Orda POV
The fires in Džuketau were past the point where anyone could do anything about them. Orda could see that from the rise without riding closer.
The buildings on the eastern side of the main road had burned through completely, somewhat still standing but the walls eaten down to nothing, and the thatch on the market stalls was long since ash. The grain warehouse had collapsed in on itself an hour ago.
The smoke above the town was a single dark mass that had absorbed all the separate fires and was running on its own now, driven by the heat from below rather than by anything the riders were doing.
A relay rider came from the town's north edge.
"Eastern district's done," the rider said. "Kachu's section hasn't confirmed withdrawal yet."
Orda looked toward the town's northeastern corner.
"Send him the withdrawal order directly. Don't wait for his relay."
The rider went.
