In the days following, the planting passed in a blur of activity. With the fields sown and the irrigation channels functioning, Kael turned his attention to the fort's defenses.
The eastern wall had been repaired using stone from Stonehollow, but the northern and western sections remained vulnerable, their foundations undermined by years of neglect and seasonal flooding.
Kael stood with Garek on the northern wall, assessing the damage. Cracks spider-webbed through the stonework, and in places, the mortar had crumbled entirely, leaving gaps large enough for a child to slip through.
"We've prioritized the areas facing the most likely approach routes for bandits," Garek explained, pointing to sections they had already reinforced. "But a determined force could breach almost anywhere along this stretch."
Kael nodded, mentally calculating the resources required against those available. "How many with masonry experience among the refugees?"
"Three with proper training, perhaps a dozen more who've worked construction," Garek replied. "But materials remain our primary limitation. We've exhausted what we salvaged from Stonehollow."
"What about the abandoned mines to the west? Tomas mentioned them in his scouting reports."
Garek's expression grew guarded, much as it had when Kael suggested visiting Stonehollow. "The Blackvein Mines? Another place the locals avoid. Cave-ins claimed two dozen lives when they were abandoned thirty years ago. Some say the tunnels are unstable, others that the miners disturbed something best left buried."
"Superstition or genuine danger?" Kael asked directly.
"Both, likely," Garek admitted. "The deaths were real enough. Whether they were caused by poor mining practices or something more sinister..." He shrugged his one shoulder. "Either way, the mines contain stone we could use, if we're willing to risk extraction."
Kael made his decision. "Prepare an expedition for tomorrow. Small group, experienced people only. We'll assess the mines' condition and determine if safe extraction is possible."
As they continued their inspection of the walls, Kael noticed increased activity at the fort gates. A small group had arrived, not refugees this time, but locals from one of the outlying settlements. They appeared agitated, clustering around a child who couldn't have been more than twelve years old.
"Trouble?" Kael asked, already moving toward the stairs that would take them down to the courtyard.
"Let's find out," Garek replied grimly.
By the time they reached the gates, Elara had already emerged from the infirmary to meet the newcomers. The child at the center of the group, a girl with tangled dark hair and eyes too old for her years, was speaking urgently, her hands gesturing toward the south.
"... took everyone," Kael heard as he approached. "Said they'd be back for the rest of us in three days. ....told me to run and tell the fort that the Sandblight sends his regards."
Elara noticed Kael's arrival and quickly summarized. "This is Mira. Bandits raided her settlement at dawn. Took most of the adults, killed those who resisted."
"How many bandits?" Kael asked, addressing the girl directly.
Mira met his gaze without flinching, her composure remarkable given what she must have witnessed. "Twenty, maybe more. Led by a man with a scar from here to here." She traced a line from her left eye to her jaw. "They took my sister," she said bitterly. "Claimed she'd fetch a good price in the eastern markets."
Slave traders, then - likely operating under the Sandblight banner. The eastern coastal cities had officially banned slavery, but remote areas still experienced trafficking, particularly involving young women and skilled laborers.
"When did this happen, exactly?" Kael asked, his mind already calculating distances and travel times.
"Just after sunrise," Mira replied. "I ran all the way here. They headed east, toward the old trading post."
Kael exchanged glances with Garek. The old trading post was a known waypoint for bandits moving between the March and the eastern territories. If they reached it with their captives, the trail would become much harder to follow.
"Sergeant, assemble a rescue party," Kael ordered. "Six of our best, armed and mounted. We leave in thirty minutes."
"Sir Kael," Elara interjected, her voice low but firm. "You said your calculations gave us nearly two weeks before the Sandblight's main force would move. But this smaller raid..."
"Could be a feint," Kael finished for her, having already considered the possibility. "Designed to draw us out, weaken our defenses here."
"Or simply opportunism by a splinter group," Garek suggested. "The Sandblight's control over his followers isn't absolute."
Kael weighed the options quickly. The captives deserved rescue, but not at the cost of leaving Fort Marrow vulnerable to a larger attack. And yet, failing to respond would send a message of weakness that could encourage further raids.
