"No damaging attacks," Martin ordered. "Break weapons, strings, and those anchors. If you can't tell what you're hitting, defend."
The Sairren patrol reached the bridge.
Martin met the first hooked spear with Breakwater Aegis. He turned the point into the rail, trapped the shaft beneath the shield's rim, and tore it from the route-warden's hands without striking her body.
A second spear came over the shield.
Rias slipped beside Martin and cut the spear's leather wrist loop with Gloamneedle, then swept the same blade through the strings of two raised bows before either Sairren could release. Both archers reached for fresh strings with the same empty precision.
"They are still hearing the copied command," Mireva said.
Her counter-call rose through the span in a series of silver chirps. The patrol did not react. Dark Force anchors pulsed against their harnesses and repeated the false song over her voice.
