Varga fidgeted uncomfortably.
Her fingers tapping against the rough wooden table. The dim glow of the hearth cast flickering shadows across the room, illuminating the rough maps scattered across its surface. The scent of burning wood mixed with the musky odor of fur and leather, was a familiar comfort to the gathered warriors.
"What's the problem?" Arieus remarked, his deep voice cutting through the quiet crackle of the fire. He leaned back in his chair, the carved bone ornaments on his chest clinking softly. "We're only three days away from Novus, and they're a typical frontier city. If we play our hands right, then we shouldn't have problems with the plan. We've already sent scouts there before."
Varga exhaled sharply. "We can't all go at once," she responded, a frown still etched on her face, as she spoke. "We don't even have the numbers for what you're planning. We only expected to move after Chief Grimvar's reinforcements arrived."
Arieus stroked his chin, his sharp yellow tusk exposed and eyes scanning the map before him. The inked markings showed the winding paths toward Novus, with small wooden tokens representing their forces placed precariously near the border. After a moment of reflection, he spoke again. "If we wait here until winter fully sets in, we'll miss this opportunity. We should instead go to Novus first, then we'll head north to Carbonis." He tapped the map decisively. "We'll be in a better position for the original plan, for Carbonis, than if we waited here."
He turned toward Bloodfang, the hulking Krag warrior standing silently near the doorway, his spear resting against his shoulder. "Until then, I will detach a few warriors to go and form an outpost at Novus and prepare for our arrival. Bloodfang, you shall lead them and remain unseen. Do you understand?"
Bloodfang nodded in acceptance, his scarred green face twitching in what might have been a grin. He clearly had been expecting something like that. Varga, however, still had questions.
"We still don't have the numbers," she pressed, her emerald eyes narrowing. "It would be too risky. What if this information about the troops being withdrawn isn't true?" Her skepticism was evident, her frown becoming more detailed as she spoke.
Arieus met her gaze steadily, his expression unreadable. "I had a talk with Dana after the meeting you missed," he explained, reaching into the folds of his mutant dire wolf cloak. "I got an… interesting letter from her." He pulled out a parchment made from deer hide, its edges slightly frayed from travel, and passed it to Varga.
She took it carefully,as she unfolded it and began to read.
Arieus watched her, a savage grin slowly spreading across his face. "That letter will solve any issue of not having enough warriors for my plan."
Varga's expression shifted as she absorbed the contents, first surprise, then intrigue, then something unreadable. "What is the meaning of this?" she asked, her voice laced with a mix of emotions.
"Shocking, isn't it?" Arieus replied, his tone neutral. He crossed his arms, the bracers on his wrists gleaming dully in the firelight. "I suspected it when the scouts reported large activities of the Wargs' tracks,unusual, this close to the south. Especially since the dire wolves aren't very fond of the Wargs. This would explain why they, too, had become more active."
He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. "This message means the N'Kans clan of the northern clans is pushing outward to quench their taste for battle. They've staked their claim once more. They wish to take their own share of the bounty, and they're offering us two hundred warriors." His grin widened. "Isn't that wonderful?"
As Arieus spoke, something seemed to amuse him, for he couldn't help but laugh, a deep, rumbling sound that echoed in the small cabin. But just as quickly, his expression became stoic again, betraying none of his true thoughts.
Varga looked back at the letter, then at Arieus, her eyes narrowing slightly. "If what it says is true, then the N'Kan clan wants to push through. But do you think our own horde, would be willing to share? What about our clan?"
Arieus nodded, his expression serious. "Ah, yes, that's the crux of it. It's true we have no intention of sharing the gains we get, but that's the thing. The N'Kan clan isn't asking for the city. They're asking for the spoils of war, their share in the battle that's due to them by their warrior rights." He shrugged. "Which is fair."
