Lena Voss decided before anyone suggested it.
The sun was going down. The search had found one merchant token and left everyone with more questions than before. Moving a fully loaded caravan through mountain terrain in the dark was not something she was willing to do. She directed the wagons into a tight circle on the wider section of road and had the fires lit before the last daylight left the cliff tops.
The merchants and guards went through their usual evening routines. Food was prepared. Bedrolls were laid out. Guards took their positions around the wagon perimeter and began their watch rotations. On the surface, it looked like any other night on the road.
But the atmosphere was different.
People spoke with lower voices than usual. The looks passing between experienced travelers carried more weight than an ordinary camp stop. The merchant token was now sitting in Lena Voss's coat pocket, and everyone in camp understood what finding it meant.
