—Third-person point of view——Oak Shield Group—
As the Oak Shield Group galloped at full speed, the Blood Rose Knights began to close in. Just as Igris had predicted, Katarina tried to corner them by sending men from both the left and right flanks. However, each of those flanks was guarded by two former Forest Ranger commanders and two apprentice rangers. While riding at full speed, Bilbo and Kili weren't the best marksmen, but they could still apply pressure—after all, their targets were not acting alone, they were acting as a group.
On the left flank of the group were Gilan and Kili's team, with fifteen Crimson Knights riding parallel to them. They weren't closing the distance, unaware that they had already entered Gilan's firing range. Gilan hadn't acted yet because Igris had warned him that Katarina was obsessed with her so-called "collection" of men.
"If this hag is so obsessed with her collection, why is she so fixated on Igris, the very man who keeps killing her 'collectibles'? Sure, he's handsome—but not world-shatteringly so, just ordinarily good-looking. And Igris doesn't even boast about it! He doesn't feel the need. He has no intention of marrying until he finds the right woman. On top of that, Katarina is excessively cruel—the kind of person Igris would want to kill. What could a woman like that possibly want from Igris?" Gilan muttered.
"I've heard so many stories and legends about Katarina!" said Kili. "She's not just cruel, she's a full-blown tyrant. On her blood farms within her domain, she treats slaves with unthinkable brutality—forces them to breed like livestock. She eats baby girls alive and raises the boys with special care to increase her collection. To expand it even further, she even has her own Blood Rose Knights impregnate the women in her farms. Even we Dwarves regard her as a tyrant and a sadist. We thank Durin every day that she has no interest in our kind…"
Gilan clenched his fists in fury upon hearing the story. "Then why hasn't the White Council or the Elves attacked and wiped out the Vampires?"
"I don't know…" Kili replied. "We Dwarves aren't members of the White Council. But my uncle once said the Vampires have formed powerful alliances and possess relics that could stir other dark forces into action. The Vampire King and Queen are strong enough to battle even Lady Galadriel, White Saruman, or Elrond—perhaps even defeat them! The Vampire Nobles can summon the dead! During the Vampire Invasion 1,600 years ago, if it weren't for the werewolves and their chieftains, most of Middle-earth might've fallen. Elves reproduce slowly, humans aren't strong enough, and we Dwarves—well, we never cared much for the outside world... That's what my uncle said, anyway."
As many of you know, Vampires and Werewolves are eternal enemies. The roars of high-ranking werewolf warriors act like a song that frees the souls of the dead called by vampires. These howls and roars destroy wraiths! A werewolf's fangs and claws are deadly to vampires. In this world, vampires don't die just from a stake through the heart—at least not with stakes made from ordinary wood. Only certain special trees have venomous essences that can kill them, like White Oak, the World Tree, and Rowan Wood. Some rare herbs are also highly poisonous to vampires—like vervain and mistletoe. Unfortunately, these are hard to find. Efforts are made to cultivate them in large cities, but vampires are always trying to eliminate their weaknesses, making such resources scarce. And then there's silver and its variants—poison to vampires. It weakens them. Ordinary silver can kill low-level wraiths and vampires, but against mid- or high-tier ones, it only causes mild burns. Sadly, most silver mines in Middle-earth have been overrun by orcs and goblins. Places like the Blue Mountains or Iron Hills still have some silver, but nowhere near the quantities found in Moria or Erebor.
"No wonder Igris hates that woman," said Gilan, seething. "She deserves to die—and in the most agonizing way possible." He took his canteen, opened it, and inhaled deeply.
"The greatest drink in the world," he muttered, then took a sip.
Meanwhile, on the right flank, an entirely different conversation was unfolding.
"Can you believe it, Bilbo!? He hid coffee from me! I spent six years training him! Saved his sorry ass more times than I can count! And that little punk hid two whole kilograms of coffee from me! Two kilograms!" Halt growled, taking a swig from his own canteen full of coffee.
"Aren't you exaggerating just a bit, Halt? It's just some coffee," Bilbo replied calmly.
"Bilbo, you've only been training with us for just over a week! At first, Will didn't understand us either. But if Will knew Gilan was hiding coffee from him while he had none, he would've taken revenge! Coffee is the only drink we actually enjoy. A Forest Ranger supervises entire provinces and must always be alert and ready! Bandits, uprisings, Skandian raiders—" (Author's Note: Skandians are inspired by the Vikings of our world!) "—corrupt nobles… Forest Rangers deal with all of it. In any territory we're stationed, we represent the king himself. The king trusted us completely—we were his eyes, ears, and hands. So we can't afford to dull our minds with alcohol or the like—it would only lead to disaster."
