It was their third circle over the Codpiece and Carny hoped it was their last. He was getting dizzy staring down at the mountain. “You see a red smoker yet?” Astol asked. Carny shook his head as a salvo of cat shots slammed into the side of the mountain, tearing out patches of trees. “Nothing yet.” The cat boys had been at it for over an eighth, pummeling the mountain with salvo after salvo. The first of the big trebuchets to be completed—Tall Terror—joined in, lobbing stones that looked as big as huts. The artillerists said they were going to soften up the mountain before the shields went in. Carny was fine with that. He preferred the cats be done with their work when he hit the ground. “There!” Carny said, tapping Astol on the shoulder and pointing. A trail of red smoke sailed through the air and hit the mountain near its base. “Sky Horse Leader to flock. The cats are done. Follow me in, clear.” A series of aye-ayes came out of the crystal sheet near Carny. He shivered.
