Tasunka

"Sir, another message from Viscountess Stuart," Rain, his usually helpful assistant, interrupted him with yet another message during his morning meditation. He knew it wasn't the man's fault, but it was becoming increasingly difficult not to blame the man.

"What does she want now?" Tasunka sighed in exasperation. It was nearly every other day that a new message from the woman came in telling him one thing or another.

He was going too fast. He was going too slow. He wasn't following the right route. His usually calmer nerves were already worn thin, and her constant micromanaging didn't help.

Even worse, with every message, it became clear that she thought that she was above him. That rankled more than any interruption or message could. She was not above him. She may have a more advanced title, but it wasn't like those mattered much.

The only thing that mattered was personal power, and he was about to show them, her, and everyone else that he wasn't someone who could be stepped on and pushed around.

Not anymore, and never again.

Taking the offered message, he opened it and read through it quickly. It was yet another request for confirmation. They were set to attack simultaneously, and she was asking yet again if he was prepared.

"Send back the affirmative," Tasunka bit back a frustrated growl. He wasn't sure how much longer he could put up with the woman's demands.

Sure, he understood that communication was important, but it was closer to nagging at this point. Ever since the Northern faction got involved, their back-and-forths have exploded in number.

She acted like their inclusion made it so much different. They were only a few thousand men, fewer than how many he currently had with him. They would raise the difficulty, but not by much.

Even their Lord of Ice wouldn't be able to stop them.

Tasunka grinned just thinking about the fight they would have. After so many stories and rumors around the man, it would be satisfying to lay them to rest. It would only be pure circumstance that such awe would be transferred to the one who felled him.

But that wasn't the point of this entire thing.

It was just a nice, well-placed bonus and an opportunity he wouldn't pass up. He'd spear the man through and thank him for being the stepping stone to ever higher. The essence he would get from the man just made the entire thing even better.

That was the main reason he was doing this.

Essence was the end-all all be-all, and it was only a matter of time before people recognized that fact. Essence granted power, and power was the only thing that mattered now.

It was a fact the Ice Lord knew as well. His attack and slaughter of that city was proof of that.

The treasure was just the excuse. Sure, it was something he would use after getting his hands on it, but it was the levels, the skill upgrades, and everything else this fight would give that made him agree to this 'coalition'.

The test had proved trying, but it had also given them much. The gain in power was well worth the losses acquired. Now, more than ever, did they need to be strong, for if they didn't, their home would be taken from them by those who would defile it.

His Spirit was beginning to rile at the thought, but deep breaths allowed him to fall back into meditation. His [Centering Meditation] Skill helped, but it was so much more than that. It was a cleansing and revitalizing of the Spirit, not just a way to center the mind.

His aggravation over the messages, his weariness from two weeks of travel, his frustrations, all of it fell away as he prepared his mind, body, and Spirit for the following day.

Tomorrow, Tasunka would drive his Faction one step closer to where they needed to be.

Tasunka exited his tent with a smile. The wind was in a fury, blowing snow and frost whichever way it desired. It bent trees and rattled branches as it blew through the forest. It was getting ready for what was to come. He could feel it blowing across his skin.

It was going to be a good day.

His army broke camp with practiced hands. Tents were put away, and all trace of their presence disappeared. Fires were snuffed out and the coals buried.

It was time.

Before Tasunka could get on Akecheta, Mo walked over with a stern face bordering on grim. It didn't bode well for the news he brought, but that didn't dampen Tasunka's spirits.

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"What news do you bring, Mo?" Tasunka greeted his lifelong friend and Second in command.

"Riders have found traps and potential ambush sites ahead. Thomans was killed, but the rest were able to be patched up with nothing too serious." Mo reported.

"Did his horse go with him?" Tasunka asked, and Mo nodded.

While the death of one of his Scouts was a blow, it was expected. There would sadly be more before the day was over.

"I will see you again," Tasunka whispered with finality before pushing the sorrow away, for the day had yet to begin and more would would walk with him before the sun set.

"How wide is the trapped area? Is there a way around?" He asked, but he had a feeling about what the answer would be.

He was proven correct when Mo answered, "We aren't sure, but suspect that the entire area has been trapped. We've seen the blockages up and down the forest. If they've gone through the effort to do that, they've spent the same effort preparing here."

Tasunka nodded and agreed.

"We push on," he said, as there wasn't anything else they could do.

Mo wanted to argue, but nodded and walked away. He knew it was that there wasn't anything else they could do. The forest was too thick to go through, and every place they could have gone around was already blocked. It was possible to blow through one of them, but it would take too long.

Plus, going around wasn't the point for why they were here. There was no essence to be gained from going around.

