I led the men I had chosen, our footsteps cautious as we moved toward the village. Two of them veered left, their eyes scanning the horizon, while I made my way to the bridge. The houses stood like guardians, a little way off from the bridge, their windows like empty eyes staring back. The quietness was overpowering, punctuated only by the gentle lapping of the stream against the shore. The sun beat down upon us, its reflection dancing in the water like a thousand tiny diamonds as I walked on ...