Katherine and Irene galloped, the dusk behind them gradually replaced by flickering lights. As they approached the border of Eldenia, the scent of blood and gunpowder grew stronger. In the distance, the sentry posts of the Airtulan tribes were faintly visible.
Suddenly, a sentry ahead shouted, "Halt! State your names!" Then, dozens of warriors surged from various directions, their bows and spears gleaming under the firelight. The sound of hooves alerted the entire tribe, and the warriors of the Flame Tribe quickly formed ranks, while the soldiers of the Mountain Eagle Tribe prepared to join the battle.
"It seems they don't plan to let us pass peacefully," Irene whispered, her fingers tightening on the hilt of her sword, her horse nervously pacing under her control.
"Don't do anything rash," Katherine said calmly, scanning the tense warriors with a glance. She raised a hand, signaling for a ceasefire, and slowly guided her horse forward. "We mean no harm. We have crucial intelligence to deliver to your chief."
"Intelligence?" A warrior from the Flame Tribe scoffed, raising his spear slightly. "A noble-looking woman comes to warn us tribesmen? Ridiculous."
Irene muttered in dissatisfaction, "These savages are tougher than we thought." She instinctively loosened her grip on the sword hilt but remained alert.
Just as the situation reached a stalemate, a deep, commanding voice came from behind. "Stop!" The crowd parted, and a burly man strode forward, his deep features illuminated by the fierce firelight. It was Loka, the leader of the Flame Tribe.
"Who are you two really? Nice words, but I've heard too many lies," Loka coldly stared at them.
Katherine was not intimidated by his presence and calmly raised the letter in her hand. "This letter was intercepted from the eastern border of Strongson. It concerns the future of your tribe and the fate of Airtulan. Please read it before making any decisions."
Loka took the letter and quickly scanned it, his brow furrowing deeper with each line. He looked up, his sharp gaze sweeping over Katherine and Irene. "You say you're forces opposing Strongson, but I've never heard of you."
"Not hearing about us doesn't mean we don't exist," Katherine replied steadily. "We are just one of many resistance factions, and the contents of this letter should prove that we are not enemies."
Loka muttered to himself, seemingly weighing the situation. The warriors of the Flame Tribe did not lower their guard, and the spear and bow formations remained poised for attack.
At that moment, a cold voice came from an archer of the Mountain Eagle Tribe: "If they really are opponents of Strongson, why are there two of them?"
The atmosphere grew tense again, and Irene gripped the hilt of her sword. But Katherine raised her hand, signaling her to stay calm, and turned to Loka. "You've just fought, so you should understand how complex the situation is. We're willing to go with you to the tribe's camp, and you can decide the next steps."
Under Loka's command, the tribal warriors reorganized their formation, and the group slowly moved toward the camp. A faint joy flickered in Katherine and Irene's eyes, knowing that their probing had finally earned them a moment's respite.
In the camp, Katherine lifted her head slightly, her gaze firm as if every word she spoke was infused with inner strength. She scanned Loka and the other tribal members, aware that they were waiting for her explanation. "We are not ordinary rebels," her voice echoed in the night wind. "We once lived on the Western Continent."
Irene stood beside her, nervously scanning the surroundings. Though she was usually more impulsive than her sister, she understood the need for calm in this moment.
Katherine continued, "In fact, we are people from Solantis. We came to New Harbor to escape the civil wars of the Western Continent. But after King Leon of Strongson ascended to the throne, the entire nation fell into corruption and tyranny."
Loka furrowed his brow. "This man's ambition is indeed unimaginable."
"Yes," Katherine nodded, recalling the painful memories. "He seized the throne through illegitimate means and took control of vast territories on the Eastern Continent, all to satisfy his personal ambitions. We were people who loved peace, and when we arrived here, we witnessed the prosperity that New Harbor represented. But Leon's rule changed everything."
She glanced at Irene, who silently nodded, supporting her narrative. Katherine continued, "Leon's regime became greedy and corrupt. His oppression of the people reached unprecedented levels, and the people on the streets suffered. In New Harbor, once our second home, it had become a city full of poverty and injustice. We could no longer tolerate this."
Irene interjected, "We watched the people suffer as Strongson used totalitarian control to govern everyone's lives, oppressing anyone who dared to resist. We felt powerless, but when we heard about Airtulan, we knew it might be our chance to take action."
Katherine nodded, picking up where Irene left off. "Exactly. We didn't decide to rebel right away. We tried to cooperate with other resistance factions, hoping to change the situation. But Strongson's rule made that impossible. We joined the underground forces; we are one of the factions resisting his tyranny. We gathered intelligence and planned actions."
Katherine then took out a rolled parchment from her cloak and handed it to Loka. "We intercepted a Strongson communication unit along the way, and from them, we obtained this letter. It was personally signed by Duke Horace, ordering Oscar's reinforcements to launch a raid on the tribal camps in Eldenia. This isn't just an attack on the Eldenia tribes; it's a deadly threat to the entire Airtulan tribal alliance."
Loka took the letter and unfolded it, quickly scanning the text. His brow furrowed tighter, and when he looked up, his tone was cold and cautious. "This is indeed a military order from Strongson, but why are you helping us? How can I trust you're not spies sent by Strongson? This could be a trap."
Irene stepped forward, staring directly at Loka. "If you think this is a scam, then kill us. But if you can trust us, you'll give your tribe a chance for survival."
Loka was silent for a moment, then folded the letter, his eyes flashing with doubt and coldness. He said coldly, "This is indeed important information. I'll call a meeting with Kanu and Magda. But I warn you, if this is a trap, you'll know the consequences."
As Loka, Kanu, and Magda sat around the campfire in the center of the camp, the atmosphere was thick with tension and anxiety. The three tribal leaders sat side by side, their faces hardened by the firelight. Katherine and Irene stood to the side, quietly waiting for their decision.
Loka spoke first, his voice low and commanding. "We received this letter, and Strongson clearly anticipated our move. Now, Melador and Taka are in urgent danger. We must act quickly. If we delay too long, the entire situation in Airtulan will be in jeopardy."
Magda's gaze flickered with concern, and she slowly spoke, "But we have limited manpower. If the enemy's forces are too strong, rash action could have catastrophic consequences. Can we win against them?"
Kanu, the leader of the Mountain Eagle Tribe, stared into the fire, contemplating for a moment before speaking. "We must save Melador and Taka. They are the backbone of our alliance. Without them, the unity and morale of the tribes will falter." He turned his gaze toward Katherine and Irene. "The information you brought is undoubtedly important, but we can't afford to trust you too easily."
Katherine nodded. "I understand. My sister and I will stay by your side to help."
Magda looked into the fire, her eyes flashing with determination. "Then the decision is made. We can no longer delay. We must go rescue Melador and Taka immediately. Though Strongson's army is formidable, we have the fiercest warriors in these
Loka took a deep breath, his eyes fixed firmly on the two leaders. "Then it's settled. We will organize the forces immediately and head to the valley to rescue them. But we must remain vigilant. This battle is a matter of life and death for us."
Kanu added, "We must move quickly, not giving the enemy any chance. Our enemies are strong, but we have faith and determinatio
Magda nodded. "Our warriors are ready. If it's for the future of the tribes, we will not back down."
Loka gave the orders for the warriors of the
Katherine and Irene were urgently assigned as the vanguard of the mission. The sisters understood that this wasn't just a battle; it was a life-and-death decision that would determine the future of Airtulan. They knew that after this battle, the entire situation could change dramatically.