Chapter 9 - The Night’s Gamble

  The dim glow of a single ntern cast flickering shadows across the forge’s backroom. Ilyas sat at the wooden table, sharpening his dagger with slow, deliberate strokes. Across from him, Kaavi leaned forward, his fingers ced together, eyes dark with thought. The air was thick with the scent of oil and metal, and the faint sound of the forge’s dying embers crackled from the other room.

  Viktor sat beside his grandfather, his small hands gripping the edge of the bench. He didn’t interrupt, but he listened to every word.

  Ilyas pced his dagger on the table with a soft clink. “If we’re going to do this, we do it right. A surprise attack. Tonight.”

  Kaavi gave a slow nod. “A full-on assault would be reckless. But if we strike in the dark, while they’re unaware, we can cripple them before they have a chance to regroup.”

  “They’ll have sentries,” Ilyas mused. “Maybe two or three, keeping watch. But they won’t expect trained fighters coming for them.”

  Kaavi ran a finger over the map Ilyas had drawn on the tabletop, eyes narrowing. “How many men do you trust?”

  “Three. Maybe four.” Ilyas leaned back. “That includes me.”

  “Four men…” Kaavi exhaled through his nose. “It will have to be enough.”

  Viktor shifted slightly, his brows furrowing. “How do you know where they are?”

  Kaavi gnced at Ilyas, waiting for his answer.

  Ilyas smirked. “I keep my eyes open, boy. This vilge may look quiet, but it has ears everywhere. Travelers, traders—they notice things. A few of my people watch the roads, report anything suspicious. When they saw armed men heading south, I sent them to follow. That’s how I know.”

  Viktor nodded, understanding.

  Kaavi turned back to Ilyas. “Who else is coming with us?”

  Ilyas scratched his beard. “Danil and Ren. Both reliable. Ren’s a scout—light on his feet, good with a bde. Danil… he’s better with a bow than most men are with a sword.”

  Kaavi considered for a moment before nodding. “That will do. We strike before dawn.”

  Ilyas leaned forward, his voice quieter now. “And the boy?” His eyes flicked to Viktor.

  “He stays here,” Kaavi said without hesitation. “With your family.”

  Viktor’s head shot up. “What? No!”

  Viktor clenched his fists, but Kaavi wasn’t done. “Listen to me. You are not ready, not for something like this. A battle in the dark, against men who have done this their whole lives? That’s not training—it’s death.”

  Ilyas gave Viktor a look before nodding. “The old man’s right, boy. You’re strong, but strength won’t save you if your bde is slower than theirs.”

  Viktor’s fists clenched. “But—”

  “No.”

  The finality in Kaavi’s tone made Viktor press his lips together. His stomach churned with frustration, but he held it in. He wasn’t a warrior. Not yet.

  Ilyas exhaled. “It’s settled, then. Alina will keep an eye on him.” He stood, sliding his dagger back into its sheath. “We leave in two hours.”

  Kaavi nodded.

  One of the men, a tall warrior with a thick beard and a scar across his cheek, crossed his arms. “Four men against twelve, maybe more? Risky.”

  “Risk is part of this trade, Danil,” Ilyas said without looking up. “We’ve done worse.”

  The second man, younger, lean with sharp features, smirked. “And lived. Barely.”

  Kaavi, who had been silent, finally spoke. “We don’t need to fight all of them. Just cripple them. If we cut down their scouts and officers, the rest will scatter like rats.” His finger traced the map, stopping at the river bend. “Here. They won’t expect an attack at night. We move fast, we strike hard, and we leave no time for retaliation.”

  Danil scratched his beard, considering. “What if they don’t run?”

  “Then we kill them,” Kaavi said simply.

  Viktor shivered at how calm his grandfather sounded. There was no boastfulness in his voice, no aggression—just certainty. He had heard stories of Kaavi’s past, but now, he was seeing it firsthand.

  Ilyas nodded, approving. “We take out their leadership, and by dawn, this pce is safe again.”

  A Pce of Safety

  Viktor followed Ilyas down the vilge’s narrow streets, away from the forge. The night air was cold, carrying the scent of burning wood and damp earth. A few vilgers were still awake, their hushed voices carrying through the quiet.

  They stopped in front of a modest wooden house near the vilge’s edge. Ilyas pushed the door open and stepped inside, motioning for Viktor to follow.

  Inside, the home was warm and smelled of herbs and cooked meat. A woman stood near the hearth, stirring a pot. She was tall and strong-looking, her graying hair tied back. Beside her, a girl around Viktor’s age sat cross-legged on the floor, polishing a small wooden carving.

  Ilyas cleared his throat. “Alina.”

  The woman set her dle aside and turned. A flicker of surprise crossed her face before she folded her arms. “So, you’re finally back.”

  Ilyas smirked. “I always come back.” He gestured toward Viktor. “This is Kaavi’s grandson. His name’s Viktor.”

  Alina’s sharp eyes studied him, but there was no harshness in her gaze. “You look tired, child.”

  Viktor, unsure how to respond, just nodded.

  The girl on the floor tilted her head. “You’re really quiet,” she said curiously. “Don’t you talk?”

  Viktor blinked. “I do.”

  She grinned. “Good. It’d be boring otherwise. I’m Nadiya.”

  Viktor gave her a small nod. He wasn’t sure what to make of her yet.

  Alina dusted her hands off on her apron. “You’ll be safe here, Viktor. Ilyas said you’re to stay with us until he returns.”

  Viktor hesitated, gncing at Ilyas. “You’ll come back, right?”

  Ilyas crouched slightly so they were at eye level and ruffled Viktor’s hair. “Of course. Just keep an eye on the house while I’m gone.”

  Viktor nodded, his fingers gripping his cloak a little tighter.

  Nadiya perked up. “Want to see something?” She held up the wooden carving she’d been working on. It was a rough figure of a bird, its wings not yet fully shaped. “It’s supposed to be a hawk. Still working on it.”

  Viktor leaned in slightly. “It looks nice.”

  Nadiya beamed. “You think so? It’s not done yet, though.”

  Alina gnced between them and smiled faintly. “Come, Viktor. Sit by the fire and rest. You’ll be safe here.”

  Viktor hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward. The warmth of the home settled over him, and for the first time in days, he allowed himself to rex—just a little.