Gryff's face set into a serious line. “Those towers are going to see us and target us with those bolt-throwers from far away.”

In response, Laken's shrug was both resigned and matter-of-fact. “We can take out the closest ones before we enter.”

Lavi swooped down from her aerial vantage point and gestured toward the camp’s rear. The group, now alert and focused, trailed deeper into the forest, skirting around the fort's perimeter to avoid detection from the towering watchtowers.

Their target, as outlined in the plan, was a section of the camp’s earthen ramparts where a stream flowed into the fort from a nearby river. Having reached their designated point of attack, they hunkered down, prepared to strike under the cover of night. In the background, Akane stood watch, her illusions at the ready, providing an extra layer of protection against prying eyes.

Now all they could do was wait.

And so they waited.

As twilight descended, a sense of heightened anticipation hung heavily in the air. Within the fortified walls of the Marauder Prince's camp, fires were kindled, braziers ignited on the watchtowers, and the shouts of men echoed through the still forest air.

It was almost as if they knew an attack was imminent.

Maybe the harpies have tried attacking often.

Kaira crept closer to Iris. “How do we know when to attack?” Kaira asked.

Iris simply shrugged, she didn’t know. “We’ll go soon, the big thing is that we make a scene.”

Drawing the attention of her companions with a soft hiss, Iris beckoned them closer, outlining her plan in hushed whispers.

“Laken, how about you and I scale one of those towers? You could use the scorpion and your bow against the poachers while I take out the nearby towers with my magic,” Iris proposed.

Laken, his gaze briefly shifting between the watch tower closest to them and his owlbear companion, agreed. “I can do that. Gryff, can you stay with Owlie?” he asked the telv, to which Gryff nodded in agreement.

“Of course, my friend,” the man replied easily.

Next, Iris turned to the kitsune. “Akane, think you can put an illusion on me and Laken?” she asked.

Akane tilted her head for a moment then shrugged. “...Yes.”

Iris then directed her attention to Mocha, who was still in the sun elf illusion. “Mocha, when we do this, I'm going to provide overwatch until the Marauder Prince takes the bait. Can you and Kaira work together? Akane can drop your illusion after we get into the camp itself.”

Kaira looked affronted, her brows furrowing as she shot Iris a reproachful look, her girlfriend opened her mouth and Iris just knew she wanted to disagree with having to be protected.

Iris, however, cut her off with a shake of her head. “It's the best idea,” she reassured her. “Mocha works better with someone else, I will be with Laken until the Marauder Prince appears. You, Mocha, and Akane will be the fast movers rushing and hitting whoever you can without getting bogged down.

“Gryff, Bree, and Owlie will stay close together and draw the attention of the larger groups. I'll hit them with everything I've got to hopefully get his attention and as soon as he gets close… I'll pounce. If he's too strong, Akane, I may need your help. Mocha and Kaira, focus on any secondary casters.”

Lavi tilted her head and Iris winced. She had forgotten about the harpy.

“Lavi, I want you to fly low, you don’t want to be a target for those siege weapons on the watchtowers, okay? So what you need to do is work at disrupting and control. Move from person to person to knock them off balance, make them lose their weapons, you don’t want to stop moving, prioritize anyone that can be eliminated by someone else in the group. You’re there to keep them unable to form up.”

The harpy nodded seriously.

Everyone fell silent as they absorbed the plan. “Okay, let's get ready. As soon as Laken and I take the first tower, I'm going to wreck the second. That's the signal for everyone else to attack,” Iris instructed.

Seeing their determined faces, Iris felt a surge of hope. “Let's do this, people. Don't get split up. We're crazily outnumbered until the queen attacks the front."

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Lavi chattered excitedly to Mocha who translated for Iris. ‘As soon as your magic is seen, my sister will attack! She will, you'll see!’

Iris nodded, and Akane worked her magic.

✦ ✦ ✦

With their illusionary stealth in place, Iris and Laken moved quietly toward the Marauder Prince's camp. Their shrouded forms were just whispers against the twilight, unnoticed amongst the shadows and the thicket.

