Free Web NovelChapter 26: Tud’or’s Decision
Ka’z slowly lowered the leaves back into place. His heart hammered violently against his ribs as the realization struck him. The Ashmork Clan hadn’t merely entered the southern region. They had already begun building a foothold.
He exchanged glances with Tu’ka, whose usually expressionless face had grown noticeably more serious. Even he understood what this meant. This wasn’t a temporary hunting camp. Everything about it screamed permanence.
"They’re preparing for war..." Za’r whispered, her voice barely audible.
Kurg nodded repeatedly, his body trembling.
"We... we have to leave."
Ka’z agreed. There was nothing more to see. Remaining here any longer would only increase the chances of being discovered. He quietly raised two fingers before pointing behind them.
Everyone understood.
Without making a sound, the four slowly crawled away from the bushes, carefully placing each hand and foot to avoid snapping even the smallest twig. Only after they had retreated nearly a hundred meters into the forest did they finally rise to their feet.
Nobody spoke.
Even Kurg restrained himself. The atmosphere was so heavy that breathing too loudly felt dangerous. Only after several more minutes did Ka’z finally slow down.
"They’ve already begun," he mumbled almost absentmindedly.
No one answered. There was nothing left to say. The evidence spoke for itself.
Whoosh!
A gust of wind rushed through the forest, causing everyone to instinctively tense.
Ru’k landed lightly on a nearby branch before immediately jumping down.
"You idiots are still alive."
Ka’z rolled his eyes.
"You sound disappointed."
Ru’k scratched the back of his head.
"I was hoping I’d only have to rescue one or two of you."
"Shut up."
Before another argument could begin, several familiar figures emerged from the trees behind Ru’k. Lan’ka, Tud’or, and Tong’a stepped out of the undergrowth, followed by six veteran soldiers carrying worn wooden spears and broken uronswords across their backs.
The moment Lan’ka saw everyone unharmed, the tension in his shoulders eased ever so slightly.
"What did you find?"
Ka’z didn’t waste any time.
"A camp."
Lan’ka frowned.
"What kind of camp?" Tud’or asked.
Ka’z pointed deeper into the forest.
"Goblins. Around thirty of them. I believe they’re building a base of operations."
As Ka’z continued speaking, the expressions of every adult gradually darkened. Tong’a narrowed his cloudy eyes.
"Show us."
Ka’z nodded.
"This way."
The group moved through the forest much faster than before. Unlike the younger kobolds, the veteran hunters seemed capable of weaving through dense vegetation without producing the slightest sound. Even Lan’ka’s massive frame barely disturbed the surrounding bushes.
Eventually, they reached the ridge overlooking the clearing. Everyone lowered themselves behind the bushes while Ka’z carefully parted the leaves once more.
The camp remained as busy as before.
Axes echoed throughout the clearing as tree trunks continued crashing to the ground. Goblins carried sharpened stakes toward the unfinished palisade while tiger striped boars hauled enormous logs toward the center of the construction site.
Nobody inside seemed aware they were being watched.
Tud’or quietly observed everything. His gaze swept across every corner of the clearing while Tong’a’s expression gradually became solemn.
"Could this be all of them?" Lan’ka asked.
Tong’a slowly shook his head.
"They aren’t building a normal camp. They’re building it for a much larger force."
Lan’ka frowned.
"They aren’t?"
Tong’a nodded and extended a weathered finger toward the stacks of timber.
"Look closer."
Everyone followed his finger.
Massive piles of cut logs had already been sorted according to size. Nearby lay neatly stacked sharpened stakes. Woven baskets filled with dried grass for roofing had already been prepared, while bundles of rope and construction materials were piled beside them.
Tong’a slowly exhaled.
"This isn’t a camp built for thirty goblins. They’re constructing something much larger for a much larger army."
Tud’or gave a slow nod at Tong’a’s conclusion. The old kobold had seen more of the world than anyone present, so it was only natural that he understood such things better than the rest.
"This is not the invasion army," Tud’or finally said. "They’re only making preparations for the main force."
Buzz!
The faces of Ka’z, his teammates, and even the veteran soldiers twisted with shock.
Their colony barely had a population exceeding one hundred. Even then, they struggled to field fifty warriors.
The thirty goblins before them already represented nearly the size of Vaal’kor’s entire military.
