Kayl leaned over the war table, his eyes scanning the map of the surrounding forests and foothills. The Xavarians were coming, and they would come with overwhelming force. There was no room for error. If they attempted to fight the empire's army head-on, the settlement would be crushed under sheer numbers. Kayl knew they needed to fight smarter—not harder.
He stood up, eyes narrowing on key points of the forest just outside the walls. They couldn't stop the Xavarians, but they could bleed them, disrupt their momentum, and take away their leadership.
"We don't fight them directly," Kayl said, his voice calm but commanding. He turned to his gathered leaders, Rael and Tessa standing close by, the maps spread out before them. "We harass them. We draw them into the woods, hit them where they're exposed. We control the battlefield."
Tessa nodded, her hand resting on the hilt of her bow. "Archers can be posted in the tree lines here, here, and here." She pointed to three high ground locations that overlooked narrow paths the Xavarians were likely to travel through. "If we stay mobile, we can keep them off balance and pick them off from a distance."
Kayl's gaze shifted to the Shadowblades, who stood silently in the corner of the room, their faces hidden beneath dark hoods. "And you," he said, addressing their leader, Kara, a deadly assassin with eyes like ice. "You'll slip into their ranks. Infiltrate their command tents and take out their officers. Without leadership, they'll fall into chaos."
Kara nodded once, her voice low. "We'll sever the head from the snake."
Setting the Trap
By nightfall, the ambush was ready. Archers moved silently through the forest, finding their vantage points in the thick trees, hidden from sight but with perfect lines of fire. The air was cool, the wind whispering through the branches as they crouched in place, arrows nocked and ready. Their orders were clear: fire rapidly, disappear, then reposition.
Below them, the Shadowblades moved through the darkness like wraiths, silent and invisible. Their black cloaks blended perfectly with the shadows, and their steps made no sound on the forest floor. They were already scouting the Xavarian forces, slipping into the enemy camp as the imperial army set up for the night.
Kayl, hidden just behind the treeline, waited for the signal. He had placed his militia at key points along the walls in case the Xavarians got too close, but tonight was about striking first—hitting them hard, and making them fear the very ground they walked on.
Tessa, crouched beside him, gave him a sharp nod. The ambush was ready.
The first Xavarian scouts moved down the narrow forest path, oblivious to the archers watching from above.
Kayl raised his hand, his heart racing with anticipation. "Now."
The Ambush Begins
A sudden, deadly rain of arrows poured down from the trees. The Xavarian scouts barely had time to react before the first of them hit the ground, lifeless. Chaos erupted as arrows found their targets—piercing armor, felling men with swift precision.
The remaining soldiers tried to scatter, but the archers were relentless, moving between trees with trained discipline. They loosed volleys of arrows with devastating accuracy, cutting down any who tried to flee or regroup.
The Xavarians, realizing they were under attack, sounded the alarm. But before they could muster a response, the Shadowblades struck.
Shadows Among Them
Deep within the Xavarian camp, Kara and her team of Shadowblades moved with deadly purpose. Their target was the heart of the Xavarian command—their generals and officers, the men who kept the imperial army organized and deadly.
Kara slipped into the largest tent, where the flicker of lantern light revealed the gathered commanders. Their voices were raised, clearly frustrated by the ambush, unaware of the silent death that had just entered their midst.
With a single gesture, the Shadowblades fanned out, each one choosing their target. Kara's blades gleamed faintly in the low light as she drew them from her belt. With the speed of a striking viper, she was on the nearest officer, her dagger slicing across his throat before he could even draw breath to scream.
The others fell just as quickly—silent, efficient kills. Within moments, the command tent was littered with bodies, blood pooling on the floor. The generals never had a chance to call for help.
Kara wiped her blade clean on the cloak of the fallen officer, her cold eyes scanning the room for any signs of life. None.
"Move," she whispered to her team, and like shadows, they were gone—disappearing back into the night, leaving only death in their wake.
Chaos in the Ranks
Back at the ambush site, the Xavarians were starting to retaliate. More troops poured into the forest, trying to root out the hidden archers. Kayl's men moved swiftly, relocating to new positions and raining down arrows from the treetops. But the Xavarians were starting to organize, despite the chaos.
Kayl, watching from the treeline, knew they couldn't hold this position much longer. The element of surprise was wearing off, and the Xavarian numbers were beginning to overwhelm them.
"Tessa," Kayl called out, motioning her to his side. "We need to pull back before they figure out our positions."
Tessa gave a quick nod. "I'll give the signal."
She raised her bow high, sending a single, whistling arrow into the air. The archers, upon seeing the signal, ceased their fire and began to retreat, moving quickly and quietly through the trees to avoid detection. The Shadowblades were already long gone, their deadly mission complete.
Kayl exhaled, tension loosening slightly from his chest. The ambush had done its job. The Xavarians had been hit hard, their leadership decimated, and they had been forced to waste time and resources pursuing a ghost in the forest.
But Kayl knew this was just the beginning.
Regrouping at the Walls
The survivors of the ambush returned to the settlement under cover of night. Kayl stood atop the walls, watching as the archers and Shadowblades melted back into the safety of the town. Tessa and Rael joined him, their expressions grim but determined.
"We slowed them down," Tessa said, brushing sweat from her brow. "They'll be on edge now. But they won't be able to mount a full assault without proper leadership."
Kayl nodded, his eyes scanning the dark forest beyond. "It'll buy us time. But it won't stop them."
Rael crossed his arms, his voice tense. "They'll come back with more. They always do. We need more than hit-and-run tactics to win this."
Kayl knew he was right. The ambush had worked, but it was only a small victory in a much larger war. Without Duran—and the Heart of Oryn—they were still vastly outnumbered.
"I know," Kayl said quietly. "But for now, we've weakened them. We need to prepare for their counterattack."
The system's familiar chime echoed in Kayl's mind, reminding him once again of the countdown.
Quest Progress: Imminent Raid by the Xavarian Empire
Days Until Raid: 4
Kayl gritted his teeth, his hands curling into fists. Four days. They had bought themselves a little time, but the Xavarians would regroup, and when they came back, they would come in full force.
He needed Duran. He needed the Heart of Oryn.
Kayl turned to Rael and Tessa. "We'll continue to harass them from the forest, but we need to be ready for the real battle. Double the watch on the walls. Prepare the defenses. We can't let them take us by surprise again."
Rael nodded, already moving to carry out the orders. Tessa lingered for a moment, her eyes scanning Kayl's face.
"Don't lose hope," she said softly. "Duran will come back."
Kayl gave her a small nod, though doubt gnawed at his insides. "He has to."
As Tessa walked away, Kayl looked out over the dark forest, the tension in his chest growing heavier with each passing moment. The Xavarians were out there, regrouping, planning. And Duran was still nowhere to be found.
But Kayl couldn't afford to think about that now. He had four days to prepare for the battle that could decide the fate of everything they had built.