Chapter 7

The Initial Conflict

The warning horns sounded across the camp just as the sun was about to rise. Lena had already woken up and was looking around the thick woodland from the northern watchtower. Between the woods, shadows moved more quickly than any human could.

Here were the outlaws.

She snatched up the rope ladder and slid quickly down, her boots slamming against the floor. The warriors were rushing to their posts. Already in the war room, Damian gave commands with the assurance of a commander who has witnessed innumerable conflicts.

Lena rushed into the room and declared, "They are coming in from the north." "Just as I predicted they would."

With no surprise at all, Damian nodded. "Let us make sure they regret it after that."

Leaning over the chart, Elliot traced a route with his finger. "We can drive them into the valley, where they will not have any cover, if we cut them off here."

Lena gave a headshake. "No, that is just what they desire. They anticipate an ambush, so they want to be funnelled in. They will be prepared with countermeasures.

The golden eyes of Damian flitted in her direction. "What do you recommend?"

A little past the tree line, she tapped a point. We place most of our forces behind them, allowing them to believe they have the upper hand. Instead, trap them.

A gradual smile appeared on Damian's face. "I enjoy it."

It was a vicious battle.

Anarchy broke out as soon as the rogues emerged from the forest. The air was heavy with the smell of blood, claws cut into flesh, and steel smashed against steel. Lena battled with the warriors, her blade cutting through assailants with ease.

Although she had previously engaged in combat with rogues, her perspective on them had changed after encountering them as adversaries. They were wild, desperate, and careless, yet they also had skills. Another rogue replaced each one that went down.

A natural force, Damian tore through adversaries with frightful efficiency. Every strike was accurate, every move was deliberate. He battled as though he had a point to prove.

Elliot battled close by, moving quickly and nimbly. He lacked Damian's physical strength, but his speed and slyness more than made up for it. They were an unstoppable power when combined.

Then, behind her, Lena heard a deep growl.

A rogue pounced at her from behind before she could even respond. She spun, raising her blade barely in time to deflect the blow, but she was knocked to the ground by the collision. The rogue growled, ready to attack once more.—

A haze of motion. A golden eye flash.

In a flash, Damian was there, his claws digging into the rogue's throat. The rogue fell to the ground, spraying blood.

Taking a deep breath, Damian turned to her. "Are you in pain?"

Lena shook her head and pulled herself up. "I am all right."

After a single nod, he returned his attention to the fight. However, something had changed. Lena noticed a change in his eyes for the first time.

Worry.

The war was done when the sun went down. Their forces were broken, and the rogues had been forced back. But there had been a price for the win. Some of the injured warriors would never rise again.

Lena gazed at the dead as she stood at the edge of the battleground. She had previously been on the opposing side of this conflict. She was now assisting in its leadership.

Damian came over, his face unreadable. "You performed admirably today."

She chuckled bitterly. "Did I?"

After examining her for a minute, he spoke. "This is not the end of it. But, Lena, you are proving yourself.

She glanced at him as they exchanged an unspoken message. Perhaps trust was not so hard to come by after all.

As fatigue set in, Lena spent the next few hours caring for the injured. Many of the warriors accepted her assistance even though they mistrusted her. She would not stand by and let others suffer; they needed everyone on deck.

She was standing next to Jace, who had a nasty cut on his arm. She wrapped the wound in a bandage, and he winced.

He whispered, "Not bad for a former rogue."

Lena grinned. For an obstinate warrior who believed I was guiding him into a trap, it is not terrible.

Jace shook his head and laughed. "I guess you disproved me."

She gave a nod but remained silent. She had a long way to go before she felt like she belonged here.

Lena sat outside her tent later that night and gazed at the moon. Something bothered her, even though she should have been glad that they had prevailed. Too much planning had gone into this attack. The rogues were organised in addition to being desperate.

Sitting next to her in the silent darkness was Damian. "You are overanalysing."

She laughed and huffed. "Old habit."

He maintained a steady gaze. "Speak it."

She let out a sigh. This was not a haphazard assault. They are being led by someone. Someone who is aware of our fighting style.

After a prolonged period of silence, Damian nodded. "I have the same suspicions."

Lena faced him. "Then, our problem is more serious than we initially believed."

He gave a quick breath. "We do."

The weight of what was to come pressed down on them as they sat in quiet. The war had only begun, but one fight was over.