The sub-zero mountain gale howled between the towering black basalt walls of the Viper's Throat, swirling fine sheets of frost across the frozen canyon floor.
Sagiri kept his right hand planted against the wrapped hilt of Nokai, staring across the gravel at the seven familiar figures standing in the gloom.
His breath rose in thick white plumes against the starlight, his mind struggling to understand how they had caught up to his pace.
"What are you all doing here?" Sagiri asked, his voice rough and cutting through the whistling wind.
"You need to turn around and head back to the academy before the morning patrols notice you are gone."
"The High Council put the entire northern territory on lockdown, and anyone caught carrying weapons outside the perimeter will be executed for treason."
Maita scoffed aloud while kicking a frozen chunk of shale into the ditch, adjusting the leather harness of his twin short-swords with an irritated sneer.
