When Cassian woke, the group had made significant progress. The landscape had shifted from the few paved roads of the countryside to dirt paths bordered by dense forests.
Sacha was driving the two-horse carriage.
Being so close to the boy who'd nearly killed him made him uneasy. Every sound from inside the carriage made his body tense instinctively.
Thankfully, Cassian sees me as an ally for now, he thought, gripping the reins tightly.
After a long journey, the Order of the White Swans reached an abandoned border outpost.
It was a crumbling stone structure, overgrown with vegetation. The walls were cracked, and the roof had partially collapsed. But it was a recognizable landmark.
This was where they were to meet a few Orcs meant to guide them on their journey.
Gus, the Grand Master of the Order of the White Swans, dismounted from his horse.
He was a massive man in his fifties, with a thick gray beard and scars mapping his face like a record of past battles. His white armor was adorned with swan feathers etched into the breastplate.
Four Orcs were already waiting.
They were imposing, each easily two meters tall, with bulging muscles and tusks jutting from their lower jaws. Their skin was grayish-green, and they wore reinforced leather armor.
Gus approached, raising a hand in peace.
"You must be our guides."
The Orc who seemed to be the leader nodded.
"We're ready. Follow us."
They exchanged brief formalities, then the group set off again.
Inside the carriage, Cassian had caught a glimpse of the Orcs through the window.
"They're really huge," he said, fascinated.
Eric nodded.
"Unlike humans, who need training to build strength and muscle, Orcs get it naturally. Their muscles grow stronger and bigger just by eating well."
He paused.
"But that's not all. Orcs train too, making them powerful warriors. In terms of raw strength, they're absolute beasts."
Cassian tilted his head.
"And the ogre?"
"That's a whole other level," Éric said seriously. "There's always something stronger out there. An ogre… it's not even comparable."
"But then why are the Orcs asking humans for help if they're stronger?"
Eric gave a faint smile.
"If humanity still exists today despite the oppression it's faced from the world's powerhouses, there's a reason."
He raised a finger.
"Humans are ultra-adaptable. No matter the threat, humanity has stood its ground. Obsession. Humanity is stubborn, and if it wants something, it gets it. If it doesn't have it, it creates new possibilities."
Cassian frowned.
"That doesn't really explain why the Orcs are asking for help."
Eric shrugged.
"Humanity is strong in its own way. Just look at the many species that went extinct because of humans."
Suddenly, a knight tapped discreetly on the carriage door.
"Your Highness," he whispered. "We found something."
Eric stepped out immediately.
The knight led him a few meters off the road, behind a dense thicket.
There, hidden under branches and leaves, were four bodies.
Orcs.
They'd been stripped of their clothes, but the knight had found items on them: insignias, talismans, tribal markings.
"These were the Orcs we were supposed to travel with," the knight said gravely.
Eric took the items, examining them closely.
Then he looked up at the "guides" currently leading the group.
They'd already traveled a good distance under their direction.
And now that I look closely…
He noticed details. The way one glanced nervously around. The way another gripped his weapon too tightly. The way they exchanged furtive looks.
That's enough information.
Without warning, Éric threw his sword.
SWISH.
It lodged into the head of one Orc. The creature collapsed instantly.
At the same time, Eric sprinted at full speed, using a tree to pivot sharply.
He launched into the air and delivered a brutal dropkick to another Orc.
BOOM.
The Orc was crushed to the ground under the Second Prince's feet.
With both hands free, Eric grabbed the heads of the remaining two Orcs.
CRACK. CRACK.
He slammed them face-first into the dirt, hard enough to knock them out.
The knights, unprepared for the sudden action, were stunned.
"Your Highness?!"
"AMBUSH!" Eric roared. "PREPARE FOR BATTLE!"
High above, hidden behind a rock, the Orc leading the operation watched with disbelief.
They've been found out.
Something had gone wrong, and it infuriated him deeply.
They can't even do this right.
This wasn't the planned spot, but now that they were exposed, they had no choice.
He raised his arm and bellowed:
"ATTACK!"
Orcs in ambush descended the surrounding slopes.
They'd been trailing the Order of the White Swans from a distance, discreetly, for a while. The sudden call to attack caught them off guard, but they obeyed.
Some fifty Orcs charged, roaring war cries.
Eric swiftly retrieved his sword from the dead Orc's skull and shouted:
"WE'RE UNDER ATTACK! FORMATION!"
The knights quickly took position, but their formation broke apart as they hadn't had time to prepare properly.
The Orcs, too, came in disorganized waves, not all attacking at once.
The clash quickly turned chaotic.
Inside the carriage, Sacha calmed the panicked horses and shouted through a small opening:
"Cassian! Stay inside! You don't need to get involved!"
Cassian, meanwhile, watched through the window with fascination.
Swords clashed. Shouts echoed. Blood splattered.
This is exciting!
From his vantage point, the Orc leader watched the battle with satisfaction.
"They won't survive the night," he muttered.
He raised his massive weapon.
Tonight, they all die.