Hiding a large group like ours was not easy. We did not have a light mage for a proper illusion. We did have some trees and bushes as cover but we did not know the direction our enemies would be coming from.

Sadly, the trail Hatsumi had been following ended at the nightshades. So we could only guess the direction of the enemy's camp. What we did have were Nyx, Ivy and Yoru. Nyx had shrunk again and climbed a tree. The other cats were positioned on trees as well. They could warn us if an enemy approached.

About 15 minutes later I felt something from Nyx. Someone was approaching. I informed the others and pointed in the direction. They were coming from our left and we were not ideally positioned. Actually, we were right between them and the nightshades.

Blake grimaced. "It's not ideal, they will see us soon. We have to act fast and confront them before they spot us. We will have to make sure that they are actually the bandits and not someone else investigating the fire. If there is a battle try to take prisoners but don't risk your safety. Survival comes first."

We left our hiding places and moved to confront the enemy. Blake was flanked by the soldiers. Our group was led by Hatsumi and Skadi. Frank was still next to me.

Once we left the bushes we had a better view of the group Nyx had warned us about. There were nine people. Eight of them were armed. I could see swords, axes, clubs,... no bows though. Most of them wore leather armour but three had chain shirts. The ninth person wore a robe.

"Halt!" Blake shouted. "I am Lieutenant Blake of the royal army. Identify yourself."

The men halted. The person in the robe studied us. He was bald and clean shaven but with a tattoo on his forehead. It looked like a robed figure wielding a scythe. His grey eyes were cold.

"Talk, or we will have to use force." Blake threatened. We had our weapons drawn as we faced them.

Our potential foes were still standing and waiting but their hands were on their weapons. The robed man, who I presumed was the leader, was still just watching. Something felt off.

My senses told me… something. Also, Nyx seemed on edge. I turned around and looked back towards the area with the nightshades but I saw nothing.

Then there was a scream coming from the forest towards our right.

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"That was one of the cats, enemies are trying to encircle us!" I shouted. Ivy had engaged someone and was likely killing them.

"Probably archers, keep your defenses up! Engage the main group!" Blake ordered and we moved.

Then an arrow appeared from the left and hit one of our soldiers in the leg. How had they come this close? Yoru should be covering that side.

Suddenly more arrows appeared, and more screaming. The three cats were engaging the archers. The enemy in the robe raised his hand and a familiar black bolt appeared. The necrotic magic hit Hatsumi right in the chest. It did not slow her down as she charged. Skadi was right behind her.

Cassie was forming a fire shield. I was protected by Helena's frost armor but I added a water shield to be extra safe. Helena was already firing ice bolts in the direction the arrows were coming from.

Blake was firing earth darts at the enemy necromancer, who hid behind his men. Necromancer…

My eyes widened. I suddenly realised what I had been feeling. "Enemy undead are coming from behind!" I shouted.

Our rear should have been covered by the nightshades. But they used skeletons, creatures without blood. Sure, if they got too close the nightshades would perceive them as a threat. But there was enough space for them to get through.

Cassie reacted immediately and pulled a vial of something. As the first skeleton emerged she threw it. The explosion blew the creature apart. The bone shards acted like shrapnel and damaged other undead. Soon another explosion followed. Helena turned around to help Cassie deal with the undead. I ordered Frank to stop them from closing in.

Then I decided to attack the archers. My cats were fighting them. I focused on the direction of Yoru first and began firing necrotic bolts. He should be in the middle of them. I still had trouble seeing the attackers. All I could spot were moving branches.

Then I heard Nyx roar and I saw a large black cloud. It was somewhere behind the necromancer to the right. Suddenly a lot of people appeared on our sides. Illusions! They had been covered by illusions! Nyx must have interrupted the mage responsible.

Now that I could aim better I unleashed a necrotic ray. I hit a man who was just drawing his bow, he quickly withered and died. Yoru was surprisingly effective as well. He was small, quick and could easily jump a man's throat. The draugr's claws were no joke. He caused panic and confusion which made it easier for me to hit the archers.

Of course arrows flew our way. Thankfully my magical protections held. Once Yoru's side was dealt with I turned towards Ivy.

It was a blood mess. Ivy's fur was covered in blood, so were her teeth and claws. She had made good use of her vampiric powers it seemed and did not need help.

I focused my powers on some of the corpses we had created and raised them as zombies. Then I sent them against the skeletons coming from behind.

I had ignored the enemy mage so far. Or mages, to be more accurate, but Nyx seemed to have the illusionist under control. The necromancer had been handled as well. All of his guards were dead and Hatsumi was currently biting the mage, while Skadi finished a zombie with her axe. One of the necromancer's guards must have been reanimated by him.

I checked the battlefield. Blake seemed fine but two of the guards were wounded. Hopefully it would not be fatal. Nyx was chewing something, likely the illusionist.

Only a few skeletons remained but they were quickly dealt with. Skadi rushed to the wounded men to provide some healing. I joined her.

"Can I help?" I asked.

"Take him. I have this one." She replied.

My patient was the man with an arrow in his leg. It had pierced his thigh. I helped remove the arrow, then applied a minor water heal. Unfortunately I could not do much more than close the wound and stop the bleeding. The muscle damage had to heal over time.

With our first aid completed we could focus on the enemy necromancer. Hatsumi was still holding him.

"I have paralysed him." She replied with a smile, while licking the blood from her fangs.

We had a prisoner to interrogate.

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