Chapter 36: One down, Two to go
Orion stood at the highest watchtower, his gaze fixed on Juno's scouts —the River Kingdom and the Mountain Kingdom had stopped fighting each other. Instead, they now stood side by side in a temporary truce forged for one purpose.
"They want to take us out first," Isolde murmured beside him.
Juno scoffed, arms crossed. "Figures. Neither of them could handle us alone, so they're teaming up."
Darius exhaled through his nose, folding his arms. "It's smart. If we fall, they'll divide what's left between them—one castle each, no resistance."
Felix grimaced. "So they'll throw everything they have at us."
Orion tapped his finger against the railing. "It's a solid strategy. But it has an obvious flaw."
The others turned toward him.
"The River Kingdom's stronghold," he said. "It's probably their logistical hub right now. Their supply lines, their war camp, everything runs from there."
Isolde's eyes sharpened. "And if we take it—"
"We shatter their coordination before they can even reach us," Orion finished.
The realization spread through the group like wildfire. They had been bracing for a siege, but now? Now they had an opening.