He leaned forward further, his voice lowering. "And we don't have to wait for Grimvar's reinforcements to move. All we have to do is give them some of the captives and a little gold, and their warriors will be happy. Novus city wasn't part of the original plan, so I'm sure our Chief won't mind. It would also please the clan head." He paused, his grin returning. "Don't you agree, Varga? Won't father think this decision sound? I'm sure he won't mind if we split it up."
Varga studied his face, searching for any hint in his expression. Was he truly convinced this was the way forward, or was there something more beneath his words?
Arieus, noticing her scrutiny, smiled again. "Trust me, this plan will work… sister."
He straightened, shifting the conversation. "Now, back to the earlier discussion. We'll need more weapons for what's to come and I was also able to get quite a bit of useful info out of the good merchant on the routes and times for several caravans carrying weapons over the next month."
"More raids," Bloodfang remarked, his voice a rough growl.
"Yes," the war chief agreed, a fierce smile playing on his lips. "It seems the Fēlīnus and Lacerta are pressing the Imperians hard right now. Most of their troops have been pulled out of the east and north to reinforce the western border due to the fear of an unknown threat."
Bloodfang snorted. "Cowards."
"Indeed," Arieus chuckled. "And they barely have enough for patrols to guard those weapon cargos. The human local lords truly are weak-minded."
"So we shall be free to hunt freely," Bloodfang added, his predatory smile widening.
"Don't underestimate the humans," Varga observed coolly, her emerald eyes reflecting the fire from the hearth. "They may have pulled their warriors back, but I doubt they would leave their weapons with little protection."
Bloodfang shot her a displeased look, as if she were ruining his hunt. But Arieus agreed.
"Varga is right. We can't take unnecessary risks. That's why I have sent out smaller scouting parties to first gauge the targets. If the opportunity is right, they will call in the rest for the raid."
Varga frowned but nodded.
"So now, we..." Arieus began, but Varga interrupted.
"Wait." Her voice was firm. "Since we're done with the meeting, I'd like to speak to you."
Arieus turned to her, his eyes locking onto hers. "Please don't tell me it's about the ratling," he said, his tone weary.
Varga didn't respond immediately, but the narrowing of her eyes was answer enough.
"Fine," Arieus sighed, sitting back down in his wide chair. "What is so interesting that you interrupted my meeting?"
Varga took a breath. "It's what I discovered about him. He might not be a normal ratling…"
Before she could continue, a heavy knock sounded at the cabin's door.
"What now?" Arieus growled.
A deep, rough voice answered. "Boss"
"Gurok is that you?"
"Yes, Chief," Gurok replied. Bloodfang opened the door, and he stepped inside, his massive frame nearly filling the doorway. His body was dusted with snow, and his breath came out in short, visible puffs.
"Good, are you done with what I told you?" Arieus asked.
"Yes, Chief," Gurok confirmed.
Arieus studied him for a moment. "So, did you come here for the warmth, or do you have news?"
"Skirts returned from scouting," Gurok said, his voice gravelly. "I followed your instructions, and sent Skirts to find out if there were any caravans moving in this area. He found the target."
Arieus's face broke into a wide, eager smile. He glanced back at Varga. "It seems your talk will have to wait until we settle this."
He stood, rolling his shoulders as he strode toward Gurok. "Get my armour," he commanded. "And then strap yourself in."
Bloodfang licked his lips in anticipation, while Varga simply sighed.
After this, then, she thought.
---------
When they left the cabin, the crisp evening air greeted them. Varga's sharp eyes immediately noted the twin suns already descending toward the horizon, their fading light painting the sky in hues of amber and violet. A group of scouts stood waiting near the cabin, their postures tense with urgency. Their hide fur was ruffled from travel.
Arieus put on his amour that Gurok brought for him, and asked him to stay for another brief meeting. He summoned Dana too to join. The lithe and sharp-eyed huntress, slipped in among them, her presence as silent as a shadow. Varga deliberately kept her gaze averted, focusing instead on the scout who stepped forward.
