Chapter 90: The Trap
Meanwhile, the battle at Carles had ended almost too quickly. General Odin and his five hundred soldiers had stormed the government building, expecting fierce resistance—yet the enemy barely fought before surrendering. The ease of their victory left a sour taste in General Odin’s mouth.
His lieutenant, sensing his unease, had tried to reason with him.
"Perhaps they’re tired of war and see no point in further bloodshed. It was futile of them to do so anyway. They have also learned of the defeat of the other strongholds, which must be the reason for their surrender." His lieutenant has said earlier.
General Odin had nodded at the time, but the gnawing doubt remained. Something was off. And what troubled him even more was that Asael’s Eagle Team had yet to return. That alone was enough to put him on edge.
As dusk settled over Carles, bringing with it the biting chill of December, a group of townsfolk arrived at the camp with baskets of food. They said they had suffered from the Estalis soldiers and claimed to be grateful for their liberation, offering warm meals as a token of thanks.
The scent of steaming broth and freshly cooked rice wafted through the air, stirring hunger in the weary Northem soldiers. They had fought hard, traveled far, and had not tasted a proper meal in days. The sight of hot food was almost too much to resist.
At supper, as was custom, General Odin planned to address his men—to commend those who had shown courage in battle before allowing them the first pick of the meal. But before he could return to the hall, some of the hungriest soldiers, unable to wait, grabbed bowls of soup and began eating.
The first soldier to take a sip let out a contented sigh. "I doubt the general will scold us. We’re starving, and the soup will get cold in this weather."
But before he could finish his thought, his body jerked violently. The wooden bowl tumbled from his hands, spilling its contents across the floor as he clutched his stomach in agony. A strangled groan escaped his lips.
Then another soldier staggered, hands trembling. Then another. And another.
A ripple of horror spread across the hall as men doubled over in pain, their faces twisted in agony.