The storm had begun to weaken by the time the riders returned to the hidden camp. The heavy snow thinned into light, drifting flakes, and the wind lost the sharp howl that had filled the peaks for days. It was not enough to reveal the cold stars or warm the freezing mountain, but it allowed the sentries to see the column coming from the lower ridge.
Torches flickered along the perimeter walls. Shouts echoed through the dark ravines, and then the entire camp erupted into chaos.
