Veylara finished giving a final set of instructions to a pair of squad leaders and returned to them.
The rare, unshielded smile she had shown Sol had settled into something more measured, but the pride in her eyes had not faded.
"We will rest here tonight," she said. "The Marauders will be secured and counted. The wounded among us… what few cuts and bruises we took.. will be tended to. And tomorrow we will begin the return. A garrison will remain here. The rest of us go home."
…
The morning sun rose over the Marauder settlement, casting long golden beams across the conquered stone shelf.
Following Warchief Veylara's orders, a garrison of thirty seasoned Veynar warriors, under the command of an experienced line captain, was left behind to hold the Marauder stronghold, oversee the disarmed giants, and secure the mountain paths. The rest of the expeditionary force formed into marching ranks.
