The towering mesa of red sandstone loomed over the dunes, casting a massive shadow across the approaching Vanguard.
Roal and his brother halted at the crest of the ridge. The two desert guides pulled their linen cloaks tighter against the blowing sand. Roal pointed toward a massive natural archway carved directly into the rock face.
"That is the primary entrance," Roal reported. "The Aethelgard garrison hollowed out the entire mountain. They store millions of gallons of purified water inside those walls to supply their mobile fortresses."
Iron-Scale surveyed the natural fortress. He rested his hand on the hilt of his star-iron dagger.
'We need a containment,' Iron-Scale calculated, tracking the sightlines of the enemy guard towers. 'If a single runner escapes, Voranthar learns our exact marching pattern.'
He turned to the massive allied column waiting behind him. The Vanguard had grown into a diverse coalition of apex predators. He needed specialized units to seal the mountain.
