The forest erupted into chaos.

Arrows tore through the storm while horses screamed and reared against the sudden ambush. Snow exploded upward beneath boots as black-cloaked figures rushed from between the trees with frightening coordination.

Not bandits.

Seraphin recognized that immediately.

These men moved too cleanly.

Too professionally.

One attacker lunged toward the younger investigator only for a northern knight to intercept midway, swords colliding hard enough to throw sparks through the snowstorm.

"Stay behind us!"

"I was already planning that!"

Another arrow flew from the darkness.

Malen caught it.

Not metaphorically.

Actually caught it.

His gauntleted hand snapped upward and closed around the shaft before the projectile reached one of the scouts.

For half a second, even the attackers seemed stunned.

Then the Peak Knight moved.

The snow beneath his feet shattered.

One moment he stood beside the trail.

The next—

He was inside the enemy formation.

Steel flashed once.

A black-cloaked infiltrator was thrown backward hard enough to crash through a pine tree before collapsing motionless into the snow.

Seraphin’s eyes narrowed immediately.

Fast.

Far too fast for ordinary knights.

Another attacker rushed Malen from behind while two more attempted to flank simultaneously.

The Peak Knight stepped forward calmly.

His sword moved almost lazily.

Three weapons broke apart instantly.

The sound of shattering steel echoed through the forest.

One infiltrator stared at the remains of his blade in disbelief before Malen punched him directly into the snowbank hard enough to bury half his body.

"Capture if possible," the knight muttered bitterly. "Terrible orders."

Nearby, Aurethar landed among the trees with enough force to shake the ground.

The dragon did not attack immediately.

Mostly because Lucien explicitly forbade it.

Unfortunately, Aurethar interpreted "do not kill them all" very creatively.

The dragon lowered his massive head toward several infiltrators attempting to reposition through the forest.

Then inhaled deeply.

Golden flames flickered faintly between his teeth.

The infiltrators froze instantly.

Aurethar smiled.

It was not a comforting expression.

"Run," he advised pleasantly.

They ran.

Straight into northern patrol units waiting deeper among the trees.

One of the knights stared at the fleeing infiltrators in confusion.

"...Did the dragon just herd them?"

"Yes," Seraphin answered quietly.

"That sentence should not exist."

The battle spread through the forest quickly afterward.

Small clashes erupted between the trees while northern scouts used the terrain expertly to isolate enemy groups one by one.

Seraphin found himself forced into combat soon enough when one cloaked infiltrator broke through the patrol line and charged directly toward him.

The investigator drew his sword immediately.

Not elegant.

Not knightly.

But practiced enough.

Steel collided sharply.

The infiltrator pressed aggressively, likely expecting an easy target.

Then Seraphin stepped sideways and slammed the hilt of his blade directly into the man’s throat before driving him backward into the snow.

The attacker collapsed coughing violently.

The younger investigator stared nearby.

"...You said you handled paperwork."

"I investigate dangerous nobles for a living."

Fair point.

A loud crash suddenly echoed deeper in the forest.

Everyone turned instinctively.

Malen had grabbed one unfortunate infiltrator and thrown him directly into another.

Both disappeared into a snow-covered slope.

The Peak Knight looked mildly disappointed afterward.

"They break too easily."

"That is a horrifying thing to say," Seraphin muttered.

The knight shrugged.

"Perspective."

Meanwhile, several infiltrators attempted retreat toward the western ridges.

Aurethar noticed immediately.

The dragon spread his wings slowly before stepping into their path between the trees.

Massive golden eyes watched them calmly.

The infiltrators stopped instantly.

One slowly raised his sword anyway.

Brave.

Stupid.

Mostly stupid.

Aurethar tilted his head slightly.

"You intend to fight me."

The infiltrator hesitated.

"...No."

"Wise."

The dragon lowered his enormous head closer.

"You smell southern."

Nobody answered.

Snow continued falling silently around them while warm smoke drifted from Aurethar’s nostrils.

Then one infiltrator suddenly moved for a hidden crossbow.

The dragon’s expression became deeply disappointed.

"You almost had a good moment."

Aurethar flicked one claw casually.

The crossbow shattered into pieces before the infiltrator even fired.

No killing.

Just overwhelming force.

Lucien’s orders remained technically obeyed.

Back near the center of the battle, Malen finally pinned the last resisting attacker against a tree with one hand around his throat.

The forest slowly became quiet afterward.

Only heavy breathing, groaning wounded, and storm winds remained.

Twenty-three infiltrators.

Most captured.

Several injured.

A few dead from resisting too aggressively.

Seraphin wiped snow from his face while looking around the battlefield.

Efficient.

Disturbingly efficient.

The northern forces handled the ambush like experienced veterans despite Elarion supposedly being an unstable exile territory.

That realization bothered him almost as much as the dragon.

Malen dragged the captured leader forward moments later before throwing him into the snow near Seraphin.

The prisoner wore damaged southern armor beneath his black cloak.

Expensive armor.

Not mercenary equipment.

Interesting.

Seraphin crouched slightly.

"Name."

The man stayed silent.

Malen cracked his knuckles thoughtfully nearby.

"I can help the conversation."

"You enjoy this too much," Seraphin observed.

"Yes."

At least he was honest.

The prisoner finally spat blood into the snow.

"You people have no idea what you’re protecting."

Silence.

Aurethar slowly approached from behind the trees afterward, enormous shadow swallowing half the clearing.

The prisoner looked up.

Then visibly regretted every decision leading to this moment.

The dragon lowered his head slightly.

"Oh?"

Golden eyes narrowed.

"Explain."