parentshiftbook Chapter 16: Ambush
Chapter 16: Ambush
Chapter 16: AmbushWith a deep exhale, Kael cleaned the blood off his dagger. Even though his body hurt, he had no time to relax. The fight was over, but there was still one enemy left.
Elder Raine, the water mage, had already begun to back away, running toward the forest line while her flowing blue robes billowed behind her.
"Coward." he spat.
Kael's gaze flickered to Sera, whose face was still pale from watching him gut the pyromancer like an animal.
The way she had flinched, the way her hands had trembled—it wasn't fear of the enemy. It was fear of him.
But she didn't say anything.
Kael's tone was icy and decisive. "Finish her."
Sera's breath hitched a little. "She's... running."
Kael turned his silver eyes toward her, unblinking. "And if she reaches the city, she'll alert the others." His voice was calm, almost casual. "Loose ends get you killed."
Mira didn't say anything, but she didn't disagree either. She had already witnessed enough to understand that Kael's reasoning was both cruel and necessary.
Sera paused for one more second.
Then she drew her bow and let out a quick exhale.
The wind surrounding her changed, becoming more focused and sharp. She squinted as she tracked the water mage's movement through the trees.
Although Raine was quick, she wasn't quick enough.
Sera pulled back the string.
Wind-Guided Arrow.
A gust of air twisted around the arrow, guiding it like a predator locked onto its prey. The moment she let it fly, Kael already knew it wouldn't miss.
The arrow cut through the air, piercing straight through the back of Elder Raine's skull.
She didn't even get to scream.
Her body staggered mid-step before crumpling into the dirt. The silence that followed was final and heavy.
Kael looked on without interest. He hadn't doubted Sera would do it. But when he glanced at her face, he could see the faint unease in her expression.
She was skilled and deadly, but this wasn't the clean, honorable combat of a noble. This was an outright execution.
She remained silent, though.
Kael gave a nod of approval. "Good shot."
Sera swallowed hard and lowered her bow. "Yeah."
Mira glanced between them before sighing. "We should get moving before more show up."
Kael agreed. The fight was over, but the real mission had just begun.
Before they left, they quickly
Something was wrong.
The atmosphere had shifted. The silence was too deep, and the air felt heavier. Even the horses appeared uneasy, their motions becoming increasingly restless beneath them.
Mira frowned. "You sense it too?"
Kael took a moment to respond. His silver eyes looked about, trying to find out what his instincts were warning him about.
Then he noticed something—a flash of light in the darkness.
An arrow.
"Get down!" Kael barked.
They barely reacted in time.
Thwip! Thwip!
The arrows rained down, narrowly missing as the three of them leapt off their horses and took cover behind a cluster of boulders.
The ambush had been set up just right, waiting for unsuspecting riders while concealed along the ridge.
Kael cursed under his breath. Whoever they were, they weren't amateurs.
Sera's keen eyes scanned the darkness as she peered over the rocks. "Five or six archers, perhaps. They're making good use of the cover."
Mira clutched her staff as she knelt next to Kael. "They must be guarding the fortress's entrance."
Kael exhaled slowly, his mind already forming a plan. A direct fight would be too risky. They needed to be smart.
"Split up," he ordered. "Sera, flank them from the right. Take down as many as you can from a distance. Mira, you go left—disrupt their formation with with your primal energy. I'll go straight through."
Mira's eyebrow went up. "Through? As in charging them head-on?"
Kael had a sardonic grin on his face. "They won't anticipate it."
Sera let out a sigh. "You're insane."
Kael merely pulled out his dagger. "Go."