Scouts, Rogues, and Mages did their best to sweep the way forward, but traps continued to plague their travel. Thomans wasn't the only one to fall to them, and that number continued to rise.

Still, they pushed on.

The snow deepened, and the cold bit harder, which proved that they were getting near. The first ambush site Mo reported was passed without a hitch. The fabricated snow bank held nothing but days-old tracks.

The next site was more of the same.

Which made it worse when that changed.

Before Tasunka could shout a warning, arrows flew from the forest with unnerving accuracy and speed. Before anyone knew it, a dozen more riders were felled with arrows splitting throats and burrowing into skulls.

Riders sprinted off into the woods but came back a few minutes later with nothing to show for it. The snow was too deep and the woods too thick. They were also too close to the enemy, where any pursuit could see them led into yet another trap.

They were on guard after that, but more blood was shed. Not every shot led to a death, but there was at least one with every volley.

Tasunka knew it was the same person every time who drove the death toll higher. The strike held a level of power above the rest, and those it was aimed at held no chance. The difference was too much.

D-rank Ranger, Lightning affinity, and a Tier 2 Law. The speed was the biggest threat, but the power it punched wasn't that far behind.

Who wou–

Danger!

His spear swept up, and a howling wind followed in its wake as a metal clang rang out. Wood splintered and sprayed around him as an arrow disintegrated upon contact, which had been aimed for his head.

The Ranger had taken aim at him this time. Akecheta neighed angrily at the sudden attack, but held firm as he swung around to face the enemy. He could feel his steed's urge to sprint off after the one responsible, but he kept it from following through.

Not yet.

Arrows were fired back, but like the past few times, they hit nothing. The speed with which they disengaged was too swift. By the time their arrows were in the air, they were already sprinting away.

When riders were too furious and ran off after them, traps sprang from the forest, cutting them down before they even made it close.

The entire area was one big death trap, and they hadn't even seen their enemy yet.

Chris

The first rays of the morning arrived late, and the heat they were supposed to bring with them never arrived. Scouts had Tasunka and the Reservation attacking today. Their pace was slower than our two-week estimate, which gave us more than enough time to be ready.

It also gave me more than enough time to make sure it was as cold as possible. I wasn't alone in my efforts either.

As people exited their enchanted tents, they were bundled up and ready for both the weather and war. Those weak to the cold were so covered that the only exposed skin was their face, but even that was partially covered to keep the heat in.

They were already seeking out Cold Resistance potions to keep the cold at bay.

I wasn't sure what the temperature was, but it was nearly as cold as my trip to the Arctic Circle, which I was impressed by.

While everyone went about their pre-battle rituals, I sat in my tent and took in an aroma I hadn't inhaled in much too long. Rachel had returned from the Assembly, and while we had left a few days before her arrival, she sent along a well-appreciated package.

The smell of coffee had once again entered my life, and it was a blessing I wouldn't be giving up a second time. Apparently, a Faction in Florida could grow the bean even though it wasn't the perfect place for it.

I would have to ensure that the supply line stayed open no matter the cost.

While I sipped on my coffee, I thought about what I had just approved. Traps were one thing, but filling someone with arrows while they weren't prepared was something entirely different.

It felt... questionable. It felt too similar to what Lakeshore did with the Assassins.

But I had approved Sydney's request anyway. To deny it was both hypocritical and stupid. We had leverage, and we should use it. Saying no would only cost someone's life when the battle started.

She took a hand-picked unit to go with her, and I hoped they wouldn't get caught. A few hours in, I heard of the first success. A dozen dead. The second, a half dozen. The third dropped four more.

Traps caught another few.

I almost called her off when she used herself as bait to draw them into the forest and into more traps, but I didn't.

She continued to drain them and made every step closer paid in blood.

Then she took a shot at Tasunka. I couldn't entirely blame her, but it was a risky move. Taking him out early would make the day all that much easier. While her gorilla tactics bled them, it didn't do much for their overall numbers. They were over 5,000 strong, losing nearly a hundred to arrows, didn't swing much in the grand scheme of things.

Added together with the traps, it was barely a few percent of the total.

Hal parted the tent flap and gave me a nod.

It was time. They were here. Sydney had had her fun, but now it was time for the rest of us to get involved.

My breastplate slid on smoothly, its holes patched up from the bear. A new set would have taken too long, leaving the markings from that fight to decorate the metal. The pauldrons were dented, but would hold. Various scars marred the plate, but it had been repaired enough that they weren't detrimental to its effect.

Scarred or not, it would do its job.

Once more, my friend, I said as I picked up my hammer.

Once more.

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