Cedric noticed every one of them. Even so, he could not afford to slow down because every hour they wasted gave Griswold another opportunity to disappear.
"Stay alert," Cedric reminded them firmly, his calm but commanding voice cutting through the heavy silence.
The men straightened immediately. "Yes, Lord Cedric."
Their destination lay ahead... An abandoned fortress hidden deep within Raven's Hollow.
Its crumbling stone walls rose out of the mist like the skeleton of some forgotten giant, while broken towers stood crooked against the pale morning sky.
Cedric raised one hand, signaling everyone to dismount.
The soldiers climbed down from their horses and quietly drew their weapons as they advanced on foot. Boots crunched softly against loose gravel while every pair of eyes scanned the surrounding ruins for the slightest sign of movement.
