When Lucas returned to the camp, the night had grown deeper and colder.
Most of the soldiers had already withdrawn into their tents, though sleep had clearly not found many of them. Small fires burned across the encampment, their faint orange glow flickering against weary faces.
Commander Alexander stopped walking once they reached the center of the camp.
"I will inform Captain Varran and prepare the officers," he said quietly.
Lucas nodded.
"We will speak again before dawn."
Alexander studied him for a moment longer, then turned and disappeared into the dim light between the tents.
Lucas headed straight for his own.
The moment he stepped inside, he called for Tom.
"Bring everyone," he said. "All of them."
Tom nodded immediately and rushed off.
Lucas remained standing inside the tent, the lantern on the table casting soft light across the maps and scattered documents. He did not sit. His mind was still turning through everything that had just happened in the valley.
