The next afternoon, Cain received Seth's report. The parchment was crumpled, a sign of the urgency with which it had been sent. Seth detailed the critical situation near the canal. The enemy controlled access to the water, stubbornly refusing any passage.
Even worse, they had discovered that the river, although still flowing, was poisoned. The crystal-clear water seemed pure at first glance, but a toxic substance clung to the rocks and sediment, making the water deadly, even in small doses. Seth and his men suspected a methodical, subtle, but relentless contamination. They had not yet precisely located where the poison had been poured, and even if they did, diving into those waters without protection would be suicidal.
The risk was far too great.
On top of that, enemy patrols roamed the shores, and skirmishes were becoming frequent. Seth urgently requested reinforcements.
