The next afternoon found Hajin back at the forward viaduct station, looking through an open maintenance hatch at the workers still fitting its lower supports.
A warning whistle rose from the approach before Ferra could finish checking the last brace.
Thirty Choral infantry were crossing the span behind Lieutenant Varek, two squad leaders walking ahead with halberds angled beneath their arms.
Hajin sent the workers down the sheltered stairs, fixing the gallery mission before he split: hold his retreat stairs, stop flank attackers, withdraw on his call or at six minutes.
When the last worker cleared, he divided three Rings into a clone beside him.
He handed the duplicate an ordinary short sword and pointed toward the upper gallery overlooking the open hatch.
"Hold that retreat lane, stop anyone reaching the stairs behind me, withdraw with me when I call, six minutes here at most."
