Time passed differently in the forest. No sun to track, just moonlight filtering through leaves and the endless sound of boots on dirt and leaves.
Eventually, Egor called another halt. A small clearing, this one with a stream running through it.
"We'll rest here," Egor said. "Eat something, drink. We've got maybe thirty minutes before we need to reach the ridge."
The knights settled in an open space in the middle of nowhere . Clearly, they'd done this many times. Packs opened, rations distributed. Someone passed around dried meat that tasted like leather but provided energy. Waterskins made the rounds.
Noah sat slightly apart from the main group, not wanting to presume he was welcome in their circle.
Two of the knights were sitting together, a younger one amongst the group and another who looked maybe mid-thirties. They were talking about women, their voices carrying in the quiet night.
