They left before dawn.
Sera, Ryder, and four of Ironcrest's best trackers. Small enough to move fast. Large enough to handle trouble.
Lumi had hugged her at the gate. Tight. Longer than usual.
"Find them," she'd whispered.
"I will."
"And come back."
Sera had knelt. Looked her daughter in the eye.
"Always."
The eastern compound was two days' hard travel.
Sera led them through territory she remembered from her exile — the hidden trails, the safe paths, the places where patrols didn't go. Ryder followed without question. The others followed Ryder.
They made camp the first night in a cave overlooking a river valley.
"Tell me about the visions," Ryder said.
Sera stirred the fire.
"Lumi sees children. In a compound. They're being tested. Experimented on."
"Magnus's work."
"Yes."
