The Chronicles of a Scalebound Sage: Wandmaker Vol.2

WM [51] Wouldn't Lose

Kara watched the scene at the fort unfold, her sharp eyes catching every detail as it played out precisely as she and her forces had predicted. From her vantage point in the dense treeline, she observed the steady, methodical movements of the border guards and knights, now scrambling to fortify their position. The Hand had reacted slower than expected to the poison spores, a testament to their distance from the war front and their lack of preparedness for this kind of druidic magic. Kara smirked slightly—this tactic was nothing new in the battlefields of their homeland, but it was far from familiar to those stationed at this border.

All night and throughout the day, her druids had been spreading the spores, allowing them to seep into every crevice of the fort. Invisible to the eye, yet potent, they had taken hold in the bodies of everyone within the area. Some of the weaker soldiers were already showing signs of fatigue, their movements sluggish and erratic, though they likely chalked it up to the stress of the alert. They had no idea the true danger coursing through their veins.

Kara's expression darkened as she tightened her grip on the bark of the tree she leaned against. Those with weaker constitutions would soon begin dropping dead, their bodies unable to resist the poisonous magic they'd unknowingly ingested. The true deadly nature of the toxin was still dormant, but once the trigger was activated, it would take effect swiftly and lethally. Time was now their enemy. They needed to advance the next phase before the fort's healers could purify the area.

She glanced over her shoulder at the small group of druids hidden among the foliage. Each of them stood at attention, awaiting her command.

"We're on borrowed time," Kara murmured to herself. She steadied herself and spoke up for her men. "Waddell, prepare the stonebreakers. We move to phase two. No delays." The large man nodded and ran off to his position. "Steffen, report."

"Commander Kara," Steffen relayed with his usual calm demeanor. "The spores have reached saturation. We await your signal."

Kara didn't know the names of the Hand or even which master they served, but it didn't matter. She could see the Hand, moving with urgency, her clockwork devices floating ominously by her side. Kara had to admit the Royal Hand was impressive, but she wasn't invincible. None of them were and she couldn't wait to give that witch the dagger to the throat she deserved.

In the distance, Kara could hear the faint ring of alarm bells, followed by the hurried shouts of guards and the clanging of weapons. The Hand's orders were being carried out—too little, too late. Kara's lips twisted into a grim smile.

***

Bjorn, like everyone else, was taken aback when Joha casually exhaled a cloud of red maya that swirled around both his and Tanisha's wagons. In an instant, everything but the horses disappeared into whatever maya storage Joha had prepared, the wagons vanishing as if they were never there. Signe, ever composed, didn't comment on the act, simply gesturing for a few guards to lead the horses to a stable.

"You could do that this whole time?" Tanisha asked in a whisper as they followed Signe.

Joha smirked, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "One day, you will too. But that's it for me—no more room."

Bjorn's senses sharpened as they approached the border fort nestled against the mountainside, where the great wall seamlessly connected to the rugged stone. Upon entering, the true scope of the fort's defenses became apparent. It wasn't just a surface-level outpost—this was a fortress burrowed deep into the mountain, its labyrinth of fortified tunnels and chambers designed to withstand sieges. Bjorn could practically taste the heavy enchantments layered into the walls. The air thrummed with durability spells, protection wards, and layers of magic reinforcing the stone. The taste subtly mixed with the ambience of the musky fort as tensions from the impending attack rose.