Nicolas lead the warriors down a path through the forest, following track marks left behind by Ty and the others. They had reached a fork in the road when one of the warriors stepped onto a soft bed of dirt. Nicolas raised a closed fist and motion the others to stop dead in their tracks. They heard a small creak when the ground gave way and three of the warriors fell into a deep hole. Two of the men were pierced with sharp sticks that stuck out of the ground. They howled in agonizing pain. The third was able to leap out of the hole mid-shift. They were ambushed as many of the guards emerged from behind trees, rocks, or small hills and others were perched in trees, where they sent dozens of arrows flying through the air. Nicolas bellowed commands left and right as the men shifted and took o
