The battle had taken a heavy toll on the caravan. Sixty-two lives were lost.
Among them, twenty-five were ordinary travelers—merchants, traders, and workers who had no business being caught in such bloodshed. The rest were guards who had fought valiantly but fell to overwhelming odds.
Karim's adventuring party had suffered the worst. Thirteen of their warriors had perished, for they had borne the brunt of the enemy's assault. Their superior equipment made them prime targets, and the attacking force had dedicated significant manpower to take them down.
Other adventurers had lost twenty-four of their own, mostly the weaker ones—those who lacked the strength or cunning to survive. In a battle like this, the shrewd knew better than to fight to the death. They sought survival above all else. The battle hadn't lasted long, but long enough to leave scars on those who endured.
