Tuva rode up on his other side, her cloak pulled tight against the wind. "It's a strong location, but the local clans won't like newcomers without talk first. We should
send a messenger before we dig too deep."
He grinned at her, the familiar challenge in her voice something he had come to expect. "Talk first, then build. But we don't wait forever. The south needs strength, not hesitation."
The team descended carefully, hooves slipping on loose shale. They reached the valley floor without incident. The ruins proved older than expected, moss-covered stones marked with faint carvings that spoke of forgotten clans.
Tuva dismounted and traced one with gloved fingers. "Older than most border markers. This could be a strong foundation if we clear it right. Water from the river, defensible slopes on three sides."
