Grim watched through his telescope as chaos erupted in the elven camp below. Torches blazed to life. Guards ran in every direction. Shouts echoed across the valley.
His distraction had worked. The aurora energy from Echo had drawn attention away from Huangyan's escape route. Now he needed to know if she'd gotten what they came for.
"Movement in the treeline," Captain Wei reported from his position. "Coming fast."
Grim turned the telescope toward the forest. A figure moved through the shadows. It was small and quick.
She reached their position twenty minutes later. Her elven armor was gone. Blood stained her shoulder where an arrow had grazed her. But she was alive.
"Report," Grim said immediately.
"She's there." Huangyan pulled the black iron key from her belt. "Lianna. Central prison block. Third cell from the entrance." She said in short sentences as she tried to catch her breath.
"Guards?"
