Adams’ POV
I kicked my horse’s sides and felt it leap forward while the wind blew around us. Dale rode next to me still looking like a proud new warrior in my elite group.
I glanced at him as if his vows showed in his face and shone with pride and resolve.
We knew our mission well, but I felt a tight knot of worry in my stomach as we got closer to Thornvale Village.
“Your Highness, do you think this might just be a false alarm?” Dale yelled above the loud noise of our horses’ hooves.
“Rogue sightings don’t just pop up for no reason, Dale!” I replied while sounding confident. “I trust my gut feelings. We can’t let them endanger the village. We must defend our home and our people!”
Behind us, a dozen of my best fighters rode fiercely with their faces showing strong determination.
Each man was a symbol of our proud heritage- a history built through many fights and earned wins. They had come to my side with intense loyalty and today that loyalty will be challenged.
As we approached the edge of Thornvale, we started to hear fighting around us, which was mixed with the far-off clashing of swords and the scared cries of villagers. Smoke rose into the air, creating a dark cloud over the scenery.
“Wait!” I lifted my hand while stopping the group suddenly. Horses snorted as we pulled back. “Ronan,” I called to my Beta. “Go ahead and check things out.”
Ronan nodded firmly with his resolve shining like the fire of the fight before him. “I’ll be back soon.” With no more words he urged his fast horse forward while vanishing into the turmoil.
I could sense the nervous energy in the air. My fighters next to me held their swords tightly with their breaths, breaking the quiet along with the faraway shouts of battle. “This doesn’t feel good,” one man whispered.
“Fear makes us weak,” I said confidently, even though I felt unsure inside. “We are together. We will win.”
The noise of war surrounded us with a mix of metal clashing and cries of pain that made my skin prickle. Each minute felt like forever until Ronan finally broke through the chaos with his face serious but determined. He jumped off his horse quickly with the urgency in him clear.
“Your Highness, the rogues have surrounded the village,” Ronan said while panting from his ride. “There are too many for our troops. The soldiers you sent earlier are holding up, but they won’t last without our help. They’re having a hard time defending.”
I looked at my men with their eyes determined. “Prepare yourselves, men!” I ordered. But Ronan’s voice interrupted the rising storm.
“Hold on! If you give me twenty of our best fighters, I could change everything. Just twenty,” he urged with his voice, a deep growl full of determination.
“Twenty?” I raised an eyebrow with a slight smile forming on my lips. I admired Ronan’s courage. “Do you really believe you can manage with just that number? This isn’t just about us, it’s the future of our whole pack on the line.”
“Trust me Your Highness,” Ronan urged, while staring at me so hard it was hard to doubt him. “I know both these guys and our enemy. I can handle it.”
Looking at Ronan’s serious face made me feel proud. “Alright. You will get thirty of the best,” I said, while looking at the men. In a strong voice, I gave them quick orders. “You all heard him! You ride with passion!”
With strong resolve, Ronan took the selected fighters away with their shapes quickly disappearing into the growing chaos of the fight. I stayed behind with those who remained, feeling our horses become uneasy under us.
“Look over there!” I shouted while pointing to the nearby hill. “We’ll find a higher place.”
As we climbed higher, the confusion below became easier to see. From where we stood I could spot Ronan and his men diving right into the battle.
I felt proud and turned to one of the fighters next to me. “Pay attention. This is what leadership looks like.”
The air buzzed with fear and excitement. I watched every move-the clash of swords and the shouts of battle-as I felt the burden of duty resting on our brave fighters.
Ronan was a force of energy, yelling orders with great passion. I could nearly see the shift in the fight. It felt like just him was changing the outcome of the battle.
Groups of rogues went down in front of him and I noticed the fear spreading among them when they saw our new backup.
“He’s a Beta like no other.” one of the guys next to me said, clearly impressed. “Just look at how he moves! Did you ever doubt him, Your Highness?”
“I never did,” I said with a happy smile spreading on my face. “Ronan is just what we need.”
But then among the noise of the battle I noticed someone else-a warrior bravely fighting against the oncoming attackers. This fighter moved with each swing of their sword accurately and was slicing through foes with amazing skill.
“Who is that fighter?” I narrowed my eyes while I tried to see who they were.
“I don’t know,” was the answer. “But they have energy. Look at how they bring people together? Whoever it is, they act like they carry the world’s troubles.”
I felt a strong determination as I focused intently. This rogue slayer might not have the same presence as Ronan, but they captured attention, making the enemy angry with every move of their sword.
The fight continued with the cheers of victory echoing around like a loud drum. Every now and then, a horn would sound cutting through the noise-a joyful shout that filled me with hope, but the fight went on like a fierce animal taking everything in its way.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, cheers of joy broke out all around us. The horn blew again, ringing loudly in the village-a sign that we had won. I felt a wave of relief come over me and my body began to relax as the battle turned clearly in our favor.
“Let’s go!” I shouted while guiding my fellow warriors down to the village. Our spirits lifted with victory.
The earth shook from our excitement. I pushed my horse ahead and as I got closer to the fight, I saw Ronan hurt, but standing strong in the victory scene. The fighters around him celebrated by patting each other’s backs while feeling joyful in the aftermath of battle.
“Ronan!” I shouted while getting off quickly and feeling proud. “You did it!”
“Your Highness!” Ronan turned with a big smile on his tired face. “Our pack has won! We fought bravely.”
During the celebration I noticed the warrior who had caught my eye before. His short hair was messy with sweat and blood, but he didn’t look defeated at all.
It was Dale….! Just a few hours after his vows, he was there among the chaos with his sword shining as he looked for any remaining enemies.
“Dale,” I said with my heart filled with surprise. “How…?”