"It doesn't matter why. What matters is what this means for us."
If the Courts were at war, Ceilte’s border would be left unguarded, and its defenses would weaken. It would be the perfect opportunity for an attack.
I weighted my options. Grìosach's troops were still an hour away. If we advanced then, we could intercept them and perhaps gather some information. However, if a confrontation was inevitable, two hundred Fae against five orcs was suicide.
“We’re splitting up,” I ordered. “Uthak and Ni’kira, go back to the village. I want fifty warriors here by midnight, prepared for battle.”
"But, Ruk’hai..."
"Go. Now," I cut off Ni’kira’s objection.
The two of them reluctantly nodded and slipped to the rear, disappearing into the foliage as if made of shadow. I was left alone with Kreshak and Grik.
"The three of us will follow the trail," I explained. "We need to know their final destination."
"And if they see us?" Grik asked, appearing worried by the possibility. It reminded me that he hadn’t yet seen a real battle, not like the rest of us.
The last time we had fought seriously against the Fae of Ceilte was when I was still a child. Back then, battles happened so often that I, as the son of the Ruk’hai, had been forced to fight at only ten. In recent years, however, Alasdair had avoided confrontations and merely maintained a guard around Ceilte's border with Marukoksha.
“Then we fight,” I replied, bluntly.
Every orc knew that fighting and protecting the clan was their duty, even if it meant offering their own life to do so.
We followed the trail, moving like predators who knew the forest by heart. The scent of smoke grew stronger, mingling with the smell of warhorses and iron. At last, we reached the top of a rocky hill, hidden behind thick bushes. From there, we could see everything happening below.
The Fae convoy was big. Two hundred soldiers clad in leather and golden armor marched in rigid formation. Following them were heavy wagons overflowing with supplies and a cavalry unit. What surprised me most was the presence of an iron cage pulled by four horses at the center of their formation.
The cage was large, made of something that shimmered beneath the filtered sunlight, reflecting the Fae magic that enshrouded it. I tried to make out what was inside, but the distance made it impossible. Above it, a banner displayed the Autumn Court’s coat of arms.
“What’s that?” Grik whispered, both curious and apprehensive.
“I don’t know,” I replied, my heart beating a tad faster. “But it can’t be anything good.”
I watched the convoy move slowly. The rigid formation, the sheer volume of supplies, and the cage all made it clear—they weren’t just traveling. They were transporting something—or someone—important, and their destination was unmistakably Ceilte.
If Grìosach were to attack Ceilte, the Winter Court would certainly retaliate. If war broke out between them, Lyraen would become a battlefield, and we would be in the middle of the crossfire.
“We need to know what’s in that cage,” I said. “And why they’re heading to Ceilte.”
We kept following the convoy, staying at a safe distance. The destruction they left in their wake was blatant—felled trees, blazing bonfires, scattered litter—an outright insult to the forest. With every new offense, my anger flared.
At one point, they came to a halt in a clearing. The Fae dispersed, setting up camp. The soldiers formed a circle, creating an impenetrable barrier around the cage.
"They're going to spend the night here," Kreshak murmured.
"This is our chance," Grik said, but I shook my head.
"Not yet. We wait."
We waited for hours until my warriors arrived, moving silently like forest sprites. My eyes met Drak’s as he approached, giving me a brief nod. His presence reminded me I had left him in charge of Fiona’s training, and the thought of her made my heart leap unexpectedly in my chest.
I remembered the day I rescued her from a nuk’hir just a few miles from the village. I had been patrolling when I heard a female's cry of despair, and I didn't think twice before running to help. The cursed wolf was about to give her the killing blow when I arrived and took its life with a savagery I hadn't known I possessed.
However, seeing her lying on the ground, vulnerable and terrified, reminded me of my mother the last time I saw her. Besides, her scent…
I pushed the thought away. This wasn’t the moment for distractions.
The moon remained hidden behind dense clouds, and the High Fae camp became a blur of flickering lights. I raised my hand, signaling that we were about to attack. One by one, my warriors spread out among the trees, taking up their rehearsed positions. The wait was long and silent. Adrenaline kept me alert, but the exhaustion of days without sleep crept in, a heavy, nagging weight on my shoulders.
