“We have a few hours until the rest of my forces arrive. Tell me what you know of the situation in the outpost and outside of it.” Alton spoke up after Seka had a chance to eat and drink. “Fill out this map as best you can.”

She took the offered map and began filling in the missing details. “The Yul’Niara family controls the province of Edoria that surrounds these mountains. Please don’t take offense at my words. I am only trying to provide context and speak the truth. They are the lowest ranking of the crown prince families and considered paupers compared to the rest. The Crown Prince himself is only reportedly in the eighth or ninth tier, far below the others.”

“Each Crown Prince of Edoria has is granted total control of an area. It is their responsibility to settle disputes, secure their borders and expand outward. For the last millennium, Edoria has expanded outwards to control this part of the continent minus a few holdouts. Agorra is one of the last free countries due to Kaels’ betrayal.”

Altons face must have shown confusion at that. “Betrayal?”

“It is said that Kael Sunwright lured the Crown Princes of Edoria to the valleys of Agorra under a false pretense of peace talks. Once there, he used forbidden and perverted magic to kill the princes and Edorian army. The losses set the country back hundreds of years and the veil surrounding the Agorran valleys prevented anyone over the fifth tier from entering the valley since. Once the veil fell, the Yul’Niara were tasked with reclamation of the Agorran valleys.”

“The Crown Prince has sent his youngest son, Amir, with an army of fresh recruits from the small villages that dote the plains outside the mountains. This army you are fighting isn’t even the strongest under his control, let alone Edoria. His strongest army and generals remain near the contested borders.” She finished and waited for his response.

Alton was rocked by the revelations. The army he spent the last few years fighting was nothing but the dregs of a single province. Anger built in his chest as he thought of all the death he had experienced fighting this pointless war. His building anger was present on his face as he studied the young woman across from him.

“I am sorry Captain Alton. I know that this is not what you want to hear. Edoria long ago conquered any opposition on the continent. A veil has surrounded the valleys of Agorra since the Mad God’s betrayal that has prevented anyone over the fifth tier from entering. We knew of the Eludite tribes inhabiting the mountains as they trade with some of the villages. Before the first battles a few years ago, no one knew there were any native Agorrans left.

If Agorra defeats this army, another will be sent. Resistance is stamped out harshly and the Crown Prince will not tolerate the embarrassment. Now that the veil over the valleys has been lifted, it is only a matter of time before you succumb as well.” Seka finished and hung her head.

“Agorra will fight for its freedom, regardless of the odds. Of that, I am confident. We are a proud people.” Alton said in response.

He leaned over and studied the filled in map. “How many of you are being held here?”

“How many? Maybe thirty. Support staff, cooks, messengers and the like. I was taking the watch commander his evening meal when I was found by the scouts. My disappearance will be noticed soon. They will send more soldiers to find me. Running is punished lethally and publicly. It sets an example for the rest.” She grimaced and answered.

“Let them come.” Was all Alton said.

---

True to Seka’s prediction, six more Edorians showed over the next hour. The first set of two stumbled into Thoiri traps and were executed without a fight. Two more avoided the traps but fell to the scouts, nonetheless. The last set came prepared, circulating in full. Both scouts backed off and let Alton handle the empowered foes, which he did with ease.

The four of them moved through the outpost silently toward the other slaves. Seka was clear that freeing them would be fruitless. Slavery was common in Edoria and they would not risk their lives in a fight. Alton found the concept of a docile slave hard to understand.

“Why do you not fight back? How can you be content to be owned like property?” Alton asked in a harsh whisper.

“No one in my family has ever been to our country of origin. Entire generations of slaves that have lived under the heel of our masters. We have never known any other way to live. You do not know us, you cannot understand. You will, once Edoria is finished with you.” She muttered in response and hung her head.

Alton let the matter drop and they continued. According to Seka, there would be no more than a dozen guards between them and the edge of the outpost. A large encampment was raised just outside, with too many soldiers to fit inside the cave complex. He planned to thin out that number even further.

Wolf company would arrive soon and they could plan an assault on the camp. They were about to round a corner when boots sounded down the next hall. One of the scouts peeked around and signaled that four soldiers were coming down. Alton could hear them speaking and glanced over at Seka.

“That entire side of the outpost has gone silent. I’ve sent six men to investigate without word. It may be one of those fiends the locals blather about. That or the savages have made a move.” She translated in a whisper. “The one talking is a junior sergeant. He is reporting to the man that leads this division, Gorgorath. One of Prince Amir’s lackeys. He is strong, Alton. We should wait for the rest of your army.”

