The road to Dusk Ridge forked at an old stone marker. Wei studied the map with Yan while the assault team waited beside the ditch. The western track bent toward Narrow Bridge; the north road climbed toward the fortress.
“We can’t reach both places before the next artillery cycle,” Wei said. “The lantern carried a warning, but it can’t fight in your place.”
Yan looked at the high ridge. “The fortress weapons threaten more than the bridge. We keep going.”
Tew caught up with a reply from Han. The convoy was still crossing, and the east mill route remained open. The signal strip had been made by Han herself, so the message was current. Wei recorded the time and asked Tew to carry the likely firing hour back to her if the road remained safe.
“She’ll have to make her next choice without waiting for us,” Yan said.
“She already knows that,” Tew replied. “She asked me to tell you the rear carts have a clear turn.”
Yan smiled. “Good.”
An assault soldier asked whether Yan would send another projection to scout the fortress. Yan shook his head. The prepared relay marker was behind them; no one could invent a new path on the ride. Ordinary scouts could reach the ridge and see the aqueduct without spending the lantern’s remaining charge.
