The wind carried the scent of charred wood and blood as Alexander surveyed the aftermath of the latest attack. The bandits had struck again, burning a supply outpost meant to house trade goods bound for Ironridge.
The structures were nothing but blackened remains, the bodies of guards and workers strewn across the ground.
Elias kicked over a broken crate, his jaw tight. "This has to stop."
Alexander didn't respond immediately. He already knew what needed to be done. Vale's economic war wasn't just about blocking trade—it was about making The Maxwell Dominion look weak. If people stopped believing they could protect their own land, then they had already lost.
That wasn't going to happen.
Alexander turned to Tyrell. "Do we have their trail?"
Tyrell nodded. "Tracked them heading west. They're not moving fast. Probably think they have time before we respond."
Alexander's gaze hardened. "Then we're going after them. Tonight."
The First Counterattack – Crushing the Raiders
The attack came under the cover of darkness.
Alexander and his handpicked force of fifty elite warriors moved swiftly and silently, cutting through the sparse trees as they approached the bandit camp.
The raiders had set up near a ruined watchtower—a defensive position, but not enough to stop what was coming.
Alexander crouched beside Elias, whispering, "No survivors."
Elias smirked. "Good."
On his signal, the attack began.
Arrows rained down from Tyrell's scouts, taking out sentries before they could sound an alarm.Elias and his warriors smashed through the front line, cutting down the first wave of resistance before they could draw their weapons.Alexander moved like a shadow, his black-metal sword cutting through flesh and armor alike.
Within minutes, the camp was in chaos.
One of the raiders tried to flee—only to be caught by Tyrell's men, his screams silenced before they could echo into the night.
By the time the fighting stopped, the bandits were nothing but corpses.
Elias wiped his blade clean. "That's one less problem."
Alexander wasn't satisfied yet. This was just the beginning.
Sending a Message to Vale
The next morning, the bodies of the raiders were hung from the burned-out ruins of their own camp.
A clear message to anyone else thinking of attacking The Maxwell Dominion.
"Do this to every bandit group we find," Alexander ordered. "No mercy. No exceptions."
Elias grinned. "Now you're speaking my language."
Vale had tried to undermine them through fear.
Now, Alexander would turn that fear back on him.
The Merchants Begin to Waver
Two days later, the first cracks appeared in Vale's economic blockade.
A group of small-scale merchants from Vale's territory slipped into Emberhold under cover of darkness, requesting an audience.
Silas smirked as he relayed the news. "Seems some of them aren't as loyal as Vale hoped."
Alexander met with the merchants personally. They were desperate men—traders who had once done business freely but now found themselves trapped under Vale's tightening grip.
"My lord," one of them, a graying man named Orin, spoke carefully. "We have no love for Vale, but we cannot afford to be caught between him and you. If we trade with you, we are ruined. If we do not… we starve."
Alexander leaned forward. "Then let's find a way where neither of those things happens."
Orin hesitated. "What do you propose?"
Alexander's gaze was unwavering. "You trade with us in secret."
Silas grinned. "We can create hidden supply routes, smuggling networks. It won't be easy, but if they're willing, we can keep them safe while making sure Vale doesn't notice—until it's too late."
The merchants exchanged glances. Then, Orin nodded. "If you can protect us, we will take the risk."
Alexander smirked. Vale thought he could starve them out.
Now, it was time to bleed him dry.
Turning the Tide – The Maxwell Dominion's Counteroffensive
Over the next several days, Alexander's plan unfolded in three phases:
Hunting the RaidersSmall strike teams led by Tyrell tracked and eliminated more bandit groups.Captured raiders were interrogated, revealing the locations of other hidden forces.The Maxwell Dominion's reputation shifted—now they were feared, not just respected.Smuggling Routes EstablishedSilas organized covert trade networks, securing small merchants willing to defy Vale.Secret supply caches were created in neutral zones, allowing goods to be moved without detection.Armed escorts disguised as simple traders ensured that no caravan was left vulnerable.The Propaganda WarWhispers began spreading—that The Maxwell Dominion was still growing, still trading, despite Vale's efforts.Some of Vale's own merchants began questioning his leadership.Fear set in—if The Maxwell Dominion survived this, Vale's authority would never recover.Vale's Reaction – A Dangerous Escalation
The news of the failed raids and secret trade routes reached Vale within days.
He was furious.
Seated in his castle, he listened as his advisors delivered the reports.
"Maxwell has countered our trade war," Baron Devrin admitted, shifting uneasily. "Merchants are defying your orders. Some are smuggling goods directly into Emberhold."
Vale's grip tightened around his wine glass. So Maxwell wanted to play a deeper game?
Then he would answer in kind.
"Send word to our spies," he ordered. "If Maxwell thinks he can undermine me with trade, we will undermine him with something far worse."
His advisors stiffened.
"You mean… sabotage?"
Vale smirked. "No. We mean to break them from the inside."
A new phase of the war was about to begin.