Rocks shifted underfoot as the team scrambled to fortify their position in the narrow gorge. Theodoric directed the effort with clipped commands, his sword sheathed as he worked beside the guards to drag loose stones into makeshift barricades. Cassie moved quickly, her sharp eyes scanning the walls of the gorge for weaknesses. The air felt heavy, thick with anticipation, and every sound seemed amplified.
Supplies were dwindling. The remaining food sat untouched in half-empty packs, a silent reminder of their precarious position. Cassie caught the nervous glances exchanged between the nobles, their unease palpable as they huddled near the center of the camp.
“Dig in here,” Theodoric ordered, pointing to a narrow section of the gorge where the walls closed in tight. “If they want to come at us, they’ll have to funnel themselves.”
“Assuming they don’t just pick us off from above,” Cedric muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Cassie’s jaw tightened, but she kept her focus on the task at hand. The rocks she moved were jagged and cold, their weight biting into her gloves as she piled them into a crude barrier. Cedric’s muttering grated on her nerves, but it was the tension rippling through the group that worried her most.
“They’re scared,” Hildiger said quietly, stepping beside her as he hefted a boulder into place.
“Scared gets people killed,” she replied under her breath.
A faint whistle sliced through the air.
Cassie flinched, instinctively ducking as a bolt embedded itself in the dirt a few feet from where she crouched. Her hand snapped to her dagger as her eyes locked onto the gorge walls. Shadows shifted along the ridges, moving with unnerving precision.
“Crossbows!” she shouted.
Another bolt zipped past, striking the hastily built barricade with a dull thunk.
“Get down!” Theodoric barked, his voice sharp as he drew his sword.
The group scattered, taking cover behind the rocks and the uneven terrain. Cedric’s voice rang out, high-pitched with panic.
“You’ve led us straight to this!” he shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Theodoric. “We’re trapped because of you!”
“Cedric, shut up and focus!” Cassie snapped, her frustration boiling over.
He didn’t listen. “This is your plan? This? To sit here like cornered rats while they pick us off one by one?”
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Theodoric stepped forward, his blade gleaming in the dim light. His tone was calm, but his words carried an edge that silenced the argument. “If you want to run, Cedric, you’re welcome to try. But you won’t get far. And we’ll survive longer without your whining.”
Cedric’s face turned red, but he backed down, retreating to the safety of the barricade.
Cassie risked a glance upward. The assassins were well-hidden among the rocks, their movements quick and deliberate. Bolts rained down intermittently, forcing the group to keep low.
“We need to pin them,” she said, crawling toward Theodoric. “Force them into the open. Otherwise, they’ll keep bleeding us.”
His gaze flicked to the narrow choke point behind them. “What do you need?”
“Rocks. Anything we can drop on them. And a few volunteers to draw their fire.”
Theodoric nodded. “You’ll have it. Move fast.”
She signaled to Callen and Hildiger, who followed her toward a small cluster of loose boulders along the gorge wall. Together, they began stacking the rocks in precarious piles, each one positioned to collapse with a single push.
Another bolt zipped past, narrowly missing Callen. He swore under his breath, his hands tightening on the rock he held.
“Keep moving,” Cassie urged, her voice steady despite the chaos.
Theodoric shouted orders from the center, coordinating the group as they held the line. Cedric and his guards cowered behind the barricade, their fear evident in their trembling hands and darting eyes.
Cassie finished setting the last trap and motioned to Hildiger. “Get their attention. Make it count.”
He grinned grimly, hefting his longsword. “I always do.”
Hildiger rose from cover with a roar, his blade catching the light as he swung it toward the ridge. The assassins responded instantly, their bolts striking the rocks near him as he retreated to cover.
“Now!” Cassie shouted.
She and Callen pushed against the nearest boulder, sending it tumbling down the slope. It struck the ridge with a thunderous crash, dislodging loose stones and forcing two of the assassins into view.
Arrows flew from the guards below, one striking true and sending a cloaked figure tumbling to the ground.
Cassie wasted no time, moving to the next pile. The assassins scrambled to reposition, but their rhythm had been broken. Bolts flew wildly now, most missing their marks as the group rallied.
“Hold the line!” Theodoric shouted, his sword raised as he deflected another incoming bolt.
Cassie worked methodically, each trap she triggered narrowing the attackers’ options. Her hands were raw from the jagged rocks, her arms burning with the effort, but she pushed through.
A sharp crack echoed from above as another assassin lost his footing, his scream cut short as he hit the ground.
For a moment, the gorge fell silent.
Cassie leaned against the barricade, her chest heaving. Her gaze swept the ridges, searching for any remaining movement. The shadows seemed still now, the threat diminished but not gone.
“We bought time,” Theodoric said, stepping beside her. “Not much, but enough.”
She nodded, though her unease remained. The assassins had retreated, but it didn’t feel like a victory.
A distant horn sounded, low and mournful, its echo carrying through the gorge like a funeral dirge.
Cassie stiffened, her hand falling instinctively to her dagger.
Theodoric’s expression darkened. “That’s not ours.”
“Reinforcements,” Hildiger said grimly. “Theirs.”
Theodoric’s grip tightened on his sword as the sound of footsteps began to grow louder, drawing closer.
“This is far from over,” he muttered, his gaze unwavering and his jaw set.
Cassie scanned the treeline, her body tense and ready. The next wave was coming, and they were running out of options.
