Chapter 10: Reinforcements

The garrison's war room was filled with tension, the flickering torchlight casting long shadows on the stone walls. General Dorrik stood at the head of the table, his Dark-and-gold armor gleaming, but his expression was anything but composed.

Su and his Desert Raiders stood before him, their armor dusted with smoke and blood from the recent battle. Despite their victory in the tunnels, Dorrik's sharp gaze was filled with disdain.

" 6 Rebels dead, 3 stolen crates recovered, no casualties on our side." Dorrik began calmly, then he abruptly slammed his gauntleted fist on the table. " And yet you have failed me Su'Rhaal. A handful of dead rebels and a pile of stolen weapons? That's your idea of victory, Captain?"

Su remained calm, his scarlet eyes meeting the general's glare. "We disrupted their operations and forced them to retreat. That's a step toward taking control of the city."

"A step?" Dorrik sneered. "The rebels are still out there, regrouping as we speak! And you let their leader slip through your fingers!"

"That was beyond our control," Zanaiya interjected, her voice measured but firm. "The rebels had the tunnels rigged to slow us down. If we'd pursued, we would have suffered casualties."

Dorrik shot her a withering look. "Did I ask for your opinion, Lieutenant?"

Titus shifted uncomfortably, his fists clenched at his sides. The other Raiders exchanged uneasy glances, their loyalty to Su evident in their tense postures.

Su took a slow breath, keeping his voice steady. "General, I need reinforcements. If we're going to root out the rebels, I need more men to secure the tunnels and cover more ground."

Dorrik's lips curled into a cold smile. "More men, is it? You think throwing numbers at this problem will solve it?"

"I think giving us the resources we need will," Su replied evenly.

For a moment, Dorrik said nothing, his gaze narrowing as he studied the captain. Finally, he nodded. "Very well. You'll have your reinforcements."

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Later that evening, Dorrik sat in his private quarters, a glass of dark wine in his hand. The flickering light of a single candle illuminated his smirking face.

"You want reinforcements, Captain?" he murmured to himself. "Let's see how you handle this one."

He reached for a stack of reports on his desk, sifting through them until he found the one he was looking for. It bore the wax seal of the Trifarix, marked with the crest of the Noxian High Command.

The name at the top of the page was written in bold, elegant script.

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The first rays of sunlight stretched across the towers of the garrison in Bel'zhun, casting long shadows over the sand-streaked walls. The distant sound of marching boots echoed in the courtyard, where soldiers drilled in precise formation.

In the war room, Su'Rhaal stood hunched over a map of the city, the flickering light of a lantern illuminating the lines and symbols that marked rebel hideouts and movements. His scarlet eyes were dark with thought, his jaw clenched tight.

Zanaiya leaned against the wall nearby, her spear resting within reach. She studied him for a moment before breaking the silence.

"Dorrik is wearing you down," she said, her tone quiet but pointed.

"He's putting pride over strategy," Su replied without looking up. "He knows what we need, but he'd rather watch me fail than admit I'm right."

Zanaiya crossed her arms, her expression calm but thoughtful. "You still have us. We trust you, even if he doesn't."

Su looked deeply in her eyes for a moment, Reminiscing everything they had been through together. " You have always been my greatest ally, my guardian and mentor" then he exhaled slowly, closing his eyes for a moment. "But I need this. The rebels are getting bolder, more organized. If we don't take control now, we'll lose the city."

Before Zanaiya could respond, the door creaked open, Lieutenant Gadriel stepped in. He saluted quickly and handed Su a sealed scroll bearing Dorrik's sigil.

"From the general, sir," the Lieutenant said, his voice tight with formality.

Su broke the seal and scanned the contents, his expression unreadable. But when he reached the bottom of the scroll, his brows furrowed slightly, and his jaw tightened.

"Something interesting?" Zanaiya asked, pushing off the wall to stand beside him.

Su handed her the scroll, his tone neutral. "He's sending reinforcements."

Zanaiya skimmed the text, her eyes narrowing. "Samira," she read aloud. "I've heard that name before."

"The Desert Rose," Su said, his voice heavy with thought. "A mercenary with a reputation for taking impossible contracts and finishing them. She's Shuriman, born here in Bel'zhun."

Zanaiya raised an eyebrow. "Sounds useful. What's the catch?"

"She doesn't follow orders well," Su replied. "From what I've heard, she prefers working alone."

Zanaiya smirked faintly. "Sounds like she and Dorrik would get along."

"Dorrik didn't assign her to help," Su said, folding the scroll. "He assigned her to test me."