Rynne found herself staring at the dogkin courier for a few too many heartbeats.
She hadn't even felt her approach, for she had been so absorbed in the fireworks tearing through the Fujimori line that she let the woman slip into her shadow unnoticed.
Unacceptable.
That was the kind of rookie lapse a green lieutenant might make, not her. Not after centuries on the field. She forced her expression back into professional mode.
'Focus, Rynne.'
Maelstrom was on his way.
The Fujimori likely knew it, too. They were deep in enemy territory, having arrived not by spearheading a line through the enemy lands but by teleporting here.
This meant that on all sides, they were surrounded by enemies. It was only a matter of time until they had to make a tactical retreat unless they took the stronghold for themselves and used its potent defenses to make this place their own fortress.
Minutes. That's all they needed to break the barrier apart and descend on the place from all angles.
