Faye's POV
"You're telling me the curse was supposed to drive him north to the outpost, but that arrow prevented it?" I pressed, studying Allen's weathered face.
His expression hardened, jaw clenching. "The assault came without warning. We never spotted the archer's position. Hardy was commanding the formation when the projectile pierced his chest. When we spun around, nothing remained. The shaft vanished before any of us could examine it."
"No one caught sight of who fired it?"
"Not even a shadow," Allen replied grimly. "But the arrow wasn't our biggest concern. This ambush differed from previous encounters. The creatures we battled weren't ordinary beasts. They appeared weaker yet moved with disturbing intelligence. Rather than charging recklessly like typical monsters, they demonstrated tactical awareness. They dodged blade strikes, retreated when steel approached, as though they comprehended the threat weapons posed."
