It didn’t take long for Pax and his friends to find the perfect ambush spot. About a mile down the road, their side still had an embankment as tall as three men, while on the other side, the river that meandered along the road had drifted closer. Next to it, the hillock on the far side had gotten even taller.

  The result was a narrowing of the space to either side of the road, with plenty of vegetation to hide in, including tall trees that flourished along the riverbank. They relayed their position back to Rin, and it wasn’t long before the rest of their group joined them.

  “Nice find,” Langley said as his experienced eyes scanned the area Pax had chosen for their ambush. “I’d prefer a bigger numbers advantage, but we can’t let this caravan through, especially with what Talpa sensed. Supplies, reinforcements, dangerous magical weapons, whatever it is, we need to take for ourselves. We don’t have the luxury of picking an easier target or waiting for reinforcements.”

  Around him, the others nodded their agreement.

  Langley turned to Pax. “So, got a plan? We don’t have long before the caravan gets here. We need to all be in position and out of sight before then.”

  The question startled Pax, and he looked at the experienced captain in surprise.

  Langley gave him a wry smile and shrugged. “What did you expect? I can barely keep track of all the new abilities and companions in my own crew. Yours is insane. I don’t know how you keep it all straight, especially with how fast your people level.”

  Pax chuckled, conceding the point. Then a thought struck him. “Don’t you have the Battle Strategist skill to help you?”

  “Sure. I’ve had it since I first made sergeant. Why?”

  “Well, that’s the only way I can manage everything, especially in the heat of battle, when plans fall apart.”

  Langley narrowed his gaze at Pax. “What level is your Strategist skill?”

  Pax suddenly felt unsure. “Three. Why? What’s yours?”

  Mage Lyndara looked up from adjusting her chestplate straps and let out a bark of disbelieving laughter.

  Langley shook his head. “Mine is only six, and I’ve been doing this a lot longer than you. I don’t know why I keep being surprised by what you’ve done as a first-year academy student.”

  Pax laughed. “I think maybe we can stop bringing that up after everything we’ve done together now, don’t you? Besides, I don’t think returning to the Academy is going to happen anytime soon.”

  “So, what should we call you instead?” Langley actually looked interested in Pax’s answer, so he gave it some thought.

  “Something simple,” he said, thinking as Havoc nudged him for a scratch under the new saddle straps. “Though, to be fair, I’m technically the commander of the main rebel base, so Commander Vipersworn is fine.” Pax barely kept a straight face as he aimed what he thought was a reasonable expression at Langley.

  Behind him, he heard Amil and Dahni snickering.

  Langley barked out a laugh and shook his head. “You’re definitely not lacking for nerve, kid. I can’t believe you’re already a base commander at your age. The empire’s leaders would faint if they had any idea.”

  “That’s exactly my point. All of us have been more than first-year academy students for quite some time. A lot more.” Pax sobered and waved at the rest of his crew, who were checking over their armor, weapons and potion stores. “And more seriously, I’m fine with just Mage. It’s who I am and what I do now. Magic. Lots of magic.”

  “So, Mage Vipersworn sound good?” Langley looked more serious, too.

  Something in his gaze acknowledged he knew exactly how much Pax and his friends had done for not just the rebellion, but everyone in the empire. It boosted Pax’s pride to have someone with Langley’s experience recognize everything he and his crew had sacrificed and done.

  “If you’re being formal, sure. Otherwise, just Pax or Mage Pax works for me.”

  Langley raised an eyebrow but nodded. “Alright Mage Pax, what do you think is our best plan to take on this caravan and all come out of it alive and in possession of that mysterious target?”

  ***

  Pax seriously questioned his battle plan as he huddled in a cramped bubble of space deep under the roadbed about a half hour later. The space felt smaller with every passing second. It didn’t help that Talpa’s ever-increasing bulk squeezed in next to him. Pax loved his buddy, but sharing a tiny underground dugout wasn’t his idea of a good time.

  At least he’d been able to use his Illuminate skill on the rocks protruding from the top of their hole, giving the space a cheery light despite how crowded it was.

  Talpa radiated excitement and pride, clearly thrilled that he’d pulled off the challenging task of dragging Pax and Whisk along for the underground journey that had them lying in wait beneath the road the caravan would soon travel over.

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  Is it time? Are they there yet?

  Pax stifled a mix of amusement and irritation at Whisk’s inability to stay quiet for more than a minute or two.

  Whisk must have sensed Pax’s reaction, because he immediately apologized. Sorry, Pax. I know I just asked that. I’ll wait until you tell me it’s time.

  That’s fine. And no, I still don’t know. Pax kept his tone patient as he ran over their plan in his mind one more time. They’d only have one chance at making it work and keeping all their people unharmed.

  But, do you, by chance, have an estimate? Whisk asked again, his voice hopeful. You know, when you think they’ll get to the ambush spot? Maybe how long until we get to do the thing? I’m not asking for a specific answer—maybe just an estimate?

  Pax pursed his lips, making sure he wouldn’t sound irritated before he answered. But before he could, another voice echoed in his mind.

  Langley’s asking for another update. Rin’s tone was apologetic.

  Pax blew out an exasperated breath. He knew their entire squad was feeling the stress of wondering when the right moment to arrive. Waiting never came easy to people used to as much action as they were. But bugging him wasn’t the answer.

