The forest seemed different now that it wasn't empty.
Where before there had only been heavy silence and the metallic smell of death, now there was movement—men positioned at strategic points, forming an almost perfect perimeter around the clearing. Discreet armor, dark cloaks, attentive gazes. It wasn't disorganized, nor improvised. It was control. It was the presence of a family that knew exactly how to deal with tragedies… and how to protect what still remained.
Kael paused for a moment as soon as he crossed the last line of trees.
His eyes scanned the environment slowly, analyzing every detail, every position, every breath held in that space. There was discipline there. There was preparation. But, above all… there were too many people.
He let out a small sigh through his nose, almost inaudible.
"There are too many people here."
