Luella exhaled sharply, closing her eyes as though trying to centre herself. With a reluctant nod, she turned and led them off the trail.
The forest grew quieter, the cheerful birdsong replaced by the rustle of leaves in a faint breeze. Luella walked several paces ahead, her movements silent as a shadow, her body tense with concentration. She stopped abruptly, quietly signalling a halt.
Felix crouched beside her, his breath steady. “What do you see?” he whispered.
“Eight,” she murmured. “On that ridge.”
The trees were dense, the undergrowth thick, but Felix squinted through a small gap and caught sight of the mercenaries. They had their weapons in hand, but walked casually.
He shifted his position for a better look. He counted two crossbows, the rest holding swords. That was good, at least. As his gaze swept across the group, he did a double take. Was that…? The man’s head turned to talk to someone, and his stomach twisted. Alwin. He had hoped to never see the man again, but here he was. Hunting Isolde. Alwin had been his captain, and the man had a penchant for cruelty to rival any torturer. He’d been half the reason Felix had wanted to leave the mercenary band. The sight of him here wasn’t merely unsettling – it was infuriating.
“Shit,” he muttered.
Luella glanced sideways. “What?”
“Alwin,” Felix said quietly. “Big guy near the back with the ugly face. He was my captain. A brute with a mean streak.”
“You think he’ll recognize you?”
“Probably. He hated my guts. The feeling was mutual.”Still is.
It was a risk, but it was also an opportunity to get rid of the bastard once and for all. And if there was one thing Felix was in the mood for, it was a good fight. He narrowed his eyes and flexed his fingers on his axe handle.
“He’s not the sharpest tactician. Likes to throw his weight around and intimidate his way through a fight. Easy to bait. We can use that.”
Luella raised an eyebrow. “How?”
Felix’s gaze shifted to Leif. “We lure them into an ambush. Look at them. Overconfident, cocky bastards. If they make it to the village, it will be chaos. Here, the forest is to our advantage. Anywhere nearby that would work, Leif?”
Leif studied the layout of the land, his expression thoughtful. “There’s a gully a little way back, if you keep the ridge on your left. Narrow and steep, but it flattens out on the other side, with a choke point before the descent…”
Felix nodded, his mind racing. “Perfect.”
“And how do you plan to lure them to that spot?” Luella asked, her tone sceptical. “Did you bring a pot of honey?”
Felix grinned faintly. “I’ll give them something to chase.”
Leif blinked. “You mean yourself?”
Felix’s grin widened. “What else?”
“You’re insane,” Luella muttered, with more resignation than surprise.
Felix ignored her and continued. “Leif, you head to that gully and wait. I’ll draw them in that direction. Lu, you go with Leif and find a good spot to pick them off with your bow.”
Leif looked pale but nodded. “Alright. Let’s do this.”
He watched them double back toward the choke point. Once he was certain he had given them ample time, he moved. He snuck up behind the mercenaries, straightened and walked normally, trying his best to make a lot of noise. Soon enough, the two men at the back turned around. Felix pretended to startle at the sight of them, standing frozen in place.
“You! Get over here!”
Felix turned and ran. For a heartbeat, he worried they had not taken the bait, but then he heard the satisfying sound of running footsteps in the underbrush behind him. He sprinted headlong through the trees, trying to reach the choke point before they got too close. He spotted it just ahead – a narrow space with large rocks on one side and the ridge on the other. Luella perched atop it, her bow drawn. A crossbow bolt whistled right past his head.
“Crossbows!” Felix yelled in Luella’s direction before he reached the spot and spun around, axe in hand, dagger in the other. Leif was behind the rocks, spear poised to strike, his face pale but determined.
The first two mercenaries burst through the underbrush, both wielding swords. Felix darted in between them, using their momentum to his advantage. He hooked the blade of his axe around the ankle of one, causing him to stumble and fall. The move forced the other to dodge, giving Felix an opening to stab him in the neck. He pushed him off to the side, spun again, and hacked viciously into the chest of the man he had tackled. He got up just in time to fend off a third,raising his weapon to block the downward swing of a longsword. His attacker’s face was right in front of him – Alwin.
“Knew I’d find you in this stinking forest, you rat,” Alwin growled at him. “Where is the girl?”
