As they proceeded along the dense forest path, after about 3 kilometers of stone road, they entered a muddy trail, marking their entry into the deep heart of the Elvin Woods.
The sky was blanketed by the lush tree canopy, causing premature nightfall within the forest. A damp, musty scent of decaying leaves and soil wafted through the air, causing the exposed skin to prickle with goosebumps, and a layer of cold dew formed when wiped. The chill was biting.
Brian lit two torches and placed them on either side of the carriage, the flickering flames illuminating the small area around them.
Charlie peeked out the curtain, but all he could see was pitch black darkness, with the shadowy silhouettes of trees lining the sides, and the occasional ominous howl of an unseen beast. Occasionally, two glowing green eyes could be seen moving in the undergrowth, accompanying the carriage, instilling an unsettling feeling.
Soon, a small merchant caravan approached from a side road - it appeared to be from the Haines City trading guild, a sizable operation with its own armed guard of 13 men, including shield bearers, swordsmen, and rangers - a well-rounded and formidable force.
Brian followed behind the caravan, keeping a respectful distance. The caravan did not seem bothered by their presence, as they were fellow travelers. In fact, should they encounter any monsters, the caravan could serve as bait to improve the pair's chances of survival.
Suddenly, a rustling sound emanated from the bushes, accompanied by a deep, guttural growl. The horses whinnied nervously, and Charlie flung open the curtain to see numerous glowing green eyes emerging from the foliage - it was a pack of Dire Wolves!
Charlie's heart raced, his hair standing on end as vivid, bloody images of the Dire Wolves' rampage filled his mind. While individually they may not be too formidable, in a pack they become a terrifying force. Judging by the number of glowing eyes, this was no small pack.
Charlie had a sinking feeling this was a trap set for them, and being separated from the caravan would be certain death. He frantically shouted to Brian, "Catch up to the caravan!"
Brian reacted quickly, cracking the whip hard against the horses' flanks, drawing blood. The startled horses surged forward towards the caravan.
At the same time, the caravan sprang into action. The deafening cries of horses, shouts of the warriors, and shrieks filled the air.
"Formation!" Bellowed a mounted knight, drawing his sword.
The caravan drivers displayed excellent skill, circling their carts counter-clockwise around the muddy path to form a defensive ring, with the cart backs facing outwards to protect the horses in the center. The servants quickly blindfolded and earplugged the horses to prevent them from panicking.
Praise be to the holy Allah!
The caravan had not blocked off their escape, leaving a narrow gap for Brian's carriage to enter the circle, which he promptly filled, completing the defensive formation.
Brian barely had time to catch his breath before thanking them profusely, "Thank you! Thank you so much!!"
Without the caravan's timely assistance, being isolated would have been certain death for the master-servant duo.
"Nice driving!" Praised a bearded burly man.
Brian humbly acknowledged the compliment, though he noticed the caravan's insignia and his heart sank - this was a local Haines City trading guild. Given Charlie's unsavory "reputation", they would likely not welcome him. If they discovered Charlie's identity, would they simply cast them out to the wolves?
Brian racked his brain trying to come up with a lie to keep Charlie hidden in the carriage.
At that moment, the carriage door opened and Charlie himself stepped out, leaving Brian in a frantic panic, yet also stunned.
Clever!
Charlie had somehow procured a veil to cover his face.
As the host, Charlie graciously expressed his gratitude to the caravan's leader, his words and manners impressing even the rough-hewn warriors, without a trace of the brash young master. He engaged them naturally, not showing any arrogance despite their lowly origins.
When did Charlie become so mature?
Brian could scarcely believe his eyes - the young master was at once familiar and foreign. Not only did he display an exceptional memory, but he had also become quite shrewd. Brian resolved to observe him closely, and if the changes were genuine, he would take the risk of informing the Duke, as it may help to salvage the situation.
But first, they had to get through the immediate crisis.
