The young red-haired knight dismounted his horse, his blackened steel armor creaking as he stretched his broad shoulders. The sun beat down on the lush greenery of the Burning Plains, a stark contrast to the desolate wasteland they used to be. He approached a small oasis, noticing a grizzled old man sitting on a rock, sipping from a wooden flask.
The old man looked up, his eyes cr wrinkling at the corners as he took in the knight's armor. "Ah, one o' them fancy knights, eh?" he said, his voice rough as the terrain.
The young knight's expression turned guarded, his amber eyes narrowing. "What business do you have here, old man?"
The old man chuckled, taking another swig from his flask. "Just admiring the view, young'un. Can't help but wonder what made this place so... lush."
The knight raised an eyebrow. "You've never seen the Burning Plains before?"
The old man shook his head, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Nah, but I heard stories. Used to be a wasteland, they said. Guess I missed the memo."
The knight snorted, his gaze drifting to the horizon. "Yeah, it's changed. Some people say it's because of the war."
The old man's eyes lit up. "Aye, that's the one! Twenty years ago, the lords of Ardentia fought braver than most. And one lord in particular..."
The knight's expression turned disinterested, his voice flat. "Oh? Who was it?"
The old man's voice dropped to a whisper, his eyes gleaming with awe. "Duke Harlan Vexar, they say. Led the charge, broke the enemy's back, and brought the fire that cleansed these plains. Some say the land itself rose up to aid him."
The knight's face twisted in a scull, his eyes flashing with annoyance. "Yeah, that's just a bunch of old stories."
The old man looked taken aback, but continued, undeterred. "Aye, but it's true, I swear! Your... uh... the duke's a legend, they say."
The young knight's expression darkened, his voice cold. "I don't know about that. Let's just say I don't exactly see eye to eye with my... with him."
The old man nodded hastily, sensing the tension. "Aye, aye, family business, eh? No offense meant, young sir."
The knight's gaze lingered on the horizon, his eyes burning with a fire of his own. "None taken," he said, his voice low. "I just have my own path to forge."
Back to the Ardentia-shadowfire war
The evening sun cast a golden glow over the Burning Valley's makeshift camp, the scent of smoke and steel hanging heavy in the air. Cyrin, Kaelith, Arin, and Duke Harlen sat around a rough-hewn table, maps and parchments spread out before them.
"So, the council's decision?" Cyrin asked, his voice low and urgent, his dark armor still bearing the marks of the day's fighting.
Duke Harlen's face was grim. "They're moving to besiege Erenhall. Corvus and Valen are coordinating their attacks. We've got maybe a day's , tops."
Kaelith frowned, her brow furrowed in thought. "That's cutting it close. What's the plan?"
Arin leaned forward, his crimson shield emblazoned with the symbol of his house. "We hold here, buy time for Erenhall to prepare. We've got the Ember Knights, the Dark Order, the Wolf Knights... and now the Crimson Shields are here."
The others nodded, their faces set with determination. Cyrin glanced at Kaelith, a hint of a smile on his lips. "And congratulations, Lord Kaelith. Officially."
Kaelith rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Thanks, guys. Could've picked a better time, if you ask me."
The others chuckled, raising their cups in a quick toast. "To Lord Kaelith!" Arin said, grinning.
Duke Harlen's expression turned serious again. "Alright, let's focus. Cyrin, what's the scout report?"
Cyrin's face turned grim. "They're moving fast. Nightshade sorceresses are with them. We've got maybe a few days before they hit us."
The group fell into a tense silence, studying the maps, planning their next move.
Here's the updated chapter:
Chapter: Burning Valley, Nightfall
The war council huddled around the map, the flickering candles casting shadows on their determined faces. Duke Harlen's eyes scanned the terrain, his voice low and measured. "Alright, here's the situation. Corvus is here, with his southern army, right on our doorstep. Valen's moving for Redkeep, but he's got the numbers to divert to us if he wants. We can't count on him staying on target."
Cyrin nodded, his dark armor creaking. "And Lilith?"
Harlen's jaw clenched. "No sign of her. Ravenna's, though... her Army of Shadows is moving for Dragon's Teeth. Trying to split us, maybe take out Lord Thane."
Kaelith's brow furrowed. "So Corvus is the immediate threat."
Arin nodded, his shield at the ready. "We've got this. Ember Knights, Dark Order, Wolf Knights, Crimson Shields... we're a wall of steel."
The others nodded, their faces set. "What about Erenhall?" Cyrin asked.
"Duchess Sophia Emberstone's mobilizing defenses," Harlen said. "Lord Orion's Shadow Knights, Sir Kieran's Wrecking Knights, and Sir Valor's Golden Dawn are already there, under her command. We'll hold here, buy them time. Corvus won't leave the Valley without a fight."
The sound of distant drums echoed through the night, a grim reminder of the enemy's approach. Cyrin stood, his eyes gleaming. "Then let's give him a fight he'll remember."
The others rose, their voices a low rumble of agreement. The fate of Ardentia hung in the balance, and they were ready to tip the scales.
As they dispersed, Kaelith turned to Harlen. "You think Corvus will attack at dawn?"
Harlen's face was granite. "He'll try. But we'll be waiting."
The night air vibrated with tension, the Burning Valley a powder keg ready to ignite. The defenders steeled themselves, their flames burning brighter in the darkness.