Page 112 of The Hunter's Empire

"If we're going to do this, we only get one chance."

She shifts closer, studying the sketch. "Walk me through it."

"We fire the flare from the highest point on the island. It'll maximize visibility over the water."

"And maximize visibility for everyone else."

"Exactly."

She folds her arms. "So we don't stay there."

"No." I draw another mark farther inland. "We fire it, disappear immediately, and head here."

She frowns at the drawing. "The rocky outcrop?"

"It gives us cover from three sides and only one practical approach."

She studies the route for a long moment before shaking her head. "No."

I look up. "No?"

"If they anticipate exactly that, they'll cut us off before we reach it."

"They won't have enough time."

"And you don't know where every patrol is right now."

She's right. I hate that she's right.

I smooth away part of the route and redraw it farther south, tracing a path toward a narrow ravine I'd noticed earlier.

"What about the ravine?"

She studies the sketch again before nodding slowly. "This gives us two escape routes instead of one."

"It also takes longer."

"It gives us options."

I lean back, considering it for a moment before nodding. "Fine."

A satisfied smile crosses her face. "I'm remembering this."

"That worries me."

She rolls her eyes. "You are incapable of admitting I'm right, aren't you?"

"I admitted it."

"You sighed first."

"I was grieving."

Her laugh is quiet but genuine, disappearing almost as quickly as it appears.

By the time the sun begins sinking toward the horizon, every detail has been argued over, changed, and argued over again until neither of us can find another flaw to point out.

We make our way toward the cliffs without speaking much. The higher we climb, the stronger the wind becomes, whipping through the jagged rocks hard enough to make the trees below sway violently.