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He searched for anything out of the ordinary. If a ground attack was truly imminent, then it would be obvious from this vantage point. That was one of the primary reasons why fortresses were built on mountains like this, after all.

But the age of this place did not do it any favors in the modern era. Naturally, an aerial assault was a very real possibility here, and in fact, it would almost certainly arrive first in order to soften the defenders up for the eventual siege. Long-range artillery was also quite likely, though he didn’t see any at the moment, which was another sign an attack was not yet to occur.

He supposed a stealthy amphibious assault was still a possibility, though. There was a long river that snaked across the landscape, coming right up to the base of the mountain and wrapping partially around it before flowing into the eastern horizon. If he were the one tasked with leading a surprise attack, that was how he would approach it, but it still wouldn’t be easy.

The Rat’s Nest got its water from an underground well, deep in the heart of the mountain. If there was a path there from the river, it was not obvious and would therefore be quite narrow, making it easily defensible.

Assuming the defenders were actually guarding it, that was.

Maybe that was something he should look into while he still had the time.

‘Well?’ said Rezolo in the echo of privacy. ‘What do you see?’

‘Not much.’ His feet did start moving, however, back down the stairs. ‘Would they really mount an attack, now? What about those rumors of peace talks already going on?’

‘Unfortunately, they might just be rumors,’ said Rezolo, ‘but even if they’re not, talks do not equate to a ceasefire, much less a treaty. And if the Melmoorians are able to strike a major blow before anything is officially agreed upon, then that would certainly improve their bargaining power, now wouldn’t it?’

That was definitely not what he wanted to hear, right now, but he found it hard to disagree with the reaper’s perspective.

‘Where are you going?’ said Rezolo. ‘You only looked for a few minutes.’

‘I want to check something.’

The well, rather annoyingly, was back through the inner walls, on the other side the labyrinth. He kept a brisk pace as he returned, feeling increasingly uneasy the closer he got.