Reconnaissance (Part 2)

Lucas's eyes snapped open almost the instant Felin issued his warning. All his laziness and playful banter vanished, replaced by a gaze as sharp as an eagle's.

He quickly crawled forward, leaned close to Felin, and whispered, "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely!" Felin's voice was extremely low, yet filled with unmistakable certainty. His gaze remained locked onto the distant line of smoke and dust like a hawk's.

At that, Lucas asked no more questions. He silently shifted to Felin's side, grabbed the open notebook and charcoal pencil, and skillfully prepared to take notes.

He knew very well that every second was crucial.

Felin took a deep breath and forced himself to pull away from the roiling hatred in his heart. With the objectivity and calm an intelligence agent ought to possess, he began reporting at a rapid but clear pace, his gaze never leaving the telescope's eyepiece:

"The enemy's main force is advancing toward us along the northwest Official road. Cavalry unit, approximately two thousand riders. At the front of the formation, there appear to be... roughly two hundred riders equipped to an exceptional standard, with unusually burly physiques. They are suspected to be Sauron's 'Berserker' guard."

"Behind them are auxiliary troops and a militia column, approximately two thousand men, with mixed equipment. At the very rear is the baggage train, consisting of roughly two thousand driven slaves and a large number of wagons."

"Estimated total strength: around seven thousand."

"They all bear the banners of Sauron's main army. No Skarn people allied banners have been seen, nor have any of Vilaya's vassal troops' distinctive equipment been spotted among the ranks. I judge this to be a field army composed entirely of Sauron people."

The charcoal pencil in Lucas's hand flew across the page as he accurately recorded every key piece