Chapter 32: The First Battle of the Black Dragon Trials
The first arrow changed the trial immediately.
A moment earlier, the applicants moving through the narrow ravine had been tired, irritated, and focused almost entirely on putting one foot in front of the other.
Then the arrow struck the road.
Everything fractured.
Someone shouted.
Goblin!
A second voice followed.
Cliffs!
Weapons came free of their sheaths.
Two applicants abandoned their packs immediately. Another stumbled backward into the squad behind him. A nobleman tried pushing his way toward the center while three mercenaries rushed forward without waiting to understand where the attack was coming from.
Darius’s command carried over all of it.
Hold formation!
Not everyone listened.
Enough did.
Kael stood on the side trail above the road with his sword drawn, scanning the ridgeline rather than charging toward the nearest target.
Twelve goblin raiders had shown themselves at first.
Now he counted thirteen.
Young.
Mostly lightly armored.
Several carried bows made from dark wood. Others held short spears, hooked blades, and simple axes. Crimson markings covered their cheeks and forearms, though Kael had no idea whether the paint represented a particular clan, a raiding custom, or simply young warriors trying to look more intimidating than they were.
Grom knew.
The old goblin’s expression had changed the instant he saw them.
Not fear.
Disgust.
Kael glanced toward him.
You recognize the markings?
Grom kept his eyes on the ridge.
Eastern splinter band
Your clan?
No
A pause.
Then Grom added,
Young fools trying to earn stories before they’ve earned sense
Another arrow came down.
This time it was aimed properly.
A young applicant in polished mail stared upward too late.
The arrow would have struck his shoulder.
A shield moved between them.
The impact cracked loudly against reinforced wood.
The man holding it staggered but remained standing.
You hurt?
The noble blinked at him.
No
Then stop staring and move behind me
The shield bearer turned back toward the slope without waiting for thanks.
Kael noticed.
So did Darius.
Neither wrote anything down.
There would be time later.
Right now the trial had stopped being an examination.
It had become a security failure.
That meant keeping people alive came first.
Several applicants reached the wrong conclusion.
A swordsman shouted and charged uphill.
Two others followed.
Then five.
Victor Ravenshade was among them.
Kael recognized the silver-trimmed armor immediately.
Victor moved beautifully.
Fast.
Balanced.
His sword came free in one smooth motion as he climbed toward one of the lower raiders.
He looked exactly like the kind of warrior people applauded during tournaments.
He had also just left his squad behind.
Darius saw it.
Kael looked toward him.
Excellent fighter
Darius nodded.
And?
Kael watched Victor continue upward.
He hasn’t looked behind him once
Good
That’s not praise for him, is it?
No
Below them, another squad reacted differently.
A woman carrying a round shield pulled two exhausted applicants behind a rocky outcropping. A healer crouched beside one man whose forearm had been cut by splintered wood from the second arrow.
Three others formed around them without receiving an order.
Not elegant.
Not trained.
Useful.
Kael pointed.
That group
Darius had already seen them.
I know
The System appeared briefly.
[Unexpected combat conditions detected]
Primary priority: preservation of life
Secondary observation categories remain available:
Discipline
Judgment
Team response
Leadership under uncertainty
Kael dismissed it.
That was exactly how he intended to handle the situation.
No applicant would gain points because someone else happened to bleed nearby.
But people were showing who they became when fear interrupted the rules.
Kael intended to remember that.
The goblins on the ridge began shouting to one another.
Kael did not understand the language.
Grom did.
His jaw tightened.
What are they saying?
Arguing
About?
Whether to retreat
That sounds promising
Grom’s mouth hardened.
One of them wants trophies
Kael looked toward the highest section of the ridge.
A young goblin wearing more paint than the others stood with one foot on a rock, waving his short spear and shouting at the rest.
Grom muttered something in his own language.
Kael glanced at him.
Translation?
His mother should have hit him more
Despite everything, Kael almost laughed.
Then the young goblin raised his spear.
Three archers nocked again.
Darius moved.
