Midday sunlight crept up through the stone windows of Oakhaven Fortress’s main hall.
The fortress still buzzed with activity.
Hundreds of mountain clan members hurried back and forth carrying wooden crates, fixing the broken gate hinges, and reorganizing the food supplies in the underground storage.
Valerie stood beside a long wooden table in the map room.
A small piece of charcoal was in her hand as she marked black X’s over several points in the western part of the kingdom.
“You still haven’t rested since last night, Valerie,” Caleb’s voice came from the wooden doorway.
Valerie turned slowly and gave a faint smile.
“The battle isn’t over yet, Caleb.
Taking this fortress was only the first step.” Caleb walked closer, letting his black cloak shift softly behind him.
He pulled out a wooden chair beside the table and sat down, his tall frame settling into it.
“Our supplies are better now, but the soldiers need time to breathe.
Varkas and his officers are still celebrating the victory in the main hall.” “This victory could turn into a disaster if we get careless,” Valerie answered, pointing to a round spot on the western side of the map.
“Look at this.” Caleb leaned forward, narrowing his golden eyes at the spot Valerie pointed to.
“The logistics store and weapons depot in the western sector.” “Exactly,” Valerie nodded quickly, tapping the tip of her charcoal against the parchment.
“The news of Oakhaven Fortress falling has definitely reached your brother in the capital.
What do you think he’ll do first?” Caleb went quiet for a moment and rubbed the short stubble on his chin.
“He’ll probably strengthen the western defense line to slow us down.” “Not just strengthen it,” Valerie cut in, staring straight into Caleb’s eyes.
“He’ll send thousands of fresh weapons and food supplies from that western warehouse to his main forces in the capital.
If they manage to combine their strength, our base here will get squeezed from two sides.” Caleb slammed his fist lightly on the table, making the thick wood creak.
“So you want us to hit that warehouse before the enemy can move everything out?” “Not with an open assault,” Valerie corrected him, a strange smile curling on her lips.
“We’re going to shut it down from the inside.” “Shut it down from the inside?” Caleb repeated, his brow furrowing in confusion.
“If we bring the whole army to smash the western warehouse, the capital troops will spot our movement right away,” Valerie explained, drawing an imaginary line from Oakhaven Fortress to the western warehouse with her finger.
“We need a fast infiltration operation.
Destroy their weapons stock, burn their food stores, then pull back before the main guards realize what happened.” “That’s way too dangerous for you!!!” Caleb shot up from his chair, his eyes flashing hard.
“The western warehouse is guarded by the elite iron wolf division!
They are not ordinary soldiers like the ones we faced in the valley!” “Who said I was going into the actual fight zone?” Valerie raised an eyebrow, looking at Caleb with complete calm.
“I’m the strategist, Caleb, not some executioner swinging a giant sword.” “But you’ll still be on the front line!” Caleb insisted, stepping closer until his shadow covered Valerie’s body.
“I’ll direct things from a safe distance, just like last night,” Valerie argued, gently patting Caleb’s chest with her palm.
“Trust me.
Without the supplies from the western warehouse, your brother’s main troops in the capital will start starving in a week.” Caleb let out a long sigh and dragged a hand down his face.
“Sometimes I think your brain is made of stone, Valerie.” “Is that a compliment or an insult, Wolf Prince?” Valerie shot back with a soft laugh.
“That was a warning,” Caleb said, scolding her, though the corner of his mouth lifted a little too.
The map room door suddenly swung open wide.
Vane came in breathing a little hard, and he bowed respectfully toward Caleb and Valerie.
“Prince!
Miss Valerie!
Our scouts at the new border just returned!” Vane reported, his voice tight.
“What did they find, Vane?” Caleb asked, his calm already gone.
“Three enemy iron wagon convoys are moving toward the western logistics warehouse,” Vane explained, sweeping his gaze over the map on the table.
“They’re carrying hundreds of crates of poisoned arrows and extra grain reserves.
The convoy is expected to arrive by dawn tomorrow.” Valerie slapped the table in excitement, her eyes shining bright.
“Perfect timing!” Caleb shot her a stunned look.
“Perfect!?
That convoy is going to strengthen the western warehouse’s defense, Valerie!” “That’s exactly our opening, Caleb!” Valerie exclaimed, pointing at the road junction near the warehouse.
“When a large convoy enters the warehouse area, the outer gate will have to open wide for unloading.
The fortress guards will be busy handling those heavy crates.