"…But Halt, if your order is so important, how come I've never heard of you in all of Middle-earth? Sure, I've never left the Shire, but traders come from all over, and listening to their tales is one of the Shire's great pastimes. Yet I've never heard a single word about your kind."
Halt paused for a moment, then sighed. "Because we're not from Middle-earth, Bilbo. We come from somewhere very far away. But that's not the point! Bilbo, *never—and I mean never—*hide coffee from your teacher! DO. YOU. UNDERSTAND. ME?" he said, the final words deadly serious.
Bilbo looked into the blazing eyes of his fiercely passionate teacher and gulped. 'Igris was right! Both of my teachers are coffee addicts!' he thought and quickly nodded.
"I understand!"
"Good! You've already become my favorite student."
Bilbo looked at him strangely. "Just for being good with coffee? Does that really make me a favorite student? Maybe I should reconsider having this man as my teacher…"he thought to himself. But he quickly dropped the idea—he had already seen Halt and Gilan in action, and both were clearly skilled warriors.
Bilbo glanced at the Blood Rose Knights advancing parallel to their position. "Halt, what are we going to do about those people?" he asked nervously.
Even though Bilbo had only just left the Shire, he had heard plenty of terrifying stories about the Blood Rose Knights—especially Katarina. Tales so frightening that as a child, they had made it hard for him to sleep at night. He had grown up believing they were just stories. Yet now, barely a week into learning about the existence of vampires, one of the most fearsome of them all—İgris—was chasing after them willingly. Halt's voice broke into his troubled thoughts.
"For now, we wait. I could hit them from this distance—I could take out four of them, dead or wounded. But that won't do. The remaining seven would scatter, become cautious. When you're at a numerical disadvantage, Bilbo, you have to plan. A foolish move will risk not just your life, but your companions' as well. Always think. Never act unless you're sure."
"I understand, Halt. Then what should I do in a situation like this?" Bilbo asked. He knew he'd eventually embark on adventures of his own, so he needed to prepare, to learn as much as he could. After all, learning from someone as experienced as Halt was a rare and valuable opportunity—especially after witnessing what Gilan, Halt's student, had done when they were ambushed.
Halt paused for a moment in thought. "Good question… In most cases, the smartest thing to do would be to run. You're alone, and if your opponents are an elite unit like the Blood Knights—especially if they outnumber you significantly—don't take the risk. Head into the forest. Use the camouflage techniques Gilan and I taught you. Try to disappear... But if you can't manage that, then my advice is to do what Gilan did against those eleven assassins: lure them into a dense forest and take calculated shots with your arrows. You'll need to be frugal—run out of arrows, and you're finished.
Your third option is to climb to a high point and shoot them from above. And finally, there's a fourth option, but that should be your last and most desperate choice—do something crazy."
Bilbo blinked in surprise. "Like what?"
"Use the terrain. For instance, if there's a cave or an abandoned mine nearby, go inside. These places might be dead ends—or worse, dens for creatures like trolls, goblins, or orcs. Be careful. But if those monsters are there… that might actually be your chance. You could turn both sides against each other and escape in the chaos. Another option? Jump into a river or off a cliff—but only if you're sure you'll survive. That option's for the truly hopeless situations.
And if you're absolutely certain there are allied forces nearby and you can't shake your pursuers, start a large fire. Pray that the smoke catches your allies' attention—or better yet, learn smoke signaling and send a call for help."
Smoke signals were a kind of military communication method developed by each race for emergencies or long-distance messages. They were also used in encrypted intelligence sharing, though not commonly preferred, as they could attract the enemy's attention or expose one's location.
Listening to all this, Bilbo shuddered. "Definitely something I'd use only as a last resort," he said, mentally taking note of each piece of advice. Halt wasn't done yet.
"Also, dear Bilbo, you should invest in your map reading and intelligence-gathering skills. And I don't just mean basic map knowledge—I'm talking about detailed, strategic maps and a solid understanding of geography. For a forest ranger, a detailed map is a precious tool. With good map knowledge, you gain numerous advantages.
For example, by knowing the direction the wind consistently blows, you can adjust your arrows accordingly. If you know of nearby swamps or monster tribes or habitats—like I mentioned before—you can either avoid them or use them to your benefit. Knowing the locations of elf, human, and dwarf settlements, as well as the fastest paths or trails to reach them, can shorten your journey or help you escape from enemies. And if you know the best hunting areas, you'll never have to worry about going hungry."
