Evening fell fast and heavy over the trade roads leading out of the city. Evan stood near the main supply routes where caravans lined up for inspection before departing. Horses stamped nervously. Lanterns flickered in the wind. Merchant crews spoke in low tones preparing for the night’s journey.

The apprentices positioned themselves around the area disguised among workers. Lenar wore a cloak to blend with caravan handlers though his nervous glances gave him away.

Iron Crest will strike tonight Evan said. Quietly. They want to shake confidence without leaving direct evidence. That means sabotage not confrontation.

Lenar whispered What kind of sabotage

Evan pointed toward the wagons. Damaging wheels. Cutting rope lines. Sowing panic among handlers. Setting off small magical sparks to appear like dangerous enchantments. Anything that looks like the fault of Silver Quill.

He stepped closer to the first wagon. Check every axle. Check every rope. Check every crate. Leave nothing assumed.

The apprentices scattered.

Evan walked along the line of caravans listening closely. Most handlers were calm. A few joked about travel routes. But in the distance he heard a hushed argument.

They promised safe passage
Something feels wrong
We should wait until morning

He approached quietly. Two handlers stood beside a newly loaded wagon. Their hands shook slightly.

Evan asked calmly What is the concern

One handler wiped sweat from his brow. Heard Iron Crest men talking. Said there might be trouble on the eastern road. That maybe caravans won’t make it.

Rumor scare tactics Evan thought.

He nodded reassuringly. Roads are inspected. Our scouts saw nothing unusual. If there was danger we would stop the entire line.

The handler breathed easier.

Not far away a faint spark flashed behind a wagon. Not bright. Just enough to startle. A woman screamed. Several handlers rushed back. Evan moved fast.

Behind the wagon two cloaked figures crouched. One held a tiny enchanted sparkstone designed to ignite small flares. Sabotage disguised as an accident.

Before they could trigger another spark Evan stepped into the lantern light with steady posture. Gentlemen he said in calm voice.
The men froze.

He lifted the lantern revealing Silver Quill colors. The men exchanged panicked glances then fled into the shadows dropping the sparkstone as they ran.

Lenar hurried up. Why didn’t you stop them

Stopping them causes confrontation Evan said. And confrontation creates chaos. We want witnesses not victims. People saw them run. People saw us present. That is enough.

He handed the sparkstone to an apprentice. Examine it. Document it. But do not tell the merchants what it is. Let them assume someone tried to cause trouble but failed. Failure dissolves fear.

The apprentice nodded.

As the night deepened Evan noticed another pattern. Several crates had been moved slightly from their original position. Subtle but intentional. He inspected one crate and saw a small cut at the base where someone had attempted to weaken it.

Sabotage number two Evan said. Make sure every crate is reinforced. If anything collapses Iron Crest will spread rumors before sunrise.

The apprentices worked quickly reinforcing weak crates with new bindings. Evan moved from wagon to wagon checking for unusual markings. Some had chalk lines near the wheels. Saboteur markers. He erased them before handlers noticed.

Iron Crest was trying everything tonight. Sparks. Fear whispers. Crate tampering. Wheel weakening. A multi angle disruption attempt. But each time Evan spotted the signs and neutralized them silently.

The key was presence. Not shouting. Not accusing. Standing close enough to keep danger away but far enough not to ignite panic.

Near midnight Evan spotted the conflicted operative in the distance. She watched from behind a row of barrels shoulders tense and pale in the lantern glow. She was not sabotaging anything. She was observing.

Of course Evan thought. She wanted to see whether Silver Quill would crumble under pressure. Her failure would become the next report to Iron Crest’s strategic head.

Evan stepped into her line of sight calmly inspecting a wagon as though he did not see her at all.

She stiffened.
She realized every attempt tonight had failed.
She fled into the darkness.

Evan exhaled softly.

The apprentices returned with final reports.
No wagon damaged
No crates broken
No handlers fleeing
No fear spreading

Lenar stared at the stable scene in awe. We held the entire supply line he whispered.

Evan nodded. Iron Crest gave everything tonight and none of it reached the market. Their strike died before it began.

He looked toward the dark horizon.

They have only one move left.
When sabotage fails
When politics fails
When fear fails
Desperation becomes reckless action.

Evan tightened his cloak.

And reckless enemies are the easiest to predict.