Three days had passed since the advance group had left the Citadel, and they had successfully secured the second and third posts, advancing through 1000 miles of hostile terrain and leaving one squad at each checkpoint to guard the path for the civilians behind them.
Now, only two squads remained, tasked with advancing toward the next post beyond a rocky mountain range.
The scout had reported troubling news: a horde of orcs had been spotted beyond the mountain. From their observations, it seemed likely this was a breeding ground for the orcs, a potentially dangerous site that could lead to even more orcs pouring out onto the path.
Grand Magus Shahi, ever pragmatic, spoke up. "The western path is an option," she suggested, pointing toward a winding trail to the left. "But it's a longer route, about four hours of extra travel. We could bypass the orcs and move on safely. What do you think, Magus Emery?"