No hesitation.
No performance.
One moment he stood beside Kael.
The next he had descended onto the main road.
Shield bearers to the outer side! Bows behind them! Nobody climbs that slope unless ordered!
His voice cut through panic.
People obeyed.
Some because they recognized one of the Four Imperial Shields.
Others because he sounded like the only person present who knew exactly what should happen next.
A broad applicant raised a shield.
Another joined him.
Then three more.
The beginnings of a defensive line formed along the exposed side of the road.
Darius pointed toward the exhausted applicants.
Get the wounded behind the bend
A former soldier immediately took command of that movement.
You three, with me. Packs off the injured only. Everyone else keeps theirs
One mercenary protested.
Why are we still carrying packs?
Because if this becomes a retreat, you’ll want your food
The mercenary shut his mouth.
Kael remembered the former soldier’s face.
Victor reached the lower slope.
A goblin dropped toward him with a curved blade.
Victor met him cleanly.
Steel struck steel.
The goblin was thrown backward.
Victor pursued.
Too far.
Kael saw the trap before Victor did.
Two raiders higher on the slope shifted position.
One drew a bow.
The other moved toward Victor’s blind side.
Kael shouted.
Victor! Left!
Victor turned just in time.
The arrow struck his shoulder guard rather than his neck.
He stumbled.
The second goblin rushed him.
Before the blade landed, another applicant slammed into the attacker from the side.
Both rolled down the slope.
Victor stared.
The man who had saved him was the same mercenary who had mocked the weighted packs that morning.
Get back to the road, idiot!
Victor’s pride clearly wanted to argue.
The next arrow changed his mind.
They retreated together.
Kael noticed that too.
A person could make one bad decision and then make a better one.
That mattered.
Darius had already taught him not to reduce people to the first thing they did wrong.
Bram moved along the lower edge of the ravine carrying his staff.
He had not charged uphill.
That surprised several applicants who had seen him move during the bandit fight.
Instead, he used the staff to knock aside loose stones and help widen the space around the wounded.
Kael reached him.
Can we get the applicants out through the northern side?
Bram looked behind them.
Yes, but not quickly
Southern?
Too exposed
Darius joined them.
We don’t need to withdraw yet
Kael looked toward the ridge.
They’re thirteen
That we can see
Exactly
Darius’s expression showed approval.
Kael continued.
We don’t know if this is the entire group
Grom came down from the slope behind them.
It probably is
Probably?
Young raiding band. This kind travels light
Darius looked at him.
How certain?
Grom considered.
Seven parts in ten
Kael stared.
That’s not enough to gamble eighteen hundred applicants on
Grom’s eyebrows rose.
They’re not all here
Right
Kael corrected himself immediately.
Only several nearby squads currently occupied the ravine, with more halted farther north and south by observers once the attack began.
Still too many people.
Kael pointed toward the ridge.
Can you talk to them?
Grom’s expression darkened.
I already tried
When?
The first time they shouted
What did you say?
Leave
And?
They called me old
Bram coughed to hide a laugh.
Grom looked offended.
I heard that
Kael stared toward the young goblin who appeared to be leading the group.
Can you make them listen?
Grom slowly removed the final binding from his spear.
Yes
Darius watched him.
Without killing them?
Grom gave him a look.
You’ve become soft
You’ve become slow
Grom smiled.
Good to know marriage to the Empire hasn’t improved your manners
I was never married to the Empire
You complain like a spouse
Kael looked between them.
Can we save the reunion for after nobody is shooting at us?
Both veterans turned toward him.
Fair
The young raiders made the next mistake.
Four descended from the ridge.
Perhaps they thought the applicants were beginning to recover and wanted to force the attack before losing their advantage.
Perhaps they were simply young.
Either way, they came down into ground where the bows above could no longer fire safely.
Darius saw it.
Forward line, hold!
The shield bearers remained in place.
That restraint mattered.
Several applicants wanted to rush.
Darius refused them the chance.
The first raider reached the road.