"There's still so much I need to learn," Bilbo said with a tired voice—but he wasn't discouraged. On the contrary, he was excited to learn new things.
"And don't forget to learn about medicinal and poisonous plants—especially the ones that can be used as antidotes! That kind of knowledge can save your life—or your companions'. Or at least buy you enough time to get proper help."
The word "poison" made Bilbo flinch, and he immediately thought of Oin. He nodded seriously and glanced to the side.
"Halt, what are those people waiting for?"
"They're probably waiting for a signal. But that's a good thing for us—it means they're giving us more time to meet up with the support forces… Ahhh! Ever since I met İgris, it's been nothing but action and adventure! And now we've even got a romantic comedy plot on our hands!" he complained—but inwardly, he was enjoying it. After all, since retirement, he hadn't had many adventures like this.
Halt had lived a life full of adventures. He had fought in three civil wars, participated in numerous battles, completed special missions. He had roamed the steppes, plains, seas, and deserts with his two foolish students. He had taken on wild and thrilling assignments across various nations and communities. Now, after a long period of inactivity, this old wolf had grown young again—and the fire of adventure that had once burned bright inside him was flickering back to life.
(Author's Note: I won't go into detailed information here—after all, I don't want to spoil anything for those who've read or plan to read John Flanagan's novels.)
Bilbo chuckled. The two of them kept their eyes on the enemy, alternating glances as they continued on their path.
Meanwhile, within the main group of the Blood Rose Knights surrounding Oak Shield...
"My lady, the men have taken their positions. The moment we give the signal, they'll begin the assault," said a scout.
"Good! Keep your eyes open. This time, we will catch Igris! If he escapes again, you will all pay for it!" Katarina declared coldly as she moved to the front—but Anton stepped in her way.
"My lady, you are a count's daughter! It would not be appropriate for you to go ahead, especially in front of your servants. Allow me to approach him and demand his surrender."
"Anton, are you underestimating me?" she hissed, radiating killing intent. The knights nearby flinched, but Anton remained unfazed.
"No, my lady, but we have our rules. And your father, Count Elaris, has little to no tolerance for such behavior. Do you wish to be locked up and subjected to torment again when you return home?"
Anton's reply made several knights break into a sweat, some swallowed hard, but many others were filled with admiration. He had dared to speak so bluntly on such a sensitive matter. Likely, only Anton could speak to Katarina in such a way! Even the arrogant Markus held his tongue—for he too feared the Count.
"How will my father learn something he doesn't know?"
"My lady, forgive me, but your father loves control. How do you know he isn't watching you? And though these men are yours, the Count can inspect their memories. After all, he values honor above all. Everything you do outside these walls is considered done in his name—especially now, as he prepares to become a Marquis."
Katarina fell into deep thought. Her father was a perfectionist and a control freak. Though her mother was gentler, she never opposed the Count—out of both fear and mad devotion. She truly believed that to survive among vampires, one had to do whatever was necessary.
"Fine, Anton. Let it be as you say." Mentioning her father had dulled half of Katarina's excitement. To her, the Count was nothing more than a symbol of family honor, a leash, and a burden.
Katarina was a born vampire—an extremely rare occurrence. Her mother, however, had turned later in life. Her father, Elaris von Crimsonvale, had first seen Juliet, her mother, during a village raid over 1,600 years ago and fallen in love. When Juliet was later bullied by other vampire lords, Elaris had taken action to protect her. The opposing lords were a duke and his servants. Elaris paid a heavy price to save Juliet—but never once regretted it. Sometimes, even monsters soften before love.
By "torment," what was meant here was intense physical training. Katarina and her father would spar—her father using a training staff, while Katarina wielded a real sword. Yet the gap in strength between them was massive. Whenever Katarina failed to act like a proper lady, her father would break every bone in her body as punishment. After all, they were vampires—they healed quickly. But the pain? That was real. He had even tied her to a post and whipped her. Recently, as he prepared to become a Marquis, his grip tightened and his perfectionism intensified.
"Very well, Anton, go and tell Igris to surrender!"
"Yes, my lady," Anton said and spurred his horse forward.
"My lady! I'll accompany Anton just in case! After all, there's the Gray Mage and Oak Shield on the other side," shouted Markus as he swiftly followed Anton.
"MARKUS! GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANT!" Katarina commanded, but Markus didn't listen.
Katarina bit her lip in anger. "Once this is over, I'm going to punish that man so harshly! He'll learn what it means to disobey my orders!"
"My lady…" said a knight hesitantly.