Alton signaled for them to retreat. They sped back down the hall to the closest room and regrouped. Alton checked his core and found it full and pulsing. The glyph still lay dormant, the power it held unavailable to him. He drew both blades and infused them with mana.

The Thoiri spread out with their confiscated bows. There was not enough time to prepare any traps. Alton turned and found Seka staring down the hall with trepidation.

“Will you fight?” He asked her.

“Only slaves who serve in the army are allowed to use weapons. I have never used anything more dangerous than a sharp pencil.” She muttered.

“Stay hidden down the hall. Do not show yourself until the fight is over. If we lose, tell them we took you by force.” Alton ordered.

“They will kill me either way. Gorgorath likes to set an example of what happens when one betrays Edoria.” She said in a quiet voice and gave Alton a small smile.

The Edorians were almost at the entrance to the room now. Alton rolled his shoulders and bounced on his heels. He ramped up his cycling and closed his eyes. His connection to his mana was strong, his body healed from earlier and primed for the coming fight. Alton’s nerves settled and the hair on his neck stood up.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Both bows fired at the soldiers when they breached the entryway. The arrows took two of them unprepared. Shouts of anger and groans of pain sounded out. Alton surged and leapt forward, impaling the first already wounded soldier with both blades.

Two more arrows fired in rapid succession, but neither found a target. Down to three, the Edorians rallied quickly. The leader blocked Alton’s next three strikes, preventing him from killing the second wounded soldier. He fought with a thick two-handed sword made of black metal and covered in glowing glyphs. The blade let off a black, pulsing light.

Alton backed off and halted his surge to preserve his mana. Fury and Fang were held out defensively before him. The Thoiri stopped firing arrows and gripped their spears tightly. The Edorian commander was covered in thick plated black armor. He removed his helmet and smirked at Seka, barking a few harsh words.

She gulped and shied back against the wall. The man barked at her again and laughed. Anger set in her eyes, and she glanced at Alton and the two Thoiri. Seka set her shoulders and returned his glare with defiance.

“He wants me to translate for him.” She started. He continued to speak loudly. “My name is Gorgorath. I am in command of the division occupying this outpost. You have killed many of my men, striking from the shadows like cowards. What is your name, foolish man?”

“I am Captain Alton of Wolf company, Third Army of Agorra.” Alton said proudly.

“You die here today, Captain Alton. I will add your name to my blade.” With that said, he spat at Alton’s feet and placed his helm on.

Alton flexed his grip on both blades and increased the amount of mana flowing through both. Both Thoiri and the other Edorians were off to the side, waiting to see what happened next. Seka was shaking with anger, defiance rolling off her body. She was gripping a combat knife in her hand so hard her knuckles were white.

Alton took a deep breath and surged. Mana exploded through every muscle in his body and the limits of humanity fell away. The normally placid lake of his core rolled with tumultuous waves. Power oozed from every cell. The room around him disappeared, leaving only him and his opponent.

—-

Seka’s heart was hammering inside of her chest. This foolish man was going to fight Gorgorath alone, despite his company being hours away. Frustration at the situation brought tears to her eyes. Freedom was so close she could taste it. If only she could convince him to flee. She could die free in Agorra, but that future grew dim as the soldiers stared each other down.

The silence was absolute in the room. It crowded down on them like the pressure from a building storm. She could hear herself with every breath and was shocked to see it come out as mist. She felt a chill settle in the room and couldn’t tell if it was imaginary or real.

Alton’s blades ignited with a blinding, blue light. Power pulsed from each blade, and hope fluttered in her heart. Gorgorath answered with his own power, his blade glowing black with the tainted mana of all Edorian warriors. His famous blade, Nightshade, drank all light from around the blade, exuding an aura of darkness. One last moment of crushing anticipation lasted less than a blink and the two great warriors exploded towards each other.

The power contained in their initial clash pushed Seka back against the wall, her mouth held agape. Each meeting of the blades sent pulses of power crashing through the room. Gorgorath’s attacks were waves in a storm, relentless and overpowering, seeking to crush Alton’s defense. The smaller man moved like a leaf in that storm, each movement precise and clean.

The battle raged on. Each second felt like a minute, each minute an hour. Neither combatant yielded an inch, trading furious blows. Seka could barely follow each attack, the mana on display overwhelming and forcing her away from using her manasight. She saw Alton duck low under a vicious slash of Nightshade and two pulses of blue flared against the Edorian’s armor.

