The group moved out at dawn. Among them were the captains, vice-captains, a handful of elite warriors, Shade, Uncle Drake, and even Jen. All were at least Knight Page level, except for Jen, though her eagerness burned brighter than most.
On the opposite flank, Vaenyra led her own group: thirty-one elven warriors and mages, graceful and disciplined. She left five behind to protect the village, just in case.
.....
Two days passed. The land shifted from dense forest to barren plain. And then, on the horizon, they saw it, an encampment sprawling across the foothills. Rows of enemy tents fluttered in the wind.
As the enemy camp came into view on the distant hillside, Vaenyra narrowed her eyes.
She could feel them.
"There's a Knight Two Stage," she murmured. "And two mages... Fourth Circle."
Lumberling glanced at her. A Knight at the Second Stage? And two Fourth Circle mages? That was far beyond what they'd anticipated.
'Strange. A viscount shouldn't have that kind of firepower.'