A shield struck him hard enough to knock him backward.
The applicant behind the shield did not follow.
Another goblin lunged with a short spear.
A former caravan guard caught the shaft between his shield and forearm while the woman beside him hooked the goblin’s ankle with the back of her weapon.
He fell.
Nobody killed him.
They dragged him behind the line instead.
Kael saw something changing.
The applicants were still frightened.
Still messy.
Still strangers.
But a handful of people had begun turning panic into something usable.
One called targets.
Another repeated Darius’s orders to the people too far away to hear.
A healer organized the injured without waiting for someone important to notice her.
A young hunter crawled behind cover and began identifying where arrows originated rather than firing blindly uphill.
These were the people Kael wanted to find.
Not because they were fearless.
Because fear had not made them useless.
Then Grom stepped through the line.
Several human applicants shouted at once.
What are you doing?
Get back!
Grom ignored them.
He walked into the open road and planted the butt of his spear against the ground.
Then he shouted something in the goblin tongue.
The effect was immediate.
The raiders stopped.
Even those higher on the ridge became still.
The young leader stared down.
His expression changed.
Recognition.
The color left his face.
He answered.
Grom’s eyes narrowed.
The two exchanged several sentences.
Kael understood none of them.
Victor moved beside him, one hand pressed against the dent in his shoulder guard.
What’s happening?
No idea
You’re the prince
That doesn’t teach me goblin
Grom shouted again.
This time the young leader shouted back angrily.
Then he began descending.
Kael raised his sword.
Darius held out one arm.
Wait
The young goblin reached the road.
He was larger up close than Kael expected, though nowhere near the exaggerated seven-foot monster some applicants had already begun describing.
Probably early twenties, if goblin aging worked anything like humans.
Old enough to kill.
Young enough to believe every disagreement required proving something.
He stared at Grom.
Then spoke in rough Imperial.
Elder
Grom answered in the same language.
You know who I am now?
The young goblin’s jaw tightened.
Yes
Then you should be embarrassed
Several applicants looked confused.
The young goblin glanced toward the humans.
They cross our roads
Grom’s expression hardened.
This is Blackwood
The eastern path was ours before their Empire
Then complain to someone old enough to remember it
The young goblin’s face reddened.
A few applicants laughed.
Grom turned his head.
Don’t encourage him
Silence returned.
The young leader pointed toward Kael.
Human prince
Kael stepped closer.
Yes
The goblin looked him over.
You bring warriors into old eastern ground
I’m holding a military selection inside my own territory
The young goblin spat onto the road.
Human territory
Kael did not react.
If you have a border claim, bring someone authorized to make it
That seemed to confuse him.
You don’t challenge?
To what?
Combat
Kael stared.
No
Several applicants laughed again.
The goblin’s pride visibly suffered.
Kael continued.
You fired arrows at people who had not attacked you. I’m more interested in why
The young goblin looked toward Grom.
He walks with humans now
Grom’s face became unreadable.
I have walked with humans before you learned to hold that spear
The young goblin’s expression changed.
You left the eastern clans
I left fools
Grom stepped closer.
And now I find younger ones
The insult landed.
The raider’s hand tightened around his weapon.
Grom’s spear moved.
Not a full strike.
Barely more than a flick.
The young goblin’s spear flew from his hand and landed several paces away.
Nobody in the ravine spoke.
Kael had watched Darius fight.
He had watched Bram.
Grom was different.
There had been no visible effort.
No dramatic motion.
One precise action, completed before the younger goblin understood the exchange had begun.
Grom leaned toward him.
Pick it up
The young goblin hesitated.
Grom’s voice became quieter.
And then decide whether you want your people to die here because you wanted a story
That ended the argument.
The young raider looked around.
At the shield line.
At Darius.
At hundreds of armed applicants waiting beyond the bend.
At Kael.
Then back toward the ridge.
He shouted an order.
The goblins began descending.
Slowly.
Weapons remained in their hands at first.
Darius’s posture changed.
Grom raised one finger.
The young leader barked another command.
