The bodies of the bandits still lay scattered around the edge of the encampment as Lance turned to face the stunned caravan group. Their expressions shifted from disbelief to dawning realization as Lance spoke.
"They were never just random beasts," Lance said plainly. "They were being controlled, sent here deliberately to wear you all down first. A sound strategy."
Eran's father, the leader of the merchants, furrowed his brows. "Controlled? You mean someone was… commanding those beasts?"
Lance nodded. "Yes. Judging from how the attacks were timed, morning, noon, night, and these guys waiting just at the perfect time, it was a strategy. A well thought out one, too. Whoever orchestrated this assumed you were just a normal group of merchants, and I was just a tagalong civilian." He said with a faint grin, his eyes squinting for a moment, as though he actually enjoyed playing the weak victim only to pull a peekaboo.
