Grim had been riding for two hours when he spotted the torchlight ahead. A small patrol of Yanyu soldiers was making its way along the main road, moving cautiously through territory that had become increasingly dangerous.
As he approached, the patrol's leader raised his hand in a halt signal.
"Identify yourself," called out a sergeant whose voice carried the strain of too many sleepless nights.
"Grim van Ambrose. I carry imperial authority." Grim dismounted and approached the group on foot, showing the scroll General Chen had provided.
The sergeant examined the document, his expression shifting from suspicion to relief. "Lord Ambrose.Twenty men in my patrol, all that's left of the eastern reconnaissance company."
"What's your current mission?"
"Mapping elven patrol routes in this sector. We've been tracking a group of raiders that hit a supply convoy yesterday."
"How many raiders?"