"The group you sent to watch the road south of Novus reported caravan movement," one of the scouts announced, his voice rough from exertion.
"Good. Well done," Arieus said, turning to the rest of the gathered warriors. His mental armor gleamed faintly in the fading light, the intricate carvings catching the last rays of the sun.
"As I told most of you already," he continued, his voice carrying the weight of command, "Victor had provided me with information on a shipment of weapons. The human lords will soon be sending a large convoy east. So, what do you say we make use of this kind consideration?" His lips curled into a grin, revealing more of his sharpened tusks.
Gurok, ever the pragmatist, rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "We could always use more weapons. Especially for the whelps we'll be receiving as reinforcements."
Dana, standing slightly apart from the others, crossed her arms, spoke her piece."Yes, a shipment like this will be meant for the front lines. That means it'll be heavily guarded, maybe even by a large human army escort, including Weavers and Enchanters."
Varga frowned, with unease, but Arieus merely nodded, unfazed.
"Possibly," he conceded. "There are still human troops waiting to be sent to the western border in Novus, but no one seems to know how many will go. So the amount that would escort the caravan, might be large or few, if any." His tone was casual, as if the uncertainty didn't trouble him in the slightest.
"What's the most the weak humans could bring for battle," Bloodfang asked the boss thoughtfully.
Bloodfang, his muscular frame looming beside the war chief, tilted his head. "What's the most the weak humans could bring for battle?" he rumbled, his voice thick with disdain.
Arieus shrugged. "At most, they could spare sixty men. As for Weavers and Blessed?" He smirked. "Who knows?"
Gurok snorted. "Probably not that many."
Dana's eyes twitched as she considered the risks. "We could take the human warriors, but it would cost us. And I don't like fighting Weavers. Those tricksters know how to avoid getting killed and can do a lot of damage."
Gurok scratched at his scarred face. "So we wait for them, then attack the Weavers first and leave the Blessed to Arieus and Varga."
Dana rolled her eyes. "we have to find the weavers first."
Varga, her mind working swiftly, added her own suggestion. "We could position some of our men in the woods near the road beforehand. Have them identify the Weavers, mark them, and take them out first, either before the fight starts or as soon as it begins."
Gurok's grin widened. "Yes. Quick and fast is the way to do it." He clenched a fist, the muscles in his arm flexing. "We shall remind the humans of the strength of a Krag."
The warriors around him nodded in agreement, all except Varga, whose reservations lingered unspoken.
"Send out the scouts to watch the road immediately," Arieus ordered, his voice sharp with authority. "We need to be well ahead of them for this to work." His gaze swept over the group before settling on Varga. "You'll take charge of the camp while I'm gone." Then, to Dana and Gurok: "You're both with me." Finally, he turned to Bloodfang. "Take your group, follow the scouts, and split up to form that outpost at Novus. Understood?"
"Yes, War Chief," Bloodfang responded, dipping his head in acknowledgment.
Varga could only agree silently. I'll have to wait until he returns to speak to him about Femi, she thought, her fingers flexing absently.
----
At daybreak, the camp stirred with quiet activity. The sky was overcast, a thick blanket of gray clouds muting the light, yet the birds in the surrounding trees sang loudly, their melodies piercing the stillness.
Most of the Krags had marched out, their heavy footsteps fading into the distance. The base felt hollow in their absence, the usual clamor of warriors reduced to a murmur. Only a handful remained, mostly the injured, and those assigned to guard duty.
Femi, blinked sleepily as he emerged from his side of the lean-to. His whiskers twitched as he took in the near-empty camp. Rubbing his eyes, he muttered to himself, "Ah, where did all these people go now? I hope they don't go and bring trouble back. I just woke up from sleep, i don't have strength for nonsense ." His voice carried a tired sigh, his ears drooping slightly as he glanced around at the unfamiliar quiet.