One by one, dark shapes emerged from the bushes on both sides - towering gray wolves nearly 1.6 meters tall, as muscular as adult horses, their shaggy fur bristling and fangs bared, their eyes glowing with a malevolent light.
It was said that the color of a Dire Wolf's eyes could reveal its elemental affinity - red for fire, blue for wind, yellow for earth, green for nature. These innate abilities made them far more formidable than common wolves.
The bearded man frowned deeply, "This is a battle for life and death, my friends. Be careful!"
Charlie inclined his head, "We will do our utmost to assist."
Silently, Brian produced a magical staff, then handed a pouch to Charlie, solemnly advising, "Be careful."
The bearded man's eyes brightened, seeing the pair's preparations. Having a mage in their ranks could make all the difference.
As they conversed, the caravan's guards took up defensive positions.
Five rangers took up posts around the perimeter, and the one next to Charlie withdrew a small, exquisite quiver, opening it to reveal only three arrows. He carefully selected one, nocking it to his bow, its shaft glowing with a faint aura - not all rangers were skilled enough to wield such special arrows.
Bow drawn, arrow aimed between the wolf's eyes.
The Dire Wolves crouched low, their powerful hindlegs coiled like springs, ready to pounce.
As the tension mounted, Charlie's heart raced, blood pounding in his ears, unsure if it was from excitement or fear.
Suddenly, a piercing wolf howl rent the air, and dozens of Dire Wolves surged forth from all directions, their terrifying leaping ability making them seem like a disciplined military force.
"Fire!" Roared a voice, igniting the battlefield.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Bow strings released in rapid succession, arrows streaking in all directions. The shield-bearing footmen braced themselves, blocking the gaps between the carts with their thick shields, while the swordsmen stood ready behind them.
Amidst the volley, one arrow was special - its shaft glowing an amber hue, runes flaring to life along its length. In a blink of an eye, it split into seven energy bolts, fanning out...
Dazzling Arrow Volley! Boom! Boom! Boom...
The Dire Wolves had not even landed when the six energy bolts detonated, ripping gaping holes in their bodies, innards pulsing, blood spraying from the devastating force that checked their charge - an astounding display of power that startled even Charlie.
The initial volley severely wounded four wolves and lightly injured eleven more, but their ferocity only seemed to increase rather than diminish.
Looking around, the carts and harnesses had been shredded by fangs and claws, goods strewn everywhere. There were several weak points in the defensive circle, on the verge of collapse, with Dire Wolves breaching the line, sowing chaos as they fought the swordsmen.
The Dire Wolves displayed cunning, after the initial disruption, they fixed their malevolent gaze on the targets guarded by the shieldmen and swordsmen.
"Protect the master!" Roared the guard captain, his powerful arm swinging his cleaver to slice into the gaping maw of a massive wolf.
Steel clashed against fangs, shattering several wolf teeth, the cleaver also sustaining chips, but it had carved a deep, ten-centimeter gash in the wolf's upper and lower jaws, foul-smelling phlegm and blood gushing out, assaulting Charlie's already queasy stomach.
The gravely wounded wolf, infuriated, clamped down on the cleaver and the guard captain, its massive head thrashing violently to tear the wound wider, heedless of the pain, momentarily immobilizing the squad's commander.
In that moment, Charlie forcibly suppressed his physical discomfort, quickly surveying the battlefield, the information flooding his mind. He calculated that the defensive line would collapse in thirty seconds at the current rate.
Sensing the impending disaster, Charlie shouted to the bewildered Brian, "Quick! Plug those gaps!"
Whether Brian could actually accomplish that with his staff, at least he had more magical tricks up his sleeve than Charlie's basic spells.
One wolf, sensing the calm focus in the group, fixed its crimson gaze on Charlie, letting out a low growl. Its powerful hind legs suddenly coiled and then exploded, the massive wolf hurtling through the air...
But at that moment, Brian had already turned his attention elsewhere.