Chapter 440
Ian smacked his lips and glanced around. He still didn’t sense anything. Just the mist, thick and ominous, pooling low over the ground, the warped silhouettes of trees in the distance, and the faint stench in the air.
A moment later, Lucia looked back at him, her gaze calm and subdued. Ian gave her a slight nod, signaling that he felt it too, then reached for the halberd strapped to the side of his saddle.
Just then, Diana let out a short sound with her hands cupped in front of her mask. It sounded like the cry of an owl—maybe a horned owl. It only came once, but it was enough to make Ian pause, and enough to draw the attention of Hyked and the Black Lions.
Then Diana quickly lowered her hands and raised a finger, placing it to the front of her mask. Turning to the group, she gave a few small nods toward the path ahead.
Keep quiet and move forward?
Ian let out a faint chuckle. It likely meant that there were signs of beasts nearby, but their presence hadn’t been noticed yet. Diana was probably hoping they could slip through undetected the whole way. Of course, Ian didn’t expect they’d be that lucky.
Apparently, neither did Hyked. As the Black Lions' attention naturally gathered, Hyked raised his left fist beside his helmet and tapped the halberd at his saddle with his right hand. The Black Lions immediately followed suit, reaching for the halberd secured beside their saddles.
Click... slide...
As if reading their riders’ thoughts, the warhorses fell silent. The sound of the fasteners being undone and shafts being drawn echoed low through the air. Ian, too, unsheathed his weapon and adjusted his grip on the handle with both hands.
If I don’t want it caught in the branches, I’ll have to thrust, not swing.
As he quietly mused to himself, Lucia leaned her back lightly against his chest and whispered, “I’ll take the rear.”