CHAPTER 122 — ORDERS AND QUESTIONS
Morning did not arrive gently.
It arrived in motion.
The desert wind carried the scent of cooling embers and trampled sand across Sandridge Village. Lanterns from the night before still hung overhead, dimmed and swaying lightly in the pale dawn light. The square, which had been full of laughter and music hours ago, now bore only faint footprints and folded tables stacked neatly along the walls.
Bronze Squad was already awake.
Hunters did not sleep deeply after celebration.
Colby stepped out first, stretching his arms overhead. "I almost forgot what it feels like to not wake up covered in sand."
Marek adjusted his bowstring quietly. "You snore."
"That is battlefield intimidation."
Darius ignored them, checking his spear's edge.
Ryn crouched near the Tyrant's corpse, which had been dragged to the village outskirts. His expression wasn't casual.
Zehell approached him silently.
"What is it?"
