Fionn takes control of the tactical operation. As he makes quick hand gestures to signal the plan, Laurel only nods, shockingly letting him become the de facto leader. If we weren’t in a life-threatening situation, I’d smirk. With a count of three, Fionn and Laurel step from the shadows and instantly disarm the dozens of rebels around us, dropping their weapons at our feet. Silene and I stroll out and we all arm ourselves, though Laurel and I only take one blade each, reserving our other hand for light weapons.

The rebels stand their ground, attacking us with magic. It causes enough commotion that dozens more rebels abandon their posts around the perimeter of the valley and run to help the group assaulting us. Our plan is working. Laurel and I trade off shielding our small group to conserve our strength, and together the four of us advance. Our shields are impenetrable. Not a single plant, drop of water, gust of wind, or dagger reaches us. The onslaught grows, nearly three quarters of the attacking rebel force now gathered before us to take us out. I scan their faces, looking for Krantz, but he’s nowhere to be seen. Coward.

“Forward ten steps,” Fionn commands, his voice strong yet not loud. We follow his instructions, advancing as a unit as he counts out the steps we’ve taken. It puts us in a perfect position for Laurel to use the plants that grow along the stream to bind the rebels closest to it. At the same time, Fionn sends a slew of weapons from the pile he and Laurel created hurling into the group of attackers. They break their formation to dodge the onslaught, and Fionn’s face breaks out in a satisfied grin. “Another ten steps,” he orders, and again we advance.

As we make our way into the heart of their formation, shouts ring out, and the rebels abandon their attack and run. We give chase, following them up the canyon, keeping as close to the stream as we can. I hurl daggers of light toward them as we pursue, Laurel and Fionn doing the same with their respective magic. When several of them trip, I know Laurel has used her plant channeling to drop them, even while maintaining a shield and weapons made of water and light. Despite her endless well of power, if she tries to keep up using this much aether for what could be an hours-long fight, she’ll burn out. I put up my own shield, yelling at her to drop hers and conserve her strength.

Silene quickly dispenses of the rebels who fell, slicing their throats with brutal efficiency. Despite our quick scrambling, we lose sight of the rest of their contingent and are forced to stop to regroup in a small clearing of trees.