The Sun Had Barely Risen
The first rays of dawn stretched across Emberhold's walls, painting the sky in pale gold. The air was crisp, carrying the distant scent of iron and burning wood from the forges. But the morning calm shattered when a scout burst into the courtyard, breathless and bloodied.
"Attack on our supply route," he gasped, collapsing to one knee. "Men on horseback—hit the caravan at dawn. It's Vale's soldiers."
Silence.
Then, motion erupted across the settlement.
Warriors reached for weapons. Messengers scattered, running to alert the leadership. Blacksmiths abandoned their work mid-swing. The air buzzed with tension, but Alexander remained still for a moment, absorbing the news.
Vale had made his move.
Assessing the Damage
By the time Tyrell's scouts returned with a full report, the scope of the attack had become clear.
✔ Three merchants dead, their bodies left as a warning.
✔ Two wounded, barely clinging to life.
✔ The caravan looted, supplies taken.
✔ A handful of Vale's attackers remained behind—executed and hanged as a warning.
In the war tent, Silas tapped the edge of the regional map, his expression grim.
"Vale isn't trying to defeat us outright," he said. "He's doing exactly what we did to him—disrupting trade, making Emberhold unstable."
Elias cracked his knuckles, his eyes burning with fury. "Then we hit him back."
Alexander nodded, but his expression remained cold, measured. "We will. But not recklessly. Vale wants us to retaliate openly so he can frame us as the aggressors. If we rush in, we'll give him exactly what he wants."
Silas smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Sounds like you already have a plan."
Alexander's gaze hardened. "We don't just strike back—we make him bleed."
The Counterattack
Instead of launching a direct military assault, Alexander turned Vale's own tactics against him—striking his economy, his trade routes, his ability to sustain his forces.
✔ Sabotage Teams – Small squads were sent to interfere with Vale's supply lines, cutting off his food, weapons, and materials. No large battles—just quick, efficient disruptions.
✔ Targeted Delays – Merchants loyal to Vale faced mysterious delays, lost shipments, and missing cargo—all thanks to Emberhold's scouts working in the shadows.
✔ Merchant Protection – Traders who worked with Emberhold were given priority escorts and armed protection, ensuring they prospered while Vale's suffered.
✔ Misinformation – Whispers spread among traders and merchants that Vale's control was slipping—that he could no longer protect his own people. Fear and doubt took root.
The result?
Within days, Vale was the one bleeding resources.
Silas grinned as he read through his latest intelligence report.
"Vale's merchants are getting nervous," he mused, setting the parchment down. "Some of them are losing confidence in him."
Elias chuckled darkly. "Good. Let's make him even more nervous."
A Message to Vale
That afternoon, one of Vale's soldiers was escorted into Emberhold's war tent—a captured knight, not a common mercenary, but one of Vale's personal forces.
His face was bruised, his armor dented, but his gaze remained defiant.
For now.
The man refused to speak at first, standing silent even as blood dripped from a gash across his temple.
Until Alexander had him brought outside.
To the edge of the settlement.
A noose was already waiting.
"You're lucky," Alexander said coldly, watching as the knight's defiance flickered with doubt. "I usually don't waste time with prisoners. But I need a message delivered."
The knight's throat bobbed as the executioner slipped the rough rope around his neck.
"You—you wouldn't dare," he stammered.
Alexander took a step closer, his expression unreadable.
"Tell Vale," he said, voice even, emotionless, "that for every attack on my people, I will take ten of his men. Tell him that Emberhold does not break."
The noose tightened slightly. The knight gasped, his body trembling.
Then, just as suddenly, the rope was loosened.
"Now go."
The knight scrambled away, nearly tripping as he galloped toward Vale's lands, desperate to escape.
Silas chuckled as he watched him disappear into the distance. "You sure know how to make a statement."
Elias smirked. "Yeah, but will Vale actually listen?"
Alexander turned away from the execution platform, his gaze dark and unwavering.
"He will," he said. "Because he knows that I don't bluff."
The Power Struggle Continues
For now, Emberhold had the advantage.
Vale had tried to cripple their trade—and instead, he was the one suffering the consequences.
But Alexander knew this was only the beginning.
Vale wasn't the type to back down easily.
And that meant the next fight would be even bigger.