Before dusk, the wind rose in the northern canyon.
Louis stood on high ground, looking down at the narrow wagon track below.
"So they did take this route," he said softly.
The scouts had already pinned down the Silver Plate caravan's daily movements.
They departed toward evening, avoided the main road, and took back trails through the canyon.
The caravan had concealed its movements well, but he had still uncovered them ahead of time.
Traps, including horse pits and loose-rock slopes, had already been prepared on both sides of the canyon, with their markers carefully hidden.
Several signal torches had been concealed on commanding heights, ready to serve as rallying signals at any moment.
Movable barricades had been positioned at both exits. Once deployed, they would trap the caravan with nowhere to escape.
Following his orders, Lambert had mustered thirty Red Tide Elite Iron Cavalry and fifty Official Knights, all battle-hardened veterans.
"Keep as many alive as possible." That was Louis's instruction.
To lure the enemy into the trap, he had deliberately arranged for two Knights to "happen" to be patrolling along the caravan's route.
They would force the caravan to enter the canyon early and pick up speed, driving straight into the traps.
The trap was set.
All that remained was to wait for the prey to walk into it. Fortunately, he did not have to wait long.
As the last carriage slowly entered the heart of the canyon, the signal Knights who had lain hidden on either side raised their torches almost simultaneously.
"Light them!"
Flames flared in the wind, and the ambushing Knights immediately triggered the traps at the signal.
In an instant, the canyon's two mouths closed like the jaws of a monstrous beast.
Rumble!
Huge boulders came crashing down alongside wooden barricades, throwing up clouds