The district had been awake for nearly an hour when the militia turned onto the main road. The timing had been intentional. A district already in motion noticed oddities faster than noise, and a group of armed men moving with purpose was impossible to mistake for routine traffic once people had time to see it coming.
The loading crews at the bay doors recognized the militia before the formation passed the corner.
Workers eased back from the loading openings without making the retreat obvious, eyes following the soldiers while pretending to stay focused on carts and cargo.
Beorn kept his stride steady. Aestrith walked at his left side. Godric stayed a pace behind. The two militia squads followed in paired formation, eighteen men total, spread tightly enough to control the street without looking like they meant to occupy it.
