Everyone turned toward the source of the sound.
A silver green thread had somehow wrapped itself around a branch beside one infiltrator's foot. Another appeared a short distance away, followed by a third, and within seconds, more of those threads began spreading silently between the surrounding ancient trees.
They connected branches, trunks, and exposed roots until something resembling an enormous spiderweb had formed around the battlefield.
Gabriel glanced toward the threads, and the corner of his mouth rose.
"Looks like..." a slightly mocking voice came from above the canopy. "You really thought only two of us came here."
The infiltrators looked up.
Edgar stood atop one of the highest branches, and there was someone in his grasp.
It was Matthew. The cardinal's expression was extremely ugly, but Edgar appeared completely unconcerned as he looked down at the people trapped below.
"Unfortunately, this forest is my home."
He raised one hand.
Snap.
