Kane counted the relief patrol change through the treeline and felt the gap open exactly on schedule.
"Forty minutes," Ottilie whispered. "Starting now."
Eighteen fighters moved with him down the slope toward the forward camp, Reeve's people fanning left, Talyn and Joren holding the right flank. The camp sat quiet below, fires low, exactly as patient and undefended as Lira had described.
Too quiet.
Kane felt it before he could name it, the particular stillness of a place that wasn't sleeping, just waiting.
"Something's wrong," Kane said, low.
"We're already committed," Reeve said. "Gap's ticking."
Kane hesitated one more second, weighing the discomfort against the momentum already carrying eighteen fighters down the slope, then made the call he'd been dreading since the moment Lira'
