Chapter 9: The Siege of Stormfang Keep

A cold wind howled across the valley, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and the distant promise of rain. The moon hung low, a pale silver orb that bathed the landscape in an ethereal glow. Beyond the jagged cliffs and sloping terrain, Stormfang Keep loomed, its towering walls standing as a testament to its long and bloody history. It was a fortress that had withstood countless sieges, a stronghold that had never fallen.

Yet tonight, the air was thick with the weight of inevitability.

Ezren Veyrion sat astride his black warhorse, his crimson eyes reflecting the torches that flickered in the night. Behind him, his army of two thousand strong stood in formation, their figures shadowed beneath the dark expanse of the sky. Each soldier knew their role, each blade had been sharpened, each heart steeled for what was to come.

But for now, there was only silence.

Darius, his Blademaster and second-in-command, shifted slightly in his saddle. He was a mountain of a man, his greatsword strapped across his back like an extension of his being. "We could take the walls by force," he mused, breaking the quiet. "But knowing you, that isn't your plan."

Ezren smirked slightly, his gaze never leaving the fortress. "When have I ever been so reckless?"

Darius snorted. "Plenty of times. You just make sure your gambles pay off."

Lily Eryndale, her midnight-blue cloak blending with the darkness, approached them with a measured pace. She was a stark contrast to Darius—where he was brute force, she was precision. Her sharp green eyes flickered with skepticism as she folded her arms. "You're relying on Sylara again, aren't you?"

Ezren nodded. "She's inside. The gates will open before dawn."

Lily let out a slow breath, clearly unconvinced. "If she gets caught, this entire operation turns into a bloodbath. You know that, right?"

Ezren's expression didn't waver. "Sylara doesn't get caught."

Lily shook her head. "And you're so sure of that because…?"

Ezren turned to face her fully. "Because I've never seen her fail."

Lily scoffed. "There's always a first time."

Darius chuckled. "You two always do this. Just admit it, Lily—you worry too much."

Lily shot him a glare before exhaling. "I worry exactly the right amount. I just don't put blind faith in a single assassin when our entire army is on the line."

Ezren wasn't offended by her doubt. If anything, it was why he kept her close. Where others followed orders without question, Lily challenged him. And sometimes, that was necessary.

He turned back toward the keep. "Valhorn won't last. He has fewer than five hundred men, most of them mercenaries."

Darius tilted his head. "Mercenaries fight for coin, not loyalty."

Ezren nodded. "Which is why I made sure they were paid in advance."

Lily blinked. "Wait… you already bought them off?"

Ezren smirked. "Why waste lives when you can buy an army?"

Darius laughed, shaking his head. "You bastard. You planned this before we even arrived, didn't you?"

Ezren didn't answer. He didn't need to.

Silence settled over them again, the distant hoot of an owl the only sound in the still night. Below them, the army stood like statues, waiting for the signal that would mark the beginning of the siege.

Lily frowned, her fingers tightening on her cloak. "If Valhorn knows he's already lost, why is he still holding out?"

Ezren's expression darkened slightly. "Pride. Desperation. Maybe both."

Stormfang Keep had been in Valhorn's family for generations. Surrendering meant giving up not just his title, but his legacy.

"Do you think he'll bend the knee?" Darius asked.

Ezren considered it for a moment. "He should. But men like him rarely do."

Lily let out a quiet sigh. "And if he refuses?"

Ezren's gaze never wavered. "Then we give him a choice. Surrender and live, or resist and burn."

The wind picked up, rustling the banners of Ezren's army. The battle had not yet begun, but the outcome had already been decided.

And before the sun rose, Stormfang Keep would belong to him.

End of Chapter 9.