“Yes. Ten. As much as I’d like to send a full contingency, we can’t spare that many men. Two teams, ten men each.” Sending more than that was just asking for trouble. Somehow, the Warlords always knew when their defenses were down, and that was when the gates would open.Kalen wasn’t risking it. His gut insisted that this uneasy quiet wouldn’t last much longer, and he wasn’t going to send out any more men than absolutely necessary.Dais ran a hand over his beard. He looked like he had something else to say, but instead he just nodded. His faded green eyes narrowed as he studied the huge map before them. It had been carved into a table’s surface, and it was highly detailed, down to the rivers, streams, caves and abandoned villages, with the ruins of New Angeles making up most of the western edge. He tapped his index finger to the far northwestern quadrant and said, “We’re running short at this checkpoint, Kalen.”Silently, Kalen thought, Isn’t that a startling piece of news?
