Chapter Concealed Vengeance
General Oromon arrived on the battlefield, only to find it eerily quiet. The darkbanes, their elusive foes, had already departed, leaving behind a haunting scene of fallen soldiers and the groans of the injured. The general’s heart sank as he surveyed the aftermath, realizing the extent of the devastation that had occurred in his absence.
General Oromon, grappling with the aftermath, approached one of the less injured soldiers, seeking answers. With a weary look in his eyes, the soldier recounted the chaos that unfolded. “I didn’t see much, sir. It happened so fast. Someone arrived, and then something happened that made them retreat. There was this strange barrier. I can’t quite explain it, but it caught us off guard. I’m sorry.”
A mix of frustration and intrigue crossed General Oromon’s face as he absorbed the soldier’s account. The mention of Vernit’s sudden retreat and an unexplained barrier deepened the mystery surrounding the darkbanes’ actions. “He betrayed us,” General Oromon muttered under his breath, the weight of those words hanging heavily in the air.
Determined to unravel the truth and seek justice, General Oromon spared no time. “We’ll report this to King Altair,” he said to the soldiers. “We need to make him aware of the darkbanes’ betrayal and their unexpected actions on the battlefield. Our next move depends on understanding what transpired here.” With a resolute gaze, General Oromon set forth to ensure that the betrayal did not go unanswered.
As General Oromon orchestrated his forces and gathered information from the soldiers, Rosche, arrived at the scene. Observing the aftermath of the battle, she dismounted from her horse, and with a keen sense of curiosity, she sought a hidden vantage point among the trees.
Positioned discreetly, Rosche listened intently to the conversations between General Oromon and his soldiers. Her ears absorbed the details of the darkbanes’ unexpected retreat and the mysterious barrier that had thwarted their advance. In the shadows, she remained a silent spectator, her sharp eyes narrowing as she pieced together the fragments of information.
Amidst the quiet conversations and General Oromon’s instructions, Rosche felt a sense that she wasn’t alone in her discreet observations. Instinctively, she scanned the area, spotting movement in the distance—someone else concealed among the trees.
Recognizing the potential involvement of the darkbanes once more, Rosche became more alert. She realized she wasn’t the sole eavesdropper when she saw a figure hidden in the shadows, seemingly listening to the ongoing events. The suspicion lingered in her mind as she focused on the distant observer, who, upon sensing being discovered, swiftly mounted his horse.
Without hesitation, Rosche mounted her own horse, determined to unveil the identity of this mysterious onlooker. Guiding her steed skillfully through the thick forest, she silently followed the enigmatic figure. The pursuit unfolded through twists and turns, leading them deeper into the shadows, where answers to the unfolding mystery awaited.