Their attention will split completely!” Vane nodded slowly, starting to understand Valerie’s logic.
“You’re right, miss.
Unloading is the weakest point in the warehouse security system.” “How many guards are there right now, Vane?” Caleb asked, beginning to lean toward Valerie’s argument.
“About two hundred elite soldiers,” Vane answered at once.
“But if the transport convoy joins them, the number rises to three hundred fifty.” “Then we have to move before all the cargo is unloaded!” Valerie said firmly, looking back and forth between Vane and Caleb.
“We only need a small unit moving fast and quiet.” “I’ll lead the infiltration unit,” Caleb decided, patting the sword at his waist.
“I’m coming with the infiltration unit, Prince!” Vane offered without hesitation.
“No, Vane,” Valerie cut in, shaking her head.
“You need to stay here with Varkas and hold Oakhaven Fortress.
If the enemy launches a sudden counterattack here, this fortress needs your leadership.” “But miss…” Vane hesitated, looking at Caleb for support.
“Listen to Miss Valerie, Vane!” Caleb added, backing Valerie’s decision.
“You and Varkas are our last line of defense here!” “Yes, Prince.
I understand,” Vane said, bowing his head and accepting the order.
Valerie looked back at the map and drew a small circle around the forest north of the western warehouse.
“We move today.
We rest one night behind the northern hills, then we strike right at midnight before the unloading is finished.” “Why midnight?” Caleb asked, tilting his head.
“Aren’t the transport convoys arriving near dawn?” “The front line usually sends advance teams a few hours earlier to prepare the area,” Valerie explained, laying out her analysis.
“Midnight is when the warehouse guards are the most tired and their attention is pulled away by the preparations for the convoy’s arrival.” Caleb stared at Valerie with a look of awe he could not fully hide.
“You really think through every tiny detail like that?” “In my world, chess is taught as a game where you think ten moves ahead, Caleb,” Valerie replied, giving him a playful wink.
“Chess?” Caleb tilted his head.
“That human board game?” “I’ll teach you later, after this war is over,” Valerie chuckled, rolling up the papers on the table.
An hour later, the small strike team began preparing in Oakhaven Fortress’s inner courtyard.
Caleb picked only twenty of the best mountain clan soldiers, silent hunters who were used to moving through darkness without making a sound.
Varkas marched up to the small group with a sour face.
His huge hands gripped the shaft of his war axe tightly.
“WHY WASN’T I INCLUDED IN THE INFILTRATION MISSION, PRINCE!?” Varkas roared, puffing out his broad chest.
“Your body is too big, Varkas,” Valerie answered before Caleb could speak, making a few young soldiers snicker quietly.
“Your giant steps would shake the ground from a mile away.” Varkas stared at Valerie with wide eyes, then blew a loud breath through his nose.
“Are you mocking my size, human girl!?” “I’m stating tactical fact, Chief Varkas,” Valerie said easily, not at all bothered by his glare.
“We need a stealth cat for this mission, not a war bear.” Varkas went silent for a moment, then burst out laughing in a heavy, booming sound.
“Good!
That’s a sharp answer!
But make sure you come back in one piece, Valerie!
Who else is going to come up with insane plans for me if you die in the western warehouse!?” “Don’t worry, Varkas,” Valerie said with a steady smile.
“I’m not planning to die in this world yet.” Caleb stepped in front of the twenty chosen soldiers.
His battle outfit had been replaced with a dark black hunting cloak, with no shiny armor that could catch the light.
“Tonight’s task is simple,” Caleb announced in a low, controlled voice.
“We go in, cut off the enemy’s supply line, burn their weapons warehouse, and come back before sunrise!
No stupid hero moves that put the group at risk!” “Yes, Prince!” the twenty soldiers answered together, pounding their fists to their chests.
“Vane, lock the fortress gate from the inside after we leave,” Caleb gave his final order to his subordinate.
“Yes, Prince Caleb!
May the ancestors bless your path!” Vane said, shaking Caleb’s hand firmly.
The sun was already sliding west when the small group moved out from Oakhaven Fortress.
They didn’t use the main road.
Instead, they followed bushes and steep cliff gaps through the Gray Hills.
Valerie walked in the middle of the formation, with Caleb in front of her and two wolf soldiers behind.
Even though her human body was not as strong as the wolves’, Valerie worked hard to keep pace so she would not slow the team down.
“You okay?” Caleb whispered without stopping, turning his head slightly back.
