First light found the unit already at the southern gate. Trevor stood at the head of the formation in full gear. The seven women held their positions without needing direction. Rhea and Lisa on point. Vespera and Seraphine on the flanks. Mia and Caroline center with him. Elena at the rear. The permanent Frostbound crest sat clean on every piece of armor. The network hummed at full saturation, every presence sharp and immediate.
A Guild clerk checked their designation against the escort contract and waved them through. The merchant convoy waited just beyond the gate: six heavy wagons under standard protective runes, twelve civilian drivers and guards, and two mid-tier Guild observers assigned to log the movement. The listed threat level remained low to moderate. Trevor treated it as higher until the route proved otherwise.
He spoke once through the network.
