The eastern training ground was empty when we arrived.
The warriors Caden had stationed there had pulled back to the tree line at his instruction, far enough to give space but close enough to move if moving became necessary. Bren stood at the edge of the packed earth with his arms at his sides and his eyes on the trees and the particular stillness of a man who had been told to observe and was observing with everything he had.
He looked at Caden when we came through the doors.
"Still holding," he said. "The fourth figure stopped moving about two minutes ago. He is at the edge of the tree line. The other three are fanned out behind him."
"Weapons?" Caden said.
"None visible. The three younger ones have the posture of trained fighters but they are not carrying anything forward facing." B
