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A torrent of flaming arrows was about to rain down upon them when Griswold finally realized that Cedric had not been bluffing.
The Lord Commander truly would rather die than betray Rowan. Griswold had only intended to frighten him into submission, yet now it was clearly obvious that fear alone would never bend a man like Cedric.
His expression darkened as he lifted a hand. “Halt p>
At once, the archers stopped, holding back the arrows they had already drawn. Griswold leaned over the ledge, his narrowed eyes fixed on Cedric before his lips curled into a cold smile. “Leave Cedric. Kill the rest p>
He had changed his mind at the last possible moment because, no matter the cost, someone as formidable as Cedric was too valuable to throw away.
If he could somehow force the Lord Commander onto his side, he would gain an asset far greater than the lives of the men standing below.
Unfortunately for him, that single order became the flaw in an otherwise flawless trap.
Even the cleverest minds faltered under pressure, and Cedric caught that mistake the instant it was made. “Raise your shields!” he ordered sharply before adding without the slightest hesitation, “Push forward. Our target is Griswold p>
His men obeyed immediately. Heavy shields rose together, locking into formation just as the first volley of flaming arrows streaked through the air.
Sparks burst against steel while arrows ricocheted off their armor and scattered across the stone floor, where flames quickly spread over the dry ground instead.
Without wasting even a heartbeat, Cedric urged them forward. Protected beneath their shields, they forced their way ahead, taking advantage of the brief moment before another volley could be prepared.
Even so, not everyone escaped untouched.
Two knights positioned near the edges of the formation cried out as burning arrows pierced their legs. Fire climbed their greaves in an instant, forcing them to stumble as they desperately tried to pull the arrows free. Before either of them could recover, more arrows rained down around them, knocking them to the ground while the flames swallowed the space they had occupied only moments before.
Seeing the fire still burning fiercely across the entrance, Griswold’s fighters couldn’t charge recklessly without setting themselves ablaze. Instead, they advanced cautiously behind their own shields, waiting for the flames to weaken.
By the time the burning arrows had finished their work and the archers reached for another volley, Cedric had already anticipated their next move. “To the passage!” he commanded.
Rather than meeting the overwhelming force head-on, Cedric deliberately led his men into the narrow corridor running through the abandoned fortress.
It was barely wide enough for several men to fight abreast, making Griswold’s overwhelming numbers almost useless.
The enemy surged after them regardless.
Steel crashed violently against steel as both sides collided within the confined passage. Swords flashed relentlessly while shields slammed into one another, the deafening clang of metal echoing throughout the fortress. Men grunted through clenched teeth, each swing carrying enough force to split armor while bodies continued to fall one after another without mercy.
Watching from above, the archers on the western platform believed they had a clear opportunity.
They released another volley.
Only this time, the battle below had become chaotic.
The arrows fell indiscriminately into the narrow corridor, striking whoever happened to stand beneath them.
One of Griswold’s own soldiers screamed as a flaming arrow buried itself deep into his shoulder before another pierced the man beside him. Fire spread across armor and clothing alike, and in the confusion, both Cedric’s men and Griswold’s soldiers found themselves burning together.
Griswold’s face twisted with fury. “You fools!” he roared. “You’re killing our own men p>
The archers immediately froze, horrified by the destruction they had caused, while arguments erupted among Griswold’s forces.
The instant disorder spread through the enemy ranks, Cedric abandoned the corridor altogether and charged straight for the staircase leading to the upper platform.
“My Lord Commander p>
One of his knights reached toward him instinctively. “It’s dangerous p>
Cedric never slowed as he knew the only way to end the battle was to seize the man commanding it.
The archers abandoned their bows at once, drawing their swords as Cedric burst onto the upper level. Several of them rushed him simultaneously, believing that superior numbers would finally bring the Lord Commander down.
Instead, they found themselves facing a warrior worthy of the title he carried.
Steel rang sharply as Cedric met the first attack, deflecting the blade before driving his own sword cleanly across the man’s chest. The second attacker lunged from his side, only to receive a crushing elbow that sent him stumbling backward. Before he could recover, Cedric’s blade swept across his neck.
Another rushed from behind.
Cedric spun, catching the incoming strike before kicking the man hard against the stone railing. The force threw the archer completely over the edge.
His scream echoed through the fortress before his body struck the ground below with a sickening crack.
The remaining archers hesitated for only a fraction of a second.
Cedric advanced relentlessly, every movement precise and efficient. He wasn’t wasting strength on unnecessary attacks, nor did he pursue those who were already beaten. Every strike was intended either to disable or kill, and each opponent who stepped before him was cut down within moments.
Because Griswold had forbidden them from killing Cedric, the archers found themselves holding back at the very moment they should have fought without restraint. That hesitation cost them dearly.
One after another, they fell. Some collapsed with slashed arms before Cedric’s sword finished the fight. Others were driven backward until they toppled over the narrow platform altogether, disappearing into the chaos below while the battle continued to rage beneath them.
Even downstairs, Cedric’s knights refused to surrender. Though heavily outnumbered, they continued holding the passage exactly as their commander had instructed, preventing reinforcements from reaching the upper floor.
Griswold watched everything unfold with clenched teeth.
His men were dying before his eyes, and the Lord Commander still looked terrifyingly composed.