Ashar's heart pounded in his chest as he stood atop the outer walls of the stronghold, his eyes fixed on the approaching Orc army. The horizon was a sight to behold—an endless line of Orcs, more than two hundred strong, their war drums pounding a steady rhythm that sent tremors through the ground.
"We're outnumbered," Rylah said from beside him, her voice low but filled with determination. "The odds aren't in our favor, Ashar. We have only seventy fighters here, and that's if we count everyone, even the injured."
Ashar's eyes narrowed as he scanned the enemy ranks. He had known the day would come when the Orcs would retaliate, but seeing the sheer force arrayed before them sent a ripple of uncertainty through him. Their numbers were overwhelming, but he refused to show weakness. "We won't be fighting them head-on," he replied, his voice steady. "We'll make them think we're weaker than we are. Let them underestimate us."
He turned to face the walls behind him, where his people were readying themselves for the oncoming storm. He had made sure every soldier, every civilian, knew their role. The stronghold's walls had been reinforced, and the traps around their perimeter were set. It wasn't the size of the army that mattered; it was the strategy, the surprise, and the determination to survive.
"I'll trust you to lead them, Ashar," Rylah said, placing a hand on his shoulder, her voice filled with unwavering loyalty.
Ashar nodded, his mind already working through the tactics. "Remember, we strike hard, but we don't stay. We need to make them chase us."
The gates of the stronghold creaked open as the first wave of Orcs arrived. There was no time to waste. Ashar glanced over his shoulder, where his second-in-command, Kess, stood with a grim expression. He had already been assigned a group of ten warriors, each skilled in ranged attacks, to create chaos and disorient the enemy.
"We'll attack from the trees," Kess said, his voice low. "The moment the first wave gets close enough, we'll hit them with arrows and bombs. Keep them disoriented and force them to hesitate."
Ashar gave a firm nod. "Take your team and move. Don't engage directly unless it's absolutely necessary. We need to conserve our strength for the long run."
As Kess and his squad melted into the forest, Ashar turned his attention back to the gates. The Orcs had arrived in full force—two hundred strong, but only about fifty of them were in the front line, armed with shields and spears, ready to charge. Behind them, the rest of the army stood, ready to fill in the gaps if needed.
Ashar's breath caught in his throat as he noticed something—a few dozen Orcs stood apart from the others. Their armor was different—more ornate, with emblems that suggested they were either elite warriors or leaders of some kind. Ashar's mind raced. He needed to take out their commanders first if they wanted to break the Orcs' resolve.
"Rylah, get your archers ready," Ashar said, his voice calm but urgent. "We need to target the leaders first."
Rylah nodded, her expression hardening as she quickly signaled the other archers stationed at different points along the wall. "On your word, Ashar."
The Orcs moved closer, and Ashar could feel the tension in the air. His fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword, and his pulse quickened. The first wave was almost at the gates, and soon, the real battle would begin.
"Hold steady!" he shouted to his people. "Don't give them an inch. We stand firm, and we win."
As soon as the Orcs were within range, Ashar gave the signal.
The first volley of arrows soared through the air, hitting the Orc leaders with deadly precision. The elite warriors fell, but they didn't break the Orcs' lines. If anything, their death seemed to make the remaining Orcs more enraged. They pushed forward with renewed force, slamming their shields against the gates.
"We need to open the gates!" Ashar shouted to the gatekeepers. "Let them in!"
Rylah's eyes widened. "What are you thinking?"
"We fight them inside, where we can use the terrain to our advantage. Let's make them feel like they've won, and then we strike from every direction."
With a quick nod, the gatekeepers did as commanded, and the massive wooden doors slowly creaked open, just wide enough for the first few Orcs to surge inside.
As soon as they did, Ashar's fighters—hidden behind the walls and along the pathways—launched their attacks. The stronghold erupted in chaos. Arrows rained down on the Orcs, and firebombs exploded, sending smoke and flames into the air, disorienting the invaders. From above, Kess's team opened fire with their bows, picking off any Orc that tried to regroup.
"Now!" Ashar shouted.
His fighters—those hidden behind the gates and along the walls—surged forward, charging out from their concealed positions and attacking the Orcs from every angle. The first wave of the Orc army, who had thought they were simply walking into a weak, defenseless settlement, were caught completely off guard.
But the Orcs weren't finished. They fought back ferociously, their massive forms crashing into Ashar's people like a tidal wave. For every Orc that fell, two more took their place. The tide of battle shifted in an instant, and Ashar knew they couldn't hold them for long without reinforcements.
"How many more are there?" Rylah shouted, slashing through an Orc's side with a swift strike of her sword.
"At least a hundred more," Ashar called out, spotting the second wave of Orcs rushing in. "They're pushing us back."
The gate had been forced open, and the Orcs were flooding in. The first wave was losing ground, but their numbers were too great. The clash of steel and the screams of battle filled the air.
"We need to fall back!" Kess shouted from across the courtyard. "We can't fight them all here!"
"No," Ashar said through gritted teeth. "We push them back. We can't afford to retreat yet."
With a desperate rallying cry, Ashar led his fighters deeper into the fray. His sword flashed in the dim light, cutting down one Orc after another, but his people were tiring. The Orcs, on the other hand, were relentless.
As Ashar struck down an Orc warrior, he saw something in the distance—another army. This one, larger than the first, was marching toward them with the unmistakable sign of the Orc general's banner fluttering above them.
"I knew it," Ashar muttered under his breath. "They've brought the general."
He turned to Rylah. "We can't hold much longer. Fall back to the secondary defenses. We'll regroup there."
The two of them exchanged a look, and without another word, Ashar led his people to the next line of defense, hoping they could hold out long enough to turn the tide.