The Ashen Expanse stretched far beyond Emberhold's borders, an endless land of dry soil and lifeless earth. The wind howled across its cracked surface, carrying dust in spirals that faded into the empty horizon. For centuries, it had been considered uninhabitable—a cursed place where nothing grew, nothing thrived.
Yet as Alexander stood atop Emberhold's newly reinforced walls, gazing westward, he couldn't help but wonder. This land hadn't always been dead. Something had changed it, something powerful enough to drain life from the very ground.
Beside him, Silas leaned against the stone battlements, following his gaze. "Thinking of claiming the wasteland?" he asked, a wry smirk tugging at his lips.
Alexander's expression remained unreadable. "Thinking of understanding it first."
Silas chuckled, shaking his head. "No one's ever made anything of that land, and plenty have tried. It swallows everything, gives nothing back."
Alexander exhaled. "There's always a reason."
A thought had been nagging at him since the Tenebrium mine was first uncovered. The black metal was unlike anything they had ever worked with—stronger, lighter, more durable—but it came at a cost. Wherever it was processed, the land withered, the air grew heavy, and life itself seemed to shrink away.
Could it be that the Ashen Expanse had once been fertile before something buried beneath it poisoned the soil beyond recovery?
"Have Gareth bring me a sample of the deeper rock layers from the quarry," Alexander said. "I want to see if the same corruption that taints the mine exists elsewhere in this land."
Silas raised an eyebrow. "You think the land itself is poisoned?"
Alexander's eyes darkened. "I think we don't know nearly enough about what we're digging up."
Why Vale Has Not Attacked Yet
Despite having a larger army, greater resources, and the backing of nobles, Vale had yet to march on Emberhold. On paper, he should have already crushed them. But war wasn't about numbers alone. It was about control.
If Vale launched an invasion and failed to take Emberhold swiftly, he would expose himself. His vassals supported him because they saw him as the dominant power in the region. If he suffered a prolonged battle, that perception would shatter. Nobles valued strength, not struggle.
Even worse, a drawn-out war might force the Kingdom's hand. The King had ignored Emberhold so far because the frontier was irrelevant to him. But if a high-ranking noble like Vale faltered against a breakaway faction, the Crown might intervene—not necessarily in Vale's favor.
And so, Vale waited. Reinforcing, securing alliances, preparing. He would not attack until he was certain of victory.
But that hesitation was exactly what Alexander wanted. If Vale continued to stall, his own men would begin to question him. His vassals would hesitate to send troops. And by the time he finally moved, he'd already be too weak to win.
"The moment he marches," Alexander muttered to Silas, "is the moment he loses."
Silas smirked. "Then let's make sure that moment comes at the worst possible time for him."
Political Shifts & The Next Strike
In the war tent, Alexander and his commanders studied the latest reports from informants. Vale's forces had tightened their defenses, shifting to protect key supply depots and strongholds. He was preparing for another attack, but he had yet to decide where to commit his forces.
"We need to keep him guessing," Alexander said. "Make him react, not act."
Silas tapped the map. "His vassals are restless. Some are delaying reinforcements, waiting to see if he can recover from the last raid. If we keep the pressure up, we might push some of them to abandon him entirely."
Alexander considered the possibilities. If they couldn't launch another major raid immediately, they needed to hit Vale another way. He turned to Elias. "I want our messengers moving. Spread the word—any noble who refuses to reinforce Vale will be left alone. But those who continue backing him will be treated as enemies."
Elias grinned. "Divide and conquer. I like it."
"Vale relies on loyalty," Silas added. "If his own men start questioning his leadership, the war will be won before the real battle even begins."
With that, the plan was in motion. They wouldn't just weaken Vale's army—they would weaken his rule.
Scouts Report a New Threat
That evening, Tyrell and his scouting party returned with disturbing news. The veteran scout, usually composed, seemed troubled as he sat before Alexander.
"There's something in the Ashen Expanse," he said, voice low. "Something big."
Alexander leaned forward. "Explain."
"We found tracks," Tyrell continued. "Not human. Larger than any beast I've seen. The depth, the spacing—whoever made them was big, moving fast, and not alone."
Silas frowned. "Bandits?"
Tyrell shook his head. "No sign of human activity. No camps, no fires, nothing. Just tracks."
Alexander's mind turned over the possibilities. For centuries, people had assumed the Expanse was dead. But what if it wasn't? What if something had survived—something hidden, something waiting?
Tyrell hesitated before adding, "The strange part? The tracks led toward the old ruins at the edge of the wasteland."
Silas stiffened. "You're saying they weren't wandering?"
Tyrell shook his head. "No. They had a destination. And whatever they are, they're organized."
Alexander's jaw tightened. Something was out there. Something alive, intelligent.
"We need more information," he decided. "Send another team. Track whatever made those prints, but stay hidden. If they're dangerous, I want to know before they know about us."
Tyrell nodded. "We'll be careful. But whatever's out there, it's moving."
Alexander glanced westward.
The Ashen Expanse had been ignored for too long.
But not for much longer.
Conclusion & Next Steps
With Vale's forces hesitant to commit, his vassals wavering, and a new threat emerging in the Ashen Expanse, Alexander knew the war was shifting.
The next strike had to be timed perfectly. Vale was waiting for the right moment to attack—but so was Emberhold.The growing tensions among Vale's vassals were an opportunity. If they hesitated, Vale would be weakened further.The discovery in the Ashen Expanse could not be ignored. If something powerful lurked beyond Emberhold's borders, Alexander needed to understand it—before it became a danger.
As night fell over Emberhold, the wind carried whispers of what was to come.
The war was far from over.
And the Expanse was waking up.