Chapter 0006: A Death in the Dark
The night was thick with tension.
Raiden stood near the edge of Malagar's war camp, his mind racing.
Kael's demand was clear: Kill one of Malagar's generals.Publicly.
It was a test—one designed to prove Malagar's weakness and Raiden's ability to strike where it hurt. A single mistake, and Raiden wouldn't leave this camp alive.
Elara, now reunited with him, whispered urgently, "This is insane. Assassinating a general in his own camp? That's suicide."
Raiden exhaled. "If we want the Shadowfangs on our side, we don't have a choice."
Elara's lips pressed into a thin line. "Then we'd better make sure we don't fail."
The Target: General Varic the Iron-Hand
Varic was one of Malagar's most trusted commanders—a brute of a man, clad in heavy armor and always surrounded by elite guards.
Killing him wouldn't be easy. But Raiden had no intention of fighting him head-on.
He needed to be smart.
He needed to make it look like Malagar's own men were responsible.
The Setup
Through careful observation, Raiden learned that Varic visited the eastern barracks every night to check on his troops. It was the only time he wasn't inside his heavily fortified command tent.
That would be the moment to strike.
Using stolen documents and forged orders, Elara planted false messages—suggesting that one of Malagar's officers was planning to defect and that Varic needed to meet him in private.
The trap was set.
The Assassination
Midnight.
Varic arrived at the abandoned supply tent, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. His face twisted in suspicion. "Where is he?"
A shadow moved.
Before he could react, Raiden struck.
A thin, poisoned blade slid into the gap between Varic's armor. The general gasped, his eyes going wide in shock.
Raiden caught him before he fell, whispering, "Malagar sends his regards."
He pulled the blade free. Varic collapsed.
Within seconds, Raiden and Elara vanished into the darkness.
The Chaos Begins
By the time Varic's body was discovered, the entire camp was in chaos.
Malagar's officers turned on each other, each suspecting treachery. Soldiers whispered of spies, of betrayal—of Malagar's leadership crumbling.
And in the heart of the Shadowfang camp, Kael watched it all unfold with a slow, satisfied smile.
When Raiden and Elara returned to his tent, Kael merely poured himself a fresh goblet of wine. "Well done, Prince. It seems Malagar's forces are already eating themselves alive."
Raiden exhaled, his body still tense. "So, are you convinced?"
Kael swirled his wine. "Perhaps. But before I make my final decision…"
He set the goblet down and leaned forward, his eyes sharp.
"Tell me, Prince—what will you do when the war is over?"
The Final Test
The candlelight flickered between them, casting long shadows across the war table.
Kael Ravenspire leaned back in his chair, watching Raiden with an amused yet unreadable expression. "Your little assassination stunt was impressive, Prince. But tell me—what happens after Malagar falls?"
Raiden met his gaze. "I rebuild."
Kael chuckled. "A noble answer. But let's be honest—winning a war is one thing. Ruling a kingdom? That's something else entirely." He steepled his fingers. "The real question is, will you be strong enough to keep what you take?"
Raiden didn't flinch. "That's why I need warriors like you."
Kael smirked. "Ah, now you're speaking my language." He tapped a finger against the table. "Fine. I'll consider switching sides. But before I give you my army, I have one last test for you."
Raiden's jaw tightened. "Another test?"
Kael leaned forward. "Of course. A good general never bets on the wrong side. If you want the Shadowfangs, you'll have to prove you're more than just a schemer."
Raiden exhaled slowly. "What do you want?"
Kael's smirk widened. "A duel."
The Challenge
The next morning, the entire Shadowfang camp gathered in the central arena.
Kael stood in the center, his twin daggers glinting under the sun. "If you want my loyalty, Prince, you'll have to earn it the old-fashioned way."
Raiden stood across from him, rolling his shoulders. He had fought assassins before—but never Kael. The man was fast, cunning, and deadly. One mistake could mean death.
Elara stood at the edge of the arena, watching with barely concealed worry. "This is a terrible idea," she muttered under her breath.
Darius smirked beside her. "No, this is entertainment."
A mercenary banged a drum. The fight began.
Steel and Shadows
Kael moved first.
He was a blur of motion, his dagger slicing toward Raiden's throat. Raiden barely dodged, twisting to the side.
Another strike. Raiden parried with his sword, but Kael was already gone—moving, shifting, attacking from a new angle.
Fast. Too fast.
