Horizon before dawn

Preparing to leave the Embrace, I gathered my weapons and gear. I was ready to head north, where I would spend a year hunting Carja and establishing a new base to support my plans. It was crucial to be stealthy.

I couldn't afford to let any of the Nora see me. If they did, it would only add more years to my sentence. But it was worth it, i had a mission, and nothing would stop me.

Saying a silent goodbye to my home, I set off toward the path I had explored months earlier. The journey would require me to climb a mountain to reach the northern lands, and that climb would take time. The Nora wouldn't open the gates for an outcast like me.

The climb was grueling. The cold wind bit at my skin, but I pressed on. After hours of exhausting effort, I finally reached the top. The view was breathtaking. I could see the Embrace in the distance, the northern lands stretching out beyond, the clouds hanging low in the sky, and the sun beginning to set. It was beautiful. I stayed there for a while, letting the serenity of the landscape wash over me. It was a rare moment of peace before the chaos that was to come.

As night fell, I set up a small camp, lit a fire, and prepared some food. I couldn't help but message Albedo.

"Staying the night on the mountain. The view is amazing. I'll send you a picture later. How's everything with you?"

"Almost at Mother's Crown. I'm staying there for the night, it's the safest place around here," she replied after a few minutes.

We continued chatting about small things, the kind of conversation that kept the loneliness at bay, until she reached Mother's Crown and I began to settle in for the night. The climb had taken its toll, and i needed rest. Tomorrow, the descent would be just as exhausting.

"Albedo, you there yet?"

"Just arrived. Took me a while to lose my tail. Guess the Matriarchs don't fully trust me."

That little confrontation the other day had made things complicated, but I wasn't surprised.

"Almost there myself. Get started on the base. I know it's small and cold, but it'll have to do for now."

"Yes, my King," she replied, her tone warm. "We can always warm each other."

Her words were a quiet whisper, full of meaning.

I smiled at the thought, then ended the call.

Now, it was time to move stealthily and avoid distractions. The walk was long and tedious, but it gave me time to familiarize myself with the lay of the land. Soon, I reached the cave that would serve as our new base. Albedo greeted me with a smile and dinner prepared, like a good partner. What a perfect woman.

After we ate and finalized our plans for the future, the conversation turned to the task at hand, hunting Carja.

"We'll need to be careful," I said, my voice low as I set down my bowl. "The Carja are more than just soldiers, they're hunters, too. We can't let them get wind of us too soon."

Albedo nodded, her expression serious. "I know. They've been getting more bold lately, sending patrols deeper into Nora lands. But we've got the advantage. They're not used to this terrain, and they don't know how quickly we can strike."

I smiled grimly. "Exactly. We'll use the mountains and the forests to our advantage. Ambushes, hit-and-run tactics. I'll need you to stay close, make sure I don't get spotted while I set up the traps."

She met my gaze with a determined look. "You know I'm with you, always. We'll make them pay for everything they've done."

The fire crackled in the background, the warmth a stark contrast to the cold resolve in our hearts. We had been planning this for months, and now, it was time to put our plans into motion.

"We'll start by targeting their supply routes," I said, pacing slowly. "They're vulnerable there. We cut off their food and weapons, make them feel the strain. Then, we pick off their scouts, their weak points, until they bleed"

"And once we've got them bleeding?" Albedo asked, her voice soft but full of intent.

"Then we go for the heart," I replied. "Their leaders. We take them out one by one, make them fall apart. Once their command structure crumbles, we'll have them. And that's when we'll strike at the Carja Daytower. We burn it all to the ground. But we will need more people before that"

Her eyes gleamed with a fiery passion. "I'm ready. We'll bring them down, piece by piece. No mercy."

I reached over and squeezed her hand, a quiet moment of connection in the midst of the storm we were about to unleash. "No mercy."

We finished our meal in silence, each of us steeling ourselves for what lay ahead. Tomorrow, we would begin. Carja blood would flow like a river, and we would be the ones to make it happen.

The next morning, I woke early, the first light of dawn barely peeking over the horizon. The mountains were still and silent, but I could feel the weight of our plans hanging in the air. Albedo was already awake, sharpening her weapons with a calm precision that mirrored my own thoughts. Her presence was a steadying force, and I appreciated that. In a world full of uncertainty, she was my anchor.

After a quick breakfast, we packed up our camp and began our trek through the mountains, heading toward the first of the Carja supply routes she had identified while at Mothers Crown.

We reached the first checkpoint by midday, a small Carja outpost that looked more like a supply depot than a stronghold. It was heavily guarded, but nothing we couldn't handle. We moved swiftly, using the cover of the terrain to get close. Albedo took position on the ridge above, watching for any signs of movement, while I crept closer to the outpost, my bow ready.

The plan was simple, disable the supply line, cause chaos, and disappear before anyone could retaliate. I could hear the faint sounds of voices from the camp below, the guards oblivious to the danger creeping closer. I signaled to Albedo, and within moments, she had dropped a small explosive charge onto the camp's perimeter. 

I moved quickly, taking out the guards one by one with silent precision. The first two never saw me coming. The third, a Carja scout, was more alert, but a swift strike to his neck silenced him before he could raise the alarm. The others were no match for my speed and skill. Albedo provided cover from above, her bow singing with deadly accuracy whenever anyone got too close.

It didn't take long to sabotage the supplies, setting fire to the crates of food and weapons, ensuring that the Carja would feel the loss for days. The fire was controlled, just enough to cause panic without completely destroying the entire outpost. By the time we were finished, the guards were in disarray, running around trying to salvage what they could.

We left as quickly as we had come, disappearing into the wilderness, our mission a success. But I knew this was only the beginning. The Carja would retaliate, but we would be ready. They had underestimated us before, and they would do so again.

As we made our way back to the cave, I couldn't help but think of the bigger picture. This was more than just a revenge mission. This was about reclaiming what had been taken from us, about showing the world that we wouldn't be silenced or forgotten, reclaiming our captive people and free the rest of the other tribes slaves. 

Albedo stayed close, her expression serious but determined. We hadn't spoken much since the mission, but I could feel the shared resolve between us. We were a team, and we would make sure the Carja felt our presence at every turn.

That night, as we sat by the fire once more, I knew the war had only just begun. But with Albedo by my side, I was confident we would succeed. Together, we would bring the Carja to their knees, and nothing would stand in our way.

"We're not done yet," I said, my voice low but full of conviction.

"No," she replied, her voice a whisper of promise. "We're just getting started."

--------------------------------------------

For 25 power stones a new chapter