We began interrogating the squad leader shortly after his capture. He was tied to a sturdy post in the centre of the village, his defiance apparent in how he sat upright, chin raised as if daring us to break him. I crouched in front of him, trying to appear calm, though the anger simmering inside me threatened to boil over.
“Tell us where your hideout is,” I said, keeping my voice level. “Do that, and we’ll let you go. You have my word.”
The man chuckled, his tone dripping with derision. “You think I’m afraid of you? Kill me if you must, but know this: the Embers of Flame will come for revenge. They will burn you, this village, and everyone in it. Your promises mean nothing to me.”
His words were expected, but they grated on me nonetheless. Still, I kept my composure. “We don’t have to kill you. Just give us what we need, and you’ll walk away.”
He shook his head. “Even if I tell you, they will hunt me down. Death is certain, whether at your hands or theirs. At least my death for the cause will mean something greater than any of you could ever understand.”
Before I could respond, Nathanos interrupted, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. “So your great cause is to burn children?” His eyes blazed with barely restrained fury. “That’s the legacy you want to leave behind? Burning villages, killing innocents? What kind of stupidity is that?” I intervened mentioning “It’s common knowledge that once someone dies they can’t be brought back to life this makes your cause stupid enough for me.”
The squad leader’s composure cracked momentarily, his jaw tightening. “It is not stupidity,” he hissed. “Once a person dies, yes, they cannot return. But he was not a mere mortal. He was a saint. He will come back to us. When he does, he will release all of Calradia from these petty fights, this endless suffering. His return will bring salvation.”
It was clear that reasoning with him would lead nowhere. The man was deeply entrenched in his beliefs, every word he spoke laced with unshakable conviction. I glanced at Nathanos, who shook his head slightly, his frustration mirroring my own.
Realizing that traditional methods of interrogation were pointless, I shifted tactics. “You think they’ll come for you?” I asked, my tone heavy with doubt. “You’re here, alone, captured. No one will rescue you.”
“They will,” he shot back, his voice trembling slightly.
“No,” I said, standing and pacing in front of him. “No one else respects your so-called code of flames. You’re just a tool to them, expendable. If they cared about you, they’d be here already.”
His breathing quickened, his calm exterior beginning to crumble. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. They’re nearby. They’ll come.”
“Nearby?” Nathanos pressed, seizing on the slip.
The man realized his mistake too late. His face contorted with anger as he spat, “Yes, they’re nearby! They’ll burn this village to ash in less than 24 hours. You’ll see!”
His outburst confirmed what we needed. I stepped back, meeting Nathanos’s gaze. The squad leader might have thought he’d won a victory by issuing his threat, but in reality, he’d just given us exactly what we needed: confirmation of the Embers’ proximity.
Once we confirmed that the rest of the group was nearby, the entire village became a hive of activity. Scouts and lookouts kept a constant watch, their eyes scanning the horizon for any movement. The tension in the air was palpable, and even the villagers, though frightened, moved with purpose. Everyone knew the stakes. We were no longer dealing with scattered raiders but an organized and desperate enemy.
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I gathered my men and reviewed what we knew, piecing together details from past incidents involving the Embers of Flame. Their history was bloody, and their reputation even bloodier. Villages that had resisted them were razed to the ground, leaving no survivors. That, however, was when they had the strength of over a hundred men. Now, their numbers were significantly diminished—around fifty, if our estimates were correct. Even then, most of their forces would likely be busy pillaging nearby villages.
A small squad might have been actively looting and terrorizing nearby settlements while the rest of their group focused on protecting their hideout. But our contract was clear: the safety of Phyca was our priority. Any threat to this village had to be eradicated.
I studied the map intently, tracing the possible movements of the enemy. If the Embers of Flame were nearby, their likely targets would be the three villages within a day’s march. Based on their typical strategies, it was reasonable to assume they had divided their forces. An equal number of troops might have been sent to each village, with a smaller contingent left to guard their camp. Indicating they had started with around forty men which was the same number Sora Informed me about, but after our recent skirmish, their numbers had been reduced by thirteen.
This left us expecting to face approximately thirty fighters. Meanwhile, our strength stood at forty, bolstered by the recruits we had brought in from Danustica. While they lacked experience, their presence gave us a numerical edge—one we would need to use wisely.
The Embers of Flame had their pride to consider. Despite their reduced strength, they wouldn’t let resistance go unanswered. It was obvious they would come here, both to maintain their reputation and to punish the defiance we had shown. Yet, this time, we couldn’t rely on an ambush. The element of surprise was no longer in our favour. A pitched battle was inevitable, and we had to prepare accordingly.
I dispatched our newer recruits—the light infantry we had recently brought in from Danustica—to scout the surrounding area. They were green but eager, their movements quick and efficient as they spread out across the plains. To support them, I sent half a dozen horsemen, our entire cavalry contingent. These riders were Aserai-born and bred, they were more efficient in plains making them invaluable for this task. The combination of light infantry and cavalry created a web of watchful eyes, ensuring we wouldn’t be caught off guard.
Despite these precautions, I couldn’t shake the unease settling in my chest. We had done everything we could to keep the villagers safe, relocating them to the centre of the village where they could be more easily protected. Barricades were erected, and supplies stockpiled. Still, the thought of the Embers’ brutality haunted me. We were playing a dangerous game, and the lives of these people were at stake.
It was around midnight when the first sign of trouble appeared. Flames erupted from a house on the outskirts, the orange glow cutting through the darkness like a beacon of destruction. The sight sent a chill down my spine. Moments later, a runner came sprinting towards us, his face pale and his voice breathless. “The Embers of Flame have attacked the outskirts,” he panted. “They’re burning houses. Their numbers… around twenty.”
The report confirmed my fears. These weren’t mere raiders; they were organized, and deliberate in their approach. I immediately sent Nathanos with our fifteen best fighters. They were battle-hardened veterans who knew how to keep their heads in the chaos of combat. By the time Nathanos left, our light infantry units had already surrounded the attackers, keeping them under close watch. Their orders were clear: scout, don’t engage. Nathanos’ arrival would tip the scales, turning what could have been a costly skirmish into a decisive victory.
I couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment, though. Leon, who was leading the cavalry unit and was tasked with gathering intelligence on the Embers’ movements, had yet to report back. I had hoped his information would give us an advantage, allowing us to act preemptively. Instead, we were reacting, and that lack of foresight gnawed at me.
While Nathanos led the charge, I stayed in the centre of the village with the support group and a contingent of archers. Our task was no less important. The flames from the outskirts could spread if left unchecked, threatening to consume the entire village. We worked tirelessly to extinguish the fires, forming bucket lines and dousing the burning homes with water. The villagers, though terrified, joined our efforts, their determination a testament to their will to survive.
Our primary objective remained the same: protect the villagers and keep them safe from any further attacks. Every scream, every crackle of flame, every clash of steel in the distance only strengthened my resolve. This was more than a battle; it was a test of endurance, strategy, and will. And we would not falter.