"Not your colors," Gad said. "Whose."
Vesk's expression hardened, calculation shifting into something sharper. "Mercenaries, likely. Drawn by the reward, moving without discipline or formation. That makes them unpredictable."
"Then we don't have time to keep debating," Mira said.
Gad looked between Vesk's soldiers, still positioned with weapons ready, and the tree line where the second group presumably approached.
The choice, uncomfortable as it was, had narrowed itself down to fewer options than he wanted.
"Fine," Gad said. "We accept your help, for now. That doesn't mean we trust you."
"I wouldn't expect you to," Vesk said, already turning to issue orders. "Form up. If mercenaries are converging on this position, I'd rather meet them with discipline than let them stumble into us u
