The rest didn't last long. Draco had barely had time to sit down comfortably under a tree when the scouts—the ones they'd split up from right at the start—appeared. Driven by curiosity, the dragon approached the spot where Adam was briefing Cedric on the reconnaissance.
'… straight ahead, about two kilometres.' The scout leader marked something on the map. 'It was easy to spot because it's all pine trees. You could see the traps from a distance.'
'Liam's work?'
'No, from a distance it looked like wolf pits. When we got closer, I had a strange feeling that something wasn't right, so we turned back.' He tapped the map with his stylus. 'It's possible there's some sort of formation there, or a more sophisticated magical trap.'
'So it's part of the terrain.' Cedric nodded in understanding.
'Later, we went round it via the upper path, but we didn't come across anything there. At least, not until we got close to the lake.' He marked something else on the map. 'There's a tower here with a fortified courtyard. It's going to be a tough nut to crack.'
'Since you mention it, that means someone's been there.'
'Yes, at least two squads. I also saw their banner at the summit, so we'll have to work out what to do about them anyway.' He moved the stylus slightly down the map. 'This is where the stream ends and flows into the lake. Then it goes like this.' From memory, he traced the course of the stream on the map. 'There's a village in that bend. Nothing special, just four simple huts connected by a palisade, but there's a second pennant there too, and certainly more than one squad.'
'It's not that far at all.' Cedric looked gloomy.
'Less than two kilometres, and even less as the crow flies.' Adam finished drawing. 'They're busy doing something over there. We didn't watch for very long, but it seems to me they're tasked with marking out the fortifications to be built around the village. There's also a small problem. I saw Liam there. It seems to me he was up to something on the bank near that pile of rubble you mentioned.'
'Did you go round behind them?' came a voice from somewhere to the side.
'I wanted to take a shortcut by cutting across that bend.' The scout didn't even turn round. 'Luckily, our haste allowed us to avoid whatever they'd prepared on that side.'
'They'd assumed it was impossible to get round the chasm without them knowing.'
'Yes, if they're stationed in the watchtower with a view of the whole rubble pile, as Zane said, then they'd only prepared for an attack from one side.' Adam nodded several times. 'Crossing over the rocks was a good idea,' he complimented, looking at Cedric.
'But not mine,' admitted the commander, looking around. His gaze settled on the dragon standing not far away. 'Draco came up with that,' he said, surprisingly without a trace of sarcasm in his voice.
'In that case, congratulations.' The black-haired lad turned towards the dragon and grinned. He was about to say something else, but Retfield cut him off.
'If we have to, can we cross that stretch without being spotted?' Cedric pointed to an area marked out slightly to the left of their current position.
'If we stick to the very edge, it shouldn't be a problem. It's quite a long way from the tower, and besides, there are still trees along the lake's shore. If they don't send anyone from the village to keep watch, we'll make it.'
'That leaves us with the third banner.' The commander bent over the map and studied it intently.
'They've taken up defensive positions, preparing for an attack from the entrance to the Crater.' Adam tapped three locations with his finger. 'Logically speaking, the last place they'll defend should be somewhere around here.' He pointed to an area at the top of the map, slightly to the right of the lake. 'This formation ensures, in theory, that no one can get past them and attack from the rear.'
'So they haven't realised that it is, in fact, possible to cross the chasm,' Zane suggested. 'The question is, do we go round and search for that final position before planning our attack, or do we focus on what we already know?'
'We can attack the village from the rear whilst they're busy with their task and have only set traps on the side where they're expecting us.' Adam looked at the points he'd marked himself. 'The tower might be a problem. The courtyard is fortified; they've posted guards as they should, and they didn't seem preoccupied with anything else. Clearly, that's where they're expecting us.'
'We have plenty of time,' said Cedric, looking up from the map and glancing around. 'But then again, it isn't unlimited.'
'Let's take out the village first, then we'll find the remaining position and decide what to attack first.' Zane was clearly raring to go, and walking back and forth through the woods was starting to bore him. Although he often appeared indifferent and bored, he was slowly proving not to be so.