  Still, Captain Langley was in charge of their squad, so Pax would get him what he asked for. Talpa? How close are they?

  Without bothering to reply, Talpa disappeared into the dirt wall. Pax’s mood immediately improved as he stretched out in the extra space and eased his back for the first time in half an hour.

  An unexpectedly short moment later, Talpa reappeared, pushing Pax back against the opposite wall. They’re almost here. Three minutes, maybe two.

  Adrenaline shot through Pax as he relayed the information to Rin. He could feel the tingling excitement from the rest of his crew through their Echo connection. Pax dumped mana into his Sphere and tensed when he sensed the first outrider appear at the edge of his senses.

  Pax’s first inclination was to remind everyone of their assignments, but he bit that back. Those up top were in a much better position to time their actions as the caravan reached the various markers they’d placed on the road ahead of time.

  Almost holding his breath, Pax tracked the caravan as it moved across the top of his Sphere’s view. Any moment now.

  Even though he was expecting it, the sequence of explosions almost caught him by surprise. The vibrations shot through his Sphere and shook the ground around him. He could easily envision how well Tyrodon’s traps triggered under the wheels and axles of the wagons as they rolled over them.

  Then came the less destructive devices along the edges of the road, designed to shock the troops with bursts of light and deafening sound. His friends would already be on the move, pulling out ear plugs as they raced in to take advantage of the defenders’ confusion.

  Pax had argued for the less deadly opening salvo, hoping they could knock some of the empire troops unconscious and take them out of the fight early, maximizing the possibility of them switching sides if they could capture them all. Captain Langley had reluctantly agreed that the initial attack could start that way, but they’d fight to kill anyone still standing afterward.

  Pax almost shook with adrenaline, waiting for his part in the attack. He used the time to focus on gleaning as many details about the attack up top as possible. Arrows punched into his Sphere’s detection radius, two of them exuding an icy cold that told him they belonged to Rin’s new Glacial Pair spell.

  On the other side of the caravan, he watched a group of defenders dragged into a cluster by what had to be Amil’s Cyclone Vortex. A moment later, a figure in the center of that grouping spasmed, wreathed in chaotic lightning energy. Pax could imagine the exultant grin on Amil’s face as he used his Tempest Smash in battle against empire troops again. It was becoming one of his favorites.

  The vibrations of stampeding hooves heralded the incoming attack of the rest of their squad, executing a pincer movement on their thunderhoof chargers. The ground shook beneath them, and Pax could imagine how intimidating it would be for the defenders to face the gleaming sharp antlers and deadly beasts racing at them.

  An exultant burst of emotion from Havoc told Pax that his newest companion loved his role in joining the charge, free to wreak his namesake on anyone who tried to stand in his way.

  But the ambush wasn’t completely one-sided. Through his Sphere, Pax sensed a barrage of elements and weapons lash out as the defending mages did their best to rebuff the attackers. Arrows, spears, shields, and swords joined the mix, making it hard for his Sphere to keep track of all the moving details.

  Worry twisted his stomach amidst the excitement watching his squad executing their ambush as planned. Now, he needed to do his part, just in case the tide turned and a retreat was necessary. A quick check showed that all the wagons had ground to a halt. Eagerness surged through Pax. It was time.

  Talpa, get us up there. We have to hurry.

  Talpa lurched toward Pax, practically squishing him in a smelly and uncomfortable embrace as he plopped over the top of him. He wrapped all four limbs around Pax and tucked his chin and sensing tentacles over the top of Pax’s head. A moment later, Talpa dove up into the ground.

  Pax kept his eyes and mouth firmly closed, holding his breath for the decidedly uncomfortable, but thankfully short, journey. Traveling this way was an experience like no other.

  Pax could tell he moved through dirt and stone, like standing under a torrent of debris being dumped on top of him. And yet, somehow, the material flowed around them like water, moving easily to either side.

  Yeah, very hard to describe and not something he wanted to experience very often. Besides, it drained an excessive amount of Talpa’s mana, leaving him unable to join the battle or defend himself very well afterward.

  Less than a minute later, the welcome feel of air on his skin had Pax shaking himself like a dusty dog. Wiping his eyes clear as quickly as possible, Pax grinned when he saw they’d come out exactly in the planned spot, under the bed of the middle wagon.

  The sudden clamor of battle yells and the clash of weapons and spells made Pax realize how little sound his Extrasensory Sphere transmitted to him. At least the din was so loud, he could take an axe to the bottom of the wagon with no one even noticing. But it was best to stick to their plan.

  Whisk didn’t need instructing. He’d already bulged out from under Pax’s armor without being asked. Pax and Talpa scrambled to the side, out of the way, as Whisk deployed his Corrosive Grasp on a circular section of the wagon’s floor above them. The wood hissed, dripping chunks falling to the ground as even the reinforcing metal straps succumbed to the powerful ability.

  A few moments later, a solid section of the wagon floor fell to the ground with a dusty thump. Whisk immediately slithered up inside the wagon while Pax and Talpa followed close behind.

  Throwing a handful of illuminated rocks inside, Pax popped his head inside to get a glimpse of what had been valuable enough to warrant the elite escort and protection. He froze, staring in surprise at the eyes blinking back at him from inside the wagon opposite a tall stack of chests.

  People? There weren’t supposed to be any people in this wagon.