“You don’t need perfect,” I continue. “You need one more step than they expect.”
She nods.
Not steady.
But enough.
I move along the line,not stopping, not lingering, adjusting where I need to, correcting without breaking momentum.
“Closer,” I tell two soldiers, pressing them inward with a firm shove to close the gap between them.
“You rotate,” I snap to another group, pointing toward the rear. “Now. Not when you fall.”
They hesitate.
“Move,” I repeat, sharper.
This time they go.
Good.
The structure tightens again.
Not strong.
But holding.
Skot appearsat my side like he always does, silent until he isn’t, his presence cutting through the chaos without adding to it.
“They’re probing for collapse,” he says, his tone steady despite the noise.
“They’ll find it if we give it to them,” I reply, deflecting another strike without looking at him.
“And if they don’t need help?”
I glance at him briefly.
“Then we make it harder.”
He watches the line shift, his gaze tracking movement faster than most could follow.
“This won’t last.”
“It doesn’t have to,” I say.
His brow lifts slightly.
“How long?”
I don’t answer immediately, my attention snapping back to the line as another push hits, forcing a partial collapse near the road.
Kareth is already there, dragging two soldiers back into position, his voice cutting sharp through the noise.
“Reform! Now—move!”
They respond.
Not perfectly.