"What is it, Eradir? Is there a problem?" Katarina snapped.
Eradir swallowed and whispered, "My lady, haven't you noticed?"
Katarina turned her head in confusion. "Noticed what?"
"My lady… Markus enjoys being punished by you."
Katarina was stunned. Eradir went on.
"My lady, Markus is likely a masochist. Punishing him will be a reward for him," he said calmly, though inwardly tense. He knew he couldn't beat Markus, but the man had irritated him greatly as of late. For the first time in her life—aside from her family—Katarina shivered.
'So that's why he smiles when I beat him... I always thought he was in pain. That sneaky little rat!' she thought. Then she asked:
"What do you suggest? How should I punish him?"
"My lady! Keep him away from you for a few months!" Eradir proposed.
Katarina was taken aback, but fell into thought. Meanwhile, the other knights chimed in with agreement.
"Eradir is right, my lady! Markus has been unbearably arrogant lately. He's constantly defying your orders! That's unacceptable!"
"Yes, my lady! Send him back to the Vampire Kingdom. Let him serve at one of the border forts for a while! That would be the best punishment!"
"If he's so obsessed with you, then punishing him by keeping him away from you would be perfect!"
Katarina looked at her knights and pondered. 'That fool! I made him my left hand, but most of my knights are uncomfortable around him! That is unacceptable! My collection—my Order—must be flawless! This has gone beyond a mere punishment. Markus must be disciplined!'
She turned her gaze to her men.
"Fine, I will send him to our most brutal frontier outpost!" she said with a cold and authoritative tone.The surrounding knights fell silent, but Katarina could feel it—deep down, they were overjoyed.
'This idiot is beyond infuriating! If it weren't for his talent, I would've killed him long ago! Maybe I should lock him up on a farm, use him to breed, and then get rid of him!' Katarina thought bitterly.
Meanwhile, Anton was moving quickly, approaching the Oak Shield group.
"ANTOOON!" shouted Markus. Anton flinched and turned around. One word echoed in his mind:
'Damn it!'
"Markus, what are you doing here?"
"My lady sent me to keep an eye on you," Markus replied arrogantly.
"Please, go trick some toddlers instead! You just want to kill Igris, don't you?"
Markus flinched and looked away, but the veins on his face were bulging. He turned back to Anton in anger.
"Why is my lady so obsessed with that man?! She doesn't even see me or you! We're both nobles, yet she chases after a bastard who insulted and dismissed her! WHY, ANTON?! WE'RE ALWAYS BY HER SIDE, ALWAYS DOING HER BIDDING, BUT IT'S NEVER ENOUGH! WHAT MORE DOES SHE WANT FROM US?!"
Anton looked at Markus and sighed, then responded calmly:"We are knights, Markus. We follow our lord's commands. If our lady gives an order, we carry it out. And believe me, no one is thrilled to be chasing after Igris. But I haven't seen our lady this excited and passionate in a long time," he said. Markus flinched.
"…Yes! And that only makes me more jealous of Igris… and hate him even more! That fool doesn't even know what kind of opportunity he's throwing away!" Markus grumbled, still angry but calmer now.
"You don't know Igris, Markus. He's not the type to submit to anyone… but you're right about one thing. We can't keep going like this," Anton said. Markus flinched again and looked at him. Anton continued:
"Igris is growing stronger at a terrifying pace. We haven't seen him in two years, yet he went from early-mid level to peak-mid level. That kind of growth is terrifying, and he's only in his twenties. Our lady tried to capture him seven times, and each attempt only enraged and humiliated him. Igris made it clear he's not interested. Men like him, those who value their freedom above all, would rather die fighting than submit. Some might even choose suicide over capture!"
Markus swallowed at what he heard, forcing a bitter smile."You're exaggerating, old man."
"No, Markus. I'm serious. Even if he dies, he won't come with us. But if we leave him alone, once he becomes powerful, he'll come back and hunt us down! You must've heard the rumors about him?" Anton said, his tone deadly serious. For the first time, Markus dropped his mocking demeanor in front of his companion.
"Yes, I heard. They say he's fair, fearless, honest, and takes pleasure in killing tyrants and oppressors."
"No, Markus! It's not pleasure. Igris values justice above all else and never hesitates to do what's right. Maybe he does enjoy killing tyrants and the parasites who exploit the people—but only because he believes it's the right thing to do! That's what makes him even more dangerous! He's less a person and more… an ideology. People like that gather followers quickly. Igris, who is just one man now, could become a force of 100 in a week, 1,000 in a month! He's a real threat, Markus—and we provoked him! My instincts are screaming that today, we either capture him or kill him! It feels like this is our only chance!" Anton said, then paused.
