Barbarians At The Gate Novels & Stories

“Do you hear that?” the sentry whispered, his voice thinning under the weight of the night wind. “Tell me I’m not the only one hearing it.” Ryder didn’t answer. He stood at the edge of the old ramparts, his mask shadowing his face, his breath shallow as the sound rolled through the valley again , a low groan like stone begging for mercy. The ground trembled beneath his boots, soft at first, then deep enough to rattle through his bones. He lifted his head slowly, his eyes fixed on the distant glow that shimmered across the horizon. The Moon Gate , the holy barrier protecting the capital , was breathing. Not the quiet pulse of life it carried when the world was steady, but a panicked, uneven s

I’d told them that the password was changed every day at midnight, so they would need the strongest bullets in existence to destroy the gates and gain entrance. “Fire!” Barth exclaimed before releasing a beastly string of bullets at the gate, recklessly going at it until it dropped to the floor. The men hurried out of the Ammo tanks and towards the entrance, expecting screaming and clamoring to follow, and seeming awfully confused when they were only met with cricket noises and a deafening silence after the smoke faded. Shame flooded every inch of my being and I felt like sinking into the ground and dying on the spot.

Aria's POV “Let me in!” I shouted, my voice raw with a rage so fierce it felt like it was tearing me apart from the inside. I gripped the cold, unforgiving bars of the system's iron gate, my knuckles turning white. The gate, a massive, ornate thing of dark steel, refused to budge. The guard, a hulking figure in a crisp uniform, just looked at me, his face a perfect blank slate. His gaze was a silent challenge, a complete and utter dismissal of my authority, my fury, everything I was.

The horns sounded again. The gate mechanisms groaned, chains clanking as the heavy timbers began to lift. Cold wind knifed in, carrying the scent of snow and pine and far‑off smoke. Beyond the walls, the world waited. Lucian. Rowan. Banners and blades and blood and choices. Aria’s mark burned hot. Kael’s presence wrapped around her on the bond like armor. They shared one last look. Ready? No. Yes. Always. The gates yawned open fully.

The gates cracked before I gave the order. “Hold them!” Rowan shouted. The iron bars shook again, a deep impact from the other side. Snow fell from the arch. Wolves braced their shoulders against the wood. The roar outside rolled through the valley like thunder. “Not yet,” I said. “Wait.” Darian glanced at me. “You want them inside?” “I want them close.” Kael stepped to my side. “Risky.” “Yes.” Another hit. The hinges screamed.

"If you are the defect Lir claims, you’ll be dead by noon. If you are something else... bring me the token from the old skirmish site." "And if I don't come back?" A cold, predatory smirk touched his lips. "Then the crows will have a feast, and I’ll have one less war to worry about." He leaned down, his breath warm against my ear. "Don't disappoint the crowd, Zara. They’ve been waiting all morning for a show." He stepped back and signaled to the gate guards. "Open it." The iron gates groaned, revealing the mouth of the Boundary Woods—a wall of choking fog and ancient, rotting pines.

Valkyrie walked past him without slowing down. "You chose the wrong kingdom." * * * * * The northern gate was the largest entrance into Belmar territory built into the side of the mountain itself, it was less a gate and more a fortress of black stone. Thick iron doors, each taller than three wolves standing on each other's backs, had remained sealed for generations. No one could open them. Everything beyond them had long been abandoned. By the time Zara reached the walls, dozens of guards had already gathered there, some so them stood with their weapons already drawn, others simply just stared.

I allowed my senses to calm and attune with nature, I could just make out the back and forth of the soldiers as they came and left the territory. My escape had to be flawlessly timed but I didn't have that luxury of time. So I waited until the guards were distracted by a caravan returning from the outer villages bringing supplies. My plan had been half-baked at best, but desperation’s a hell of a motivator. I picked a sharp rock and pitched away at the window to loosen the window bars.

“They’re aiming for the throne hall next—Keira, you need to get underground—now.” “No,” I said. “I’m not hiding—” “You don’t have a choice!” he snapped. “Riven’s holding the south line. Dax is trying to get the northern wall sealed. We’re being overrun—” A loud crash cut through the air. The ground beneath us shook. We all turned. The main gates exploded inward in a shower of splinters and fire. And then they came. Dozens—no, hundreds—of them. Dark armor, glowing eyes, some in partial wolf form, some with strange runes glowing on their weapons. They poured through the gates like a flood, roaring, snarling, merciless.