Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows;

the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing

-Sun Tzu

Mengus watched as Karin and the volunteers attacked the enemy, chaos erupted within the enemy camp. The sound of steel against steel echoed through the night as they clashed with the unprepared Stargian forces. Karin led the charge with unmatched spirit and ferocity, her sword carving through the enemy ranks like a scythe through wheat. Her comrades fought with equal fervor while trying to push deeper into the heart of the enemy's defenses.

Meanwhile, Mengus and the main force surged forward, their war cries echoing across the battlefield as they charged headlong into the enemy camp. The enemy, caught off guard by the sudden assault, scrambled all over the camp trying to put on a defense, their ranks thrown into a confusing state by the unexpected onslaught, and couldn't react fast enough to Mengus's well-planned attack.

Mengus's sword moved fast like lightning, killing enemy forces with each swing. The clash of weapons filled the air as the two opposing forces collided with brutal force. Arrows whistled through the darkness, finding their marks among the ranks of both friend and foe. They couldn't even see the arrows until they hit their target. Mengus and his army fought tooth and nail for every inch of ground.

As the battle raged on, Mengus realized that they might be in a problem. Stargians started fighting back with more power. Mengus couldn't see the end of Stargian numbers, while his men were starting to disappear in the crowd of blood and sweat.

But just as hope seemed to wane, a glimmer of salvation appeared on the horizon. From the rear of the enemy lines, Mengus caught sight of a familiar sight: the banners of High King Kaladogg's army, rushing to their aid.

"It was about time you showed up."

Kaladogg had arrived just in time, his forces sweeping down upon the enemy like a tidal wave, turning the tide of battle in their favor.

Mengus's mind raced back to a week ago, to the secret plan he had set in motion when he gave a command to Rekil the Dagger to slip out of town under the cover of darkness and find High King Kaladogg.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

* * *

"...and find High King Kaladogg up north, it should be easy to find such a big army."

"Yes, but it is difficult to leave the town, we are under siege," Rekil responded, avoiding the eyes of Mengus.

"Don't lie to me Rekil, you are a thief, a robber, you want to tell me you don't have any secret way out and in from the town walls? What kind of bandit are you?"

"We do...but it is very risky now..."

"You will do that, from today you work for me. Understood?" Mengus got angry at Rekil, he didn't have time to waste, and this was very important.

"Y-yes...I'll send my best men tonight to try and find Kaladogg. What message do you want to send him?"

"Just tell him that the town is under siege, nothing more and nothing less."

* * *

"It was a risky move, one that I had kept hidden from everyone, but now it paid off. Good job Rekil you saved my ass."

His little trick, gamble, had paid off, and it had given them the edge they needed to emerge victorious, saving Marunath from the enemy's hands. But the battle was still not over.

The clash of steel was even louder than before. Swords clashed, shields splintered, and cries of fallen men mixed in the chaos of battle. Arrows kept whistling through the air, finding their marks with deadly accuracy. Mengus's blade looked like a whirlwind of death as he cut down foe after foe. Sweat mixed with blood on his brow as he parried blows and delivered finishing blows.

He caught a glimpse of Karin, she was still alive, covered in blood but still swinging her sword with everything she had. For hours, the battle raged on, the ground covered with the bodies of the fallen as the defenders of Marunath fought with everything they'd got. As the sun began to rise from the horizon, it showered the blood-soaked battlefield with its rays. The defenders of Marunath emerged victorious, their spirits unbroken, it was their victory!

The air was thick with the stench of blood and smoke, and the sounds of groans and cries of the wounded filled the air. Mengus stood amidst the battlefield, his chest heaving with exertion as he looked at the scene before him. Despite the victory, he felt sad for those who had fallen in defense of Marunath. He knew that the cost of victory and his plan had been high and that many families would mourn the loss of loved ones in the days to come, maybe for some even years.

A hand touched his shoulder, beside him Karin stood tall and proud, her sword still clenched in her hand as she looked at the battlefield with Mengus. She didn't say anything, maybe she couldn't she turned around and headed straight back to the town gates.

As the dust began to settle, the survivors of the battle emerged from their hiding places, their faces exhausted and covered in fear as they looked at the scale of the destruction around them. They gathered in small groups, tending to the wounded and mourning the loss of friends and comrades who had fallen in the heat of battle.

In the distance, rays of the sun were breaking through the clouds, casting a soft golden light across the battlefield. It was a new day, a beautiful day, a day of hope.

image [https://i.imgur.com/XsWrtct.jpeg]