I left where I had did my ablutions and emerged back onto the roadside. I looked left and right and saw my uncle approaching, we waved simultaneously ...nd when he drew alongside me, I held my hand up and took his.He held my hand tightly, 'Would you like a shoulder ride', he asked me?I looked up into his face, the sun over his shoulder made my eyes squint, 'Yes uncle', I answered him enthusiastically.He stooped and lifted me onto his shoulders, and I wiggled a little until my crotch settled onto. This time I was able to mark the location of the shooter from his powder smoke. I had switched over to smokeless powder just about a year ago, and never looked back. That damned powder smoke would give away your location faster than most anything else. To hell with the added expense!The shooter was hunkered down behind a hillock about 50 yards on the other side of the trail from where I was hiding. He was about 200 yards away, an awful long shot for accuracy with iron sights, but not impossibly. The horse reared, tossing the wizard to the ground. He lost his wand and the thing in his left hand in the process but kept the satchel. He scrambled to his feet and took another object in his left hand. Urgah and Talia were in the lead of a clump of Zoltan's irregulars running toward the wizard. He shot a bolt from his open hand at Urgah, who fell face down, his bearskin smoldering. He was preparing to shoot another at Talia when she reached him. Her descending sword stroke spit his head just. They all worked several hours each day, curing the pelts, and that filled the short days.They also slept a lot, by necessity. Sex was difficult, if not impossible, in the almost freezing temperatures. The fire warmed only a small area around the fireplace, and to undress in the beds was unbearable. They cuddled a lot, though, and both couples became closer. Raven gravitated back towards Jim and Rose, out of necessity, and she was welcomed to add and share warmth. Some nights, in spite of the.