"Let me do all of the talking."

"I will, lass. Why don't ye tell Birel that?"

"Because I can trust him not to talk."

After reporting to the others with their sending stone, Jarsali prepared her group to infiltrate the stronghold. They cleaned off some of the caravan's guards' tabards and slipped them on. Jarsali and Olunt took the lead with the front wagon while Birel took position in the back wagon. Panader hid in the contents of the second wagon, remaining near his companion. The group pressed on towards the stronghold, hoping that their act would be enough to get through the gates.

With the caravan growing ever closer to the stronghold, Jarsali steeled her nerves for the upcoming confrontation. She was glad to have Olunt away on his own after they got inside. However, she still had to have him with her for sneaking in. She grew worried that he would blow their cover. The paladin certainly had a good heart, which was his weakness. He was a horrible liar. At the very least, once their cover was blown (should it come to that), then she could rely on him to fight the hobgoblins. Still, that did little to reassure her.

The wagons traveled through the forest as the day proceeded before them. Eventually, it passed by the trees to rolling hills. It was a bumpy journey now but the stronghold was now in sight. It was a massive sight to behold. With freshly cut walls forming a protective wall, the stronghold consisted of both wooden buildings the hobgoblins constructed and the ruins of a civilization long forgotten. Past the stronghold, long trees extended over the stronghold. They were about to enter the heart of Old Gnawbone's army.

The wagons drew closer to the stout gates that marked entry into the stronghold. The gates started to open for the two wagons to approach, with two hobgoblins waiting for them. Jarsali identified one of them as a captain based on his more impressive armor. She briefly looked up, taking note of the two archers on the walls. On the bright side, the hobgoblins were unaware of the army pressing upon their stronghold. They had to keep that a secret. She remained stoic as the captain approached, ready to lie her way into the hold.

"State your business," the captain demanded.

"We bring supplies to the stronghold," Jarsali replies, glancing over to the captain. The other hobgoblin stood next to Olunt.

"And where are the others?" The captain asked. "Do you expect me to believe that the Cult of the Dragon had three people to guard their wagons."

"The rest were killed," Jarsali answered without hesitation. "The animals in the forest are growing more rabid."

"That they have," the captain paused, then shrugged. "You're clear to go. You may proceed."

Jarsali prepared to spur her mounts forward, glad that her deception worked. It was simple and to the point with nothing too out there. She had plenty of time to prepare her story to aid her plan. The hobgoblins believed it with ease, granting their secret foes access to the stronghold. Olunt remained still, thankfully doing nothing to blow their cover. Jarsali was prepared to spur her mounts onward, ready to move the caravan deeper into the stronghold.

A hobgoblin rushed out of a tower and towards the caravan. "Captain, is that the Cult's caravan?"

"It is," the captain placed a hand on the lead wagon. Jarsali grew tense.

"I have orders to detain a man with a V-shaped scar on his face," the hobgoblin reported.

"Uh-oh," Olunt gulped.

"Uh-oh?" The hobgoblin next to him raised an eyebrow.

"Damn it, Olunt," Jarsali cursed. "We're doing it your way then."

Jarsali pulled out her shortsword, swinging it at the captain. He ducked away as the monk jumped up from her seat. She struck out with her feet as she fell. Once more, the captain backed away from her sudden assault. The reporting hobgoblin was struck in the face, his nose broken. After landing on the ground, the half-elf punched out the bleeding hobgoblin in the neck, breaking his windpipe.

Jarsali advanced on the captain, who pulled out a greatsword. He blocked her sword and shoved her back as she tried to punch her face. He could handle himself in a fight. Her other companions handled themselves well enough. A hobgoblin archer collapsed down from the wall, an arrow in his skull courtesy of Birel. Olunt decapitated the hobgoblin by his side with a swing of his battleaxe. Panader burst free of the second wagons and joined in the fray as well.

Suddenly, an arrow struck Birel through his right shoulder and sent the wood elf collapsing on the ground. Jarsali gasped, giving the captain time to move. He tried to strike out against her only for the half-elf to duck under his swing. Olunt and Panader both moved to strike the captain. The giant badger's claws and teeth were useless to the armor. Olunt's strike would have proven useless as well, but thanks to the divine energy he channeled, it struck true into his thigh.

Much to Jarsali's surprise, Birel struck down the final archer, putting an arrow through his throat. Even critically injured, he proved to be a deadly combatant. Jarsali swung her sword out towards the captain, scratching across his face. The captain winced in pain and was left vulnerable to her punch to his nose. He growled and struck out with his sword, leaving a nasty slash into her gut.

Olunt proved to be useless with his next strike, his divine energy fading away. Panader pulled through. His fangs and teeth both sunk into the captain's leg and drove him to the ground. The captain looked up definitely at Jarsali, who pressed her sword towards his throat. Then, with a sudden swing, his head was sent flying, ending his life and the confrontation. Jarsali sighed in relief despite the pain she experienced. The hobgoblins underestimated them and didn't bother to sound the alarm.

