Hundreds of horses thundered across the plains, their hooves pounding the earth in a rhythm that echoed like rolling thunder. The ground trembled beneath their weight, sending violent shudders through the tents lining the entrance of the Attaca Plateau.
Soldiers stumbled out from their shelters, their expressions shifting from drowsy confusion to wide-eyed panic. When their eyes fell on the massive cloud of dust approaching like an unstoppable sandstorm, their shock turned to urgency.
“The sandstorm— no, the knights are coming! Form ranks!” one soldier shouted.
But before the soldiers could fully organize themselves, the vanguard of the order swept through, their horses skidding to a halt in front of the tents. The chaos of their arrival sent a ripple of unease through the camp. The soldiers scrambled to salute, their movements hurried and clumsy.
Among the knights, one rider swayed unsteadily before sliding off his horse, his legs giving way as he hit the ground.
