The Shadow Lynx Incident

The squad leader's face twisted in anger at Old Man Carter's words.

"How the hell could this be suicide? You're telling me eight men all decided, at the exact same time, to hang themselves?" he barked.

Old Man Carter snorted. "And you're telling me this bunch of old folks, women, and kids managed to take down eight trained soldiers in one go?"

The squad leader clenched his jaw.

He hated to admit it, but the old man had a point.

Looking at the villagers, he saw mostly elders and women. Only a handful of younger men stood among them, none of them looking remotely capable of overpowering his men.

He knew what his soldiers were capable of.

Even if someone had tried to take them by surprise, there was no way they'd all go down without a fight—without making a sound.

And then there was the boy.