Pale light seeped through the canopy, lending the forest an unnatural, gray pallor as dawn approached. Theodoric stood at the edge of the ravine, his sword resting point-down in the earth as he surveyed the terrain below. His expression was tight with thought, his eyes narrowing slightly as they followed the twisting path that had led them here.

  Cassie approached, careful not to disturb the loose gravel underfoot. She kept her voice low. “What are you thinking?”

  “That they’re driving us into a choke point,” Theodoric murmured, his gaze unflinching. “We need to break the pattern before we’re boxed in.”

  Cassie glanced back at the others, who lingered in varying states of exhaustion. Cedric slumped against a boulder, his irritation barely masked by a veneer of calm, while Callen and the other guards sharpened their weapons or checked their gear. They looked capable enough, but the strain of the night’s pursuit had taken its toll.

  Theodoric spoke again, drawing her attention. “We move to higher ground. A plateau, if we can find one. It’ll give us a defensible position and a clearer view of the enemy.”

  She nodded, trusting his instincts. “And if the path to higher ground is another trap?”

  “Then we spring it on our terms.” He turned, his tone sharpening to command. “Callen, Cedric. Rally the group. We move out in five.”

  They began the ascent as the first traces of sunlight pierced the dense foliage. The path grew steeper, the loose rocks and damp soil making footing treacherous. Cassie stayed at Theodoric’s side, her eyes scanning every twist and turn, every shadow that lingered too long. The oppressive quiet had returned, amplifying the creak of branches and the soft rustle of leaves that seemed to follow them like whispers.

  The slope narrowed suddenly, forcing the group into a single file once more. Cassie moved ahead, testing each step before signaling the others to follow.

  A sound—a low rumble—set her heart racing.

  She turned sharply, her eyes darting to the rocks above. “Move!” she shouted, her voice cutting through the stillness.

  The warning came just as a cascade of stones broke loose, crashing down the slope in a deafening rush. Cassie dove to the side, narrowly avoiding a jagged boulder that thundered past her. Dust filled the air, choking and blinding as smaller rocks tumbled in the slide’s wake.

  When the chaos subsided, the group was split.

  Cassie pushed herself to her feet, coughing against the dust. “Your Highness?”

  His voice called back from the other side of the rubble. “We’re fine. Can you regroup?”

  Cassie glanced at the two figures beside her. Callen looked shaken but unharmed, his spear clutched tightly in one hand. Cedric, on the other hand, wore a look of disbelief that quickly curdled into anger.

  “This is madness,” Cedric spat, brushing dust from his tunic. “We’re stumbling into death with every step.”

  Ignoring him, Cassie turned back toward the rubble. “We’ll find a way around and meet you further up.”

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  “Be careful,” Theodoric’s voice came faintly through the rocks.

  Cassie nodded, even though he couldn’t see her. She motioned for Callen and Cedric to follow, her focus shifting to the uneven terrain ahead.

  The three of them moved cautiously, the forest growing darker as the light struggled to penetrate the thickening canopy. Cassie’s eyes caught the faint glint of something carved into a tree—a jagged arrow pointing northward. She stopped, her pulse quickening.

  “Markers,” she said, more to herself than to the others.

  Callen stepped closer, his expression wary. “Are they leading us, or warning us?”

  “Does it matter?” Cedric snapped. “If we stay here, we’ll be hunted like dogs.”

  Cassie shot him a sharp look but didn’t respond. She crouched near the marker, studying its edges. The cuts were fresh, the bark curling inward as if made hours ago. Whoever had left it was close—too close.

  “Let’s move,” she said curtly, rising to her feet.

  The trail narrowed again, winding through dense underbrush and over treacherous rock formations. Every sound seemed amplified—the crunch of their boots, the labored breaths of her companions, the faint rustle of movement in the trees above.

  Tension prickled the air, thick and suffocating. Callen’s grip on his spear tightened with every step, while Cedric’s muttered complaints grew louder, each one grating against Cassie’s patience.

  When they reached a small clearing, she stopped abruptly, holding up a hand.

  “Wait,” she said, her voice low but commanding.

  “What now?” Cedric demanded, his tone edged with impatience.

  Cassie didn’t answer immediately. She crouched near a patch of disturbed earth, her sharp eyes tracing the faint impressions left behind. A trap—simple but effective—had been set here recently. The ground was rigged to collapse, likely triggering an avalanche of loose rocks from the slope above.

  “They’re funneling us,” she said finally, straightening. “But we can use it against them.”

  Callen gave her a questioning look. “How?”

  She gestured toward the slope. “We set the trap off on our terms. Collapse the path behind us and buy time.”

  Cedric scoffed, folding his arms. “Brilliant. Let’s make it harder for ourselves to get back to the others.”

  “It’s harder for them to follow,” Cassie shot back. “Or do you have a better idea?”

  His silence was answer enough.

  She moved quickly, her hands deftly rearranging the unstable rocks to ensure the collapse would be controlled. Callen assisted without question, his movements steady despite the tension in his shoulders.

  Cedric lingered at the edge of the clearing, pacing like a caged animal. “This is insane,” he muttered. “We should be running, not—”

  The trigger snapped.

  A sharp crack split the air as Cedric’s foot grazed the tripwire, sending the rocks above them rumbling loose. Cassie moved instantly, grabbing his arm and yanking him back just as the slope gave way.

  Dust and debris exploded around them, and she felt the sharp sting of gravel against her skin. Her grip on Cedric’s arm tightened as they stumbled backward, narrowly avoiding the worst of the collapse.

  When the dust settled, the path behind them was gone, replaced by a sheer drop into jagged rocks below.

  Cedric stared at the destruction, his face pale. “I didn’t—”

  “You nearly killed us,” Cassie snapped, her voice sharp with anger. She released his arm, stepping back to compose herself.

  Callen broke the tension, his tone even. “We need to move. They’ll have heard that.”

  Cassie nodded, forcing herself to focus. “Let’s go.”

  The rest of the climb was tense and silent, the air heavy with unspoken accusations. By the time they rejoined the main group on a rocky plateau, the sun had fully risen, casting long shadows across the jagged terrain.

  Theodoric turned toward them, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in their disheveled state. “What happened?”

  “Rockslide,” Cassie said tersely, her gaze flicking briefly to Cedric.

  He said nothing, his jaw tight.

  Theodoric let it drop, his attention shifting to the plateau itself. The space was wide and defensible, but it was the subtle signs scattered across the ground that held Cassie’s focus.

  Charcoal smudges marked the remnants of a fire pit, while faint impressions in the dirt hinted at the presence of several figures. Whoever had camped here had been organized—too organized for mere hunters.

  “We’re not alone,” Cassie said quietly, her unease growing.

  Theodoric nodded, his expression grim. “No. We’re not.”