"Are ye two alright?" Olunt asked, worried. "I can heal ye both with my magic."

"Save your magic to aid Dayereth," Jarsali commanded with Birel nodding in agreement. "We can push through. Your done with us though. Move forward to meet with your new team."

"Are ye sure?"

"I am. Head to the meeting point."

"Aye," Olunt nodded and dashed away. "Ye take care, th' both o' ye! I'll see ye when th' battle is over."

"Birel, hide the bodies and bring forth the wagons to the barracks. We have to make sure that the hobgoblins don't send any reinforcements during the battle. We cannot sound the alarm either."

Birel nodded and started to drag one of the archer's corpses into the nearby tower. Panader grabbed the fallen captain's body with his teeth and dragged him after his companion. Jarsali smiled lightly to see her companion pressing on despite his injuries. The wood elf was someone that she could rely on for the job, unlike Olunt. He would do his part well enough. It was time for her to do her part.

Jarsali rushed through the grounds of the stronghold. Although it seemed impressive on the outside, being on the inside showed that most of the hold was still under construction. Building supplies were scattered about over half-complete buildings. The building that was complete within the walls was the barracks. The gates were opened, and from within, the half-elf could hear the hobgoblins moving about from within.

After a deep breath, Jarsali stepped inside of the barracks. Her footsteps were silent as she snuck about, careful to avoid any hobgoblins within. There was no telling how many hobgoblins there were waiting within. If they joined the battle, it could turn in hobgoblin's favor. Jarsali had a plan to stop them, she just needed to reach their stock room without raising the alarm. Her plan had to go off without a hitch in order to give the friendly army a chance in the upcoming battle.

Thanks to her training, she was able to reach their supplies without catching anyone's attention. Jarsali examined the supplies, including rope, chains, and kegs. Jarsali popped open one of the kegs to see a thick, black liquid within it. She grinned, needing the oil for her plan. She grabbed the keg with both hands and started to backtrack throughout the stronghold. She poured the oil ever slightly on the wooden floor.

Jarsali arrived at the front gates of the barracks, the keg of oil nearly empty. As she arrived, Birel arrived, slowly driving one of the wagons to position itself over the barrack's gates. While he carefully positioned it to block the way, Jarsali hopped up onto the wagon, dousing the contents with oil. Birel stood up and closed the gates shut. Jarsali proceeded to douse it with oil as well while the wood elf jumped down to cut the horses that carried the wagon free. He grabbed onto their reins, holding them still.

"Lead them outside the stronghold silently, then bring the other wagon," Jarsali instructed. "I don't want them to escape."

Birel nodded and ran off. With the second wagon blocking the way, the hobgoblins inside would have no hope of escaping from within the barracks. Once the battle started, Jarsali intended to set fire to the oil trail she left. The flames would burn the barracks down to the ground, along with all of the hobgoblins within. She gulped at the horrific prospect. That was a terrible fate to bear witness to, but in the end, this was a war. She would find time to amend for her crimes another day. For now, she had to ensure the battle went in their favor.

Jarsali took out her sending stone. "Valero, are you there?"

"Hearing you loud and clear," Valero's voice spoke from the piece of rock. "Our forces grow nearer to the stronghold. How fairs everything on your end?"

"We're getting by. We almost had a close call at the gates, but the alarm has yet to be sounded."

"Good work. Unfortunately, I have yet to hear back from the other teams. However, if everything is going well, I assume that they haven't been caught."

"That is a relief," Jarsali sighed out, glad to hear her companions did well. "Olunt is on his way to secure the Green Dragon Mask. Birel and I are seeing that the barracks is on locked down and taken care of when the battle starts."

"You are going well beyond the call of duty, yet I must ask for more," Valero continued. "We have reason to suspect that one of the Cult of the Dragon's leaders is meeting with one of Garbul's lieutenants. Your mission is to dispatch them both once the battle begins."

"Understood. Birel and I will hunker down, and once your forces begin their assault, we will converge on the leaders. Is that it?"

"It is. Best of luck to you two."

Jarsali pocketed the speaking stone, content with the turn of events. She was certain that with Birel by her side, they would be able to carry off any assassination. Two targets for the two of them, plus any guards they may have. It would be a tough challenge, especially with their injuries, but they would push through.

Birel arrived with the second wagon, and with Jarsali's help, parked it right in front of the first wagon. He cut the horses free and started to lead them away with his leader right behind them. At the gates, the only sign of the battle that took place were the blood stains of the fallen hobgoblins. Panader waited by the gates and watched them lead the horses out to the wilds. Afterwards, they close the gates, to ensure that no wandering hobgoblin suspected anything.

"Good work, Birel," Jarsali complemented. "Now, we wait for the battle to begin, and make our move."

A/N: That's the last chapter I had written and not posted for who knows how long. I will be writing more in the future.

If you like the story, feel free to follow it and leave a review if you feel compelled to.

Until next time.