The next few days passed in a blur of activity. Ashar hardly slept, the weight of his decisions pressing on him from every angle. The tension in the camp was palpable—Jarek's betrayal still hung in the air like a cloud, suffocating any sense of peace they might have had. He'd done what he could to keep the morale high, but there was no denying that the cracks in their foundation were starting to show.
Ashar stood at the edge of the camp, watching the men and women training. Their movements were stiff, their eyes haunted by the memories of slavery, but they were fighting nonetheless. They had no choice. They had to survive, and that meant becoming soldiers, whether they were ready or not.
But even as they trained, Ashar could feel something gnawing at him—an unsettling realization that no matter how much they prepared, no matter how much they fought, there would always be something more they needed. Time. Resources. Trust.
He turned as Torin approached, his face grim. "We've received word from the scouts," Torin said, voice low. "The Orcs are gathering in the east. They're moving faster than we expected."
Ashar's pulse quickened, but he kept his expression steady. "How many?"
"Enough to overwhelm us if we're not careful," Torin answered. "They've already started building makeshift siege weapons. We need to act quickly, or we'll be facing a full assault in less than a week."
The news hit Ashar like a punch to the gut. He had known the Orcs wouldn't let them go easily, but this was more than he had anticipated. He turned to look at the training grounds again, his gaze scanning the faces of his people. They weren't ready. Not for this.
"We need to prepare the defenses," Ashar said, his voice more urgent now. "Every person who can hold a weapon should be on the walls. I want the gates reinforced. We can't afford to make the same mistake twice."
Torin nodded. "I'll start organizing the teams. We need to bring in the rest of the materials from the storerooms. Rylah can help with the tactical layout for the defense."
Ashar turned away, his mind racing. He needed more than just defenses. They needed intelligence. They needed an advantage. If the Orcs were coming, there was no way they could hold out indefinitely. Not unless they struck first.
***
The Underground Refuge
Later that night, Ashar descended into the heart of the stronghold—the underground refuge that had been a secret project of his for the past several months. It was a dark and cold place, but it was safe. It was the one place where his people could hide if the worst happened. If the walls fell, if the gates were breached, the underground would be their last line of defense.
But it wasn't just a hiding place. Ashar had been building it as a strategic asset. Hidden tunnels, caches of food and water, a secret route to the neighboring villages. If they needed to escape, they could. If they needed to strike, they could.
He walked down the narrow corridors, his boots echoing in the silence. He reached the heart of the underground—an expansive cavern that stretched far deeper than anyone else knew. His people had no idea of the scale. They would only know once they needed it.
Ashar stood at the center of the cavern, looking around at the stacks of supplies and the network of tunnels he had built. He had spent weeks planning, digging, and constructing the refuge in secrecy. The Orcs would never know it was here, not unless they tortured someone for information.
But will it be enough? Ashar's mind churned with doubt. If the Orcs attacked now, with their siege weapons already in place, would it be enough to survive? He couldn't let fear take hold, but the reality of their situation was impossible to ignore.
***
The next morning, Ashar called a meeting with his closest advisors: Torin, Rylah, and Karis, the camp's chief engineer. Together, they formed the core of his command, each of them contributing a unique skill to their cause. But even with all their strengths combined, Ashar knew they were still outnumbered and under-equipped. The Orcs had resources and manpower. They had brute force on their side.
"We have to make a decision," Ashar began, his voice low and deliberate. "The Orcs are coming. If we wait, we risk losing everything. If we go to them first, we risk everything, too."
Rylah crossed her arms, her brow furrowing as she considered his words. "We've been preparing for a siege, but that doesn't mean we're ready to fight the full force of the Orcs. We don't know how many troops they have. What if we attack and they turn out to have a much larger force?"
"We can't just wait for them to strike," Ashar said firmly. "If we wait, we give them the initiative. We give them control over the situation. We have to take that control back."
Torin nodded. "I agree. But where do we strike? We can't take on the Orcs head-on in a field battle. We'd be wiped out."
"That's why we have to strike where it hurts," Karis said, her voice cool and calculated. "They're using siege weapons, right? If we can take out their supplies, destroy their siege engines before they're ready, we'll cripple their offensive."
Ashar's mind worked through the possibilities. Karis was right. The Orcs would be focused on building up their offensive, and if they lost those weapons before they could be used, it could turn the tide in their favor. "I'll lead the raid," Ashar decided, his resolve hardening. "We hit their supply lines. We destroy their siege weapons. We keep them off balance."
Rylah raised an eyebrow. "And how do you plan to do that?"
Ashar's lips curved into a grim smile. "We do what we've always done—strike quickly, disappear before they know what happened. Guerrilla tactics. We'll use the tunnels. The Orcs won't see it coming."
Torin glanced at the others, his expression serious. "We'll need everyone who's able to fight. We can't leave the stronghold undefended."
"I know," Ashar said, his voice unwavering. "We'll need to be quick. In and out, before they can retaliate."
***
That night, Ashar gathered a small team of the most capable fighters—Torin, Karis, and a handful of trusted warriors. They slipped through the underground tunnels, silent as shadows, emerging near the edge of the Orc camp. The moon was hidden, the perfect cover for their mission.
They moved quickly, expertly avoiding the Orc sentries, and within hours, they reached the first of the siege engines. Ashar's heart raced as they set the charges, the explosive devices carefully placed by Karis's hands. They weren't many, but they would be enough.
"We move now," Ashar whispered, his voice barely audible.
But as they turned to leave, a faint sound echoed in the distance—the unmistakable sound of Orc war drums.
The Orcs were coming.