Chapter XIV, Reading 10

Kalmyk was still puzzling over the map. "Why would the Duke put troops here?" he muttered to himself.
"To hide their movements," answered Flindra.
Kalmyk looked up with a slightly irritated expression. "They can't move them anywhere from here without the world knowing, so why bother?"
"They can't move them on land without the world knowing. But, what if, there is access to the sea and a hidden place to load men and horses. What if they plan on moving troops on ships. No one would know would they? No one would know until they landed."
Flindra had wanted his attention and she had it. "Go on," he commanded.
"The map shows that the river ends at the swamp. Suppose that isn't the way it really is. Suppose that at least one channel makes it through the swamp to the sea. Couldn't they hide their troops here in the swamp until everything was ready and then make sail? Sail to Kazat?"
"Sail to Kazat and bite us on the rear before we even knew they were there. Of course! It's so obvious! It also explains their traps in the swamp. The Duke can't have us snooping around in there. His strategy will only work if it's a complete surprise. But, I have to have proof. How?"
"If they are planning to move by sea then they've got to have ships," Leitho replied to the open question. "I'd wager that they can't get sea faring vessels too far into the swamp. The ships, or at least their masts, would probably be visible from the coastline south of the swamp." He traced his finger on the map as he talked. "If we skirted the swamp here and then moved back along the coast we might be able to gather some proof."