Chapter 6 - The Attack at Night

Now finally being the wiser about the deal of the pastor and Quilm, William goes back to his duties.

Over the coming days, he discusses business with the merchants and crafts more efficient supply lines. He redesigned production cycles of the crafters and went over the crop yield of the farmers.

The village's economics start to look quite a bit brighter. Gold exchanges hands and the peasants again walk with a smile on their faces.

Contributing to the happiness of the village also were the new entertainment buildings. A renovated brewery supplies better ale to the taverns.

An arena gives the peasants the action they want. The new girls in the brothels rejuvenate some old marriages. And the lower taxes leave the villagers some money to spend.

All in all, the settlement looks to be in high spirits. Even the elder Banelias has found himself a woman to wed.

A young girl from one of the richer families would be warming his bed until his last night. The marriage was planned to occur in a week's time.

The passing villagers shared some of their high spirits with the elder. Congratulating him on his new title and future wife.

Banelias of course happily accepts these compliments. A hard smile always adorning his face when he walks the busy streets. Though lately, he has preferred to travel by wagon, probably because of his higher position.

But a happy village always brings with it problems. On a late night, a week after the village's grand meeting, an unsettling feeling overcame some of the more sensible women.

The reported rise in mana levels was showing its fruits. A loud howl broke the silent night. The guards on duty weren’t concerned by the call's increased temper.

Though they certainly were when the call was answered. The alarm bells rang when the howl was answered by dozen others.

The scout, observing the forest from the high watchtower, sighted the howls origin with his eagle-like eyesight.

An alpha wolf was leading a large pack of his children towards the village. On his side were his elite warriors, dire wolves.

The lively screams of children and the smell of fresh flesh had lured them here. Came they did from the risen mana level, which was higher than expected.

This small mistake would cost the village their youngest babies and bravest warriors.

Together with the alarm bells, William arose from his meditative state in the cultivation chamber. He called for an emergency meeting.

Now in a small part of the town hall the elders, the officers, and the scout stood. Before them was the villages and its surroundings map. Figures of wolves and soldiers represented the pack and the guard.

The scout started the report: “50 wolves are approaching the village from the northern forest.” “Leading them is an alpha wolf and his elite squad of 5 dire wolves”

At this, the assembled man sucked in their breaths. Dire wolves were powerful enemies, the apex predators of the forest. They came from a high concentration of mana.

Their leader, the alpha wolf, was the real enemy. Born from high mana levels, this wolve, similar to humans, was able to cultivate mana. He may not be stronger than his dire wolf childer, physically, though mentally he was superior.

A strong enemy was a scary enemy though an intelligent one could wreak havoc if handled wrong.

William analyzed the situation. Already having lots of experience with fighting wolves. From his time as a bandit slave.

In close combat, a wolve was always superior to a man. No armor or sword would help him with that. Only a cultivator would be equal or stronger in power.

Normally one would be able to lure the wolf pack into a trap. Breaking their legs in bear traps or capturing them with large pitfalls.

With an intelligent wolve leading them, this would be more difficult than said. They had to either try something else or somehow get rid of their leader.

William discussed various ideas with the elders. Especially Sir Albert was a large contributor to creating the plan. Once put into action mentally they send out their men.

The wolves thundered down the wide fields. Taking quite a while to reach the village. There they were greeted by the archers' arrows straight to the head.

Whines filled the night. Wolves fell left and right. The shouts of officers sounded in the battle heat. The whooshes of arrows and strings of bows filled out the rest.

The intelligent alpha wolf howled. Splitting up his forces and spreading them out. This reduced the archers' hit rate and the next step in the plan was initiated.

Just as the Wolves were again rushing in towards the moat, lights lit up the night. The crackling of fire could be heard.

Ontop the dam, lying behind the moat a ring of fire was burning. The wet ground of spring stopped it from spreading. But it was enough to scare away the wolves, at least for now.

The arrows started to diminish the pack's number. Now down to halve. Some of the wolves wanted to flee but the alpha wolf was a tyrannical leader.

Enraged by his children dying he ordered them to jump over their fear. The pack charged and together, in a graceful jump they passed the dam's fires.

Most of them that was. The screams and whines of burning wolves filled the battlefield. And the air was saturated by the smell of crisp and fatty meat.

Behind the dam, the village's guard was stationed. On the vanguard stood their most powerful leaders.

Cultivators who were able to handle the strength of a wolve. From the first to the third level of tier 1, every guard fought valiantly.

Among their midst, the elder Sir Albert destroyed his enemies. With one swing of his blade, the air let out a rumble. In the trajectory of his swing were cut of wolves.

The wolves, mana-filled members attacked the guards viciously. As planned the alpha wolf went directly for the retired adventurer Albert.

Having sprung the trap a volley of poisonous arrows hit the beast, just as it steps in a cleverly concealed bear trap. The loud howl dying howl of the beast was enough.

The rest of the pack fled the battlefield. The ring of fire having been extinguished out for this exact reason.

With the animals defeated and the wounded being cared for the most dangerous time was over. No one died during the attack, a sign of the new lord's masterful tactics.

In his honor and those of the guards, a feast was held. The elder told the young about his great battles. The young heroes of the night, the guards, were flocked by the women. And William himself found himself at the banquets head.

Though he excused himself quite early and left to his manor. Kids who saw him on his way would tell their mother about his eyes. And drunkards would swear they saw the devil this night.

William had the look of a dead man on his face. His mouth was pulled down in a grimace. His posture downtrodden, when he thought no one saw him. And his fists balled tightly, leaving marks of nails in his palm.

He wasn’t happy with how the defense turned out. He never was. Always the man to better himself. Find every little error and thing that could have been done better or otherwise.

That night he went into bed, thinking about his journey here, from where he came and where he wanted to go. The perfectionist was a cursed trait, destroying the person which held it.