Dawn broke pale over the valley, mist clinging to the ridges like a silvery veil. Yalamber stood atop the eastern watchtower, surveying the newly allied forces assembling in the courtyard below. Kiranti soldiers intermingled with Khungri warriors and the southern hill tribes, banners fluttering in a patchwork of black, gold, and green.
Nabin rode up beside him, his broad shoulders visible even from the tower. "They trust you, Yalamber. But the first test is the hardest. The Chyarung scouts move in small bands. If we fail now, that trust fractures before it can take root."
Yalamber nodded, feeling the weight of command settle on him like a mantle. "Then we strike first. We will not wait for them to find weakness in our unity."
Together, they descended to the valley floor. Orders were given, positions marked, and signals agreed upon. Lhakar carried dispatches between units, running along the stone paths with youthful determination. Even he understood this day would decide the credibility of the mountain alliance.
The enemy scouts were spotted mid-morning, crossing a narrow pass under the cover of the forest. Their numbers were small, but they were trained and agile, moving like shadows between the trees. Yalamber signaled the ambush.
From concealed positions along the ridge, arrows rained down. Khungri warriors blocked escape routes with shields; southern hill fighters struck from the flanks. The Kiranti archers and spearmen pressed forward with precise coordination. For the first time, all three clans fought as one.
The Chyarung scouts tried to retreat, but Yalamber led a small strike team to cut off their path. In the chaos of battle, he experienced the thrill and terror of leadership: shouting orders, dodging attacks, and seeing allies fall and rise around him.
When the dust cleared, the scouts were either captured or routed. Victory was decisive, but not without cost. A few men of each allied tribe lay wounded. Yalamber knelt beside one of the Khungri warriors, offering water and respect. "Today we survived together," he said, "and tomorrow we fight as one."
The alliance had passed its first test, and the mountains themselves seemed to exhale with approval.