The clearing was thick with tension, the air heavy with the promise of violence. Ashar could feel his pulse quicken as he prepared for the inevitable confrontation. Kess had been captured, but the fact that he was still alive meant there was something important he could tell them. The Orcs had been following them, but why? What was their plan?
His eyes never left the shadowy figures moving in the distance. They were spread out, perhaps twenty in total, each one gripped by the confidence of their superior numbers. Ashar knew that numbers alone wouldn't win this fight; it was about strategy, precision, and the element of surprise.
"They've split up," Rylah whispered beside him. "If we strike fast, we can pick them off one by one."
Ashar nodded, his mind already calculating the best course of action. The enemy was spread too thin, and they had no idea that Ashar and his group were now in position.
Kess's voice, barely audible, spoke again. "They're looking for us. They know the route you took. They'll expect you to come through the forest."
Ashar's eyes narrowed. If the Orcs knew where they were, there was no time to waste. "Then we won't go through the forest," he said, his voice sharp and commanding. "We'll go straight through them."
He turned to his group, his eyes scanning their faces. "Stay close, and move fast. Don't give them a chance to regroup. Take them down one by one."
The group nodded, steeling themselves for what was to come. Ashar could see the fire in their eyes, the fierce determination that had carried them this far. These were not the broken, enslaved people they had once been. They were soldiers now.
"Ready," Rylah said, her hand gripping the hilt of her blade.
"Move!" Ashar commanded.
***
The forest erupted into chaos as Ashar and his group burst from their hiding place, charging toward the Orcs. The surprise was complete; the first few Orcs barely had time to react before they were cut down by Ashar's sword, his movements fluid and precise. Blood sprayed, the battle cries of the Orcs mingling with the shouts of his people as they fought.
Ashar's heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he fought alongside his people. He could see the Orcs struggling to organize themselves, their numbers a disadvantage as Ashar's group used the environment to their advantage, weaving between trees and rocks, never staying in one place for too long.
Kess had already freed himself from his bindings and joined the fight, his skill with a bow deadly as he picked off the Orcs attempting to flank them from the edges of the clearing.
"Keep moving!" Ashar yelled as an Orc lunged at him, its massive axe swinging toward his head. He ducked under the blow, bringing his sword up in a sharp arc, slicing the Orc's chest open. The creature collapsed to the ground, its life extinguished in an instant.
Ashar didn't waste time checking the fallen Orc's body. He had no illusions about the danger they were in. There were still too many of them, and they had to move quickly if they wanted to stay ahead of the rest of the Orcs coming from the other side of the clearing.
Rylah was a blur beside him, her blade flashing in the sunlight as she took down Orc after Orc. Her movements were practiced, almost effortless, as if she had been waiting for this moment for a lifetime.
"Ashar! Watch out!" Kess shouted from across the clearing.
Ashar whipped around just in time to block a blow from an Orc wielding a spiked club. The force of the attack rattled his bones, but he held firm, locking eyes with his attacker. Without hesitation, Ashar countered, his sword driving deep into the Orc's side. The creature howled in pain and collapsed.
The battle raged on, but Ashar could feel the tide turning. His people were fighting with everything they had, and the Orcs, though strong and numerous, were beginning to lose their confidence. Ashar's forces had caught them off guard, and now they were pushing forward, slowly driving the Orcs back.
***
As the last of the Orcs fell, Ashar stood among the bodies, chest heaving with exertion. His sword was slick with blood, and the forest around them was silent save for the heavy breathing of his people.
Rylah was the first to speak, her voice quiet but firm. "We did it. But there's no time to rest. The rest of the Orcs will be here soon."
Ashar nodded grimly. The battle had been a victory, but it was only the beginning. He had no illusions about the war that was coming. The Orcs would retaliate, and when they did, it would be with everything they had.
"We can't stay here," Ashar said, his mind already working through the next steps. "We need to regroup and make sure our people are ready for what's coming."
Kess stepped forward, his bow slung across his back, his expression serious. "We're not out of danger yet. There's still more to do."
Ashar turned to face him. "What do you mean?"
"The Orcs were searching for something when they ambushed us," Kess explained. "They weren't just tracking us. They were looking for something specific. I overheard them talking. They're preparing for something bigger."
Ashar's brow furrowed. "What kind of 'something bigger'?"
Kess hesitated before answering, his voice lowering. "I don't know. But it doesn't sound good. If we're going to survive this, we need to get ahead of them."
Ashar's mind raced. The Orcs were always planning, always scheming. But now, the threat was no longer just about survival. There was something deeper at play, something Ashar didn't fully understand yet.
"We'll get ahead of them," Ashar said firmly, his voice resolute. "But first, we need to get back to the stronghold. We need to prepare for whatever comes next."
Rylah glanced at him, her eyes filled with determination. "We'll be ready. Together."
Ashar turned and began walking back toward the stronghold. The battle had been a victory, but it was only a small step in the war that lay ahead. The Orcs were coming, and the only way they would survive was if Ashar could outsmart them at every turn.