The road south was harsh. Dry winds stirred clouds of dust along the cracked, sun-beaten earth, and twisted remnants of once-thriving villages lined the path. The Black Sun had left its mark.
Dikun Silver rode at the head of the Silver Company, his sharp gaze scanning the desolate horizon. Gareth rode beside him, the young squire's expression grim. The weight of his new role had settled heavily on his shoulders. No longer just a spearman, Gareth now bore the mark of Dikun's chosen — the squire of a knight.
It was an honor, but one not without expectation.
"Squire," Dikun's voice cut through the wind. "What do you see ahead?"
Gareth squinted, his fingers tightening on his reins. "Broken wagons. Scorched timber. Tracks leading eastward."
Dikun nodded. "Good. And the smoke?"
"Still fresh. Whatever happened here wasn't long ago."
"A day at most," Elira confirmed from behind them. She guided her horse with practiced ease, her bow ever within reach. "They're moving quickly. The Black Sun rarely lingers."
"Not without reason," Dikun replied darkly. "But this destruction… it serves no purpose. No gold to plunder, no supplies taken."
"Terror," Rudric growled, his axe resting across his saddle. "That's their purpose. Fear leaves deeper wounds than steel."
Dikun's jaw tightened. "Then we'll ensure they fear us more."
---
The Ambush
By nightfall, the company made camp beneath the skeletal remains of a ruined watchtower. The air was thick with tension. Scouts had reported movement in the distance — the Black Sun was near.
"We'll move at first light," Dikun announced, his voice low but firm. "But stay vigilant. They know we're close."
The men nodded, though unease lingered. Dikun felt it too. The Black Sun was cunning. To think they would allow the company to chase them unchecked was foolish.
And then the first arrow struck.
"Ambush!"
The cry rang out as shadows erupted from the darkness. Black-clad figures emerged from the trees, their blades gleaming beneath the pale moonlight. The Black Sun had come to them.
Dikun's sword was in his hands within moments. "Form ranks!" he roared. "Gareth, with me!"
The squire obeyed without hesitation, his spear steady despite the panic that swirled around them. Men clashed, the echoes of steel and cries of pain tearing through the night.
A bandit lunged toward Dikun, his dagger aimed for the knight's throat. But Gareth moved swiftly, his spear driving into the enemy's chest with a force that sent the man crumpling to the ground.
"Stay sharp!" Dikun barked. "No mercy!"
Elira's arrows flew true, felling attackers with deadly precision. Rudric's axe cleaved through the fray, his roars of defiance striking fear into their foes. But the Black Sun was relentless.
"They're testing us," Elira growled, loosing another arrow. "This isn't their full force."
"No," Dikun agreed, his eyes narrowing. "They're watching. Judging our strength."
And in the shadows, unseen, someone else was indeed watching.
---
A Squire's Resolve
Gareth panted, the sting of exhaustion threatening to consume him. His spear was slick with blood, but his grip remained firm. Around him, the chaos raged on. Yet in that moment, he saw it — a wounded Silver Company soldier, trapped beneath a fallen horse as a bandit approached.
The knight's teachings echoed in Gareth's mind. "A squire does not hesitate. He acts, or others suffer for it."
With a cry, Gareth surged forward. His spear found its mark, driving through the bandit's side. The enemy collapsed, and the wounded soldier gasped in relief.
"On your feet," Gareth urged, helping the man rise. "We fight together."
Dikun watched from the fray, pride flickering in his gaze. The boy who had once wavered in the face of battle now stood resolute.
But the night was not yet won.
---
The Silent Threat
As the last of the Black Sun fled into the darkness, the company regrouped. The dead and wounded were gathered, and the fires of the camp burned low.
"They struck without warning," Elira said, her voice grim. "But why retreat so quickly?"
"Because it wasn't a raid," Dikun answered. "It was a message."
From the shadows, a figure emerged. Clad in dark leather, his face hidden beneath a black hood, the man held no weapon. Only a single tattered banner bearing the emblem of the Black Sun.
"Sir Dikun Silver," the figure rasped. "Your name has reached even the depths of the dark."
The company drew their weapons, but Dikun held up a hand. "Speak, if you value your life."
The figure grinned. "The Black Sun does not fear death. But our master offers you a choice — stand aside, and Brynstead will be spared."
Dikun's eyes burned with cold fury. "And if I refuse?"
The figure's grin widened. "Then the sun will rise, and you will find only ash."
With those words, the figure vanished into the night, leaving behind the blood-stained banner as a final warning.
---
Next Chapter: The Path of Ash and Bone
Dikun leads the Silver Company deeper into the heart of the Black Sun's territory.
Gareth faces his first true test of leadership when Dikun entrusts him with a dangerous mission.
A dark conspiracy within the court of Rattay threatens to unravel everything.