Chapter 424
424
424
Third Person’s POV
After two days of waiting, Abbot grew restless.
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On June 21st, he said to Stewart, “We can’t just wait here uselessly. Let me take a dozen men across the grasslands and circle the mountain to see if we can find Lance. I’m worried he might’ve been injured during the rescue.”
Stewart replied, “Don’t rush. A dozen men won’t make a difference. This vast mountain, covered in dense forests with no direct paths, makes it nearly impossible to meet up.”
“But waiting here idly won’t help either,” Abbot argued, clearly anxious.
“Actually, deploying so many soldiers here by the commander serves no real purpose. If they’ve crossed the grasslands safely, they’re already secure. Whether we’re three thousand or a thousand, none of us can cross the grasslands and scale the mountain.”
Stewart whispered, “He just wants to show Lycan Erasmus he’s fully committed to the rescue. Whether our three thousand men are useful or not doesn’t matter to him.”
Both sighed.
They had served under exceptional commanders and held little regard for Tad.
Yet Lycan Erasmus had placed his trust in him.
With no ongoing battles, their current task was to guard Frostbite Town against potential Dragon Ash retaliation.
“Forget waiting, Stewart,” Abbot said, suggesting, a compromise.
“Let’s send ten–man groups across the grasslands. What do you think?”
Stewart considered it. “Let’s do it. We’ll dispatch ten teams of ten men each, crossing the grasslands in batches toward Blackcross Mountain. You stay and guard the post; I’ll lead the teams.”
“No, I’ll go,” Abbot insisted, his expression solemn. “Lance didn’t say much to me, but when he mentioned rescuing Eugenius, he glanced at me several times. I suspect Eugenius might be Eugene, my brother.”
Stewart looked at him in surprise. “You think so? Don’t get your hopes up just yet.”
During prisoner exchanges between nations, families eagerly awaited their loved ones, scrutinizing each
returnee.
Stewart hadn’t found Magnus, and Abbot hadn’t found Eugene.
They celebrated with everyone for the returning soldiers.
As Alpha Bentley Legion officers, they embraced every returnee, offering encouragement and sharing in their joy, drinking beer together.
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But when alone, their tears betrayed their disap–pointment. That night, neither slept
Stewart dared not hope again after such letdowns.
Though Magnus wasn’t of the Wall family, their bond, forged in battle with Alpha Bentley, was deeper than blood.
Ultimately, they decided to go together. The main force stayed put, while one hundred men crossed the grasslands in shifts.
As expected, the staggered crossing drew no attention from the grassland sentries.
They ascended Horace Hill and waited at its peak. From this vantage point, they could monitor any
movement.
They dared not descend carelessly, as Horace Hill was jointly controlled by the Dragon Ash Werewolf Kingdom and the grassland wolves. Missteps could spark conflict.
Lance and his group had reached the foot of Horace Hill. Beyond it lay the grasslands.
Only ten of them entered the grasslands, avoiding detection by the nomadic tribes. Victor wouldn’t risk pursuit here.
But the relentless escape had taken its toll. While Lance held on, others were exhausted, their legs trembling.
Some were injured during the rescue.
Eugene walked at first, then needed support, and finally had to be carried.
Lance, though unharmed, was fatigued from fending off guards at the outpost.
Everyone except Klein was exhausted.
They had to rest briefly before Horace Hill.
But after a fifteen–minute break, Klein abruptly stood, listened intently, then announced, “They’re coming. We must climb the hill now.”
Marsh was the most concerning. His breaths were shallow, wounds either inflamed or slightly healed, relying solely on Digby’s medicine.
Lance gently slapped his face. “We’re moving again. I’ll carry you. Hold on–your mate in the capital awaits you.”
At the mention of “mate,” Marsh’s eyes fluttered open. Weakly, he looked at Lance. “I’m… ab “I’ll carry you. Let’s go,” Lance said, hoisting him onto his back.
Marsh’s tears fell on Lance’s shoulders, his voice barely audible. “If… you have to leave me…”
He was drowsy but aware of the danger.
He wouldn’t rest easy if his downfall dragged everyone else down.
‘n…
JOI
Lance responded firmly, “Not a single one of us will be left behind!”
Turning to the others, who were supporting each other, he said, “This is the last mountain. Once over it, the grasslands and Frostbite Town are within reach. Don’t you all want to return to our homeland? To see our reclaimed Southern Border?”
Tears welled in their eyes as they chorused, “We dream of it every day.”
“We’re almost home,” Lance encouraged. “Let’s go.”