Whispers of new threats were brought by the morning, while rumors out of Galarcia found their way back to our fortress through spies and messengers. The word of defeat spread like fire - it had quickly traveled through the lengths and breadths of Galarcia, giving us some space to breathe, but feeding the flames with its intensity.
Meeting Lord Alder in the strategy room, I sat there as each new report was brought in. "They're preparing to strike back," he said with a voice steady but grim. "And they've set their focus on villages by our borders.".
"They know our strength lies in unity," I said, feeling the weight of it. "If they can break the spirits of the people who support us, they weaken us from within." It was a calculated, brutal strategy-one that showed Galarcia's understanding of how to dismantle a kingdom piece by piece.
Chris strode in, his face stern. "We'll have to divide our forces thin to defend the villages. We can't let Galarcia think we would give them up."
Lord Alder nodded, looking at the map. "And they'll be expecting us to do that. We have to be smarter than Galarcia now. Maybe… play on our weakness as a trap.".
I gazed at him, a beginning taking shape in my mind. "If we could predict the line of route they are likely to take.we could turn the tables. We could set up a trap in one of the villages. Make them think we're spread too thin and lure them in."
Chris's eyes lit up immediately. "And when they attack, we'll strike at the heart.".
We spent the next hours carefully crafting a plan to ambush them. We picked a remote, peripheral village on our border-a small village that appeared deserted and helpless. Some of our best soldiers, dressed as ordinary villagers, would be stationed there. Upon the appearance of Galarcia's troops, our stationed men would attack, cutting off their escape route.
It was a bold, risky move, but if it succeeded, it would tell Galarcia that we'd fight every inch of our land for it, even if it kills us.
As the sun set, I was preparing to join the ambush team when Chris approached me. His expressions were mixed with concern and determination. "You don't have to go, Chloe."
"I know," I said, steady. "But if I'm asking others to risk their lives, I can't stay behind. This is our fight-all of ours."
He nodded, a flicker of pride in his gaze. "Then we ride together."
We were leaving at dawn, speeding almost silently and noiselessly through the forests to the chosen village. Our men took up their positions molding into the scenery in anticipation of the ambush. We waited poised with tense breath where every breath reminded us of what risk lay ahead.
And when the Galarcian forces arrived, it was like a predator stalking its prey; they had come in quietly. Through the deserted village, they scouted out vulnerabilities. But when our soldiers came out from their hiding places, everything changed within a heartbeat.
The battle was bitter; each antagonist side clashed in a whirlwind of steel and fury. But we were on surprise, and one by one, Galarcia's men fell. When the last of them lay defeated, a silence fell upon the village, except for the low cheers of our victorious troops.
We had sent a clear message. But then I saw that everyone whom I looked at had some or the other form of worry in his eyes-the weary faces of our soldiers-and the cost of this war would increase no further.