'We could split up again.' Adam paused to think for a moment. 'If we retrace our steps, there'll be no problem; we'll just carry on straight from the tower. It'll be trickier meeting up again, though.'
'We could wait in the village once we've taken it,' suggested Cedric.
'I'm not sure that's such a good idea,' someone chimed in from the side. 'If they somehow realise something's gone wrong, we'll be completely exposed in the village. Especially as there's a manned watchtower not too far away, and on the other side, the tower with at least two squads. If they decide to attack, they'll be able to do so from two sides.'
'We'll have the numerical advantage then,' another person joined the discussion. 'If we manage to take the village and, whilst we're at it, eliminate all the defenders, they'll be left with three squads, which, in theory, will be able to move around the area.'
'You're assuming we won't suffer any casualties.' Cedric was a little more cautious than the others. 'In a reasonably favourable scenario, the forces will be evenly matched, which will give us the advantage as defenders. In the worst-case scenario, I reckon there'll be ten of us left, and then winning will be very difficult.'
'As long as we stay clear of the traps…' Zane was interrupted by the sound of a horn echoing across the Crater. '…or don't do anything stupid…' he continued, undeterred.
Draco seemed to be the only one who took any notice of the strange sound. The others continued to listen to the conversation, whilst the dragon looked around.
'It's just a blackout.' Noah, standing beside the dragon, seeing his reaction, decided to explain to the reptile what was happening. 'Just don't move. That's the only rule.'
'What's…'
He didn't manage to finish his question before a heavy curtain of darkness descended upon everything. An almost unnatural gloom enveloped the area, and even the sounds were muffled. Draco shuddered, feeling as though he could almost touch the darkness surrounding him. Feelings of heaviness, slight dizziness and disorientation only served to heighten his fear. The dragon barely managed to stop himself from panicking.
Suddenly, just as abruptly as it had begun, everything returned to normal. The reptile, panting heavily, began to look around with a slightly panicked expression. The others looked as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened, perhaps just something a little unpleasant. The cadets immediately resumed their interrupted conversation, whilst Draco tried to make sense of what had just happened.
'The first time is the worst, I'll admit.' Noah looked at the dragon with understanding. 'During the blackout, the instructors evacuate those who've been eliminated from the Crater, but the phenomenon itself occurs from time to time, at irregular intervals.' Parthir began to explain, trying to focus his listener's attention on something concrete, here and now, rather than on the feelings from a moment ago. 'The process itself isn't very pleasant either, but you can get used to it.'
'Formation?', muttered Draco, feeling his stomach churning.
'Yes, one of its charms,' Noah shrugged. 'It may be practical, but it's as clunky as hell. You'll get used to it after a few times.' He smiled wistfully. 'Or perhaps it's better to say you'll learn to cope with it.'
'I don't know if I want to…' The dragon tensed and managed to straighten up, keeping the contents of his stomach where they belonged.
'You won't have a choice, but don't worry, we've all been through it.' He patted the dragon on the shoulder. 'And remember, you mustn't lean on your left hand.' Parthir warned, pointing at the hand Draco had just taken off his knee.
'I'll try...' The dragon trailed off at the sight of the sharp glare. 'I'll remember.' He tried to smile, but under Noah's stern gaze, it didn't come off very well.
'Try to stay close, and I'll remind you.'
'Right!' Cedric's voice silenced everyone. 'Pull yourselves together, because it's time to get down to some serious work.'
*****************************************************************************************************
Draco gently parted the twigs of a dense bush to get a better view of the edge of the forest and the village lying beyond. Although the four simple log cottages, joined by a crumbling palisade, could hardly be called a settlement, that was precisely the function they served at that moment. From where he stood, he could easily see the pennant flying in the courtyard, as well as a signal flare in the form of a one-and-a-half-metre-long brass tube mounted vertically. Five people were bustling about amongst the buildings, preparing defensive positions facing the bend in the stream and further on, roughly in the direction of the rock debris and the end of the ravine. From time to time, they also ventured into the forest to gather the materials they needed.
