"We recover the flock," he said. "In daylight. Small party. No pursuit past the first clean marker. If they want a fight on open ground they can make it obvious. I will not give them a story about southern raiders crossing under cover of sheep."
Tuva's eyes met his. "And Redpine?"
"Frida gets the truth before the sun is high. Early warning both ways means both ways. If her people saw movement last night and didn't speak, I want to know why. If they didn't see it, they need to know the line is already being worked."
---
They rode the recovery in full view of both sides of the edge.