Raiden wasn't just fighting Kael's skill—he was fighting Kael's experience. This was a man who had killed warlords and kings alike.
Kael smirked. "Come on, Prince. Show me you're worth following."
Raiden adjusted his stance. Kael was faster—but Raiden was stronger. He needed to change the rhythm of the fight.
The next time Kael lunged, Raiden didn't dodge. He stepped forward.
Kael's dagger cut across Raiden's shoulder—but Raiden caught his wrist.
Before Kael could escape, Raiden slammed his fist into his ribs.
The mercenary commander staggered back, eyes flashing with surprise.
Raiden pressed the attack.
A sharp exchange—steel against steel. Blades flashing. Dust rising.
Then—Raiden saw his opening.
Kael dodged left—predictable.
Raiden anticipated it.
He spun, driving his sword toward Kael's throat—
—but at the last second, stopped the blade an inch from Kael's neck.
The entire arena fell silent.
Kael chuckled, looking at the blade, then at Raiden. "Clever."
Raiden smirked. "I thought so."
Kael stepped back, raising his hands. "Alright, Prince. You win."
The Shadowfangs roared in approval.
Elara exhaled a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
Darius shook his head, grinning. "Damn. I was almost hoping Kael would win."
Kael wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Well, Prince, you've earned it." He extended his hand. "The Shadowfangs are yours."
Raiden took it.
The war had just changed.
The First Offensive
The war drums beat in the distance.
Raiden stood at the edge of a cliffside, looking down at Malagar's outpost—a heavily fortified stronghold guarding the main trade route into the eastern provinces. If they could take it, they would cut off Malagar's supply lines and force him to retreat.
Behind him, the Shadowfang mercenaries stood ready, their dark armor blending with the night. Kael was at his side, arms crossed.
"Your first real test as a warlord, Prince," Kael said. "Let's see if you can win a battle—not just a duel."
Raiden's grip on his sword tightened. The time for strategy was over. Now, it was time for war.
The Plan
Malagar's outpost was built for defense—thick stone walls, guarded gates, and elite soldiers inside. A direct assault would be suicide.
Raiden had something else in mind.
He turned to his commanders. "We strike from within."
Elara nodded. "You mean infiltration."
Raiden smirked. "Exactly. We send in a small group disguised as merchants. Once inside, we open the gates for the rest of our forces."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Clever. But if they recognize you, you're dead before you can blink."
Raiden's eyes glinted. "Then we don't give them the chance."
Infiltration Begins
Disguised as travelers and traders, Raiden, Elara, and a handful of Shadowfang assassins approached the outpost at dusk.
The guards at the gate were suspicious. "State your business."
Raiden bowed his head, playing the part of a weary merchant."Silk and spices, fine steel for your warriors. We've traveled far to trade."
The guard narrowed his eyes. "No traders allowed after sunset."
Elara stepped forward, her voice smooth and confident."A pity. We were hoping to make a generous deal tonight. Perhaps we can speak with your captain?"
The guards hesitated—then waved them inside.
Step one: complete.
The Fall of the Outpost
Inside, the fort was filled with soldiers drinking, laughing, unsuspecting.
Raiden moved through the camp, marking escape routes and key positions. He caught Elara's eye, and she gave a subtle nod.
It was time.
With a single motion, Raiden drew his hidden dagger and slit the nearest guard's throat.
Chaos erupted.
The Shadowfang assassins struck fast and silent, eliminating key targets before the enemy could react.
Then—a horn sounded.
Outside the gates, Kael and the rest of the Shadowfang forces charged.
BOOM!
The front gates exploded as Shadowfang siege weapons fired. The mercenaries stormed in, cutting down Malagar's troops with brutal efficiency.
The battle was fierce, but Raiden fought like a man possessed.
His blade sliced through soldiers, his movements precise and deadly. This was his first real battle as a leader.
And he was winning.
Victory and Consequence
By dawn, Malagar's forces were either dead or captured.
The outpost was theirs.
Kael whistled, looking at the fallen enemy. "Well, Prince, I must admit—I'm impressed."
Raiden didn't respond. He was looking at the prisoners—the surviving soldiers who had surrendered.
Elara stepped beside him. "What do we do with them?"
A choice.
Kill them and send a message to Malagar.
Or let them go—and show mercy.
Raiden's hand hovered over his sword.
This was his kingdom now. And his choices would define it.
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(To be Continue...)