Garrick led his small team through the dense forest, the early morning light filtering through the trees as they moved silently toward the valley where Bren had last seen Rourke and Sykes
Bren, walking just ahead of Garrick, signaled for the group to slow down as they approached the ridge overlooking the valley.
"This is where we parted," Bren whispered, pointing to a cluster of rocks that provided a clear view of the city below.
The men crouched low as they reached the ridge, staying out of sight. Bren pulled out a pair of binoculars and handed them to Garrick.
"Take a look, sir. You need to see this for yourself."
Garrick accepted the binoculars without a word and brought them to his eyes, focusing on the city in the distance. He scanned the area, his gaze settling on the walls of Ferm, now fortified with strange structures that hadn't been there before.