"We'll perform a search around there since we don't know the exact location of the base, surely Yua can help out."
"Any idea which Finger is there?" Bran asked.
Tobias shook his head. "Not confirmed. Could be one of the lower-ranked ones. Or it could be worse."
Zayn tapped the map. "These hills here — natural bottlenecks. If they're using them for ambushes, we could be in trouble. Especially if we go in with a carriage."
"That's why we're walking," Tobias said. "Carriages are loud, slow, and vulnerable. On foot, we can track better and avoid routes they might expect."
Kara leaned over the table, pointing to a small grove near the trail's edge. "We could rest here overnight on the second day if we pace ourselves. It'll give Elisse time to recover mana."
"I'll take the front," Seren added. "I can scout ahead with the shadows."
Zayn looked at her and nodded. "We'll need that. If it's a trap, I want to know before we're knee-deep in cursed mud."
