Chapter 298: The Watchful Bird

Darion immediately decided they shouldn’t use the obvious paths. If Vrethka was preparing for war, there could be scouts everywhere. They stuck to the shadows and moved through areas with thick vegetation. When they heard voices in the distance, they stopped and waited until whoever was nearby passed. If they saw lights, they moved in the opposite direction.

Their goal wasn’t to fight anyone. They were here to observe. Darion reminded himself of that repeatedly.

’We’re not here to conquer Vrethka. We’re here to find out what the hell they’re planning.’

They continued for roughly another hour. The forest gradually began opening up. Darion noticed the terrain changing. The trees became less dense. The ground was more frequently traveled. There were more signs of civilization.

Seren suddenly stopped. Darion looked at her. "What?"

She pointed ahead. Through the trees, far in the distance, there were lights. Not one or two. Dozens.

Darion immediately became alert. Finally. They had reached the outskirts of Vrethka’s territory. It was now nighttime, making the darkness an advantage for them. They carefully moved closer without exposing themselves.

Eventually, Darion and Seren reached a position where they could clearly see the settlement. Darion had expected something much smaller. Vrethka wasn’t some tiny village hidden in the wilderness. It was significantly larger than he had imagined.

A substantial wall surrounded the settlement. Guards patrolled the walls. Torches and lanterns illuminated important areas. There were watchtowers positioned around the perimeter. Even from a distance, Darion could feel that the settlement was organized. It didn’t look like a place simply trying to survive. It looked like a place preparing for something.

Seren quietly said, "That’s Vrethka."

Darion stared at it. "It’s bigger than I expected."

Seren nodded. "So did I."

Darion studied the walls. There were too many guards. Too many people moving around. Too many supplies being transported. Something was clearly happening.

Darion and Seren didn’t approach the settlement directly. Instead, they found a concealed location farther away from the walls. It was a slightly elevated patch of forest with enough vegetation to hide them. From there, they could see parts of Vrethka without being easily spotted.

Seren crouched beside Darion. Darion looked over the settlement. They need information. Walking into Vrethka would be stupid. They didn’t know how many soldiers were inside. They didn’t know what magic users they had. They didn’t know what defenses were hidden within the walls. And they definitely didn’t know what Vrethka’s leader was planning.

Darion considered using one of his undead. Then he remembered something useful. His undead bird.

Darion summoned an undead bird. But this wasn’t some giant, intimidating undead creature. He deliberately chose the most ordinary-looking bird in his inventory. Small and common. Nothing visually suspicious. If someone saw it flying over the settlement, they would probably assume it was just a normal bird.

Darion looked at it. Nobody is going to pay attention to this thing.

Seren watched the bird. "You’re sending that in?"

Darion nodded. "Exactly." He explained that an ordinary bird was much safer than something obviously undead. Vrethka might have guards watching for enemies. They might have mages looking for magical intruders for all he knew. But nobody was likely to care about a random bird flying overhead.

Darion activated Borrowed Sight. His vision changed. Suddenly, he was looking through the bird’s eyes.

The bird took flight. From above, Darion got a much better view of Vrethka. He began slowly circling the settlement. He saw the walls. Guards were stationed at regular intervals. Some were standing watch. Others were moving between positions.

Darion mentally took note of everything. Wall height... watchtowers... guard positions... He didn’t know the exact numbers yet, but he started building a rough picture of Vrethka’s defenses in his head.

The bird flew farther inward. Darion’s expression became more serious.

He spotted an open area inside the settlement. Dozens of warriors were training. They were practicing with spears, swords, axes, and shields. Some were sparring. Others were practicing formations. Groups were training together rather than individually.

Darion watched quietly. This isn’t casual training. These people were preparing for actual combat. They were mobilizing. He watched another group practicing archery. Another group was learning how to move together. Darion’s suspicion grew. Why would they need this many people training at night? Whatever Vrethka was preparing for, it wasn’t something minor.

The bird flew toward another section of the settlement. Darion saw wagons. Lots of them. Crates were being unloaded. Bags of grain. Barrels of water. Weapons. Arrows. Tools. Other supplies Darion couldn’t immediately identify. Some of the supplies were being stored inside buildings. Others were being loaded onto wagons.

Darion noticed something particularly important. The supplies weren’t being distributed throughout the settlement. They were being gathered and organized in large quantities. It looked like preparations for a campaign. Darion’s thoughts raced. Food. Weapons. Transportation. Soldiers. This wasn’t preparation for defending the settlement. They were preparing to go somewhere.

Darion continued scouting. Then he noticed something that immediately caught his attention. A group of people was being escorted through another part of the settlement. They were prisoners. Their hands were restrained. They were dirty and exhausted. Some were carrying heavy materials. Others were working around construction areas.

Darion focused the bird’s vision. He watched them more carefully. Their clothing looked different from Vrethka’s people. Seren saw Darion’s expression change. "What?"

Darion answered quietly, "Prisoners."

Seren looked toward him. "From where?"

Darion didn’t immediately answer. He watched another group pass. Then he noticed something familiar. The clothing. The insignia. The general appearance. Darion’s eyes narrowed. "Harrowhold."

Seren’s expression changed. "You’re sure?"

Darion nodded slowly. "I think so." He couldn’t confirm every detail from this distance, but everything about them suggested they came from Harrowhold. They weren’t being treated like ordinary prisoners. They were being used as labor. Carrying supplies. Moving materials. Working under guard.

Darion continued watching. Suddenly, several pieces began fitting together. The scouts near Percvale. Their confidence. Their mention of Vrethka’s recent victory. The increased strength they claimed to have gained. The military activity here. The stockpiled supplies. The prisoners from Harrowhold.

Darion realized that Vrethka’s recent victory wasn’t some small skirmish. They had fought a real conflict. And now they were preparing for something else. Darion thought about what the scout said. "Vrethka’s victory has made us stronger than ever." Darion’s eyes narrowed. They won a war. And apparently, they aren’t stopping.

Darion pulled the bird farther away from the settlement for a moment. He returned his attention to his own body. Seren immediately looked at him. "What did you see?"

Darion took a moment before answering. "They’re preparing for war."

Seren’s face became serious. "You’re sure? It’s not a raid?"

Darion nodded. "Warriors are training everywhere. They’re stockpiling food, weapons, and supplies." He paused. "And there are prisoners inside."

Seren’s eyes narrowed. "Harrowhold?"

Darion nodded. "Most likely."

Seren looked toward Vrethka. The distant settlement suddenly seemed much more threatening. Darion quietly said, "They didn’t just win a battle. They’re getting ready for whatever comes next."

Darion and Seren remained in their concealed position. They didn’t move closer. They didn’t attack. They didn’t reveal themselves. This was exactly what Darion came for. Information. But instead of answering his questions, Vrethka had created even more of them.

Why did Vrethka attack Harrowhold? Why were they now targeting Percvale?

Why are they targeting PERCVALE!

What were they preparing for? How many soldiers did they actually have? And what exactly did the scout mean when he said Vrethka had become stronger than ever?

Darion knew they couldn’t leave yet. They needed to learn more. But they also couldn’t afford to stay careless. If Vrethka’s scouts were as capable as the ones Darion encountered near Percvale, being discovered here could turn dangerous very quickly.