The wind cut through the narrow mountain path, bringing with it the scent of damp stone and impending rain. Kael's eyes remained fixed on the rider and his group as they moved ahead.. The path was growing narrower, and the cliffs loomed higher on either side, enclosing them in shadow. Every instinct Kael had screamed that something was wrong, but they had no other way forward.
"Does this feel right to you?" Veyron muttered, falling into step beside Kael. His hand never left the hilt of his sword, his eyes scanning the terrain.
Kael shook his head, his jaw clenched. "No. But we don't have a choice."
Harlan walked just behind them, his face grim. "This feels like a trap," he muttered, low enough that only they could hear.
"I know," Kael replied, his voice tight. His mind was racing with possibilities, but they were running out of options. The Iron Circle was closing in behind them, and they couldn't afford to go back. Still, Kael wasn't about to walk into this blind. He had learned long ago that trust was a luxury few could afford in this world.
"We stay ready," Kael whispered to the others. "If this turns on us, we fight."
The path finally opened up into a valley, surrounded by cliffs that seemed to rise endlessly above them. Kael's eyes darted across the landscape, searching for any sign of movement, but the valley was eerily silent. Too silent.
The rider stopped, raising a hand to signal his men. Kael's heart pounded in his chest as they came to a halt, his grip tightening on his sword. Something was about to happen.
"We're close," the rider said, turning to face Kael. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it now. "The Iron Circle has patrols up ahead. If we keep moving, we can avoid them."
They moved cautiously into the valley, the cliffs towering over them on all sides. Kael's eyes never left the shadows, every muscle in his body tensed for the fight he knew was coming. And then, it happened.
The first arrow came without warning, slicing through the air and embedding itself into the ground just inches from Harlan's feet. Kael's instincts kicked in immediately, his sword drawn in an instant.
"Ambush!" Kael shouted, his voice echoing through the valley.
Figures emerged from the shadows above them, Iron Circle soldiers, their armor glinting in the dim light as they moved into position. Arrows rained down from the cliffs, and Kael's group scattered, diving for cover as the enemy descended upon them.
Veyron was the first to react, his sword flashing through the air as he deflected an incoming strike. Harlan was right behind him, his axe crashing into the shield of an advancing soldier with a sickening crunch.
Kael ducked behind a rock, his mind racing as he scanned the battlefield. The Iron Circle had planned this ambush perfectly, boxing them in with no room to maneuver. And the rider... Where was the rider?
Kael's eyes darted through the chaos, searching for any sign of the rider and his men. But they were gone. Vanished.
Kael's heart sank as the truth hit him. They had been led into this. The rider had betrayed them.
Veyron fought his way to Kael's side, his face streaked with blood and dirt. "Where are they? The rider and his men—"
"They set us up," Kael growled, his eyes blazing with fury. "They're gone."
The realization hit Veyron hard, but there was no time for shock. Another wave of Iron Circle soldiers descended from the cliffs, their blades gleaming as they closed in. Kael and his group were outnumbered, and now, they were trapped.
"Fall back!" Kael shouted, swinging his sword in a desperate attempt to push back the advancing soldiers.
But it was no use. They were pinned down, arrows raining from above, the enemy closing in on all sides. Harlan was already wounded, a deep gash across his leg slowing him down as he fought to stay on his feet. One of their younger fighters, a boy barely old enough to hold a blade, fell to the ground, an arrow lodged in his chest.
Kael's mind raced as he fought, but the weight of the betrayal was heavy. They had been outplayed, and now they were paying the price.
Just as the battle seemed lost, a sudden shout echoed from the cliffs above. The Iron Circle soldiers paused, confusion rippling through their ranks. Kael's eyes darted upward, and there, standing at the edge of the cliff, was the rider.
But something was different. The rider raised his hand, and to Kael's shock, a volley of arrows rained down,not on Kael's group, but on the Iron Circle soldiers.
The rider had turned on them.
The chaos of battle shifted in an instant as the Iron Circle soldiers were caught off guard by the sudden betrayal. Kael wasted no time, rallying his men to fight back with everything they had left. Swords clashed, blood spilled, and one by one, the enemy began to fall.
But the cost was high.
By the time the last of the Iron Circle soldiers lay dead on the ground, Kael's group had suffered heavy losses. Harlan was on his knees, bleeding from multiple wounds, while Veyron staggered, barely able to stand. Two of their men were dead.
Kael stood amidst the carnage, his chest heaving with exhaustion and fury. He turned toward the rider, who now descended from the cliffs with his remaining men.
"You played us," Kael spat, his voice filled with rage. "You set us up to die."
The rider's face was unreadable. "You were a distraction. The Iron Circle has been hunting me for longer than you know. But I don't take orders from them."
Kael's hand tightened on his sword, but he was too tired to strike. The betrayal was deeper than he had anticipated, and now, he had to decide what came next.
As night fell and the battlefield grew silent, Kael sat alone by the fire, his mind heavy with the weight of the day. He had known better. He had suspected the rider from the start, but desperation had clouded his judgment. Now, two of his men were dead, and Harlan's wounds might be fatal.
The rider's betrayal was a reminder of the world Kael lived in, a world where trust was a nowhere to be found and loyalty was easily bought. He blamed himself for letting his guard down, for believing that, even for a moment, he could rely on someone else.
But there was no time for regret. Kerric was still out there, and the Iron Circle was closing in. Kael had no choice but to keep moving, even if it meant facing the darkness alone.