Soulbound: Embers of Defiance

Chapter 22: A Daring Plan

A gentle breeze ruffled the pages of my book, the sunlight dappling the words in a mesmerizing dance. It had been a few days since our hunting trip. Kass and Finn sat under the shade of a sprawling oak, their faces etched in concentration as they dueled with a deck of worn cards.

Finn's booming laugh sliced through the quiet, sending a flock of birds scattering into the sky. I glanced up, a smile tugging at the corner of my lips.

Marcus materialized from the doorway, his weathered face etched with a seriousness that banished the playful air from the moment. Orion, perched on his gloved arm, cast a watchful eye on the scene.

"Alright, gather round," Marcus boomed, his voice low.

We exchanged wary glances as we approached him, Kass tucking away the deck of cards, and Finn wiping the remnants of a smile from his face.

"Orion has spotted something interesting," Marcus said, his gaze flickering towards the hawk. "A supply line from Cinderkeep."

Cinderkeep. The name sent a shiver down my spine. The city, infamous for its metalwork, was a major supplier of weapons to the King's forces. Disrupting their supply line would be a significant blow to the royal army.

"We could hit them hard," Marcus continued, his voice hardening. "Take out a significant portion of their weaponry before it reaches the front lines."

My heart hammered against my ribs as Marcus finished describing the Cinderkeep supply line. A daring raid, a chance to strike a real blow against the King's forces – the idea was exhilarating, terrifying all at once.

A tense silence followed. Finn was the first to break it. "But Marcus," he said, his voice tinged with worry, "we've never done a raid like this before. Not without Caleb and Erin."

My gaze darted towards Kass, whose jaw was clenched tight. We both knew it was true. The combat training had been intense, but a few days felt woefully inadequate for a mission of this scale.

"Marcus," Kass said, voicing the doubt that gnawed at me, "we haven't had that much training. This feels... reckless."

Marcus, however, remained undeterred. A glint of defiance shone in his eyes. "We learn by doing," he said, his voice gruff but kind. "Sitting around here waiting for Caleb won't achieve anything. You've been learning fast, haven't you?"

He was right. The past few days had been a whirlwind of combat training, pushed to our limits but somehow managing to rise to the challenge. A spark of determination ignited within me. Maybe, just maybe, we were ready.

"Those weapons reaching the King's forces," Marcus continued, his voice dropping to a low growl, "would be a major boost to their front lines. We can't let that happen."

His words struck a chord deep within me. Images of the ravaged villages, the faces of the people we were fighting for, flashed before my eyes. Sitting around, waiting, wasn't an option. We had to act.

But caution still battled with newfound confidence. "What's the plan, Marcus?" I asked, my voice surprisingly steady.

He launched into a detailed strategy, outlining the route, potential dangers, and possible ways to engage with the enemy. As he spoke, however, an idea began to take root in my mind.

"Wait," I interjected, surprising myself with the sudden boldness. "Maybe we don't have to engage with them. What if we triggered a rockslide? Like the way the Northern Army surprised King Darius's supply lines in the Battle of White Pass?"

Everyone fell silent. I could practically feel their eyes on me.

Then, to my astonishment, Marcus let out a booming laugh. "Look at that," he chuckled, clapping me on the shoulder, "the bookworm has teeth!"