Ren, Thorn, and Lilith stood side by side, their cloaks drawn tight around them. Even though it was warmer than the rest of the mountain, the air outside the walls of Carthage was still cold.
They watched quietly as names were called one after another, each group of three rising to their feet and heading through the gates of Carthage under the silent watch of the armored guards.
Every few minutes, the crowd thinned.
The mercenaries from the east had already been called. The Rosefields too, with the six dividing themselves in two teams of three each.
And still, the trio waited.
Thorn shifted on his feet, muttering under his breath, "Last to register, last to go in. Next time, I'm coming three days ahead of schedule."
"You're planning on doing this again?" Lilith asked with a smirk.
"Oh, hell no." Thorn said with distaste. "We're winning this."
Lilith smirked but said nothing, her eyes fixed on the gates. Ren remained silent, but his fingers tightened slightly at his sides.
