The caravan spent the night on the narrow stretch of Ridgewatch Pass The wind whistled between peaks and the cold air seeped through blankets making sleep shallow and restless Kane rested in short intervals waking each time the wind pushed against the wagon The night carried the sharp smell of stone and distant snow reminding him how small a merchant was in the shadow of mountains

Before dawn Brann roused the caravan with a firm shout We move while the fog is thin Saddle your horses Prepare your wagons Kane blinked away the haze of sleep and checked over his wagon He tightened straps brushed frost from the wooden edges and fed his horse a small handful of grain Light from the rising sun had not yet reached the pass leaving everything draped in cold gray

The path ahead descended into a region known among travelers as the Fog Hollow a long valley where mist rolled thick as wool Some claimed the fog held shapes that moved Some said bandits used the mist to hide for ambushes Brann had warned everyone Keep close Keep quiet Keep alert

The caravan began its descent The fog rose from the ground like a living blanket swallowing their legs then their waists until only their upper bodies remained visible The air felt wet clinging to their clothes and skin Kane held the reins tight His breath came out in pale bursts

The world shrank into a narrow corridor of gray sound He could hear the steady plod of the horse the creak of wagon wheels and faint murmurs from other travelers but everything felt distant as if the fog swallowed noise as well as sight

After half an hour the fog thickened further obscuring even the wagon ahead Brann signaled for everyone to slow His voice traveled low through the mist Keep to the center path Do not spread out Stay within voice reach

Kane felt the road under his wheels become uneven The fog seemed to vibrate around him He leaned forward squinting for shapes shadows movement anything

A sudden shout sliced through the mist The sound was sharp panicked A cry of help

The caravan froze Horses stomped nervously The fog shifted in swirling patterns and faint silhouettes emerged Kane heard Brann shout Defend yourselves Travelers drew sticks knives or whatever tools they carried but visibility was so poor that no one could see more than an arm’s length

A shape rushed past Kane’s wagon A dark figure moving low Another shape followed Kane’s heartbeat thundered in his ears He grabbed a wooden pole from his wagon His hands trembled but he forced them steady

The first bandit appeared through the mist wearing ragged furs and a cloth mask He rushed the side of a wagon ahead swinging a short blade A merchant screamed Kane jumped from his seat and shouted Hey over here The bandit turned just in time to take a blow from Kane’s pole across his arm The bandit cursed stumbled and retreated into the fog

Another shadow leapt from the mist and grabbed Kane’s arm trying to pull him away from his wagon The grip was strong Kane twisted free and shoved the attacker back The fog muffled everything the struggle the shouts the sound of steel hitting wood

Brann’s voice roared through the haze Hold the line Fight back Keep them away from the wagons

Kane moved toward the sounds of struggle His feet unsure on the uneven ground He could barely see but he listened for the direction of cries A traveler screamed This way help Kane lunged toward the sound swinging his pole until it struck something solid The attacker grunted and fell Kane backed away unsure if another bandit waited nearby

Through the fog Kane noticed a figure crawling near a wagon wheel A child from the caravan The fog had separated him from his parents Kane rushed over pulled him up and guided him back to the wagon center Stay with the others Do not move away from the line The child nodded shaking

Moments later the bandit attacks slowed The shouting quieted replaced by heavy breathing Travelers regrouped moving into a tighter formation Kane felt sweat mixing with the cold fog on his face He held his pole tightly scanning the gray wall around them

Brann emerged from the mist covered in dust and sweat Everyone stay together We push forward now Bandits have no advantage once we reach clearer ground Move

The caravan moved as one Brann led at the front Serra stayed near the center scanning the fog Kane kept close to his wagon pushing it through uneven stones The fog thinned slightly the air lightened shapes regained form

Finally the gray curtain lifted revealing taller trees and scattered sunlight breaking through branches The valley opened and the fog began to dissolve like smoke Travelers let out shaky breaths Some collapsed onto their wagons Some hugged family members Kane leaned against his horse his hands still trembling from adrenaline

Brann gathered the group checking for injuries Several travelers carried cuts and bruises but no lives lost thanks to their tight formation Kane felt relief wash through him Like the fire in Pine Hollow the bandit attack had tested him again

Javin the hunter approached Kane I saw you fight in the fog You have good instincts Kane shook his head I just reacted

Javin placed a hand on his shoulder Instinct is all a merchant can rely on in the wilderness More valuable than goods or coin

Brann approached next He evaluated Kane with steady eyes You handled yourself well You did not freeze and you protected the caravan That matters

Kane nodded silently

Brann looked toward the mountains The fog will not return now We will reach the lower ridge by nightfall Then the next town by morning We move

The caravan resumed travel The sun rose fully the fog behind them left as a warning of how fragile the road could be Kane guided his wagon with renewed focus His arms still ached his breath still heavy but inside something new had formed A harder core A stronger will

Trade was more than coins It demanded courage in places where few dared travel Kane had stepped into danger and emerged stronger

As the caravan moved onward he looked ahead toward the next town wondering what awaited them beyond the ridge

Whatever it was he would meet it with the same determination

He had survived darkness before He would do it again