The Tile River took them like a living thing — cold, fast, unforgiving.

  Gray clung to Tamemoto’s arm as the current dragged them downstream. The water rushed over his head in icy bursts, filling his mouth with the taste of mud and metal.

  He kicked hard, trying to keep them afloat. Tamemoto coughed beside him, chest wound burning every time he inhaled water.

  “Gah—!” Tamemoto gasped, choking, clinging tighter to Gray.

  Gray’s arms screamed — the old break throbbing, fresh bruises from the kick pulsing with every stroke. He shouted through gritted teeth, “Hold on!” They tumbled, spun, slammed against rocks.

  Pain exploded across Gray’s ribs when a submerged boulder caught his side.

  “Argh—!” he cried out, the sound swallowed by the roar of the river.

  Tamemoto yelped as his wounded chest scraped against a sharp edge — “It hurts—!” — tears mixing with river water on his face.

  The current finally slowed near a shallow bend. Gray dragged them both toward the bank, boots sinking into mud.

  He collapsed on the wet stones, chest heaving, every breath a knife in his ribs.

  Tamemoto crawled beside him, coughing violently, blood and water dripping from his mouth.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “Haa… haa…” Gray wheezed, clutching his side. “You… okay?”

  Tamemoto nodded weakly, hand pressed to his chest. “Hurts… but I’m alive.”

  The rest of the group staggered out of the water one by one.

  Lian Wei helped Lin Mei onto the bank — she was limping, ankle twisted from a bad landing. “Nngh… damn rocks,” she hissed through clenched teeth.

  Shen Huo dragged Bao Jin, who groaned with every step — “Ugh… shoulder’s dislocated.”

  Ren and Yue Lian supported each other, both bleeding from shallow cuts, faces pale but determined. Aiko — the spiritism user — was shaking, mana exhaustion making her hands tremble.

  “I… I pushed too hard on the barrier,” she whispered.

  Kurogane Rin and her Kagehana juniors emerged last — Rin’s cloak soaked, sickles dripping river water.

  Hanae clutched a bleeding gash on her arm — “Aaaah… it burns!” — while Kaito limped, leg slashed.

  Sora’s chains were tangled with troll gore. Ren leaned heavily on his bo staff, ribs bruised.

  Yumi’s spear arm hung limp, dislocated. Aiko was pale, breathing ragged from mana drain.

  Gray looked around. Everyone was hurt. Everyone was breathing hard. The pain was audible — groans, gasps, curses, sharp intakes of breath.

  Lian Wei and Rin knelt near each other, assessing.

  Lian Wei spoke first.

  “The horde we saw wasn’t all of it. There are many more. Some giants. Some wolf riders. This is a force from Vhex’kath. One of the Warlords attacked Vhex’kath and seized a relic. The Warlord’s group killed many important trolls. This is retaliation.”

  Rin nodded grimly. “We saw the same. The numbers are too great. We held for a while, but we can’t stop them here.”

  Gray listened, chest still heaving. Tamemoto leaned against him, breathing ragged.

  Gray spoke quietly. “We can’t stay. We need to get back to Camp Tile. Warn them.”

  Lian Wei agreed. “We retreat. Regroup. The horde is focused on Ashfall for now, but strays will spread.”

  The group gathered what they could — weapons, remaining supplies — and started back along the riverbank.

  Gray and Tamemoto walked together, supporting each other. Gray’s ribs ached with every breath. Tamemoto’s chest wound bled through the bandage, but he didn’t complain.

  They were alive.

  That was enough for now.