Before proceeding to the camp, they hid their horses in a dense thicket far from the main road, ensuring the royal beasts wouldn't draw unwanted eyes. The sun was already climbing high now, pressing down harshly over the land, turning the air dry and tense with heat.
They moved on foot, staying low until they reached a ridge overlooking the valley. Squatting behind a large, tangled bush, they peered through the branches at the sprawling labor camp below.
"Look," Asarmose whispered, his eyes narrowing.From their vantage point, the chaotic movement of the camp became a clear, calculated system. People weren't just being herded; they were being systematically split into three distinct lines the nearer they got to the heavy iron gates.
