Chapter 16 · Hunt the White Stag Convoy

"Three wagons, fourteen guards, no mage support." Virrak's voice cut through the wind as we crouched in the snow ridge. "You sure about this?"

"Supply line's marked red." I kept my eyes on the convoy crawling through the pass below. The floating numbers over each wagon pulsed in my vision. Cargo value: high. Escort morale: 67%. Terrain advantage: ours. "We hit them now or we starve in two weeks."

"Your father never raided the White Stag caravans."

"My father's dead." I pulled my blade free. "And his council called me weak. So let's go show them what weak looks like."

Virrak grinned, all teeth. "That's my girl."

I signaled left. Twenty fighters peeled off through the rocks, silent as snow. I took the right flank with ten more. The system overlay tracked everyone's position like pieces on a board. Perfect angles. Perfect timing. The kind of setup that only worked when you could see the whole field at once.

The lead wagon hit the frozen patch right on schedule.

Its wheels locked. The driver shouted. Guards scrambled forward to push.

"Now," I said.

Arrows hissed out of the rocks. Four guards dropped before they understood what was happening.