Chapter 14 - THE BATTLE OF RED GORGE
The Red Gorge was a narrow, rocky canyon where the mountain rivers met the eastern plains.
Rain poured down from heavy gray clouds, turning the dirt valley into a sea of thick mud. Two thousand wild rogue wolves, dressed in dark leather and bone armor, roared and howled across the field, led by Alpha Kaelen—a massive, monstrous wolf with scar-covered fur and yellow eyes.
On the high ridge opposite them stood the army of the Frostpeak Pack.
At the front of the line sat King Kieran upon his massive black warhorse, clad in dark iron plate armor. Beside him sat Queen Arya, looking radiant and terrifying in shimmering silver-plated armor, holding a slender silver staff topped with her mother's glowing blue gemstone.
"They think we are weak!" Kieran shouted to his army, his voice roaring over the thunder. "They think we are divided! Show them the fury of the North!"
"FOR THE KING! FOR THE SILVER QUEEN!" the warriors roared in unison, drawing their steel blades.
Alpha Kaelen raised his heavy war-axe. "Kill the King! Bring me the Silver Queen's head!"
The two armies charged into the gorge with a thunderous clash of steel, bone, and roaring wolf spirits!
The battle was brutal. Kieran fought like a demon possessed, his heavy broadsword swinging in deadly arcs, felling three rogue warriors with every strike. Beside him, Lyra fought ferociously, guarding the flanks.
In the center of the battlefield, Arya raised her silver staff high into the pouring rain.
"Goddess of the Moon, grant us your light!" Arya cried out.
A massive dome of blinding silver magic erupted from her staff, expanding outward across the entire battlefield.
Every wounded Frostpeak warrior touched by the silver light felt their cuts close, their broken bones mend, and their stamina instantly return! On the flip side, any rogue warrior who stepped into the light was struck with intense, blinding light that disoriented their senses!
"What is this sorcery?!" Kaelen roared, pushing through the chaos toward Arya.
He leaped into the air, bringing his massive war-axe down toward Arya’s head!
Before the axe could land, Kieran intercepted the attack, his broadsword clashing against the heavy iron axe with a shower of golden sparks!
"Your opponent is me, rogue!" Kieran roared.
Kieran swept his sword around, parrying Kaelen's blow, and plunged his dagger deep into Kaelen's chest. The rogue leader gasped, blood spilling from his lips, before collapsing dead into the mud.
With their leader dead and the Queen's silver magic blinding their forces, the remaining rogues broke into a panicked retreat, running frantically back toward the eastern wilderness.
The Frostpeak army let out a thundering, victorious roar that echoed across the mountains!
Kieran turned to Arya, his armor covered in rain and mud. He walked over, wrapping his arm around her helmeted head, pulling her into a fierce, breathless kiss right in the middle of the bloodied gorge.
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"You were incredible," Kieran breathed against her lips.
Arya smiled, resting her face against his chest armor. "We won."
