The war drums echoed through the valley like a death knell, reverberating off the distant hills. Ashar stood at the edge of the stronghold, eyes fixed on the horizon. His people, his army, had barely begun to fortify their position when the Orcs sounded their drums. It was a signal. An announcement. The Orcs were coming, and they were coming in force.
"Damn it…" Ashar muttered under his breath, clenching his fists. The weight of responsibility pressed down on him more heavily than ever. It wasn't just his life on the line now—it was the lives of everyone who had joined his cause.
"They've made their move," Karis's voice broke through his thoughts. She had been standing a few steps behind him, her expression unreadable, but Ashar could sense the tension in her posture.
Ashar turned to face her. "They've been preparing for this. We knew they wouldn't let our little raid go unpunished."
"We were lucky this time," Karis said, a wisp of concern in her tone. "But luck won't keep us alive in the long run. We've got maybe a day—two at most—before they reach us."
Ashar's jaw tightened. The camp was in chaos as the soldiers scrambled to reinforce the walls. But no matter how much they fortified, Ashar knew in his gut that it wouldn't be enough. They were still too weak, too inexperienced. Their best hope lay in the element of surprise.
"We'll strike first," Ashar said, his voice grim but resolute. "We'll take the fight to them before they can reach the walls. If they're coming, we won't wait for them to tear us down. We'll meet them head-on."
Karis raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Head-on, against the Orcs? You're not seriously considering—"
"Yes, I am," Ashar interrupted, cutting her off. "We can't just sit back and wait. We've been fighting to survive for too long, Karis. If we want to live, we need to show them we're not afraid. We need to show them that we'll strike before they do."
Karis studied him for a moment before giving a slow nod. "I'll prepare the troops. But you're the one who'll have to lead them."
Ashar exhaled, his shoulders tense. He didn't want this. He didn't want to lead them into battle. But there was no choice now. They had taken the first step, and there was no turning back.
***
The air was thick with tension as Ashar gathered his commanders and the leaders of the warriors. His hands clenched behind his back as he looked around at the faces before him, faces of people who had once been slaves, who had barely known how to fight. But now, they were ready. They were angry.
"We don't have much time," Ashar began, his voice low but filled with purpose. "The Orcs will be upon us soon, but I won't let them take this stronghold. We've fought too hard for it."
Torin stepped forward, his brow furrowed in thought. "We can't just go charging in, Ashar. They've got numbers, and they've got strength. We've seen what they can do."
"I know," Ashar replied. "But we can't let them overwhelm us. We'll meet them at the pass to the north. There's a narrow canyon there. It'll give us the advantage of terrain. We'll hit them before they can even set up their siege weapons."
Karis added, "We'll need scouts to keep watch. If they're sending their main force through there, they'll try to flank us. We can't let that happen."
Ashar nodded. He had already considered the possibility. "Rylah, take a small team and keep an eye on the Orcs' movements. We can't let them surprise us."
Rylah's face was steely. "Got it. We'll be ready."
"Everyone else," Ashar continued, "we strike at first light. We hit hard and fast, and then we retreat back to the stronghold before they can organize."
The group fell into a tense silence as Ashar's words sank in. The plan was risky, but it was their best chance. If they could weaken the Orcs, cause enough chaos, they might be able to force them to retreat. Or, at the very least, buy some time for reinforcements to arrive.
"We need to make sure everyone's ready," Ashar said. "We'll fight like we've never fought before. For our families. For our freedom."
The room buzzed with a quiet fervor as the commanders dispersed to prepare their soldiers. Ashar stood still for a moment, the weight of what he was about to lead them into settling heavily on his shoulders. He had no illusions about what this battle would mean. It could be their last. The thought haunted him, gnawing at his resolve.
But they had come this far. And they weren't going to give up now.
***
That night, as the full moon cast an eerie glow over the stronghold, Ashar found himself unable to sleep. The sound of the Orc war drums still echoed in his ears, like a heartbeat. He stood on the balcony of his quarters, staring out into the darkness. The wind was heavy with the scent of rain, but it wasn't the storm he feared.
He feared what the dawn would bring.
Karis had spoken of their lack of preparation, of how the Orcs would crush them if they weren't careful. But Ashar had made his decision. They were going to fight. They had to.
But as he looked out at the horizon, he wondered whether it was enough. Would it ever be enough? They were still so small, so new to this life. They had no true experience in warfare, no real strategy beyond survival. Would it be enough to hold the line?
A soft knock on his door brought him out of his thoughts. He turned to see Rylah standing in the doorway, her face as hard as the stone walls.
"The troops are ready," she said simply. "You should get some rest. We'll need you sharp in the morning."
Ashar nodded, but he didn't feel like resting. He couldn't. His mind was too full, too heavy with the weight of the battle ahead.
"I'll be ready," he said, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside.
Rylah studied him for a moment before offering a rare, small smile. "We're with you. All of us."
Ashar didn't respond immediately. He simply turned back to the night, staring out over the valley. The war drums still echoed in the distance, a reminder of the coming storm.
But Ashar had made his choice.
The war was about to begin.