Chapter 91: The Ambush

The tension grew as the teams advanced. The darkness of the cave swallowed the sound of their boots, and the only noise that could be heard was the controlled breathing of the soldiers. Rodrigo felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders, but his experience kept him focused. The plan had to work.

The team led by Rodrigo reached the main entrance of the cave and, with quick gestures, he positioned the soldiers around it. He signaled for one of the archers to take the lead, ensuring that any movement would be quickly neutralized. With everyone in position, Rodrigo gave the signal to advance.

Inside the cave, the environment was even more oppressive. The narrow, damp walls amplified the sounds, and the shadows projected by the torches on the walls looked like distorted, moving figures. Rodrigo, in the lead, made a point of analyzing each step, looking for any sign of a trap.

Suddenly, a sound echoed through the cave. A faint crack, almost imperceptible, but which made everyone stop instantly. Rodrigo raised his hand, indicating that they should duck. The crack was followed by a deeper sound, a sort of metallic creaking that echoed throughout the cave.

"Get ready," whispered Rodrigo, feeling the air change around him.

The metallic sound turned into a war cry, and in an instant, the cave was filled with shadowy figures emerging from the shadows. They had fallen into an ambush. The hooded men, led by an imposing-looking warrior, attacked with fury, taking advantage of the surprise to try to crush the invaders.

Rodrigo quickly raised his sword and shouted orders, organizing the soldiers in a defensive formation. They reacted quickly, blocking the initial attacks and starting to fight back with force. The clash of swords against enemy blades filled the air, and the sound of war cries mixed with the sound of blades cutting through the air.

The fight was intense, but Rodrigo remained calm. He knew that Sebastião and Olavo's team was approaching through the side entrance, and that time was on their side, as long as they could withstand the initial attack. He dodged a blow, counterattacking and taking down one of the hooded men. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the sound of rapid footsteps echoed through the cave, followed by familiar war cries. Sebastião and Olavo's team had arrived, taking the enemy by surprise. The hooded men, now surrounded, began to retreat, but there was no escape. With the arrival of reinforcements, the battle began to turn in favor of Rodrigo and his soldiers. Steady leadership and well-planned strategy began to show results, and the enemy was defeated one by one. However, Rodrigo knew that this victory was only a small part of the war that was to come. With the cave secure and the enemy defeated, he looked at his companions, realizing that the real challenge still lay ahead.