Hermi drew the reins taut, bringing Luca to a halt just as his hooves reached the fringe of stone overlooking the Ash Flat. Above her, the sky remained a pre-dawn blue.
The sun had yet to climb high enough to bleed its golden glow across the horizon. They had departed the Black Fortress when the first grey light touched the ramparts, seizing the lingering chill of the night to keep their gear from overheating. Had they attempted this raid under the midday sun, the boiling ash sprayed by the beetles would have been unbearable.
Behind Hermi, the raid party of a hundred men sat mounted and motionless. Heavy shields were gripped tight, and spears stood like a forest of needles against the dim light.
Every eye traveled across the vast stretch of grey before them, lingering with suspicion on the black rocks of various sizes that littered the expanse. Almost as one, the company dismounted.
