Marcus tapped a weathered map with calloused fingers. "We need to set a trap. Make them come to us."
"Exactly what I was thinking," Leo agreed. "A merchant caravan—or at least something that looks like one."
Elena straightened, her eyes brightening with interest. "With guards that don't look like guards."
"And cargo that appears valuable," Ethan added, leaning forward.
Soren ran a hand through his dark hair. "Blacksmith Tanner owes me a favour. He could loan us a wagon—one of those reinforced ones with the iron-banded chests."
"Empty chests," Elly clarified. "But they won't know that."
Leo nodded. "We dress as merchants and hired muscle. Take the north road through Hollow Pass—it's where they hit the Silverton shipment last week."
"The terrain works in our favour," Marcus said, tracing the route on the map. "Narrow road, steep slopes on either side. They'll attack from above, thinking they have the advantage."
"But we'll be ready for them," Elena said, a dangerous smile playing at her lips. "I can counter their fire mage."
Soren crossed his arms. "What about their informant? If someone in the city is feeding them information, they might realize it's a trap."
A tense silence fell over the group.
"We tell no one outside this room," Marcus finally said. "And we create a false shipment record—make it look like we're moving Guild artifacts to the northern temple."
"That's risky," Elly warned. "If they think it's too valuable, they might bring more men than we can handle."
"Or it might draw out whoever's really behind this," Leo countered. "The bandits are just hired muscle. Someone's orchestrating these raids."
Elena nodded slowly. "We leave at dawn day after tomorrow. That gives us time to prepare and spread just enough rumours to bait our trap."
"And enough time for me to teach some of you how to actually look like merchants," Elly added with a wry smile. "You all scream 'academy student' right now."
Leo paced the length of the small room, his mind calculating distances. "Valen Ridge would be perfect. Plenty of flat stretches for a wagon, but narrow enough that they'll have limited attack positions."
"And far enough from the forest that no stray fire magic will cause problems," Elena added quietly, her fingers absently tracing patterns in the air.
Marcus unrolled a detailed map of the mountain routes. "Here—this trading path hasn't been used much since the new road was built. It's still maintained enough for a wagon, but remote enough that bandits would feel comfortable striking."
Soren nodded. "I know that area. There's a cliff face that runs alongside the path for nearly half a mile. They'll likely position archers there."
"Which is exactly what we want them to think is their advantage," Leo said.
Over the next day, they carefully seeded rumors throughout Greenwood. Elly proved particularly skilled, dropping casual mentions of a valuable shipment while shopping for supplies in the market district.
"Just ordered special provisions for the journey north," she told the grain merchant loudly enough for nearby ears. "My uncle insists on the best protection for the artifacts."
At the blacksmith's, Soren made a show of inspecting weapons. "Need something reliable for escort duty. Heading through Valen Ridge with some fancy cargo."
Marcus visited three different taverns, nursing a single ale in each while "accidentally" revealing details of their route to the barkeeps.
"The Guild's paying good coin to move those relics," he mentioned to the third innkeeper, who leaned forward with interest. "Worth a small fortune, I hear."
Elena, despite her natural quietness, slipped into her role with surprising ease. At the herbalist's shop, she requested remedies "for the mountain crossing" while mentioning the specially reinforced wagon they'd commissioned.
By evening, Leo was satisfied. "We've laid enough breadcrumbs. If there is an informant in the city, they've heard by now."
"What if they don't take the bait?" Elly asked, adjusting her pack.
"They will," Elena said with unusual confidence. "Greed makes people predictable."
"And we'll be waiting," Marcus added, his hand resting on his sword hilt.
Dawn broke over Valen Ridge, painting the mountain peaks in hues of amber and gold. The single wagon creaked along the narrow trading path, its iron-banded chests secured beneath canvas coverings. Leo sat at the reins, dressed in a merchant's attire that felt stiff and unfamiliar against his skin.
Elly walked alongside the wagon, her hair tucked beneath a plain cap, looking every bit the merchant's assistant. She'd traded her usual clothing for simple traveling garb, carefully weathered to appear well-used.
"The second ridge is coming up," Marcus called from his position twenty paces ahead. He'd taken point, scouting the path with the practiced ease of a hired guard rather than a knight-in-training.
Elena travelled behind the wagon, occasionally stopping to gather plants as if collecting herbs was her primary concern rather than watching their backs. Her movements were casual, but her eyes constantly scanned the cliffs above.
"Water break in the next clearing," Soren announced from his position on the wagon's bench beside Leo. "Keep it natural."
The morning passed without incident. They stopped briefly at midday beside a small stream, making a show of resting the horses and sharing a simple meal. Their conversation remained deliberately mundane—complaints about the road, mentions of better pay at journey's end, discussions of weather.
As afternoon wore on, the path narrowed further, hugging a steep cliff face on one side with a sharp drop on the other. Perfect ambush territory.
"Rockfall ahead," Marcus called, pointing to scattered stones across the path. "Recent too."
Leo pulled the horses to a stop, exchanging glances with Soren. The scattered rocks weren't natural—they'd been placed deliberately to slow the wagon.
"Clear enough to pass?" Elly called, playing her role perfectly.
"Should be," Marcus answered, but his hand casually drifted to his sword hilt.
Ethan approached the wagon, her herb basket now half-full. "Need help clearing it?"
The wind shifted slightly, carrying the faint scent of unwashed bodies and metal. Leo caught Ethan's slight nod—he'd sensed it too.
Soren stretched casually, using the movement to scan the ridge above. "Let's move these rocks and get moving. I want to make the next waypoint before dark."
As they dismounted to clear the path, the first arrow whistled through the air, embedding itself in the wagon's side with a solid whishing sound.