Lookouts were stationed at the positions that had already been prepared. Two were visible at that moment, so they could safely assume that there were three more somewhere else. The lookouts were intently scanning the forest ahead of them, but it hadn't occurred to any of them to glance behind them, just to be sure. And there was plenty going on.
The dragon, along with Sheth and Noah, was crouching behind a spreading bush barely a few metres from the edge of the forest. Cedric and Zane were hiding behind the largest trees amongst those closest to the village. The commander and the elf were waiting for the right moment to quietly eliminate one of the builders before the commotion broke out.
To their right, roughly halfway to the stream, a second team was preparing to spring into action. To their left were two more, whilst the scouts led by Adam had spread out a little further down the stream to ensure that no one slipped away to raise the alarm in the tower by the lake.
They had a considerable advantage, not only in numbers but, above all, in the element of surprise. It seemed that it had not occurred to any of the defenders that they might be attacked from anywhere other than the front. As Cedric had said, this was an oversight on their part, not a sophisticated trap.
One of the builders had just broken away from the rest of the group and, grumbling loudly, was walking off to look for wicker or other vines suitable for reinforcing the palisade. The other members of his team were urging him on so that he wouldn't dawdle. The lad walked on, not looking around very carefully. As he passed the spot where Cedric was hiding, the commander drew his dagger and prepared for a swift attack.
'Gerwyn!' came a shout from the direction of the village. One of the sentries emerged from the nearest hut and waved towards the cadet who was about to become Retfield's target.
'Oh... What?!' The irritated builder spun round on his heel and put his hands on his hips. Fortunately, Cedric managed to throw himself to the ground just in time and hide amongst the low vegetation.
'If you're off into the woods anyway, have a look for some dry firewood!'
'No way!' Gerwyn seemed to be slowly seething with anger. 'I've got my own work to do, so if you want something, get off your arse and look for it yourself!' Irritated, he turned away and began striding deep into the woods.
The watchman watched him for a moment, but then waved his hand and disappeared into the hut. Retfield had missed his chance to attack, and the lad was getting dangerously close to where Draco and the other two were hiding.
'From the start, they've just been sitting there, repeating that they're supposed to keep an eye on everyone…' Gerwyn swore, kicking a stone.
'What now?' The Dragon turned to his companions and asked as quietly as he could.
'Too short.' Sheth shook his head vigorously.
'Don't look at me.' Noah shrugged, patting his sword and scabbard.
The reptile pressed his lips together and glanced over his shoulder. The enemy cadet was getting closer and closer.
'…there are enough of them… they're doing it to themselves… I was just doing them a favour…' Gerwyn kept muttering to himself.
'Strangling?', the dragon blurted out, realising there was no time for deliberation, and that a sword attack and the ensuing scuffle might attract too much unwanted attention.
'That's a fight too.' Parthir nodded as if to approve of the idea.
Draco turned and managed to take a quick look at the bushes a little further away. The undergrowth was dense enough that nothing could be seen from behind it. The dragon cursed under his breath and prepared to leap. He looked up and his eyes met Gerwyn's gaze. The defender's pupils began to dilate in surprise. The reptile pushed off the ground with great force and leapt forward, seeking to seize and knock down his opponent.
The momentum and force of the impact caused the builder to lift slightly off the ground whilst exhaling sharply. Draco, amidst the pounding of his heart ringing in his ears, caught a muffled groan from his opponent. The fall to the ground elicited another stifled moan, and Gerwyn, in terror, began gasping for air. The dragon, however, gave him no chance. He straightened up, then brought his full weight down onto the other boy, pressing his left forearm against his throat. The struggle was brief, until Draco felt a force pushing him back slightly and his opponent went still, gasping for air.
The reptile rolled onto his side and quickly glanced towards his companions, who were surprisingly far away. Both Noah and Sheth were watching the village somewhat nervously. After a moment, the parthir looked towards the dragon with relief and waved to tell him not to worry. Fortunately, no one had noticed that Gerwyn had been taken out.