Soren's arrival was announced by the sound of horses and commotion near the camp's eastern edge.
He returned with his men flanking a ragged group, dozen or so citizens, clothes torn, faces gaunt with exhaustion and fear, some sporting injuries hastily bandaged.
Ryse moved immediately to intercept, military efficiency overriding everything else.
"Your Majesty. What happened?"
Soren dismounted smoothly despite hours in the saddle.
"Refugees. The demon attack drove them into the forest for safety, they fled the burning district and got turned around in the chaos. Territorial Drogars moved in afterward, trapped them inside a ravine. They've been hiding for days without adequate supplies before we found them."
His expression was grim. "There may be others still out there."
"I'll send additional search parties," Ryse said immediately.
Eris heard the conversation from where she'd been maintaining heat for another forge, but she wasn't the only one who noticed Soren's return.
