Chapter 179

It wasn't even midnight yet, but it seemed there would be no more attacks tonight. The goblins were done. The vampires helped set up the wagons and establish the camp. The air was filled with the delicious smell of roasted meat. Everyone understood what it really smelled like, but it still whetted their appetite. The captain approached.

— You intervened very timely. But for the sake of the All-Father, why didn't you use magic earlier? We could have wiped out the goblins in previous nights!

— I'm not an archmage to cast such powerful spells without a break!

Alexander indeed looked exhausted. This acting took a lot of energy; he had to use magic to create an illusion of tiredness and magical depletion. Naturally, the vampires could repeat the entire night's battle several more times before their strength would truly be depleted, but there was no need for the humans to know that.

— Forgive me, your grace. The losses are too great! I'm just on edge. Sorry again.

— I understand. Let's help the wounded, and we'll handle the burials in the morning. The goblins have retreated, and we have time for a short rest.

At noon, all the squad leaders gathered for a general meeting. Alexander pushed the idea of immediately turning back, but he had no supporters. The rich loot lured people forward and clouded their judgment. Even the head of the workers, who had lost almost a third of his subordinates today, suggested continuing the expedition.

The only decision made, apart from continuing the journey, was that they would now set up camp well before dark. The irate vampire returned to his tent. Leonid was already waiting for him there.

— Decided to go further? — The warlord handed the triumvir a full waterskin.

— You heard for yourself! Why ask? — Alexander took a drink and emptied half of the offered waterskin.

The excess of blood had been leading to such scenes every day lately. The frugal consumption that had become a habit back in the village was completely out of place here.

— The worst part is that the goblins won't attack tonight, and everyone will be sure that the danger is behind us.

Leonid was spot on. It only took one quiet night for everyone to cheer up. Jokes and cheerful conversations started, and some were already making plans for how to spend the loot they would receive. Even the quarter of the squad whose ashes were recently buried didn't deter these plans. The people were alive and ahead of them lay loot, so everything seemed fine.

The goblin attack that night, carried out by just one family, caused a sense of euphoria among the people. They had learned to fend off such forces and had even gotten used to them. The damned enemy had exhausted its strength. The All-Father had blessed their expedition! The vampires could only marvel at the stupidity, but there was nothing they could do.

Another night and again only a couple of hundred goblins squealing in the night forest. The people seemed to have grown wings. They covered one and a half times more distance than planned in a day. Only the vampires knew that few would survive the next night. Two whole clans of goblins awaited them ahead.

The battle had been going on for four hours. All the humans were inside the wagon fort, and each unit held its defensive sector. The human mages were exhausted. A third of the goblins were dead, but the remaining ones were determined and outnumbered the defenders by several times. Alexander decided it was time. After this night, he would be able to convince the survivors to turn back. It was time to take decisive action while there was still some fighting spirit left in anyone from the squad.

When half of the perimeter was engulfed in man-made flames, the paladins went on the attack. Between the wagons and the walls of fire was a space of several dozen meters, and surviving goblins were in that area. Still not realizing they had been crossed off the list of the living and desperately resisting. Unfortunately, against the backdrop of the burning forest, the vampires' actions were as visible as during the day, and they had to restrain themselves.

I've got more interesting stuff on patreon

patreon.com/Chill76