Before Lara and Aramis could enter the entrance of the mangrove forest, the underbrush rustled, and shadows emerged from the forest, their trousers wet and dripping.
Lara tensed. Her hand grabbed the bow at her back.
When she looked closer, they were the soldiers of Northem.
Lara heaved a sigh of relief.
Some bore fresh bruises and cuts, but none seemed gravely injured.
From behind the gnarled trees, Bener and the remaining members of the Eagle Team appeared, their faces streaked with mud and exhaustion. They herded a group of about a hundred Estalis soldiers, hands bound tightly behind their backs with coarse rope. The prisoners trudged forward, heads bowed, the weight of defeat pressing on their shoulders.
Lara frowned. The camp was already crowded — would there be space for all these prisoners?
"What are you doing here, Kane?" Bener's voice rang out, rough and tired. He stood a few meters away, eyes narrowing as he spotted Kane.