Vella's treatment carts had barely left the eastern post when a southern runner reached Hajin beside the split cavalry road.
The ash plugs continued around the southern orchard village, placing its only wagon bridge inside Orin's untested route line.
Hans read the report while clinic crews carried four seriously wounded defenders toward town behind him.
"Move the village now," he said, returning the page to the runner, "the road may belong to Dreth by tomorrow."
Hajin followed him south with twelve militia recruits, two carrying frames, and the shelter roll copied from Lana's office.
Eight surviving Flint scouts remained visible along the distant ridge, keeping beyond bow range while they counted movement below.
The orchard village held twenty-three households around a mill channel, with eighty-two residents marked across the evacuation roll.
Its shelter assignments led west through the new field loop instead of crossing the southern road beside Dreth's plugs.
