* * *
A blade-like wind swept across the frost-covered earth.
Feeling tiny ice crystals drifting through the air lash against his cheeks, Tyron frowned.
As the swirling white haze gradually settled, the full expanse of the Argand Forest came back into view.
Gripping his reins tightly, he narrowed his eyes beneath the hood of his cloak, carefully scanning the narrow trail buried beneath gray shadows.
At the silent entrance to the forest path, fine frost drifted lazily through the air, faintly catching the light.
At first glance, the scenery appeared perfectly peaceful.
He couldn't tell what, exactly, had drawn his attention.
After surveying his surroundings through narrowed eyes, Tyron glanced back over his shoulder.
Lowell, the guildmaster of the great merchant guild whose influence extended across both the East and the North, was following behind at a measured pace together with his subordinates.
Carefully examining their pale faces, which showed signs of fatigue from the long journey, Tyron's gaze eventually reached the two supply wagons at the very rear of the caravan and the eight of his own men guarding them.
Only after confirming that everything appeared normal did he turn forward and continue down the road.
Just then—
A rustling sound came from up ahead.
Realizing instinctively that it wasn't the wind, Tyron immediately drew his sword.
At the same instant, arrows shot out from between the trees.
"Ambush!"
As Tyron barely managed to deflect one of the arrows and shouted the warning, the warriors all drew their weapons.
The attackers, however, were one step ahead.
Dozens of assailants burst out from beneath the thick blanket of fallen leaves carpeting the ground, throwing lassos around the horses' legs.
Startled, the horses reared violently, letting out frantic screams.
To keep himself from being thrown from the saddle, Tyron tightened his thighs and instinctively swung his longsword.
A wet slicing sound echoed.
Hot blood splashed across his face.
Beyond the chaos, he caught sight of one of the attackers retreating while clutching his blood-soaked forearm.
The man wore a helmet fashioned from the skull of a beast.
'Zram.'
Tyron's face twisted grimly as he spurred his horse after the retreating warrior.
But this time, a long spear thrust in from his left.
Barely preventing the weapon from piercing his horse, Tyron violently yanked on the reins.
His warhorse, Elak, excited by the battle, snapped the rope binding its legs and reared high.
A heartbeat later, the skull of the man who had attacked him exploded beneath the massive horse's iron-shod hoof like an overripe pumpkin.
The enemies who witnessed the sight instinctively faltered.
Tyron seized the opportunity and wheeled his horse around to look behind him.
The northern merchants had somehow managed to cling to their saddles while drawing their swords to resist the attackers.
But civilians with no military training could hardly be expected to withstand a surprise assault.
Moments later, one merchant was dragged from his horse by a Zram warrior.
Recognizing him as the guildmaster of the White Silver Alliance, Tyron immediately drove his horse forward, his long blade sweeping diagonally through the air.
Like an eagle's outstretched wing, his sword flashed forward and cleanly severed the head of the enemy approaching the man he was sworn to protect.
After trampling the blood-spewing corpse beneath his horse's hooves, Tyron turned toward his next target.
The raiders had already widened the distance between them and disappeared into the trees.
As the bandits vanished almost instantly, Tyron ground his teeth and shouted at his men.
"Don't pursue them! Reform the formation and establish a defensive line around the supply wagons!"
His soldiers immediately surrounded the wagons.
The enemy, however, showed no sign of launching a second assault.
Surveying the deathly silent forest, Tyron dismounted and helped a man lying sprawled on the ground back to his feet.
Fortunately, the merchant didn't appear seriously injured.
With a groan, he staggered upright.
"Damn it... what kind of disaster is this?"
"Pull yourself together and get back on your horse! We have to get out of this forest!"