"One of them was complaining that the seal materials brought over from the north storehouse last night still weren't enough. The other told him the general said to lock down Southwest, Main Lane, and Well Courtyard first. It had to be done before tonight."
"The general?" Chisen asked. "Helian?"
"They didn't mention a name," Shino said. "But they sounded like they meant a specific person giving orders, not generals in general."
Chisen stared into the village, his voice dropping further.
"Southwest, Main Lane, Well Courtyard."
He connected the three points in his mind and quickly realized they hadn't been chosen at random.
Southwest lay toward the wooded slope they had retreated through last night; Main Lane was the widest stretch in the village and the easiest place to move troops; Well Courtyard was the central spot where the Allied Forces' advance unit had suffered the worst of the explosions-and where they most wanted to regain a sense of control.
"He isn't defending the village," Chisen said. "He's stopping us from using the village against him again."
"You certainly made a deep impression on him yesterday," Shino said evenly.
Chisen ignored that and simply asked, "Can you get farther in?"
"Yes, but I'll have to change methods." Shino finally opened his eyes. Behind his sunglasses, they seemed to hold a cold sheen in the morning mist. "Farther in, the insects on their legs won't be enough. I need to get insects beside their bowls, onto table legs, into bandage seams and armor buckles."
"What do you need me to do?"
"Wait."
Chisen looked at him.
Shino raised a hand. A black insect the size of a fingernail crawled onto the back of it and stopped quietly.
"They're about to eat breakfast."
As if to confirm his words, people began handing out