Dawn had not yet broken when Aria gathered the small scouting unit at the edge of Silvercrest’s northern wood.
Mist clung low over the grass, swallowing sound and softening edges. Beyond the tree line, the world shifted from guarded territory to uncertain ground. The rogue forces had been sighted three times in the last week—always near the border, always vanishing before a full patrol could respond.
This time, they would not vanish.
Aria adjusted the straps of her bracers and studied the three warriors she’d chosen. Light-footed. Quiet. Loyal. She did not need numbers; she needed precision.
“I want no unnecessary engagement,” she said quietly. “We track, we confirm, and we return. If you’re spotted, fall back to the secondary ridge. Do not pursue.”
They nodded.
A presence moved at h