"We proceed with the rescue," he decided. "But with caution. Corporal Tomas will remain here with the majority of our forces. Garek, select those with tracking experience for the rescue party."
As preparations began, Kael turned his attention back to Mira. The girl stood straight-backed despite her obvious exhaustion, her eyes following the activity around her with sharp intelligence.
"Your sister," Kael said gently. "What's her name?"
"Lina," Mira replied, a flicker of emotion breaking through her composed exterior. "She's sixteen. They took her because she knows herbcraft. Elara's been teaching her."
This was news to Kael. He glanced at Elara, who nodded confirmation.
"Lina has visited the infirmary several times to learn basic healing techniques," she explained.
"She shows considerable aptitude."
"All the more reason to recover her quickly," Kael said. "Mira, you should rest. You've done well to bring us this warning."
But the girl shook her head firmly. "I'm coming with you. I know the land better than any of you, and I can recognize my people even at a distance."
Kael was about to refuse a rescue mission was no place for a child but something in Mira's unwavering gaze gave him pause. This was not a request born of childish impulse, but a demand from someone who had already seen too much of the world's harshness.
"You'll stay with the rear guard," he conceded finally. "And follow orders without question. Understood?"
Mira nodded, relief and determination mingling in her expression. "Understood."
Thirty minutes later, the rescue party departed Fort Marrow. Kael led, with Garek and four experienced soldiers following. Mira rode double with one of the men, her small frame tense with purpose. They traveled light, carrying only essential weapons and supplies to maximize speed.
As they rode eastward, following the bandits' trail, Kael felt the familiar warmth of the system activating.
***
[Mission: Rescue Operation (High Risk)]
[Objective: Recover Captives from Sandblight Splinter Group]
[Warning: Potential Trap/Diversion]
[New Ally: Mira (Scout, Local Knowledge)]
***
The assessment aligned with Kael's own evaluation of the situation. The risk was significant, but so was the potential reward, not just in lives saved, but in demonstrating that the March under his leadership would not tolerate such raids.
They rode hard through the morning, the trail clear enough that even without Mira's guidance, they could have followed it. The bandits weren't attempting to hide their passage, suggesting either confidence or haste neither of which boded well for the captives.
By midday, they had closed much of the distance. From a ridge overlooking a dry riverbed, Kael spotted dust rising in the distance the bandit party, moving slower due to their prisoners and stolen goods.
"We'll catch them before they reach the trading post," Garek observed, lowering his spyglass.
"But they outnumber us at least three to one."
"Numbers aren't everything," Kael replied, studying the terrain ahead. The riverbed created a natural channel that the bandits would likely follow for ease of travel. On either side, rocky outcroppings provided potential ambush positions. "We'll use the land to our advantage."
He outlined his plan quickly. They would ride ahead and prepare an ambush at a narrowing of the riverbed. Two archers would position themselves on the high ground, while Kael and the others would block the path directly. If executed properly, the initial confusion should allow them to even the odds before engaging in direct combat.
"What about the captives?" Mira asked, her focus unwavering despite hours of hard riding.
"They'll be in the middle of the group."
"That's where you come in," Kael told her. "Once we engage the bandits, their attention will be on us. You'll approach from behind with this." He handed her a small knife, its blade sharp but easily concealable. "Cut the bindings of as many captives as you can, then lead them to safety behind those rocks." He pointed to a formation that would provide cover.
Mira took the knife, her expression solemn as she tucked it into her boot. "I won't fail."
They moved into position with practiced efficiency, the soldiers following Kael's instructions without question. Years of battlefield experience had taught him how to make the most of limited resources and unfavorable odds. This would not be the first time he had faced superior numbers with nothing but courage and careful planning.
As they waited for the bandit party to enter the ambush zone, Kael prepared himself mentally. He would need the aura circulation technique for this engagement the enhanced reflexes and precision it provided could make the difference between victory and defeat. But he would have to use it judiciously, aware of its time limitations and the exhaustion that followed.