The Legendary Mage (Alavin) novel Chapter 199

“The west? Towards the manor?” Vandill turned, feigning surprise with a sly grin. “The game begins,” he thought. “Oh, Alavin, do you really believe a little victory can change everything? How naive. Cobalt Strike rules these lands, and the Grand Elder rules Cobalt Strike.”

“Why would there be a fire there?” Lucan furrowed his brow, noticing the flames growing fiercer, spreading rapidly. This was no accident.

Could it be bandits? Or mercenaries?

“Arm yourselves, to battle!” Lucan bellowed, his body erupting in fierce flames. The roar was deafening as the bright firelight baked the night sky.

“It might be bandits. Attack!” commanded Godfred, as his thousand-strong guard sprang into action.

“Hold on!” Vandill raised his hand to stop them.

“What? Any longer, and it’ll be too late!”

“Let’s be clear on the situation. What if this is merely a distraction?”

“Have you taken leave of your senses? If it’s bandits, they're after your manor's treasure, not to draw anyone away.” Lucan cared not for treasure; his worry was for the stone cottages next to the manor, where the ladies of the Mallister family resided. If the raiders were indeed savage bandits, the ladies were in peril.

Vandill’s expression darkened. “Are you blind? Our treasures have already been secured. You all stay here and ensure our safety.”

The Cobalt Strike Protégés jostled the bundles on their backs and sneered at the guards. “We’ve taken what we want. The manor can be plundered.”

Lucan felt a chill; these people cared not for the lives of the Mallister family. “I’ll leave five hundred men. The rest will come with me.”

Vandill shook his head. “Five hundred is too few.”

“Are your own men that worthless?”

“How dare you! Know your place. Azure Mountain is mine to command, and you are but an armed slave!” Vandill blocked Lucan’s path, shouting loudly, “Without my order, none shall move.”

Godfred and the others cried out in agitation, “The Mallister family is in danger. We must rescue them!”

Vandill chuckled darkly. “I believe there’s no need. By the time you arrive, they might well be dead.”

Lucan was so furious he nearly cleaved Vandill with his blade, glaring menacingly before yelling again, “Move out!”

“How many do we leave behind?” Vandill blocked him again.