The surge of the current carried them away from the shore, away from the immediate threat of the pursuing goblins. Each stroke of Roland and Jett's oars, each surge of the river, increased the distance between them and their pursuers. The guttural shouts and enraged screeches of the goblins faded, replaced by the growing roar of the river itself.

  They were safe, for the moment. The most persistent of the goblins had finally abandoned their chase, their small figures disappearing into the pre-dawn gloom of the forest. A collective sigh of relief swept through the small party, a release of the pent-up tension that had gripped them since William's discovery.

  Roland, however, ever the cautious commander, tempered their momentary respite with a stark warning. "Don't celebrate yet," he said, his voice firm, his gaze still scanning the riverbanks. "We're not out of danger. Those goblins might try to follow us along the shore, or they might alert others further downstream. We can't afford to stop, not until we're well into the rapids."

  Julia, her face pale but resolute, nodded in agreement. "They'll report back to their superiors," she said, her voice laced with concern. "Even if they don't know our exact mission, they'll know that a group of humans is heading downriver. The Goblin King won't ignore that. He'll assume we're spies, or scouts, or… something. He'll react."

  The implication was clear: their escape from the immediate danger had only bought them time, perhaps not even very much. The Goblin King's army was still out there, a vast and menacing presence lurking in the shadows of Tallenwood. And now, thanks to the goblins' discovery of the boat, they were a known threat, a target.

  The sun had not yet fully risen, the sky still a canvas of deep blues and purples, the first hints of dawn painting the eastern horizon with streaks of pale gold. Visibility was limited, the swirling mists rising from the river adding to the sense of unease, of hidden dangers.

  For now, however, they were in the relatively calm section of Hammer Falls, the waters flowing smoothly, the current gentle. The boat, propelled by the combined efforts of Roland and Jett, glided downstream with a surprising ease. This initial tranquillity, however, was deceptive, a fleeting moment of peace before the storm.

  "We'll keep moving," Roland declared, his voice echoing across the still water. "But we'll slow our pace. We need to wait for full daylight. Navigating the rapids in this dim light would be suicide. We need to see the obstacles, the rocks, the currents, to have any chance of making it through."

  The others agreed. It was a calculated risk, slowing their progress, potentially exposing themselves to pursuit for a longer period. But the alternative – attempting to navigate the treacherous Hammer Falls in near darkness – was even more dangerous.

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  As they waited for the sun to rise, they used the time to prepare, both physically and mentally, for the challenge ahead. They checked their gear, ensuring that everything was secured, that nothing would be lost if the boat capsized. They ate a quick, cold meal of dried meat and biscuits, fuelling their bodies for the exertions to come. They discussed their strategy, refining their plan, assigning roles and responsibilities.

  Julia, as the primary spellcaster, would be positioned at the stern of the boat, protected by the other party members where possible. Her task was to maintain the Reinforce spell, shifting its focus from one section of the boat to another as needed, guided by the warnings of William and Jett. It was a demanding role, requiring constant concentration, precise timing, and a steady expenditure of mana.

  Caspian, despite his lack of combat experience, would assist Julia. He would stand beside her, providing physical support, helping her to maintain her balance in the turbulent waters. Having had Julia teach him the Reinforce spell earlier, he was also capable of casting it if required, however his proficiency is nowhere near the level of Julia, so would only really be as backup if required. The fact that he managed to learn the Reinforce spell in such a short amount of time and be able to cast it properly is impressive, Julia had raised an eyebrow in surprise when Caspian managed to produce a faint, shimmering barrier on his first attempt. William was equally astounded with his talents, as he looked back on the time he tried to cast the Light spell and how many times it took before he succeeded.

  Roland, with his strength and his experience, would take the helm, positioning himself at the bow of the boat. He would be their primary navigator, using the oars to steer them through the rapids, to avoid the most dangerous obstacles, to keep them on the safest possible course. It was a role that demanded strength, skill, and unwavering courage. He also had the most experience on water, and he had briefly studied Herbert’s boat and the positioning of the barrels. A quick few changes, and the weight was a little more balanced, giving them a fighting chance

  Jett, with his keen eyesight and his agility, would act as a secondary lookout and oarsman. He would position himself in the middle of the boat, using his bow and arrow for support. He would provide additional warnings, spotting dangers that William might miss, and using his agility to provide more support with navigating the rapids.

  William would be their primary lookout, their early warning system. He would position himself near the front of the boat, his job to shout out any obstacles he sees ahead, so the party can react ahead of time. As an analyst, William was exceptional good at seeing patterns and finding the gaps, something which will have immense value here, as his eyes are literally trained to notice anything odd. William was literally one of the best at this, noticing the small details that help to build up the bigger picture, so he was confident in this role. In addition, unknown to everyone else, William could also leverage EMMA when things get dire, its analytics and observation abilities to predict ahead. EMMA would be perfect for this, as long as William could sustain the mana usage, something he was keenly aware of. But he couldn’t worry too much, as the boat was about to enter the more dangerous parts of the rapids in Hammer Falls.