Elaine was already waiting in the living room when he arrived. She wasn't wearing her usual doctor's robe this time, only a sleeveless cream shirt that fit her perfectly, paired with cargo pants and sturdy boots.
She was in the middle of gearing up, slipping on a field jacket lined with pockets for ammunition and tools.
As he watched, she bent slightly to secure a knife into her pants.
Gideon let out a low whistle. "Wow. I didn't think I'd ever see someone this excited about wiping out a whole group of people."
Elaine glanced at him without missing a beat. "A group of bandits," she corrected calmly.
"And we should leave soon. At this hour, they're likely still asleep. We can take them by surprise."
He tilted his head slightly. "I thought you preferred direct confrontation."
"I do," she replied, tightening the last strap on her gear. "But efficiency matters more."
Gideon let out a small breath. "We'll have to delay that. I need to stop by Climber Rift first."
