The Trap of Brennus City

The armies of House Medean and their allies assembled on the plains of Brennus.

Ten thousand strong, they covered the fields like an iron tide.

Axel Medean rode at the head, resplendent in gilded armor.

"There!" He pointed toward the distant shadow of the Black Forest. "Beyond those cursed trees lies our enemy. Within the week, Schwarzburg will burn!"

Cheers rose from the ranks.

But not all shared the enthusiasm.

Lord Hirt of the Hilt family edged his horse closer to Lord Palras.

"I mislike this haste," he muttered. "We've had no proper reconnaissance. No certain numbers."

"The merchant reports were clear."

"Merchant reports." Hirt snorted. "I've built my fortune on knowing when merchants lie."

"Cold feet, Hirt?"

"Prudence." The older lord's eyes narrowed. "Something feels wrong."

Lord Palras smiled thinly.

"Feel free to withdraw. More glory for the rest of us."

Before Hirt could respond, Axel's herald raised the signal horn.

"FORWARD! FOR GLORY AND VENGEANCE!"

The army lurched into motion.

They marched for three days.

The Black Forest loomed larger with each passing hour, its ancient trees seeming to watch their approach with patient malice.

"Scouts report the Pass of Ancient Barrows ahead," an aide reported. "Narrow approach, high cliffs. The only viable path to Schwarzburg."

Axel waved dismissively.

"Have the vanguard secure it. We rest here tonight and push through at dawn."

"My lord... should we not send more substantial forces? The terrain favors defenders—"

"A thousand men to hold a pass against ten thousand? They'd need three times our number to cause concern." Axel laughed. "Send the vanguard. Let them blood themselves against whatever rabble waits."

The vanguard—two thousand men of mixed infantry and light cavalry—entered the Pass at first light.

Captain Yoris led them, a veteran of border skirmishes who knew mountain warfare.

"Something's wrong," he muttered, scanning the silent cliffs. "Too quiet."

"Sir?"

"Where are the defenders? Even a token force should have challenged us by now."

They pressed deeper.

The pass narrowed. Cliffs rose sheer on either side, broken only by scattered boulders and scraggly trees.

"Sir! Movement above!"

Yoris looked up.

And his blood turned to ice.

"NOW!"

Luna's command echoed across the heights.

Five hundred wolf-folk archers rose as one from concealed positions. Their bows sang.

Below, the vanguard dissolved into chaos.

"AMBUSH! SHIELDS UP! SHIELDS—"

The arrows fell like deadly rain.

Men screamed, horses thrashed, formations crumbled.

And then—

"FIRE!"

Isana's spell crashed into the pass like the wrath of gods.

Hellfire cascaded down the cliff face, engulfing entire formations.

Horses screamed as flames consumed them.

Steel armor became burning coffins.

In three minutes, the vanguard ceased to exist as a fighting force.

News reached Axel within the hour.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, DESTROYED?!"

"My lord, the scouts report—"

"Two thousand men! DESTROYED?!"

"They had mages, my lord. And archers on the heights. The pass is—"

Axel struck the messenger to the ground.

"IMPOSSIBLE! The beast-folk have no mages! Their army is rabble!"

"With respect, my lord," Lord Palras interjected coolly, "clearly our intelligence was flawed."

"Then we adjust." Axel's face was purple with rage. "We have eight thousand men remaining. More than enough. We'll storm the pass with the full army—no ambush can stop such numbers!"

"My lord, perhaps we should reconsider—"

"I will NOT retreat!" Axel's sword cleared its sheath, pointing at the distant forest. "Every beast-folk in that fortress dies. Every. Single. One. THIS IS NOT A DISCUSSION!"

Lord Hirt caught Palras's eye.

Both men knew madness when they saw it.

But the army was committed now. Retreat would mean political ruin.

"As you command, my lord," Palras said smoothly. "We march at dawn."

In Schwarzburg, Altrelis received Luna's report via magical communication.

"The vanguard is broken. Roughly twelve hundred casualties, the rest routed."

"Excellent. What of our forces?"

"Three wounded. None killed." Luna's voice carried quiet pride. "The plan worked perfectly."

"They'll come with the full army next."

"Yes. But they'll be cautious now. Afraid."

"Good." Altrelis turned to his own forces, assembled in the castle courtyard. "Fear is the first victory."

He raised his voice.

"Warriors of Schwarzburg! Tonight, we proved that ten human soldiers aren't worth one of ours! Tomorrow, they'll come again—and tomorrow, we'll teach them again! FOR THE COVENANT! FOR SCHWARZBURG!"

"SCHWARZBURG!" The roar shook the stone walls.

And in the forest, the wolves began to howl.

End of Chapter Ten

—Next Chapter: The Battle of Barrow Pass