He gestured toward the map of Frostveil, laid out on a makeshift stone table the mages conjured before them. Snow still clung to the edges of the parchment.
"We divide into three forces. Roderik and his scouts, you take ten men and move ahead. Silence his sentries along the eastern ridges. The rangers must not see us coming. Once you are done, signal us and move to the rooftops inside the stronghold. Pick off Velmont's officers when the battle begins."
Roderik nodded, his face unreadable beneath his hood.
"Sir Edric," Laris continued, turning to the veteran knight, "take twenty knights and six mages. You will circle to the northern slopes where his beastmasters and shamans wait. We cannot allow his direwolf riders to run loose on the battlefield. Use fire. Burn them out before they can rally. Once they are dealt with, you will push down from the ridge and cut off any attempt to reinforce the gates."
Sir Edric smirked. "Burning wolves? Sounds like an easy enough task."
