Lucas's eyes moved across his squad briefly before settling on four men. "You, you, you… and you," he called, pointing them out without hesitation. "You're coming with me."
There were no questions, no hesitation. They stepped forward immediately.
Lucas then turned to Bartho, his expression firm but trusting. "You're in charge of the rest of the squad while I'm gone," he said. "Maintain formation, follow the king's command, and don't take unnecessary risks."
Bartho met his gaze and nodded once, understanding the weight of what was being handed to him. "You can count on me," he replied.
Lucas held his eyes for a moment longer, then gave a slight nod before moving on.
"Tom," he called.
Tom was already approaching before the words fully left his mouth. "I'm here," he said.
"And Patrick," Lucas added.