Alton pressed his advantage inside the guard of Gorgorath. He sent a flurry of stabs, spinning like a whirlwind to avoid a retaliatory strike. The man in armor of midnight crashed down both elbows, catching Alton on his left shoulder and driving him to a knee. Almost as if planned, Alton used the momentum to whip out his longer blade and shear Gorgorath’s leg off below the knee.

Time seemed to pause for a moment as both fighters reacted. Alton rolled his body into the larger mans legs, the force bringing both down. Gorgorath swung down with his blade and sliced deeply into Alton’s side, the same one he injured earlier. Alton brought his blade up and used his weight to drive it through the black plate protecting Gorgorath’s stomach.

Alton threw himself to the side to avoid another strike. Gorgorath grunted and pulled the blade free, levering himself up on his remaining leg. Blood flowed freely from both wounds as he feebly tried to stand. Alton stood outside of his reach with his remaining blade at the ready.

Gorgorath removed his helm and spat blood at Alton. Even now, moments from death, his face took on an evil grin. He began to speak, but Alton silenced him with a quick strike at his neck. Gorgorath blocked it with his arm and fell backwards. Alton didn’t hesitate and stepped forward, crushing the arm, holding his sword and taking it off at the elbow.

He walked over to look down on the fallen warrior. Without ceremony, he stabbed down through his throat and ended the Imperials life. Alton sagged back against the wall, blood pooling on his side. The two Thoiri scouts quickly advanced on the remaining Edorians, who turned and fled. The scouts raced to Alton’s side rather than pursue.

Seka released the breath she was holding. Her entire body was trembling at the rush of emotions flowing through her. Despite the odds, she was still alive. She could still see it, the dream of freedom. It was faint, but it was present. She watched the scouts tend to Alton in awe, heart still racing in her chest.

Wolf company made quick progress through the maze of tunnels outside of the Thornwur dwelling. Either luck or the sheer amount of soldiers present kept any fiends from interfering as they jogged behind the Thoiri scouts. The final tally included the twenty-four man strong company and two hundred and fifty Thoiri warriors.

The procession stretched out almost half a mile, giving each other enough room to navigate the narrow tunnels. Amelia traveled at near the head of the column with Thuklu and Prian. She nervously thumbed her new sword in its sheath, eager to reach the outpost and the captain.

Their arrival was met by one of the scouts left behind, who flagged them down from the stunted doorway. He led them to several large rooms that could accommodate their resting forces. Amelia left Miser in charge of the soldiers, ordering them to eat and prepare for prolonged combat. She pressed on through the complex with Prian and Thuklu.

Amelia grunted as they passed through several chambers containing bodies of fallen Edorians. Blood was still fresh, showing recent combat. She pulled her sword free and straightened her back, nervous at what she would find. The scout led them through several more tunnels before it opened to another large room with three more bodies, including one massive mountain of a human in all black armor.

Alton was slumped against the wall with blood pooling down his left side. A woman Amelia didn’t recognize was leaning over him, trying to keep pressure on the wound. Amelia quickly sheathed her sword and knelt next to him.

“Captain, what happened?” she asked.

“Damned fool dueled the commander of the Edorian division holding this outpost.” The young woman answered.

Anger briefly bristled in Amelia at hearing Alton referred to as a fool, but it quenched when she realized she agreed. “Why didn’t you wait for us?” She asked.

Alton rolled his head over and gave her a tight smile. “Couldn’t pass up the chance.”

“Prian. Go get Lews and bring him here quickly. Take your scouts and investigate the rest of the outpost. Do not engage the enemy.” Amelia snapped out.

Prian nodded in confirmation and left at a run. Amelia peeled back Alton’s undershirt and saw a wicked laceration. She pulled a healing potion out and tried to tip it down Alton’s throat, but his hand caught her arm. He nodded no.

“Took one already. Not worth the backlash. Lews will patch me up.” He said weakly.

Amelia stood up and gave the Thoiri a few more commands to secure the area and make a stretcher. She wanted to bring Alton back to the main force once he was stable to move. She cycled and circulated to calm her nerves and studied the young woman. She looked nervous under Amelia’s gaze. Her eyes kept shifting to Alton as if clinging to a lifeline.

“What is your name, and how did you come to be here?” Amelia asked.

“My name is Seka. I am a speaker of the Rill. I was a slave serving the Edorian commander before…” She trailed off and looked back to Alton.

Understanding hit Amelia in a rush and her suspicions eased off. If what she said was true, Alton likely just freed her by killing the commander. Amelia looked at her in a new light. She was scared that if Alton died, she would be left a slave again or worse.

“You are safe now, Seka. My healer is on his way and my company has taken this outpost.” Amelia knelt down and placed her hand on the woman’s shoulder.