The tent fell into heavy silence.
The news of betrayal lingered in the air like smoke.
Rany was the first to break it.
"This," he said coldly, "is why I told the mercenary office to send experienced escorts. Not green recruits."
His gaze swept across the tent.
"You've never fought in real war. Between nobles. Between nations. You think a soldier's first order is to survive? No. It's to mislead the enemy."
He leaned forward.
"If captured, trained men endure torture long enough to feed false information. That's basic warfare."
His eyes sharpened.
"Did the captured bandit look important? Like a commander? No. So how does he 'know' a merchant leaked information?"
Silence.
"You believe the first thing he says?"
His gaze paused on the Vipers. Then on me.
"And you, Ron?"
The insult was clear.
Ron didn't flare up.
He answered calmly.
"Maybe we were too quick to assume. But we also cannot ignore the possibility. The merchant theory may be false. The ambushes along multiple routes? That part is likely true."
Rany scoffed.
"Then stop guessing. Call Niapru. We inform him about the ambush information only. Do not mention merchant betrayal yet."
He looked around.
"If merchants suspect each other, they'll fracture. Panic spreads faster than bandits."
That, at least, made sense.
Ron nodded and told Niles to summon Niapru.
When Niapru entered, every faction representative was present.
He immediately noticed the tension.
"The bandit raid was expected," he said. "That is why we hired mercenaries. Why the grim faces?"
Ron spoke.
"Under interrogation, the prisoner mentioned multiple planned ambush points along our intended route."
Before Ron could continue, Niapru slammed his hand onto the table.
"Who leaked our route?"
His voice was sharp.
Ron replied carefully. "The prisoner is low-ranking. He may not know the source. We suspect internal leakage—but we cannot confirm it."
Niapru exhaled slowly.
More merchants meant more loose tongues.
After a moment of thought, he said, "We change direction."
Originally, the caravan was to skirt the edge of Lavian Forest before turning south.
"Now," Niapru continued, "we proceed east for several days first. Then we turn south later. It will add time. It will add cost."
Rany folded his arms.
"Payment will be adjusted."
Niapru nodded immediately. "Of course. Trade is give and take."
The tension eased slightly.
The meeting adjourned.
Outside, the morning sun felt too bright.
I breathed in deeply.
The air still carried the scent of burned bodies.
War.
Deception.
Betrayal.
Yesterday I learned what killing felt like.
Today I learned what mistrust felt like.
I didn't know which was worse.
I found Rusty resting near the wagons and checked my weapons in silence.
I might have to kill again.
Better not to think about it.
Footsteps approached.
Rany.
He studied my spear.
"You fight like someone who wants to use a halberd."
I looked up.
He smirked slightly.
"Want a few lessons? Free ones. Niapru will take time convincing the other merchants about the route change."
I hesitated only briefly.
Free training from a veteran like him?
That wasn't something to refuse.
"I'll take it," I said.
Rany nodded once.
"Good. Let's see what you're really capable of."