Chapter 29:
The storm broke over Shadow Ridge with a roar, lightning ripping the night sky into jagged shards of light. Rain pelted the earth in relentless sheets, turning the paths to rivers of mud. It was under this furious sky that Elara and her allies made their stand.
At the western gate, torches sputtered against the rain, casting flickering halos of light over the gathered warriors. Elara stood at the forefront, Moonblade in hand, Kael at her right, Ravynn at her left. The tension was palpable, a sharp, electric charge that set every nerve on edge.
From the darkness beyond the gates, the enemy approached.
Figures cloaked in black emerged through the rain, moving with deadly precision. At their lead was a tall, wiry man with cruel eyes and a blood-red insignia on his chest—Vael's personal mark.
Elara felt the growl rise low in Kael's throat. She understood the impulse. These weren't just enemies; they were assassins sent to test their defenses, to shake their resolve before the real battle even began.
The gates shuddered under the first impact as Vael's forces threw themselves at them. Arrows whistled through the air, and Elara raised her blade, deflecting one effortlessly. Around her, Shadow Ridge warriors held their ground, their cries piercing the storm.
"Hold the line!" Elara shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos.
The gate finally gave way with a splintering crack, and the fight surged forward.
Elara met the first attacker head-on, her Moonblade flashing in the rain-soaked dark. She moved with instinct and training, dodging a sword thrust and slicing a clean arc across her opponent's chest. Beside her, Kael shifted into his wolf form, a massive, silver-gray blur of teeth and fury, tearing through the invaders with brutal efficiency.
Ravynn fought with twin daggers, her movements swift and merciless, weaving a deadly dance through the enemy ranks.
But even with their strength, the tide was heavy.
Vael's men fought like demons, driven by fear and promises of power. They pressed hard against the defenders, forcing them back step by step.
Elara gritted her teeth, rallying her warriors again and again.
They would not break.
Not tonight.
Not ever.
As another wave of attackers surged forward, Elara caught sight of the leader—the wiry man with the cruel eyes—making his way through the chaos straight toward her.
Their gazes locked.
Elara tightened her grip on the Moonblade.
The true battle was just beginning.