Chapter 17 - Preparing for the Storm
The morning light barely touched the horizon, casting a dull glow over the frozen landscape. The snowfall from last night had settled into thick layers, crunching underfoot with each step. Viktor pulled his cloak tighter, his breath forming small clouds in the frigid air.
Kaavi walked ahead, steady and unbothered, his eyes scanning the horizon. The two of them had been traveling for hours, following the main road that led toward the town. The tension from the night before still lingered in Viktor’s chest—the fight with the scouts, and the realization that war wasn’t just about swinging swords.
Viktor: “Kaavi… will the army really go to the mountains?”
Kaavi didn’t slow his stride.
Kaavi: “They will. By the time they realize their mistake, the snowstorm will have buried the path behind them. It’ll take days for them to reorganize.”
Viktor hesitating before speaking again.
Viktor: “Then… the town is safe for now?”
Kaavi finally looked back at him; his sharp gaze meeting Viktor’s uncertain one.
Kaavi: “Safe? No. War is like winter—it doesn’t care who’s prepared and who isn’t. But they have time now. And time is everything.”
Viktor let that sink in. He had always thought battles were about who had the stronger warriors. But Kaavi was teaching him something different.
Viktor: “So… if you were defending the town, what would you do next?”
Kaavi’s pace slowed slightly, as if considering the question.
Kaavi: “Fortify the walls. Secure food supplies. Scout for weak points. And most importantly—”
He gestured toward the forest beside them.
Kaavi: “—Make sure we see them before they see us.”
Viktor followed his gaze, trying to make sense of what Kaavi was teaching him. The way Kaavi moved, the way he fought—it wasn’t just skill. It was awareness. He understood the battlefield long before a fight even started.
The thought made Viktor’s stomach twist.
Viktor: “If I was there… would I be able to help?”
Kaavi stopped walking. He turned fully to face Viktor, studying him for a long moment.
Then, he crouched down, levelling his gaze with Viktor’s.
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Kaavi: “You want to help?”
Viktor hesitated but nodded.
Kaavi crouched, scooping up a handful of snow. He shaped it into a firm ball, holding it up for Viktor to see.
Kaavi: “Throw it at me.”
Viktor blinked.
Viktor: “What?”
Kaavi: “Throw it. As hard as you can.”
Viktor frowned but did as he was told. He pulled back his arm and hurled the snowball toward Kaavi’s chest.
Without effort, Kaavi tilted his head slightly, letting the snowball pass by.
Kaavi: “Again.”
Viktor grabbed more snow, this time throwing faster. Kaavi sidestepped with ease.
Kaavi: “Too slow.”
Viktor clenched his jaw. He scooped up another handful, packing it tighter, making sure it was heavier. His fingers were cold, his breathing uneven. This time, he aimed for Kaavi’s legs, hoping to catch him off guard.
Kaavi moved at the last second, the snowball landing uselessly in the snow.
Kaavi: “You don’t know how to fight yet, Viktor. Not properly.”
Viktor’s hands curled into fists.
Viktor: “Then teach me.”
Kaavi sighed, dusting the snow off his gloves.
Kaavi: “Not here. Not yet.”
Viktor scowled.
Viktor: “Then when?”
Kaavi placed a firm hand on his shoulder, his gaze steady.
Kaavi: “When you understand that fighting isn’t just about strength. It’s about patience. Observation. Knowing when to strike and when to hold back.”
Viktor’s scowl faded slightly, but he still looked frustrated.
Kaavi smirked.
Kaavi: “Right now, you throw without thinking. You fight without purpose. That will get you killed.” He nodded toward the snow where the missed snowballs lay. “We don’t waste our attacks. We don’t swing blindly. A single well-placed strike is worth a hundred reckless ones.”
Viktor looked down at his cold, shaking hands, thinking
Kaavi: “We’ll get there. One step at a time
Viktor followed, his mind still racing with thoughts.
He didn’t just want to survive. He wanted to be strong. He wanted to be ready for whatever was coming.
Later That Evening
The town’s walls loomed in the distance, the faint glow of torches flickering from the watchtowers. Even from here, Viktor could see movement along the perimeter—soldiers moving supplies, and preparing for a battle.
Kaavi halted at the tree line, scanning the defences. The tension in the air was thick. These weren’t men standing guard for routine patrols. They were bracing for war.
He turned to Viktor.
Kaavi: “They won’t just let us in.”
Viktor frowned.
Viktor: “Why not?”
Kaavi: “A town on edge doesn’t welcome strangers. For all they know, we’re spies or scouts for the enemy.”
Viktor’s stomach tightened.
Viktor: “Then how do we get in?”
Kaavi reached into his cloak, pulling out the bloodstained message he had taken from the fallen commander. He held it up.
Kaavi: “This.”
With that, he stepped forward.
Almost immediately, the guards atop the walls noticed him. Torches shifted in his direction, illuminating his form against the dark treeline.
Guard: “Stop right there!”
Kaavi didn’t hesitate. He raised the letter high, his voice calm but firm.
Kaavi: “I carry a message for the Baron. Urgent news from the outpost.”
The guards exchanged wary glances. One of them disappeared behind the wall. A tense moment passed before the heavy wooden gates groaned, opening just enough for them to pass.
Viktor exhaled, following Kaavi inside.
The town was alive with controlled chaos, traders hurried to secure their goods, and soldiers moved in disciplined formations, preparing for an attack that could come at any moment.
Viktor swallowed hard.
This wasn’t just a town anymore.
It was a battlefield waiting to ignite.