Aldric barely avoided a spear thrust when a horn echoed through the valley.
A signal.
His stomach twisted.
More torches appeared on the ridgeline—Cedric's reinforcements.
Hundreds of soldiers poured in from the side paths, overwhelming the rebels' defensive positions.
"Fall back!" Aldric shouted.
The rebels hesitated—then retreated, pulling back toward the entrance of the mines.
But the enemy was faster.
The first wave of Cedric's reinforcements hit them like a hammer.
Aldric blocked a wild swing, only to be slammed backward by a shield bash. He crashed into the dirt, his vision momentarily spinning.
A soldier loomed over him, sword raised—
Then an arrow struck him through the eye, and he collapsed.
Elya grabbed Aldric's arm, hauling him up. "Move!"
Together, they ran.
The Last Stand at the Mines
The rebels poured into the mines, scrambling to hold the entrance. They had set traps, prepared choke points—
But Cedric's men weren't stupid.
