The march eastward brought them to the riverlands, where rebel banners already stained the horizon. Smoke curled from villages seized in the night, and the water itself ran dark with ash. The soldiers tightened their grips on weapons, their unity tested by the sight of an enemy waiting across the current.
Kael rode at the front, Tharos pacing beside him, wings half‑spread. The beast's presence silenced fear, but Kael could feel the tension in every step of the column. Garrick muttered, "They'll break if you don't give them more than fire. They need purpose."
Kael raised his sword, pointing toward the far bank. "Today, we take back what was stolen. Not for nobles, not for banners but for the people who starve while rebels feast. Hold the line, and the river will carry our strength forward."
----
Arrows hissed from the opposite shore. Shields locked, spears bristled, and the clash began. The rebels surged across makeshift rafts, shouting curses, blades flashing.
Kael met them head‑on. His sword cut through the first wave, steel ringing against steel. Tharos roared, fire spilling across the riverbank, scattering rafts into burning wreckage. The soldiers rallied, their fear tempered by the beast's fury.
Yet the rebels did not falter. More poured across, their numbers pressing hard against the line. Kael fought among his men, every strike a reminder that unity was forged in blood.
A rebel champion emerged a figure that can be described as towering, scarred, wielding a massive saber. He cut through Kael's soldiers, driving them back step by step. Doubt flickered in their eyes, the fragile unity threatening to shatter.
Kael stepped forward, meeting the champion in the churned mud. The duel was brutal a saber against sword, strength against resolve. The champion's blows shook the ground, but Kael held, every strike fueled by the fire Tharos pressed into his chest.
With a final surge, Kael drove his blade into the man's shoulder, forcing him to the ground. The rebels faltered, their momentum broken.
The riverbank fell silent, save for the crackle of burning rafts. The soldiers stood bloodied but unbroken, their eyes fixed on Kael. For the first time, belief outweighed fear.
Garrick approached, his voice low but certain. "You gave them more than unity today. You gave them victory."
Kael looked across the river, where rebel banners smoldered in the firelight. He knew this was only the beginning but as he hope, the army had marched as one, and the fire within them had endured.