service court. The harness carried Citadel markings rather than those of Veyr’s deployed teams.

The field officer dismounted before the dragon fully settled.

"Priority from Commander Voss."

Raigoro took the sealed sheet.

The Duchess’s handwriting filled the first line.

JUNCTION REPAIR SHIPMENT FREIGHT WEIGHT CANNOT CONTAIN LISTED REINFORCED HARDWARE.

FIELD REPORT OF UNDERSIZED SUPPORTS MAY CONNECT.

URGENT STRUCTURAL VERIFICATION RECOMMENDED BEFORE CONCENTRATED TROOP OR WAGON LOAD.

Raigoro looked toward the soldiers already crossing.

"Stop them."

The horn officer stared.

"Now."

One hard signal cut across the junction.

The company halted.

The front soldiers were already halfway over.

Captain Arven caught Raigoro’s arm.

"They are exposed there."

"I know."

"Either move them forward or bring them back."

"Back."

The withdrawal signal sounded.

The lieutenant on the crossing looked toward the enemy valley.

Corrupted pressure had increased again, ash hounds were already testing the southern barrier, and North Spur still needed men. Every minute mattered, but the soldiers turned and came back.

The Citadel courier dragon had folded itself low inside the service court, sides moving too quickly after the hard flight north.

Raigoro looked at the field officer who had carried the Duchess’s warning.

"How long since you launched?"

The officer gave him the time.

Too long at emergency pace.

"You delivered the message. You are done."

The officer glanced toward the battle.

"Your Grace, we can still..."

"Land safely, drink, and be examined."

Raigoro turned to the nearest Dragon Healer.

"They are not combat reserve."

"Understood."

The officer stopped arguing.

Good.

A dragon did not become rested because the battlefield had another use for it.

Holt came up from the lower access with dust across his coat and blood along one knuckle that did not appear to be his.

"Why did you stop the crossing?"

Raigoro handed him the Duchess’s warning.

Holt read only the necessary lines.

"The weight is confirmed?"

"By two calculations."

"And the field supports?"

"You found them."

Holt looked toward the service span.

"Keep it clear."

"How long?"

An impact hit the southern wall.

Holt glanced toward it.

"Longer than either of us wants."

He went below.

Raigoro turned immediately.

"No heavy wagons over the center."

Arven nodded.

"Infantry?"

"No concentrated formation until Holt clears it. Medical evacuation uses the northern access."

One officer looked toward the blocked span.

"That slows everything."

"Yes."

The Duchess’s warning had not proved the junction would fail.

It had made continuing to load the structure as though nothing was wrong indefensible.

Raigoro looked at Arven.

"Fastest light detachment. Ridge road."

Arven turned immediately.

"Kian."

Lieutenant Kian Marr came from the eastern line.

"Captain."

"Take the light detachment north. No wagons. No heavy equipment. You are buying North Spur bodies, not supplying a siege."

Kian looked toward the closed junction span.

"The ridge route doubles the march."

"I know," Raigoro said.

The eastern tower flashed again before Kian could answer.

HEAVY PRESSURE.

It was the same predefined warning, with nothing about casualties or how long North Spur could continue holding. Every man in the court still understood what the longer road might cost.

Kian looked toward the closed service span.

"If Holt clears it after we leave?"

"You keep moving."

"Understood."

North Spur might lose men while Kian took the slower road.

Sending the whole detachment across compromised infrastructure could lose the detachment itself.

Raigoro chose the cost he could justify.

Kian nodded.

"Then we start now."

He left.

No argument.

A Dragon Host horn sounded above.

Captain Veyr landed near the eastern wall.

"The bronze pair is injured."

"How?"

"Four carrion drakes caught them during the last turn. The dragon killed one. Two went for the Dragon Host officer while the fourth tore the outer wing membrane before they cleared the group."

"Can they fly?"

"Yes."

"Withdraw them."

Veyr looked toward them.

"They can still fly."

"Then let them use that ability to land safely."

Veyr nodded.

"Replacement?"

"None from another ward."

Veyr understood.

They were already spending the Dragon Host they had brought, and the injured pair being able to fly did not mean they were useful for another combat pass.

Two stonebacks struck the southern barrier in succession, and the second impact opened a seam between the wall sections. Ash hounds came through before the gap could close. Arven’s men reached it first, with Raigoro behind them before the command guard could pull him back.

He caught one hound across the neck with his sword, turned beneath another, and shouted:

"Second rank left!"

Shields shifted while he was still inside the line.

The breach narrowed.

One soldier fell.

Another took his place.

Raigoro backed out only after Arven’s formation had closed around him.

The wall shook again.

The eastern tower repeated a new signal.

WARD DAMAGE.

The signal gave them nothing more. Kian’s detachment was already on the ridge road, moving too slowly for North Spur’s needs but still moving, which was better than standing on a structure Holt had not cleared.

The engineer signal sounded from below.

Holt appeared at the lower stair after spending the intervening hours opening the additional load housings he had ordered checked when Raigoro arrived.

Raigoro met him halfway.

"Well?"

Holt held up a metal support bracket.

"Three load housings opened."

Another impact shook dust from the stone above them.

"And?"

"Two contain understrength supports."

Raigoro looked at the piece.

"Wear?"

"No."

"Installation error?"

Holt turned the bracket in his hand.

"Not one I am willing to bet companies on."

He looked toward the service span.

"Do not cross the junction."