Iris used her [Mana Sight] and was able to barely discern where Laken was in order to stay within arm’s reach.

As they approached, they saw groups of armed and armored men and women patrolling the encampment. These were clearly the most professional soldiers the Marauder Prince had at his disposal and it appeared he spared nothing to ensure they had equipment.

They look like they could be part of an army…

They carefully moved through the line of spikes followed by a slow crawl as they crested the raised earthen rampart.

Iris had to pause to take in the sight.

The camp itself was sprawling, with tents and the few structures stretching as far as their eyes could discern in the dim light. Fires flickered all around, casting a warm, orange glow on the tents and wooden buildings. The camp had been meticulously organized, revealing a disciplined force capable of housing hundreds.

She patted Laken’s arm and slowly rose to her feet and crept forward into the camp, and quickly made their way to the closest watch tower.

Just as they were about to climb the ladder to the watchtower, the crunch of boots on gravel halted their progress. Two men approached and above them, a man, began descending from the tower.

Iris and Laken quickly stepped under the tower where crates and supplies were stored.

And waited.

Once on the ground, the man was joined by the two others. Their hushed whispers carried through the cool night air.

“The prince's seer believes there will be a storm tonight,” the first man muttered sarcastically. “She says there will be lightning.”

“On a clear sky like tonight? Her magic must be something else.” The second scoffed, a hint of disdain in his voice. “That priestess has been trying to lead us astray for weeks. The prince needs to just get rid of her,” he added with a sneer.

The third man pushed the second, heat lacing his voice. “Do not anger the gods. We’re not heathens.”

The first man merely shook his head, his words carrying a note of grim acceptance. “If that was true, then we wouldn't have attacked the carriage of the Church. We were lucky there was only one paladin... and we still lost seven men.”

The conversation sent a shiver down Iris's spine but the men soon moved on, leaving the path to the watchtower clear.

Iris let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, and with Laken by her side, they moved to the ladder. Their ascent was slow and cautious, every muscle tensed as she expected someone else to either hear them or start to descend.

Reaching the top of the watchtower, Iris hoisted herself onto the platform, her movements muted in the hush of the night.

A solitary figure stood guard by the scorpion, his gaze fixed on the perimeter of the dense forest surrounding them. Iris glanced at the other watchtowers in proximity, all constructed as elevated platforms without barriers, likely to provide a downward angle for the scorpions if need be.

She smirked.

They certainly would be needing that tonight.

With silent precision, she drew her dagger from its sheathed home of her lower back.

Iris moved toward him, each step she took was measured, careful not to alert the unsuspecting guard.

A brief glance confirmed that Laken had joined her at the top of the tower.

His presence was marked only by the subtle glow of mana.

Thank the gods this guy isn’t a mage.

Laken's figure shifted slightly, his hand reaching for his back where his bow rested.

Iris could feel his readiness as his arms lifted and moved in the motion of an arrow nocked and waiting for release.

She turned her eyes back to her target.

With her gaze fixed on the guard, she tiptoed towards him, every step making her heart race. She couldn’t have that.

Iris [Focused].

She cast [Arcane Capability] and finally, [Rushing Winds].

Just in case.

If anyone saw her, they would need to react quickly.

Just as she was close enough to reach out and touch him, Iris rose to her full height and looked down at the shorter telv man.

She had no doubts that her luck was amplified by the guard's lack of [Mana Sight], allowing her to remain undetected in his vicinity.

Her [Danger Sense] was quiet.

The moment of action arrived, and as swift and sure as a predator's pounce, Iris reached out with her illusion-swathed hand and covered his mouth, muffling any sound the guard might make as she yanked him down.

Simultaneously, her dagger plunged into his body multiple times, its cold steel meeting warm flesh in a deadly dance of controlled, pinpoint movements.

Behind her, the twang of Laken's bow releasing an arrow was the only accompaniment to the grim ballet they had set into motion.

And then the seer’s prescient observations range true.

A storm arrived.