To discover that this force wasn’t even the main army was enough to drain the color from everyone’s faces.
Even Lan’ka’s expression stiffened.
Tud’or continued observing the camp. His attention eventually shifted beyond it, where fresh wagon ruts stretched toward the western forest.
Only now did he understand why the past week had been so peaceful. The Ashmork Clan had been preparing for war right beneath their noses.
"They’ve already established a supply route."
Tong’a nodded.
"They intend to stay."
A cold realization settled over everyone. The goblins weren’t preparing for a quick raid. They were preparing for a long, drawn out war.
Lan’ka slowly clenched his fists.
"...How many do you predict?"
Tud’or remained silent for several moments before answering.
"This clearing can comfortably house over one hundred warriors."
Buzz!
Even the veteran soldiers looked visibly disturbed.
That number alone nearly matched the entire population of the Vaal’kor Colony.
"So where are all the goblin soldiers?" Ru’k finally asked.
"Where are the hundreds of goblins this place is being built for?"
Tud’or slowly lowered the leaves.
"In my ten years of experience, I would guess they’re being recalled from somewhere far away. If they were available, they would already be here."
Tong’a nodded in agreement. Everything suddenly made sense.
The goblins hadn’t delayed their attack because they were showing restraint. They had delayed because they were waiting. Once this camp was completed, reinforcements could march south safely.
Only then would the real war begin.
Tud’or quietly rose to his feet.
"We’ve seen enough."
Without another word, everyone withdrew into the forest. The journey back was considerably heavier than the one before.
Nobody spoke.
Not even Ru’k.
Every kobold present understood the significance of what they had just witnessed.
When the familiar watchtowers of the Vaal’kor Colony finally appeared through the trees, Tud’or immediately turned toward one of the sentries the moment he stepped inside.
"Gather everyone. The council convenes immediately."
The guard’s expression stiffened.
He had only a vague idea why Tud’or and the others had left. If the Chief Warrior was calling an emergency council, then whatever they had discovered could only be disastrous.
"Yes, Chief Warrior."
Within minutes, the colony’s leaders assembled inside the largest chamber. Only the elders, hunters, and the colony’s strongest warriors were permitted entry.
The atmosphere inside was suffocating.
Tud’or walked to the center of the chamber before kneeling. Using a piece of charcoal, he began drawing the surrounding terrain across the cave floor.
He started with the colony itself, then the drainage trench. Beyond that came the forest. Finally, the newly discovered goblin camp.
As he drew, Tud’or gave a detailed explanation of everything they had witnessed.
When he finished, silence filled the chamber. It was Lan’ka who finally broke it.
"If we attack now, we can still destroy it."
One of the veteran hunters who had accompanied them earlier immediately shook his head.
"They’re roughly equal to our current fighting force. Attacking them means giving up our home advantage. We’ll lose too many warriors."
Another soldier frowned.
"So what are we supposed to do?" he asked. "Stay here and wait until their main force arrives?"
"We strengthen the colony while we wait," another warrior answered. "The original plan was always to fight a defensive battle."
Lan’ka immediately disagreed.
"And you think our original plan will save us from an army of one hundred goblins?"
The chamber gradually descended into argument. Some demanded an immediate assault. Others insisted remaining hidden still offered the greatest chance of survival.
Throughout it all, O’nil remained silent. The old chieftain simply watched everyone.
Only after every voice had finally fallen quiet did he speak.
"If we allow them to finish that camp..."
His aged eyes slowly swept across everyone gathered.
"...where do you think they’ll attack from?"
His question was met with complete silence.
Tong’a slowly completed the thought.
"They won’t."
Everyone turned toward him as he pointed at the map. His finger circled the hunting grounds surrounding the colony before moving toward several nearby gathering sites.
"With an army of that size, all they have to do is secure our hunting grounds and gathering sites."
His finger finally stopped directly around the colony.
"We’re bound to starve eventually."
The chamber fell deathly silent. Only then did everyone truly understand. The camp itself wasn’t the threat. It was what the camp represented.
Once completed, every hunting route surrounding Vaal’kor would fall under goblin control.
Without food, there would be no need for a siege. The colony would simply starve to death. Tud’or slowly rose to his feet while everyone else remained frozen in thought.
Judging by the resolve on his face, his decision had already been made.
"We will destroy the camp tonight!"
