Rowan wiped the sweat from his brow, his muscles burning from another grueling session with Gareth. The old warrior was relentless, pushing him harder each day. What had started as basic swordplay had evolved into lessons in hand-to-hand combat, wielding various weapons, and learning the subtleties of battlefield tactics. Gareth had been a merciless taskmaster, but Rowan knew the training was paying off. His body had grown stronger, his reflexes sharper. He was no longer the clumsy outsider who had stumbled into Stagpeak.
Each morning began with hours of sparring. Gareth never let Rowan settle into a rhythm, constantly switching between sword, spear, axe, and even improvised weapons like sticks or rocks. Rowan learned how to adapt quickly, how to turn anything into a tool of survival. In the afternoons, they practiced endurance—long hikes through the forest, weight training with stones, and meditation to sharpen his mind and instincts.
But despite his progress, Gareth's lessons often ended with the same warning: "You're getting stronger, boy, but never forget—there's always something stronger out there. You have to be prepared for anything."
Rowan took the words to heart, knowing that the world beyond this peaceful forest was full of dangers he couldn't yet imagine. And soon, those dangers would make themselves known.
---
Meanwhile, deep within the forest, the orcs were on the move.
The dense trees parted as a group of towering, brutish figures marched toward the base of the mountain. Their armor was crudely fashioned from metal and bone, but the sight of them was enough to send a chill through any who crossed their path. The orcs roared and shouted in their guttural language, celebrating as they moved toward their hidden base, a dark cave carved into the mountain's side.
At the front of the horde stood a figure larger and more imposing than the rest. His skin was a deep, mottled green, and his muscles bulged with raw power. His eyes gleamed with malice as he raised his massive battle axe, silencing the rowdy crowd with a single motion. This was Ignatz, the orc general, feared and respected by his kin. His presence alone commanded obedience.
"We will take Stagpeak!" Ignatz bellowed, his voice booming off the cave walls as the orcs gathered around him. "The humans have grown weak, complacent. We will make their fortress our new home, and their people our slaves—or sacrifices."
The orcs cheered, their voices rising in a chorus of bloodlust. They had been planning this for weeks, scouting the area, gathering supplies, and preparing for a full-scale raid. Ignatz had led many successful campaigns in the past, but this one was different. It wasn't just about territory. This time, they were acting on behalf of someone far more dangerous than themselves.
Ignatz grinned wickedly as he glanced toward the shadows at the back of the cave. He didn't say the name aloud, but all the orcs knew who they served now. A dark figure, someone powerful and unseen, had promised them victory and rewards beyond their wildest imaginations if they succeeded in taking Stagpeak. The thought of it sent a shiver of excitement through the orc general's spine.
"Send out the scouts," Ignatz ordered. "No human must escape the town. We'll trap them like rats and crush their pathetic defenses."
A group of smaller, faster orcs stepped forward, nodding in obedience before slipping into the forest. Their mission was clear—ensure that no one in Stagpeak could flee once the raid began.
---
Back in the town of Stagpeak, a soldier patrolling the outer forest came across a grim scene. The trees were eerily quiet, but the stench of blood and death was unmistakable. Pushing aside the underbrush, the soldier's eyes widened in horror. A group of merchants lay sprawled across the forest floor, their bodies brutally torn apart. Wagons were overturned, and the once-valuable goods scattered, soaked in blood.
The soldier's heart pounded as he surveyed the carnage. It was clear that this was the work of orcs. He had seen their savagery before, but this was different. The brutality of the attack suggested more than just a random raid—this was a message, a warning. He quickly mounted his horse and rode back to the town, the urgency of his report pressing in on him.
The news of the attack spread through Stagpeak like wildfire. Merchants and travelers whispered in fear, the gruesome details growing with every retelling. Mothers pulled their children close, and townsfolk began talking about packing up and fleeing before the orcs could strike again. Panic was beginning to take root.
In the great hall of Stagpeak's fortress, Lord Edmund listened to the soldier's report with a stony expression. Though the details were alarming, he refused to show fear in front of his men. He rose from his seat and addressed the room.
"Stagpeak is strong," Lord Edmund declared, his voice steady and commanding. "We have faced threats before, and we have always prevailed. Our walls are tall, our knights are skilled, and our people are brave. The orcs may try to attack, but they will break upon our defenses like waves against a cliff."
The knights in the hall nodded in agreement, but beneath their stoic faces, there was a glimmer of doubt. Lord Edmund was confident in his fortress, but this wasn't the first time the orcs had come close to their walls. And with rumors of strange alliances and darker forces at play, there was an unease that lingered, even in the hearts of Stagpeak's defenders.
---
Back at Maya's inn, the atmosphere was tense. Word of the merchant massacre had reached every corner of the town, and customers were speaking in hushed tones about the possibility of an attack. Maya, though outwardly calm, was deeply worried.
It had been weeks since Rowan had left to train with the old warrior, Gareth. She had heard nothing from him since, and now, with the news of orcs planning to raid the town, her heart sank with fear. What if something had happened to him? What if he was caught in the forest when the orcs struck?
As night fell, Maya stood by the window, looking out at the darkening streets. Her mind raced with a thousand possibilities, but one thought kept returning—where was Rowan? And would he come back in time to face the danger that was closing in on them all?