Commander Dreth reached the eastern pass before noon, bringing the Flint vanguard to the Crown marker outside Hajin's territory.
The column stopped without crowding the road, leaving every supply cart inside the line before the tents came off.
Kenny rode near the command group with his empty sleeve pinned beneath his cloak, watching the Sixth's ridges instead of the soldiers.
Dreth dismounted beside a field table while his quartermaster reported one hundred eighty-four fighters ready to cross.
"How many reach the salt bridge today?" he asked, opening the latest survey map without looking toward the formed ranks.
The quartermaster checked another page, subtracting cart crews and riders with strained horses.
"One hundred fifty-six," he said, adjusting the first figure, "another fourteen can follow after the remounts arrive tonight."
"Keep the fourteen here," Dreth said, moving their marker behind the Crown line, "I want the bridge group moving at one pace."
