He cursed under his breath, swore at the gods above, and spat at the ground as he surveyed the devastation. He could feel it—one by one, his men were falling. Every passing moment brought the weight of another loss. His soldiers were being cut down, his knights overwhelmed. His forces, once so confident and mighty, were being decimated by Eldric's superior strategy and the unexpected power of Rodrick, the traitor who now wielded lightning like a god of war.