The sound of the horses' hooves echoed eerily between the barely visible ruined walls, the only light showing the riders the overgrown path were the stars in the clear sky. Both the horses and their riders were exhausted, the orcs had pursued them for over a day. This was their first opportunity to rest. Everyone were tense, sitting rigid in their saddles, their hands never straying far from their weapons. They'd all had enough surprises to last them till the end of the year.

The wind tugged at the flames of the campfire, making them dance and cast shifting shadows behind the men sat around it. They were tightly wrapped in their cloaks and their faces hidden under hoods; despite the temperate weather, the unusually chilly wind made it feel like winter was coming. On the outskirts of the illuminated area, in the near darkness, stood horses. They looked around constantly, unnerved by something but maintaining the calm and discipline their masters required of them.