Ali Baba smirked.
"Ah, I see. Letting them flee will make the bandits believe they have the upper hand."
Malik nodded.
"Exactly. It'll give them a false sense of security. Plus, you won't be paying them the rest of what they're owed, so really, it's a win-win situation."
"Cowards never get paid."
At that, the guards exchanged glances before nodding.
It made complete sense to them and they saw no need for more words to be said.
Malik gestured for them to focus.
"Alright. Now for the plan."
He leaned forward, drawing a rough map in the sand with his finger.
"We're about a quarter day away from the village. Before we reach it, we'll enter a mountainous region. That's where we'll make camp, pretend to rest, but in reality, we'll be preparing."
One of the guards nodded.
"Fortifications?"
