Chapter 767 The Strategy Beneath the Snow

Ronan cleared his throat loudly, the sound cutting through the warm embrace that had settled between Orion and Sophia.

Orion sighed deeply, his shoulders dropping in exaggerated exasperation. “Sometimes, I wish you would disappear, brother.”

Sophia chuckled, the sound light and warm against Orion’s chest.

Ronan gasped loudly, one hand flying to his chest in mock offense. “I’m wounded. Truly wounded. Here I am, working tirelessly to prepare for the war, and this is the thanks I get?”

Orion didn’t even look at him. “Every day I wonder how we got close to being brothers.”

“I can remind you. It’s a good tale I like to tell,” Ronan said to him.

Orion rolled his eyes at that.

“We can talk privately later,” Sophia said softly, her eyes meeting his. “But for now, we have things to discuss.”

Orion straightened, his gaze shifting from Sophia to the table. He finally saw what they had been looking at.

The map of Nirvana was spread across the oak surface, its edges held down by books and a dagger. Lines had been drawn across it in careful strokes, marking positions and paths. Small markers had been placed at strategic points.

Orion’s brow furrowed. “What’s going on?”

Sophia led him toward the table, her hand still resting on his arm. “We were making strategies regarding the war.”

She paused, glancing at the others before continuing.

“I had an idea, so I went to Brynhild. But then it escalated into what you’re seeing now.”

Orion studied the map, taking in the markings. “What did you discuss?”

Ronan spoke up, a wide grin spreading across his face. “First of all, my sisters are fucking brilliant.”

Orion raised an eyebrow. “They usually are.”

“I know that,” Ronan said with a shake of his head.

“Anyway,” he continued, “Sophia gave us a suggestion—we should lure the beasts in.”

Orion’s frown deepened. “Lure the beasts in? How?”

Ronan’s grin widened. “For beasts like the Tidebreakers, we can use the blackwater berries mixture. Just like Sophia did during the placement test.”

Orion was quiet for a moment, turning the idea over in his mind.

“If we use the mixture that attracts the Tidebreakers, are you suggesting we rub the paste on the Enclave warriors so the beasts will attack them instead?”

The hall fell silent.

Everyone turned to look at him.

Then, slowly, his lips curved into a smile. “That’s exactly what it is, isn’t it?”

Sophia nodded, her expression serious. “Victoria plans to use the beasts against us. She wants to control them, to use them to kill us. So why don’t we turn it against her? Why don’t we turn it against the Enclave?”

She paused, letting her words sink in.

“Even if Victoria can control the beasts, the Tidebreakers are attracted to this mixture for some reason. I doubt Victoria’s control will be strong enough to stop them from going after it.”

Orion nodded slowly. “That’s smart.”

Brynhild inclined her head. “It is.”

She reached out and pointed at a spot on the map, her finger tracing a curved line near the eastern edge of the marked territory.

“We’ve also mapped out every position for the warriors during the war. The front line, the flanks, the reserves. We’ve accounted for as many scenarios as we could think of.”

Orion leaned closer, studying the markings. His eyes traced the lines and symbols, noting the careful placement of each marker.

Then his gaze shifted to the clusters of white chalk scattered across the map. They were concentrated in specific areas, placed strategically between the marked warrior positions and the expected path of the Enclave.

“What are these?” he asked, pointing at the chalk marks.

Kevin stepped forward, his expression calm and measured. His thick dreadlocks were tied back, and the jagged scar across his cheek caught the lantern light.

“Those,” he said, “are for a sneak attack.”

Orion frowned. “A sneak attack?”

Kevin nodded. “The Tidebreaker Korrath is a beast that camouflages, right? It blends into its surroundings, making it look like a normal rock, and most times, before one realizes it, it’s usually too late. So why don’t we do the same?”

Orion was quiet for a moment, his eyes fixed on the chalk marks. “Explain.”

Kevin leaned over the map, his finger tracing one of the white clusters.

“Some of our warriors would be hidden beneath the snow. It would be cold, yes. But the warriors from the Enclave wouldn’t expect it. They would be focused on what’s in front of them, on the main force they can see. They wouldn’t think to look beneath their feet.”

Gregory nodded, his massive arms crossed over his chest. “The warriors hidden beneath the snow would have their scents masked, so the Enclave warriors wouldn’t be able to detect them. And just like the Tidebreaker, they would strike when least expected.”

He paused, a grim smile crossing his face.

“It would be the perfect ambush. Arrows coming from below, from places the Enclave warriors think are safe. It would sow chaos and confusion. And in chaos, we would have the advantage.”

Kevin added, “Sometimes we hunters use this method to hunt down beasts in Nirvana. It’s risky, but it works. And this is another way to turn the tide of the war in our favor.”

Orion studied the map, his mind racing. He could see the logic in the plan. The Enclave warriors would be focused on the front line, on the warriors they could see. They wouldn’t be expecting an attack from beneath the snow.

“How many people do you plan to do this?” he asked. “And how long can they stay beneath the snow?”

Kevin’s expression turned thoughtful. “We can have at most fifteen warriors hidden this way. Any more than that, and the risk of discovery increases. As for how long they can stay beneath the snow…” He paused. “Most hunters who use this method can stay under for up to an hour.”

Daniel spoke then, his voice calm but firm. “The war will last longer than an hour, though.”