Titus had almost begun to think that this speedy trip through the Wilds would happen without too much trouble. They’d gathered up the new recruits from three different cities and given them strict instructions to bring only the essentials. That was one benefit of recruiting from the bottom layers of society—they really didn't have much.

They’d assigned anyone with small children to a different caravan that would have wagons and take a slower pace. This one was full of older children and young adults, eager to change the world. For many of them, this was the best they'd ever eaten. Not to mention, with the beasts they killed every night, they could pass out small portions of low-level meat to provide boosts throughout the following day, at least for the ones who were Awakened and could process mana.

They moved faster than any army Titus had ever been a part of. They'd passed out simple inventory containers, allowing the new recruits to organize and pack plenty of supplies for the trip. Titus’s squad and two others protected the company. They rotated constantly to make sure that nothing dangerous made it to the vulnerable center of their formation while traveling.

When they stopped at night, the crafters and mages created a defensive bulwark. They turned the beasts killed every night into more food and simple pieces of equipment for the recruits. Over the last week of traveling, almost every member of the caravan had at least one piece of equipment made from beast parts, even if it was just a better pair of shoes.

But now, Titus' improved vision caught a flicker of movement ahead, moving fast toward the front of their column. He recognized the outline of a longbow in the running man's hand. Armin, their squad archer, was coming back from his scouting position. Running like he was, it couldn't be good news.

“And we almost made it to the base.” Crissim shook his head and let out a pessimistic sigh. “Is it too much to ask that we complete just one assignment without trouble?”

“Why don't we wait and see what he has to say?” Titus tried to keep his voice light. “Maybe he's just excited that he found the base and can’t wait to tell us.”

Crissim guffawed, while Garrick, the dwarven warrior on their squad, laughed out loud. Even Tomis, from his position just behind Titus’ squad, shook his head with a smile. The brief bit of humor helped ease the tension as everyone continued to watch the scout racing toward them.

Their grips tightened on weapons, subconsciously preparing for battle. The trek through the Wilds had hardened every participant. The ones who didn’t stay vigilant had either died or learned a harsh lesson.

Armin skidded to a stop in front of them, out of breath. Titus held up his hand, signaling the group marching behind him, and called out, “10-minute break formation. Move!”

With the ease of long practice, the bulk of the company quickly clustered together, pulling out chairs, water, and food. A smaller group formed a defensive circle facing outward, waiting for their turn in the middle.

Titus motioned for Crissim to join him as he moved in close to Armin and activated the shielding device General Sterling had given him. He'd never been able to afford his own, but found it came in quite handy when leading a larger group of people. Not that he wouldn't inform them of what Armin had found, but their scout would share details easier if he didn't have everyone listening in.

“Report.” Titus motioned for Armin to speak.

Armin took another deep breath and reported. “We're about a half hour’s march from the base. I didn't need the landmarks to find the secret entrance because it's not hidden anymore.”

Titus suppressed his desire to interrupt, knowing that Armin would tell him everything if he were patient.

“The disguised entrance is now a mess of scattered rocks, arrows, and two bodies. The doors were open, one of them with scorch marks and hanging down with a single hinge intact. All I could see into the base’s entrance was dark and empty. There was no movement, and I didn't get any closer to investigate the bodies or the entrance. I returned immediately.”

Next to Titus, Crissim had stiffened at the news. Titus understood his feelings exactly. The safe haven that they'd been racing through the Wilds to reach for so long was no longer safe. Instead of relaxing and beginning the training their recruits so desperately needed, they might need to fight their way inside. Titus groaned and scrubbed at his face with a hand.

"We don't know if we need to hurry and help reinforce the skeleton crew holding the base or if the battle is over, and there's no one left to save." Crissim’s tone was grim.

Titus turned to Armin and asked, "How old would you say the battle was? What kind of shape were the bodies in? Was there active smoke or smoldering on the burnt door?"

Armin shook his head with a helpless shrug. "Obviously, the battle had to happen sometime today because the bodies wouldn't have lasted through the night. But there was no active smoke, and I couldn't hear any sounds coming out of the entrance. We've got another two hours before sunset, so either of Crissim’s ideas could be true. They could still be fighting their attackers who are planning to use the base overnight after they win. Or the battle is over, and the attackers have moved on."

"I think if I won a battle and took out a rebel base, I would use the resources there to weather at least the first night." Titus looked off toward the base with a grim look. "We’re actually left with three possible scenarios. Either the attackers won, the rebels won, or they're still fighting. And going off the open door, I'm thinking it might be the latter. We should hurry."

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"Minutes can make all the difference.” Crissim gave the other two an urgent look.

Titus nodded, deactivated his sound shield and turned to face their people. It didn’t surprise him to see everyone but the guards looking his way expectantly.

Titus held up his hands, and the small bit of chatter died away instantly. "Someone has attacked our new home base. They may have lost the battle already, and our arrival won't make a difference. But if ‌not, we can sway the battle and save some of our fellow rebels. We have to make the effort. You have one minute to put on whatever armor you have and equip weapons and devices that might help. Remember, this will be close-quarter melee fighting, so plan accordingly.

"My squad and Squad Two will lead the charge into the base. Everyone else will follow us. Be ready to fight. Squad Three will bring up the rear and then hold the entrance against any further dangers. Get ready. Go, go, go!"

