The night sky above the camp shimmered with pale stars, but the horizon ahead was dark and brooding. Clouds gathered, swirling like a grim omen over the mountainous path to Kaelreach. The torches that lined the soldiers' path flickered under the growing winds, their flames fighting against the encroaching storm.
Drakar stood near the edge of the camp, Emberfang resting at his side, the wolf-dragon's violet eyes half-closed as if sensing the unease in the air. Taronis approached, his cloak billowing behind him.
"The scouts returned," Taronis said, his tone measured but grim. "The Dral'Thar are fortifying their northern line. They know we're coming."
Drakar's tattoos glowed faintly as he traced the route to Kaelreach in his mind. The stronghold's jagged walls and towering gates were legendary among the defenders of Aerthas—but it had stood abandoned for decades.
"Then they'll expect an assault from the main pass," Drakar murmured. "But Kaelreach isn't a fortress you take head-on. It's a trap for those who charge blindly."
Taronis crossed his arms. "What do you propose?"
A Gathering of Leaders
In the center of the camp, a council had formed around the war table. Elara Wynvaris stood with quiet authority, her gaze steady as she traced her hand over the carved map of the ridge. Seris, Vaelen, and Kaelen watched intently, the firelight reflecting in their eyes.
Elara looked up as Drakar and Taronis approached. "We're short on time. If the Dral'Thar secure Kaelreach before us, the path to Aerthas is lost."
Drakar nodded. "I have a plan."
The council fell silent as Drakar moved closer. He placed a stone marker along a side ridge just beyond Kaelreach's main gate. "The eastern ridge is narrow but defensible. If we can position archers and ranged mages here, we'll have the advantage of height."
Kaelen's eyes lit up. "An aerial point for precision strikes. Smart."
Drakar continued. "Meanwhile, I'll lead a small force through the forested slope on the west. There's an old access tunnel beneath Kaelreach—long abandoned but not forgotten. If it hasn't collapsed, we can flank their inner defenses."
Elara arched a brow. "And if it has collapsed?"
Drakar's grin was faint but determined. "Then we'll make our own path."
Elara stared at him for a long moment before her lips quirked into a small smile. "Bold. Reckless... but effective."
Taronis placed his hand on the map. "It could work. We'll need precise timing."
Elara nodded. "Then let's not waste any more of it."
The March to Kaelreach
The army set out before dawn, their march quiet but resolute. The distant sound of the mountain winds howled as they passed beneath the towering cliffs. The soldiers of Aerthas moved with discipline, their shields strapped tightly and their weapons ready.
Elara rode at the front, her crystalline blade resting against her hip. Drakar walked beside her, his steady pace matching the rhythm of Emberfang's padded steps.
"You lead well," Elara said without turning.
Drakar glanced at her. "I lead because I must. That's different from wanting to."
Elara's gaze softened. "That's why they follow you."
For a moment, their steps were the only sound.
The Ridge and the Descent
By midday, they reached the eastern ridge. Kaelen's squad of archers spread out along the rocky outcrop, their bows nocked and ready.
Vaelen inspected the mages, nodding as incantations of warding and elemental reinforcement shimmered in the air. Seris moved among the scouts, ensuring their formation held tight.
Drakar, Emberfang, and a handpicked group of warriors veered west, their path winding through dense thickets and uneven rock. The underbrush was thick, but the faint outline of an old tunnel entrance came into view, half-buried by vines and moss.
Taronis whispered, "It's smaller than I expected."
Drakar stepped forward, brushing the foliage aside. "It'll do."
He pressed his shoulder to the ancient stone hatch and pushed. The rusted mechanism groaned in protest, but with a final shove, the hatch gave way, revealing a dim passage leading into the fortress's underbelly.
Beneath Kaelreach
The tunnel was narrow and damp, with walls carved roughly from black stone. Their torches flickered as they advanced, shadows shifting along the uneven walls.
Emberfang growled softly, his ears twitching.
Drakar slowed. "We're not alone."
From the shadows, a low hiss echoed—a ripple of sound that sent shivers through the air. Figures emerged—thin, pale humanoid creatures with hollow eyes and elongated limbs.
Seris's voice tightened. "Void Dwellers... remnants of old magic."
The creatures surged forward with unnatural speed.
"Hold formation!" Drakar commanded.
The warriors raised their shields as the Void Dwellers slammed against them. Drakar's dagger ignited with emberlight as he struck the first creature, its form dissolving into ash.
One of the creatures leapt toward Taronis, but a radiant arrow pierced its chest—Kaelen's shot was true, even from the ridge above.
The battle in the tunnel was fierce, the air thick with the stench of burnt ether. Drakar's tattoos glowed brighter as he moved with purpose, slicing through the Void Dwellers with precise, burning strikes.
"Keep moving!" Drakar shouted. "The entrance is just ahead!"
The Threshold of Kaelreach
At last, they reached the end of the tunnel, where faint daylight streamed through cracks in the stone. Drakar pressed his hand against the final barrier—a crumbling wall of ancient bricks.
"Together!" he ordered.
With a united push, the wall gave way, collapsing in a cloud of dust and revealing the courtyard of Kaelreach. The fortress loomed above them—dark, imposing, but vulnerable.
From the battlements, the sound of a horn blared.
Taronis unsheathed his blade. "They know we're here."
Drakar's eyes burned with emberlight as he raised his dagger. "Good. Let them come."
The air pulsed with energy as the Dral'Thar forces began to rally. The storm overhead rumbled, and the first crack of lightning split the sky.