CHAPTER 307: HE’S BEEN EXPECTING YOU.

The battle lasted less than ten minutes. When the smoke cleared, thirty-seven elves lay dead among the burning buildings. Not a single member of Grim’s group had suffered serious injury.

"Survivors?" Grim called out as he dismounted to begin the now-familiar ritual of ear collection.

"Seven families made it to the woods," Huangyan reported. "Mostly women and children. The men tried to fight and died early."

"Get them back here. We need information about elven movements in this area."

The surviving villagers emerged from hiding with obvious reluctance. They were simple farmers, unused to violence on this scale. The sight of Grim methodically removing ears from elven corpses clearly disturbed them, but they were too grateful for rescue to complain.

"How long have the elves been attacking?" Captain Wei asked their apparent leader, an older woman whose dress was singed from the fires.

"Three days," she replied, cradling a young child against her chest. "They came without warning. Said we were harboring enemy soldiers."

"Were you?" Grim asked without looking up from his work.

"No!" the woman protested. "We’re just farmers. We don’t even have weapons except hunting bows."

"Then why attack you?"

"Terror," Sergeant Liu answered. "Kill enough civilians, and the survivors flee. Depopulate the region to deny resources to defending armies."

"Practical strategy," Grim admitted.

He finished his collection and stood, adding thirty-seven new pairs to his belt. The weight was becoming significant, but he wouldn’t consider leaving any behind. Each trophy represented justice delivered.

"Where will you go?" he asked the survivors.

"The capital, if we can make it," the woman replied. "My sister lives there. Maybe she can help us start over."

"Travel with us," Grim offered. "Safety in numbers."

The addition of seven civilians to their group complicated movement significantly. The survivors had no horses and few supplies. Children tired quickly and needed frequent rest stops. Progress slowed to barely half their previous pace.

But the intelligence they provided proved valuable. The villagers knew local terrain intimately, including shortcuts and hidden paths that didn’t appear on any military map.

They also carried news from other settlements. Information about elven movements and tactics that helped piece together the bigger picture.

"They’re not just raiding randomly," Grim realized as he studied the pattern of attacks. "There’s a strategic purpose. They’re clearing corridors for a large army to move foward."

Captain Wei agreed. "Classic tactics. Secure your flanks before committing main forces."

"Which means Emperor Yanyu is facing a much larger threat than anyone realizes."

The implications were sobering. If the elves were preparing for full-scale invasion, the scattered raids and prisoner-taking were just preliminary operations. The real war hadn’t even begun yet.

They made camp that evening in a defensible position overlooking the river. The refugees huddled around a small fire, sharing what little food they’d managed to salvage from their destroyed homes. Children whimpered quietly, too frightened to cry aloud.

"This is what we’re fighting for," Lianna said, watching the family groups with sad eyes. "Not kingdoms or politics. Just people trying to live their lives in peace."

"Wars are always fought by ordinary people," Morris replied. "Doesn’t matter if they want to fight or not. The fighting comes to them anyway."

"Then we make sure the fighting ends," Grim said with quiet intensity. "Permanently."

The next morning brought new challenges. Heavy rain turned the trail into a muddy morass that slowed their progress even further. The refugees struggled through ankle-deep muck, their inadequate footwear providing little protection against the elements.

Worse, the rain revealed their vulnerability. Smoke from their fires became visible for miles. Their tracks in the mud could be followed by any competent tracker.

"We’re sitting ducks," Sergeant Liu observed, squinting through the rain at the empty hills around them.

"I know," Grim replied. "But we can’t abandon them."

"Can’t we?" Captain Wei asked quietly. "Our mission..."

"Our mission is whatever I say it is," Grim interrupted. "And right now, that means getting these people to safety."

The argument was settled by the appearance of elven scouts on the ridge behind them. Three riders watching their progress with obvious interest. Too far for immediate attack, but close enough to track their movement and report to larger forces.

"How long have they been there?" Grim asked.

"Just appeared," Zhang reported.

Grim spurred his horse up the hillside, leaving the march in Captain Wei’s capable hands. The scouts saw him coming and tried to flee, but their horses were tired from long patrol duty.

The chase lasted fifteen minutes across broken ground that would have challenged mountain goats.

"Aurora Flash: Sundering Slash," he called out as he drew within range.

The focused beam of energy took the rearmost scout through the chest, dropping him from his saddle to tumble among the rocks. The second scout tried to return fire with his bow, but shooting accurately while riding at full gallop required skills he didn’t possess.

Grim’s blade opened his throat as they passed each other on a narrow ledge.

The third scout made it almost to the ridge line before Echo found his spine. He pitched forward over his horse’s neck and disappeared into a ravine with a crash of breaking branches.

But the encounter confirmed what they’d all suspected. The elves were actively hunting them now. More scouts would follow. Larger forces would converge on their position.

"We need to reach the capital soon," Grim said when he rejoined the column. "Before they can organize a proper pursuit."

"Two more days," the village woman said hopefully. "If the weather improves."

"It won’t," Huangyan observed, studying the darkening sky. "This storm is going to get worse before it gets better."

She was right. The rain intensified as the day progressed, turning streams into torrents and trails into quagmires. Progress slowed to a crawl as they struggled through increasingly difficult conditions.

But as evening approached, they crested a hill and saw lights in the distance. Not the orange glow of burning buildings, but the steady white light of magical illumination. The capital’s outer defensive lines, still intact and operating normally.

"There," Morris said with obvious relief. "We made it."

"Almost," Grim corrected, studying the lights through his spyglass. "Still will take a day or so."

"What do you see?"

"Guard posts and patrols." Grim smiled for the first time in days.

Eventually, they passed through the final gate and entered the city. Citizens went about their business with the confidence of people who felt safe behind strong walls.

"It’s beautiful," one of the refugee children said, staring up at the illuminated buildings with wide eyes.

"It’s civilization," Grim replied. "Something worth fighting for."

They made their way through crowded streets toward the palace district, their small column drawing curious glances from late-night revelers and concerned looks from city guards. Eight mounted soldiers escorting seven muddy families refugees made for an unusual sight.

The palace gates loomed ahead, guarded by troops in pristine uniforms who looked like they’d never seen real combat. But their weapons were sharp and their formations professional. Appearance wasn’t everything.

"State your business," the gate captain demanded as they approached.

"Lord Grim van Ambrose," Grim replied, producing his identification papers. "Returning from special operations in the eastern territories. I carry urgent intelligence for Emperor Yanyu."

The captain’s expression shifted from suspicion to respect as he examined the documents. "Yes, my lord. His Majesty has been expecting you."

"Has he now?"

"Messages arrived three days ago describing your activities in the mountain regions. The emperor is most eager to hear your full report."