When Luki's group reached the crest overlooking the Ponte Pass and saw the empty trail on the far side, dread gripped their hearts. The group they had been hunting—families with children, and weary prisoners—had somehow crossed the perilous terrain ahead of them. The bandits' earlier arrogance vanished like mist under the midday sun.
"How in the gods' names did they make it?" Luki's deputy muttered, stunned. "They had women and children with them…"
Luki's jaw clenched. He yanked the reins, bringing his horse to a halt. They were still over a hundred meters from the narrow pass. Traversing it now would be madness. He hadn't expected Odin's team to move with such speed, or determination.
"Boss," said Kobe, one of his most trusted men, riding up beside him. "We can beat them to Mount Ma-Anyag if we take the Exile Road along the river. It's faster. We wait for them there and ambush them."
Luki considered it. It was a sound idea.
Swoosh!
Aarrgh!
