As Rin had predicted when he consulted with his friends, getting five squads and close to fifty people to work well together in a few minutes was impossible. But at least they managed to pick out five ambush spots along the road for each of the squads to set up.

When the more vocal leaders chose the better spots first, Pax went with his earlier idea. He chose the wide-open field that, at first glance, looked like the worst spot for an ambush. It was the fourth spot and, if they were lucky, would give them a caravan battered by the earlier attacks and easier to ambush.

If they couldn’t stop it, they’d join the others who remained and race to the final ambush point. There, they’d have a last shot at stopping the caravan.

The other aspect to their simple plan hinged on a set of five flares a crafter on another squad had shared. Any squad that crippled the caravan enough to stop it completely would shoot off the flare to summon the other squads for a combined attack on the caravan instead of the one planned at the end of the road.

This was the simplest backup plan they could come up with. Considering that five defending squads would staff the caravan, they’d be outnumbered in all of their ambushes but the final one. Their goal was to weaken the defenders with injuries and losses during the first four ambushes, allowing a decisive victory at the end.

As Pax’s squad raced through the dense undergrowth beneath the thick canopy, they threw out ideas on how best to manage their part in the coming exercise. Pax felt his Battle Strategist kick in and flex under the challenge of managing all the potential his squad had without exposing any of their secrets to the observers.

It didn’t take long for them to build the bones of a decent plan. Pax’s grin widened as they broke out of the tree line and veered toward the road that wound through a short stretch of rolling grassland hills. In the distance, the road dove back into the shadows of a second forest. This was going to be fun.

Ashford had told them they had a ten-minute head start on the caravan. Considering the slow pace of the column of yugrut wagons and the three ambushes planned before theirs, they had a decent cushion of time to solidify the details and get into place.

“Stick to the road until we get closer. No need to leave more tracks and clues to our path than we need to.” Pax kept his voice pitched just loud enough to reach the others behind and beside him. They’d agreed to speak as much as possible, not wanting the advantage of their Echoes to become common knowledge.

Their boots pounded on the gravel road and breath whistled as they ran. All eyes scanned both sides of the road for the best ambush sites.

“Not too close to where the road comes out of the forest or goes back into the second one.” Rin kept up next to him with little effort. “Midway is a bit obvious, too. How about after that next bend?”

The others didn’t bother replying, just staying together in a loping stride that sent the road rushing below them. As planned, Rin tossed Eris into the air to survey to the right of the road while Talpa dove into the ground to scout ahead on the left.

In just another minute, they reached the section pointed out by Rin.

Found good spots. Be right there, Talpa sent as they slowed to a stop and everyone scanned their surroundings with calculating gazes.

Grass, endless grass, undulated slowly under the influence of the occasional breeze. A few clusters of stones rose above the grass, providing obvious places to ambush from. They planned to avoid those. The walls of the arena to either side were visible in the far distance, with the two forests bounding the sizable area of open grassland.

Eris suddenly appeared above, diving with her soundless speed to land on Rin’s arm with a soft thump. Whatever communication they shared made Rin smile. When she saw Talpa pop out at their feet and looked to Pax for confirmation, her grin widened. “Looks like our plan is a go.”

Pax shot a glance behind them, where the road emerged from the forest in the distance. “Then let’s get to work before the caravan gets here.”

The next few minutes passed in a frenzy of activity. Talpa and Dahni did most of the earth work while Tyrodon buzzed around, pulling innumerable items out of his inventory and setting up traps with a crazed grin on his face.

Bryn jogged back down the road to find a safe place to stash Onyx, where she could give them an early warning at the first sign of the caravan.

This is so much fun! Whisk finally burst out when half the traps were done and everyone had made progress on preparing their ambush points. I can say that, right? We aren’t in a battle yet, so it’s still alright to talk, right? I can’t believe I get to hide the warriors. Me, the former lab assistant, will be key to keeping them hidden until the perfect moment. Then, when they burst up to attack the caravan, I will protect them and help fight. I’m actually using my Malleable Ambush ability in an ambush! How amazing is that? Plus, I won’t forget. If there is anyone causing a lot of trouble for my new friends, I will ruin their day with my Corrosive Grasp. It will be perfect. Maybe I should change my name to Battle Whisk! Whisk paused for the briefest moment, as if to take a breath. I am so glad to be here with all of you, and especially you, Pax and Talpa. I will be quiet now, so we can prepare.

Good friend, Talpa sent from where he and Pax worked on their own ambush spot just to the side of the road.

We’re thrilled to have you with us, too. Pax sent a happy pulse of agreement to Whisk, enjoying the Vorax’s enthusiasm, even if he talked a ton. Whisk was getting better at understanding what was appropriate. Plus, after spending more time with all of them, Pax sensed they were filling his insatiable need for companionship after being abandoned for so long.

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It only took a few more minutes for all of them to finish their assignments. Those with earth powers smoothed over any signs of disturbances as everyone disappeared into their positions to wait.

Just in time, too.

Onyx senses the vibrations of the caravan, Bryn sent. They are approaching her position and should be out of the trees in a few minutes.

Hidden in a small pocket underground, Pax vibrated with eagerness to spring their trap. Between the seven members with the older companions, they had quite a set of abilities. Many were extremely suitable for an effective ambush. He couldn’t wait to see how it all turned out.

The seconds ticked by slowly. Each minute took forever to pass. Pax could only feel the faintest vibrations through the ground when he placed his hand against the hard wall of dirt next to him.

How slow was the caravan? He was tempted to push out his Sphere of Perception to get a sense of where they were, but knew not to risk it. He didn’t know what kind of Mana Sight skills the observers might have focused in their direction. Besides, he had Talpa and would see what he needed to soon enough. It was really the Ghostlight Illumination he would miss. If he and Talpa could mark the stealthed scouts as they found them, the entire job would be a lot easier.