Weapons lowered.
One by one.
The tension in the ravine loosened by only a fraction.
Kael stepped toward Grom.
They’re leaving?
Yes
Just like that?
No
Grom looked toward the captured raider behind the shield line.
You’re giving that one back
The human applicant who had helped capture him frowned.
He attacked us
Grom looked toward Kael.
Kael considered.
Was anyone killed?
A healer answered from behind them.
No
Seriously wounded?
Two arrow wounds. Neither immediately life-threatening
Kael looked toward the prisoner.
Young.
Terrified now that bravery had consequences.
Kael crouched in front of him.
Name?
The goblin did not answer.
Grom repeated the question in his own language.
The prisoner muttered something.
Grom translated.
Tarek
Kael looked toward the young leader.
Your chief?
Grom snorted.
Not a chief
The young goblin leader glared.
Grom ignored him.
Kael stood.
You crossed into Blackwood, attacked people under my protection, and injured several applicants
The leader’s face hardened.
Kael continued.
I could detain all of you
You would try
Grom’s spear shifted slightly.
The younger goblin corrected himself.
You could
Kael almost smiled.
Instead, he looked at Darius.
What do you think?
Darius spoke quietly.
Taking thirteen prisoners means food, guards, transport, and the possibility that their clan interprets detention as escalation
Kael nodded.
And releasing them?
Potentially looks weak
Grom answered this time.
Only to fools
Kael looked toward the young raiders.
Then let fools misunderstand
He pointed toward Tarek.
Return him
The shield bearer released the prisoner.
Tarek hurried toward the others.
Kael addressed their leader.
You leave Blackwood
The goblin stared.
If you return armed and attack travelers again, I won’t assume you’re children making a mistake
Grom translated the final sentence into his own language.
Whatever he said sounded harsher.
The young leader’s expression tightened.
He finally nodded.
Once.
The raiders gathered their wounded and withdrew toward the eastern ridge.
No dramatic pledge.
No declaration that Kael had suddenly gained the protection of every eastern clan.
Just thirteen young goblins leaving because an older warrior they respected had given them a choice between embarrassment and death.
That was enough.
The ravine remained quiet after they disappeared.
Then Darius turned toward the applicants.
Do not cheer
Several people who had been preparing to do exactly that stopped.
This was not a victory
His voice carried across the road.
You were ambushed because our route security failed to identify movement on the ridge early enough
Kael looked toward him.
Our failure
Darius nodded.
Mine included
That surprised the applicants more than anything else.
The Empire’s Shield had just admitted fault.
Darius continued.
Some of you reacted well
Others poorly
A few abandoned injured companions
Several chased enemies uphill without orders
His gaze found Victor.
Victor looked away.
Others formed protection around wounded applicants without being told
Darius looked toward the shield bearer.
The man’s posture straightened.
You will all return to the nearest checkpoint
Confused murmurs spread.
One applicant called.
The trial is canceled?
For today, this section is
Darius’s tone allowed no argument.
Real attacks are not entertainment added to a military test
Kael approved immediately.
No applicant would be forced to continue an eighty-kilometer endurance march after being shot at simply because someone wanted the trial to look dramatic.
Darius continued.
Medical staff will examine everyone involved. Equipment will be checked. We resume only after the routes are secured
One mercenary complained.
That ruins the timing
Darius stared at him.
Then survive disappointment
The man went silent.
Kael walked beside Grom as the applicants began withdrawing toward the checkpoint.
For several moments neither spoke.
Then Kael glanced toward him.
You could have killed that boy
Yes
Why didn’t you?
Grom looked toward the ridge where the raiders had disappeared.
Because I’ve been him
Kael hadn’t expected that.
Grom continued.
Young. Angry. Certain everyone older had become weak
Did you attack travelers?
Worse
Kael waited.
Grom smiled faintly.
Another day
Apparently everyone connected to Kael’s mother had adopted that answer.
Kael sighed.
You and Darius are going to become unbearable together
We were unbearable before you were born
That explains a lot
They walked farther.