"…I don't want to ask, but I'm curious… There's something you're keeping from me, isn't there?" Markus asked. Anton sighed.
"…Markus, what I'm about to tell you—I haven't even told our lady. I didn't want her to become more obsessed with Igris than she already is… Igris is not a Dunedain."
Markus flinched and asked,"Then what the hell is he?"
"I don't know… but during our fight, I saw his eyes turn purple. His irises became vertical… He's definitely not a Dunedain. But one thing is clear—whatever he is, we can't let him escape today. Otherwise, he'll become our doom in the future!" Anton said, and Markus fell deep into thought.
"Let's increase our speed!" Anton commanded, and Markus nodded.
Meanwhile, in the Oak Shield group, Gandalf and Igris had just wrapped up a lengthy discussion. As the group moved swiftly onward, Igris drifted into thought.
'Eight. They've come after me eight times! Eight humiliations! Eight chases! This is no longer just personal. From now on, the vampire race is my sworn enemy! I never liked their kind to begin with! I hate systems, but this time… this system will be my greatest ally. Not for gaining power—but for building an army. I will take my revenge with my own hands, through my own sweat and blood! Just wait, you damned Blood Rose Knights. Once I escape from here and establish my own kingdom, I will hunt you all down! I'll unleash the wrath of Mount & Blade's finest warriors upon you!'
"What are you thinking about again?" Thorin asked.
"Revenge. I will get out of here and make the vampires pay for the eight humiliations I've suffered!"
"What a coincidence. As the Dwarf King, I share the same thoughts. Count me in!"
İgris sighed as he looked at Thorin."I'm sorry, Thorin. Coming with you has put your mission in great danger."
Thorin looked at him, then responded seriously,"Forget it. Even though you're about to walk into a dragon's lair with us, you're doing it with a smile and laughter. My entire kin didn't come with me, but you did—you, a stranger, chose to stand by me. You even said, 'You will definitely succeed this time.' You've helped Gloin's friend Guno and his people many times. Thanks to you, they now have a place they can call home.
No ally welcomed us with open arms—but you did. You lifted some of us back to our feet. I owe you on behalf of my people. If I were to abandon you now, I could never face the dwarves you've helped, nor my ancestors!
I am someone who dares to stand up to a dragon! Why would I be afraid of a witch from a parasitic race?"
"Thorin is right, İgris," said Balin, calm and gently. "Dwarves are stubborn and selfish, yes, but we never abandon those who have shown us kindness."
"I agree! We have no intention of leaving you behind!" said Dwalin firmly, without a trace of fear.
"Igris! If I were to leave you behind and somehow survive this journey, I could never look into the eyes of my wife or my friend Guno! We owe you our lives. I'm with you until the end!" Gloin declared.
"You also cooked us delicious meals, fed us, and thanks to your companions Gilan and Halt, we've avoided many troubles along the way. We owe you," added Bofur, while Bombur nodded repeatedly in agreement.
"You convinced Gilan and Halt to train my brother! I'm not a fool—I know the kind of training Gilan and Halt provide is the kind of training reserved for elite military commanders. Because of you, Kili has started to learn and grow into a leader.
It's only been a week, but my reckless brother has begun to act with thought and care. He holds great respect for his two teachers! As Kili's older brother, I am in your debt," Fili said with a grin.
"And as Kili's uncle, I'm in your debt too! Again," Thorin added with a grin of his own.
Similar voices rose from the rest of the group, and İgris listened quietly before grinning.
"Thank you, gentlemen," he said, and then thought to himself:
'It's been eleven years since I last felt this… My master, Clint, was like a father to me, just as a master-apprentice bond should be… but this? This is something else. This is what they call Brotherhood! Brothers you can entrust your back to without a second thought… In my past life, I had friends like this. And now, I've found them again.
Maybe that's why I love the dwarves so much. They're stubborn, selfish, and reckless—but because of those very traits, they make fiercely loyal companions! Even Lord Elrond once clashed with his own king and people for the sake of Durin IV! Perhaps that's why Elrond and Durin IV became sworn brothers… Rivendell's location always struck me as strange—a hidden valley carved into the mountains. Something inside me says I'll hear an interesting story one day about the land Rivendell was built upon.'
"Boss! Two unidentified horses approaching from the six o'clock direction!" said Shadowmane.
"Thorin! Two envoys are coming toward us," İgris said calmly.
"Let them come. But they're wasting their time—they won't get what they want from this group," Thorin said firmly.