It’s time. Watch with me. Without further warning, Talpa shot through the side of their hidey hole and into the ground.

Smiling, Pax triggered his Share Senses. He was a lot more used to the jostling vision than when Talpa had first shared the ability with him. And Talpa’s vibration sense still gave him a lot more information on enemy movement compared to his limited vision.

Seven, not the initial eight, wagons trundled along the road with some defenders in close escorting the wagons while others ranged out to either side, scouting. The scouts moved with soft steps, likely rogues with stealth skills. But Talpa’s vibration senses easily picked them out. Counting them and guessing at ‌ forty to fifty defenders meant as many as thirty of them hid in or on the wagons. Though it was hopefully many fewer after weathering the previous ambushes.

The wagons’ defenses included thick walls with firing holes on either side, as well as a battle deck that rose like a mini-version of a city wall with short parapets. The wagons would be tough nuts to crack open giving the defenders plenty of time to overwhelm the attackers with arrows and spells.

They didn’t expect to take out the caravan on their own, but crippling more wagons and taking out defenders would be an excellent result. Pax couldn’t distinguish the details of damage to the wagons with Talpa’s inadequate sight, but hoped his previous allies had weakened the defenders for them.

The wagons grew ever closer. The thudding steps of the yugrut hooves and heavy wagon wheels rolling were easy to feel through the ground beneath him. Pax pulled back from Talpa, freeing him to move to his next task. Pax pushed his head up slowly under the prepared spot, careful to let the circle cut out of dirt and grass rest evenly on his helmet. He stopped as soon as his eyes were high enough to see above the lip and peered through the stalks of grass between him and the caravan.

He couldn’t see many details, but he didn’t need to. He kept his breath even, summoning his mana and getting ready. When the shrouded figures of the looming wagons approached and then rolled over the prepared traps, he let out a steadying breath. Their earth mages hadn’t broken past Neptid’s Phantom Shroud, keeping their preparations hidden. It was time.

Prepare for the distraction. He paused to give everyone a moment. Go. Go. Go.

It was a surprise that was both explosive and shocking, even though he knew it was coming. Everything happened all at once.

The earth opened up under the first, middle and second-to-last wagons, sending them crashing down into holes just deep enough to crack axles and give all the passengers tooth-rattling jolts. A miasma from Horrid’s odor traps burst up in overwhelming clouds along with the popping of Tyrodon’s flashy explosives from below and above as his training stones took to the air and hurled the brittle balls all along the caravan line.

Only a few of the defenders stayed steady enough to respond, creating a few barriers and throwing attacks as Pax’s squad attacked en masse. Rising just high enough to see over the grass, Pax sent Bulwarks flying along the ground in front of the wagons that still moved. They jolted to sudden stops, popping some Bulwarks and staggering the defenders. His spells even broke another axle, judging by the sudden slump of the wagon.

Screams and yelps of pain rang out from out in the grass as Talpa, Rin and Eris worked together to snipe the scouts with her Aerial Precision. Talpa burst up from under the scouts and immediately disappeared, causing them to startle enough for either Eris or Rin to spot. Keeping Mist Veil active, Rin popped into the air with quick bursts of Levitate to take out the offered targets. She was the perfect assassin.

Judicious earlier uses of Dahni’s Quagmire helped the caravan grind to a halt among coughing fits and yells of anger and pain. The defenders scrambled to get over their shock and respond to the mostly invisible threat. Air spells fought to raise the wagons, while earth spells solidified the embattled ground beneath them. Offensive spells flashed out in all directions, seeking the hidden attackers but also wasting mana.

Rear attack. Pax sent as his grin grew fierce. Go. Go. Go.

Whisk responded perfectly, not a peep leaking out as he sprang away to let Amil, Bryn and Tasar charge out of their hole and smash into the rear of the caravan. Fueled by Dahni’s Surge of Strength and Rin’s Leech cast at the last minute, the warriors’ spears flew with deadly accuracy and frequency, dropping multiple defenders with shocking speed.

It wasn’t all uncontested, a squad of warriors spun to face Bryn and Tasar, launching blazing arrows in dangerous volleys to thud into their shields. Before defending mages could heap more attacks on them, Amil’s Molten Storm latched onto one of the closest, her hands out and flaring with building mana. His flame hit first, sending her falling with a scream off the top of the wagon. She joined other bodies injured or just twitching on the ground.

Whisk fought with a pulse of glee as he slid through the mayhem, sending splattering bombs of Ambush acid to further fan the chaos. Having made it back to the rear, Dahni and Neptid got to work on finishing the half prepared defensive bunkers with their connecting tunnels for the last part of their plan.

Conflicting commands rang out. The defenders seemed to have the same trouble deciding on a leadership structure as Pax's side. Being forced to all work together in the caravan only made it worse.

Still, there were plenty of skilled fighters. With an enemy now visible, they swarmed to the back of the caravan, leaving others to pull wagons out of the holes. Their crafters fought desperately to get them functioning again.

Amil’s roar preceded another blast of flame that defenders met with water spells. Bursts of roaring steam obscured the escalating rear battle. Pax heard Bryn’s Rallying Cry. The surge of energy was invigorating.

They’re getting organized. Rin’s warning pulled Pax’s focus toward his friends who’d retreated to Dahni’s defensive structures.

He jumped into Talpa’s Senses just in time to sense a determined squad emerging from behind the other side of a wagon and race toward the rear. Their experienced movements and shimmering barrier parting the smoke and steam ahead of them spelled danger. They’d lost the advantage of surprise.