Rong learned of the failed ambush within hours, Garrow delivering the news personally this time, unwilling to hide behind another messenger after everything that had already gone wrong.
"Four men," Rong said, voice flat with something past anger now, something closer to cold resolve. "Four men and my nephew's own cousin luring him into a trap, and he walked out untouched."
"He walked out choosing not to kill anyone, Elder," Garrow said. "That's not the same as untouched. He had them beaten in under a minute."
Rong's ruined arm twitched slightly at his side, phantom pain from a wound that had already cost him more than he wanted to admit. "Then subtlety has failed enough times. We stop being subtle."
"Elder—"
"I am done losing pawns one at a time to a labor disciple who should have die
