Vigilant.
Unfortunately.
I lose sight of them when the track bends once more.
Four guards, probably all armed.
How good of a shot is Feniks?
I feel the weight of the pistol on my hip. I’ve been trained in weapons all my life, but never used a gun in an actual situation. But the idea of shooting someone doesn’t bother me at all.
Feniks and I get on the move again.
The track is narrow, only wide enough for one vehicle. After another quarter of a mile, we come across a wooden bridge.
“This is the place,” Feniks mutters. “We’ll set up a diversion, force them to stop.”
“I’ll take out the driver and passenger with silenced shots. Donovan can be shifted in the tree line. He’ll use archery to deal with the men in the back, but I want one left alive to question. Ludo and Max will come up from below the bridge, collect the girl and take her to Willow. You’ll get the guards' uniforms and dispose of the bodies, but also be on alert in case something goes wrong and we need your dragon.”
That all seems doable, but who the fuck knows.
Curveballs happen.
“I’ll talk to Theo and get the others mobilized now. The guard's schedule could easily change and we can’t miss this opportunity.”
“Agreed.”
—Pulu, we’ve found the ambush spot. Follow our tracks through the forest and you’ll find us….It may be a few hours of stakeout, so dress warm—
—OK…see you soon—
Feniks is searching around the forest. “Here, help me with this.” He points to a heavy, freshly fallen branch, still covered in green pine needles. “We’ll put it in the roadway; it looks natural enough.”
As we carry the log into place, snow starts to fall.
“This is good. The poorer the visibility, the better for us, and now we wait,” Feniks says.
I don’t like waiting.
Never have done.
If I’ve made a decision, then I want to put it into action immediately.
I lean my back against a frost-covered pine, and try to keep my mind from spinning out. There are a thousand ways this could go wrong.
About forty minutes later, the crunch of snow announces the arrival of the others. Max and Donovan are leading, the girls are in the middle, and the rear is brought up by Ludo.
Theodora finds my gaze.
—You OK?— I try a silent, clumsy attempt at support that the others give her so effortlessly.
—I’m fine, Cosmo—
Feniks lays out the plan, and Donovan immediately shifts. “Thank fuck. My centaur feels right at home in these woods. I’ll find a position to shoot from.”
He peels off, melting into the thickest part of the tree line.
Ludo and Max slide down the embankment under the bridge and disappear into the shadows by the frozen stream. Feniks lays flat behind a fallen trunk, then gets himself into a sniper position.
