The ravine got darker with every echoing footstep.

"Grandmother called this the hour between dog and wolf," Leukestas muttered, glancing dubiously at the scruffy-looking pair of guards he'd hired to protect the convoy. "Too dark to tell friend from enemy. And here we are, perfectly positioned for an-"

"Ambush!" yelled the smaller guard, whirling to stand back to back with his taller companion as six bandits smashed through the underbrush.

A hundred heartbeats later, Leukestas sheathed his unused sword, staring. "Who are you two?"

The smaller man - Iomus? - grinned. "Wolves?" His partner elbowed him. "Friendly ones?" he added innocently.