The horses moved at a steady pace along the forest path.
Hod rode at the front of the formation with her gaze fixed ahead and the reins firm in her hands.
Behind her, the remaining inquisitors kept pace in silence, their heads slightly lowered and their shoulders tense.
The horses snorted more frequently than at the start, their steps less steady, and some lowered their heads with a weariness their riders shared but didn't voice out loud.
Until the tracker moved up along the right side of the formation until she was level with Hod.
"Captain…" she said in a voice that tried to sound respectful but couldn't entirely hide the exhaustion. "Can we talk for a second?"
"Talk," the white-haired woman replied without turning her head.
The tracker hesitated a moment.
"Could we… stop to rest, even just for a couple of hours?", she said with evident exhaustion.
Hod didn't respond right away.