Grom looked toward the applicants ahead.
Your people surprised me
They’re not mine yet
Exactly
He pointed toward the shield bearer helping one of the wounded.
That one protected a noble who insulted goblins yesterday
Kael had noticed.
Grom continued.
The woman with the healer organized people without waiting for permission
I noticed
Victor charged uphill like an idiot
I definitely noticed
Grom smiled.
But he came back for the man who helped him
Kael looked toward Victor.
That too
Grom studied him.
Good
What?
You watch what people do after mistakes
Kael shrugged.
I make enough of my own to hope one doesn’t define someone forever
Grom laughed quietly.
Perhaps Darius is teaching you something
Don’t tell him
I will tell him immediately
Traitor
By evening, the nearby squads had been returned to secure checkpoints.
The remainder of the endurance trial was paused along the affected southern section while Darius, Bram, local hunters, and route observers inspected the ridges.
No further raiders were found.
The injured applicants were stable.
Two would not continue the endurance phase.
Kael made sure that withdrawing for medical reasons did not count as cowardice.
Darius agreed.
Victor Ravenshade sat near one of the checkpoint fires while a healer examined his shoulder.
Kael approached.
Victor looked up.
I know
Kael raised an eyebrow.
Know what?
I abandoned my squad
Kael sat on a nearby stone.
Yes
Victor stared at the fire.
I saw an enemy and thought if I killed him quickly, everyone would see—
He stopped.
Kael waited.
Victor sighed.
I wanted to look impressive
At least you’re honest
I nearly got shot in the neck
Also true
Victor looked toward him.
Am I eliminated?
Kael thought.
No
Victor’s head rose.
Why?
Because Darius was right
About?
I want to see what you do after realizing you were wrong
Victor said nothing.
Kael stood.
Don’t make me regret that
Victor’s expression became serious.
I won’t
We’ll see
Farther from the fires, Darius stood with Kael’s notebook.
Kael walked toward him.
Give that back
No
You stole it
Borrowed
Without permission
Military necessity
You’re reading my applicant notes
They’re terrible
Kael reached for the book.
Darius lifted it beyond his reach.
Kael stared at him.
You are far too old for this
And yet it’s working
Grom approached.
What did the prince write about me?
Kael immediately stopped reaching.
Nothing
Darius smiled.
Three pages
Traitor
Grom looked delighted.
Read them
Absolutely not
For the first time since arrows began falling in the ravine, Darius laughed.
The sound eased something in everyone nearby.
The day had been dangerous.
Messy.
Unplanned.
But nobody had died.
And the Black Dragon Trials had revealed more in an hour of real uncertainty than Kael expected to learn during an entire controlled march.
Courage mattered.
So did restraint.
Leadership mattered.
So did knowing when not to chase an enemy.
Skill could save someone.
Pride could nearly get the same person killed.
And Grom Ironfang had shown Kael something important as well.
The goblin had been given every reason to side instinctively with his own race.
Instead, he had judged the raiders by their actions.
Exactly what Kael had demanded from everyone else.
That would matter when selections were made.
A watcher remained on the ridge long after the applicants left.
Not close enough to hear every conversation.
Close enough to see the larger outcome.
The observer recorded only what had been confirmed.
Trial route attacked by small goblin raiding group.
No confirmed fatalities.
Sir Darius Valen assumed field command.
Grom Ironfang intervened and secured withdrawal of attackers.
Prince Kael released captured raider rather than escalating confrontation.
Trial temporarily suspended for route-security review.
The report contained no claim that Grom had pledged himself to Kael.
He hadn’t.
No claim that the Tenth Prince had somehow transformed strangers into an army within minutes.
He hadn’t done that either.
What had happened was less dramatic and more useful.
Under pressure, Kael had listened to experienced people, protected lives before protecting the appearance of his trial, and refused to turn a border incident into a bloodbath.
When the report eventually reached Aurelia, some readers would dismiss that as weakness.
Others would understand exactly what it meant.