Songs of Souls

012: Shadows of Lake Treffen

Deynfif and his brothers stepped into the captain's office – the sweet, citrusy scent of lichtwyrt blue tea did little to soften the rigid postures of the people inside. His gaze swept over the room, a cube of order against the blurred, frenetic activity outside. The waning light, cutting through the window at a sharp angle, illuminated a gleaming axe mounted on the wall. Its polished surface, reflecting a sliver of the Light, spoke of decisive action, a kind of efficiency he could appreciate.

The teacup clinked as the Captain, Zevas Lokspfeil lifted it to his lips. Beside him, Dofydd, the advisor, stood rigid, a finger tapping against his chin in a quick, uneven rhythm. The female rider in front of them fidgeted, her boots scraping against the floor.

Two framed portraits on the wall drew his attention. One depicted a woman with a mischievous glint in her eyes and a smile playing on her lips - the Captain's wife, perhaps. But the other... a little girl with black hair and startlingly bright turquoise eyes, fixed on some point beyond the frame. The intensity of her gaze, so focused and curious. Was that her?

The rider's eyes darted towards him and his brothers, a question lingering in the sharp angle of her brows.

"Speak freely, Lieutenant Siebea." Captain Zevas' voice boomed, filling the room like a physical force. "They're privy to whatever you have to say."

Siebea inclined her head. "As you wish, Captain." Her shoulders, braced as rigidly as a mountain crag, eased slightly as she spoke. "The Miers Imperial forces have been sighted to the east. Setting up camp near Lake Treffen."

"So it begins." Captain rumbled; hand tightened around his teacup, the ceramic creaking. "Desperate move, splitting their forces like this, with the Kregennian Alliance breathing down their necks in the north."

Dofydd traced a finger across the map, stopping at the edge of Lake Treffen. "This doesn't align with their usual strategies. There's another variable at play here, something we're not seeing."

Captain slammed his hand on the desk, making him flinch. "Empress Inaya Duzwaard's grown bolder since Mad King Tevis and their child died."

His fingers tightened on his scarf, worry twisting in his gut like a granite boulder grinding against bedrock. Einntyr's usual boisterous energy seemed subdued. Hirua, tapped a nervous rhythm against his knee. He forced his gaze back to the Captain.

Captain tapped a finger against the desk. "Should we inform Fruman Castle immediately? What if they're shifting their main force here?"

"A word of warning, Captain." Dofydd cautioned. "This could be a trap. A ploy to divide our Kregan forces. Siebea, how large is their army?"

Siebea's gaze was distant for a moment, "Around five hundred, judging by the camp size."

"Five hundred?" Dofydd's voice jumped an octave, sharp like a fractured stone. He blinked rapidly, then dragged a hand down his face. "Why waste resources on such a meager force?" Dofydd's fingers tapped a staccato rhythm on his chin. "They must have something planned, but with that troop count..." The room, moments ago abuzz with the sounds of the fort, had gone unnervingly quiet.

The teacup rattled as the Captain slammed his fist on the desk. "Exactly! We have nearly triple the number of troops, and this terrain is perfect for ambushes." The Captain's finger stabbed at the map, tracing a path through dense forest and a narrow gorge. "Not much room to maneuver there." He looked up, brow furrowed. "They wouldn't be foolish enough to attack head-on, would they?"

"They could have a plan in place to overcome the obstacles, Captain." Dofydd mused.

Zevas stroked his beard. "Then all the more reason to sniff out their intentions. We've been entrusted with defending this area for Fruman, and by Solus' radiance, we won't falter." His voice was sharp, like the clang of an axe hitting metal. The Captain's gaze flicked towards his advisor, chin dipping slightly. "Send word to Fruman about their presence. We'll relay a more detailed report once we have a clearer picture."