Their impromptu camp burst into motion. Food and drinks disappeared as inventory boxes with weapons and armor appeared. Recruits exchanged bows for spears and other melee weapons. Everyone already wore their best pieces of beast armor, but some took the time to put on extra pants and tunics. Any extra bit of protection could make a difference.

Titus caught sight of Tomis handing out the latest bone shield he'd been crafting to Jules. The tough young girl had insisted that all the other Littles get one first. She took it from him with a grim nod, her other hand already clasping a short spear with a sharp chunk of horn Tomis had crafted into a spearhead.

Titus was proud of them, but felt a twisting knot inside him at the confrontation they were heading into. He would do his best to keep them all safe, but he, more than anyone, knew the dangerous world they lived in. He could lose some of them.

The minute passed quickly. The entire group jogged in step toward the base a few seconds later. Titus was proud of how well-coordinated they’d become, much better than any military company he'd been a part of. They had no supply wagons, no yugruts, and no slackers. They might have a disproportionate number of low levels and unawakened, but one thing they all had in common was a willingness to fight.

Just before they reached the crest of the small hill overlooking the damaged entrance to the base, Titus halted their group and sent Armin to scout for any changes. The tension ratcheted up, but Titus was proud of his small company, waiting patiently and obviously ready to fight.

When Armin stood at the top of the crest and waved them forward, Titus motioned for everyone to move into the agreed-upon formation. As soon as they were ready, he and his squad advanced over the hill with quick but cautious strides.

The entrance was just as Armin had described, doors hanging open and two bodies visible just to the side of the entrance. Despite straining to hear any sounds of battle coming from the entrance, Titus only heard the soft sounds of leather creaking and boots moving over the mix of gravel and dirt around them.

A quick glance at the bodies as they ran by showed mismatched low-quality armor. Attackers had taken any weapons. Bloody gashes to the neck and shoulders told how they died. Unless the empire’s army had lost their funding lately, the two young men laid out in the dirt had to be rebels. That did not bode well. Titus heard a few gasps as the younger troops behind him got a closer look at the fallen. They were coming face to face with the harsh realities of war. Sadly, he knew they wouldn't be the last.

Eyes swiveling up and around, Titus and his squad led the way into the dark and quiet tunnel. A soft glow came from up ahead, showing that some kind of light source still worked. They saw the next bodies a few feet into the darkness. A woman sat up against the wall, her head slumped forward, chin resting on bloody armor, with a severed arm on the ground next to her. A young mage lay across from her, sprawled out, eyes wide open and staring sightlessly.

They kept going. Adrenaline flushed through Titus, ready at any moment to leap into battle and save someone, anyone. But the quiet continued. The further they walked, the more bodies they found.

When they pushed past broken doors into the main hall, Titus clenched his jaw in rage and horror. It had been a slaughter. The rebellion had only staffed the base with a skeleton crew. It looked like an unstoppable force had caught them by surprise and killed every one of them.

The ominous silence, except for the distressed breathing behind him, made it clear that whatever had happened, it was over now. Still, safety required that they stay together and cleared the entire base. It took another hour and finally their hope of finding a survivor was dashed as they found the site of a pitiful last stand at the armory.

A somber silence fell over them now that they’d finished clearing the base. If any of his young company had questioned the seriousness of what they were doing, they didn't any longer.

What Titus couldn’t stop staring at was the single body of an attacker they’d found. He lay surrounded by dead defenders just inside the sturdy door to the armory.

The dark leather armor, complete lack of identification, and the whipcord muscles told Titus exactly who had perpetrated this massacre. One of the empire's vanguard strike teams had hit the base unawares and killed everyone before they could put up much of a fight. That also explained why the victors were not setting up camp and claiming the base for the night. The strike teams were well known for their hit-and-run tactics and disappearing as soon as the job was done.

"How many of our bases do they know about?" Crissim asked with worry and horror in his tone as he stood next to Titus, looking down at the body. “This could kill the rebellion before we even get started.”

Titus gave him a subtle elbow for saying something like that, with impressionable kids listening. "It can’t be many. If there’s one thing we rebels are known for, it’s hiding from the authorities. Still, we need to get word to the general to send out a warning. He’ll know which bases need to be evacuated."

"And us? Where do we go?" Tomis’ quiet voice asked from his position at the door of the ransacked armory.

Titus took a moment to consider his answer, noticing how many of the recruits were listening for his response. "We'll stay here in the armory for the night, barricading every door between us and the entrance. There's no way we can defend the entire thing, but we can pick the deepest room and hope our presence doesn't attract many beasts tonight."

"And then?" Tomis' voice was still quiet but filled with suppressed rage.

"We will follow the backup plan the general gave me. I really hoped we wouldn't need it."

"So, back to reinforce Quarrybrook?" Garrick asked, not looking enthusiastic about the idea.

"No," Titus shook his head. "Our company of recruits needs training before they can fight toe to toe with the empire troops. So, if they can't train here, we'll need to take them to another base where they can."

Word passed quickly between the members of their company, but without the normal complaining Titus would expect at being forced to head out into the Wilds again. Looking around at the base that had turned into a tragic tomb, Titus agreed. The sooner they could leave this place behind, the better.