Chapter 225: A Trap At Raven’s Hollow
Cedric noticed every one of them. Even so, he could not afford to slow down because every hour they wasted gave Griswold another opportunity to disappear.
"Stay alert," Cedric reminded them firmly, his calm but commanding voice cutting through the heavy silence.
The men straightened immediately. "Yes, Lord Cedric."
Their destination lay ahead... An abandoned fortress hidden deep within Raven’s Hollow.
Its crumbling stone walls rose out of the mist like the skeleton of some forgotten giant, while broken towers stood crooked against the pale morning sky.
Cedric raised one hand, signaling everyone to dismount.
The soldiers climbed down from their horses and quietly drew their weapons as they advanced on foot. Boots crunched softly against loose gravel while every pair of eyes scanned the surrounding ruins for the slightest sign of movement.
Cedric’s own hand rested firmly upon the hilt of his sword as his sharp gaze swept over every shadow, every collapsed wall, and every broken archway.
Something about the place unsettled him.
It was... quiet.
He turned toward a group of his most trusted men."You’ll remain outside," he instructed. "Keep watch over every entrance, and if you notice anything unusual, signal us immediately."
The men bowed. "Understood, my lord."
"The rest of you come with me," Cedric ordered, and the remaining men immediately fell in behind him. With swords drawn and arrows ready at their backs, they cautiously stepped into the abandoned fortress, their eyes sweeping over every corner of the crumbling structure for the slightest sign of danger.
Dust lingered in the stale air while the silence hanging over the place only made every footstep sound louder. The deeper they ventured into the fortress, the more oppressive the atmosphere became, until they finally reached the center of the ruined building.
Just then, the heavy doors behind them slammed shut with a deafening boom.
Every man instinctively turned around.
Cedric’s gaze sharpened immediately as he reached for his sword, intending to rush back, but before he could move, the unmistakable sounds of steel clashing against steel erupted from outside. The desperate cries of men echoed through the stone walls, followed by the sickening sounds of blades cutting through flesh. The battle lasted only moments before an eerie silence settled over the fortress once again.
Cedric’s expression darkened.
He had barely taken a step toward the entrance when a familiar voice echoed from above. "If I were you," the man drawled lazily, "I wouldn’t go after them."
Cedric stopped in his tracks and slowly lifted his head.
Standing atop one of the broken walls overlooking the fortress was Griswold, a black cloak draped over his body while its hood concealed much of his face. Even so, the smugness in his voice was unmistakable.
Cedric’s eyes narrowed into a glare. "We know you’re the one behind all of this," he called out coldly. "Surrender now, or you’ll face a punishment far worse than death."
His voice rang throughout the ruined fortress, unwavering despite the situation, while the knights behind him instinctively tightened their grips on their weapons.
Griswold merely leaned forward, resting one hand lazily against the broken stone. "So..." he said with a mocking grin, "it took you that long to figure it out?"
Cedric’s jaw tightened.
"What made you think you could simply walk into my territory and arrest me?" Griswold continued, amusement dancing in his voice. "Did you truly believe it would be that easy?"
The moment those words left his mouth, movement stirred above them.
One after another, archers stepped onto the surrounding walls until they completely encircled the fortress. Each of them drew a flaming arrow, the orange glow illuminating their faces as they aimed directly at Cedric and his men below.
One of the knights swallowed hard. "...It’s a trap."
Griswold’s smile widened. "Your men outside are already dead," he announced calmly, as though speaking about nothing more than the weather.
Almost on cue, another set of heavy doors creaked open, and dozens more armed men poured into the fortress. They carried axes, swords, spears, and heavy shields, quickly surrounding Cedric’s small company until escape became almost impossible.
One of the younger knights could no longer hide the fear in his voice. "...We’re surrounded."
Another whispered under his breath, "We’re dead..."
Griswold then looked down at them as though he had already won. "I’ll give you one chance," he said. "Throw down your weapons and surrender."
His gaze settled directly on Cedric. "You are the Lord Commander of the Knights. A man of your ability deserves to stand beside me instead of wasting your loyalty on the crown." His lips curled into a confident smile. "Fight for me, Cedric. Together, we’ll bring Rowan’s reign to an end."
Silence followed.
Cedric stared back at him without so much as blinking.
Betray Rowan? The very thought disgusted him.
He would sooner let his blood soak these stones than kneel before a traitor.
Looking at Griswold now, he found himself thinking only one thing.
It would have been better if the man had run.
At least then there would still have been hope of hunting him down.
Instead, he had prepared this elaborate ambush, luring them into the heart of his den where everything had clearly been planned in advance.
Cedric slowly drew his sword, the sharp scrape of steel breaking the silence.
He raised the blade before him. "Today," he declared firmly, his voice carrying enough conviction to steady even the frightened hearts behind him, "we fight for His Majesty."
His gaze never left Griswold. "And today, we capture the traitor."
His men looked at one another. The fear was still there... Some were pale... Others could barely stop their hands from trembling.
After all, they were hopelessly outnumbered.
Cedric noticed every bit of it. "Do you hear me?" he barked.
The sharp authority in his voice cut straight through their fear.
The knights immediately straightened. "Yes, Lord Cedric!"
Their answer echoed through the fortress.
Griswold clicked his tongue in disappointment before his eyes turned cold. "Fools," he muttered.
Then he raised one hand, his voice thundering against the fortress. "Kill them all... Leave not a single one alive"