“My breathing is still fine, chatty prince,” Valerie answered, a little winded, wiping sweat from her forehead.
“If you get tired, tell me,” Caleb offered, his eyes full of honest concern.
“I can carry you.” “Don’t be ridiculous!” Valerie refused quickly, her cheeks warming a little.
“Your soldiers will laugh if they see their leader carrying a human in the middle of a mission!” “Let them laugh,” Caleb muttered, which made Valerie laugh softly under her cloak.
The march continued as the shadows of the trees stretched longer and longer.
The mountain air turned colder and started slipping through the cloak fabric.
After nearly four hours of travel, the group reached a rocky hilltop covered in thick bushes.
“Stop!” Caleb signaled with one hand, lowering himself behind a large boulder.
The entire team dropped low at once, blending into the shadow of the landscape.
Valerie crawled quietly beside Caleb and peered through the narrow gap between the rocks toward the lower valley.
Down below stood a double walled wooden fortress complex.
Four watch towers rose at each corner, and huge torches were beginning to light up in the hands of the guards.
Inside the complex were dozens of straw roofed warehouses holding tons of grain and thousands of enemy weapons.
“That’s the western logistics warehouse,” Caleb whispered right beside Valerie’s ear.
Valerie narrowed her eyes, studying the patrol pattern on the towers.
“Look at the east tower.
The guard there yawns every ten minutes.” “Their sense of smell is also dulled by torch smoke and the smell of wet grain in the yard,” Caleb added, sniffing the air as night began to settle.
“Good,” Valerie said with a satisfied smile.
“Just like we expected.
Now we wait for the advance convoy to arrive and create a little chaos at the main gate.” “And what exactly is your role once we get inside, Valerie?” Caleb asked, turning to the girl beside him with a serious expression.
Valerie took out two small glass bottles from her waist pouch.
Inside was a thick black oil with a sharp, cutting smell.
“What is that stuff!?” Caleb frowned, pulling his head back a little.
“Concentrated pine oil mixed with sulfur,” Valerie explained, shaking the glass bottles slowly.
“One drop of this can burn down a wooden building in seconds.
And more important…
the smell can cripple the wolf soldiers’ sense of smell around the warehouse.” Caleb stared at the tiny bottles in Valerie’s hands, stunned.
“You made a smell poison again!?” “This is not poison.
It’s enemy stability fuel,” Valerie said back, smirking faintly.
“Once the weapons warehouse catches fire and this sulfur smell spreads, the guards will panic because their noses will burn with pain.
They won’t be able to track where the attack is coming from.” A young wolf soldier standing behind Valerie swallowed hard after hearing that, staring at her with fear and admiration at the same time.
“That girl is a real tactical demon,” the young soldier whispered to his friend.
“SHUT IT!!!” Caleb hissed, though his own eyes were locked on Valerie with open pride.
“The night is getting deeper,” Valerie whispered, pointing toward the southern road in the valley.
“Look over there.” A line of torchlight moved slowly around the southern bend of the hill.
The squeal of wooden wagon wheels began to cut faintly through the silence.
The enemy’s advance convoy had finally reached the western warehouse area.
The giant wooden gate of the warehouse complex slowly opened wide.
Dozens of guard soldiers rushed out from their posts, busy welcoming the convoy and helping direct the wagons into the inner yard.
Small bursts of disorder and the noise of iron wheels started taking over the whole place.
“Time’s here,” Caleb whispered, gripping his sword hilt tightly.
“Remember the plan, Caleb,” Valerie reminded him, touching his sleeve.
“The main targets are the weapons warehouse on the west side and the main grain store in the center.
Once the fire starts, pull the troops back immediately!” “I understand,” Caleb nodded once.
He turned toward the two personal guards.
“KEEP VALERIE ON THIS HILL!!!
IF ANYTHING LOOKS OFF, GET HER BACK TO BASE AT ONCE!!!” “Yes, Prince!” both soldiers answered firmly.
“Be careful, Caleb,” Valerie whispered, her eyes locked deeply into the wolf prince’s golden gaze.
Caleb gave a small nod, then flicked his cloak and gave a silent command.
“Night shadows…
close ranks and infiltrate now!” In a blink, Caleb and his eighteen soldiers leaped from behind the stone cliff and slid down into the night without a sound.
They blended into the tree shadows and crawled toward the quiet back wall of the western warehouse.
Valerie stayed on the hilltop with her two guards, holding her breath as she watched their biggest sabotage operation begin beneath the cover of the pitch black night.