Chapter 212: Putting the Plan in Action

The morning smelled of iron and snow, the training ground already alive with motion and the low, constant rhythm of breath. Trainees clustered in ragged lines, weapons held like promises.

At the center of the clearing, a small ring of scuffed dust marked where Orion stood, waiting for the next challengers.

Orion had just finished with a group when Sophia’s group stepped forward. After his session with Holly, the trainees realized that the best way to even get him to move an inch was if they attacked him in groups. Although most of them just rushed in without a plan in place, and that was the issue.

When he saw Sophia’s group, he smiled widely. He had been waiting patiently for when they would step up.

Dren slipped his spear free and cradled it, shoulders hunched with nervous eagerness. Micah, axe strapped and expression unreadable, fell into step opposite him. Cat, heavy-handed and steady, squared her grip on a battle-axe as if it were part of her skeleton. Joren moved like a steadying hand in the group — less show than anchor. Laia and Nia flanked Sophia, short swords ready, faces set. Sophia herself kept her hands loose at her sides, fingers grazing the hafts of two short blades and the small leather pouch at her hip that held throwing daggers — tiny, weighted things she’d learned to trust.

Orion’s smile when they came forward was genuine. It softened his eyes the way a rare light softened stone, and that single, honest expression passed through the line of trainees like a signal.

"Took you guys long enough, I thought you were going to back out," he told them.

"Back out?" Laia asked him.

"Give up," her sister explained.

"Oh," he said with a nod. "Wait, you thought we were going to give up?" she asked Orion.

He just shrugged his shoulders. "You were not stepping forward."

"Well that’s because Sophia suggested we observe first and not rush in," Joren told him just as the others groaned loudly.

Orion’s lips twitched but there was a surge of pride in his chest. "Oh?" he said.

Joren, not getting the signal from Dren and the others to shut up, nodded. "She said we had to observe and Micah said, ’The first fool in the fight is the one who believes speed equals strategy.’"

"Joren," Laia hissed. "Shut up."

Orion watched, intrigued. "You guys learned that recently," he noted.

Joren nodded and was about to speak again when Sophia clamped a hand over his mouth. She was almost certain Joren would tell Orion their plan before they even began fighting.

"Do you think we should gag him?" Cat asked in deep thought.

"I’m all for it," Laia said with a nod.

Joren moaned against Sophia’s hand covering his mouth, begging her to set him free.

"If I do so will you shut up?" she asked him; he nodded.

She released him just as a wave of laughter passed from the other trainees who were watching the scene. Sophia’s group was the last one remaining and from what the other trainees watched, they doubted they could pass the test.

Holly scoffed as she rolled her eyes. Seeing Sophia’s group, there was no need for Orion to get serious. Her group looked like a bunch of mismatched kids who could hardly control their mouths. She was sure Orion would not take them seriously, or so she thought — but then Orion’s stance changed.

His smile widened and he laughed lightly. "I like that you guys observed first, that’s a good strategy," he said with approval just as his eyes landed on Sophia. "And because you observed and have a plan in place," he said as he changed his stance — it was subtle, but they caught it — "I’m not going to go easy on you at all."

Dren rolled his eyes and hissed at Joren. "See what your big mouth just cost us?" he muttered.

"I know I said Sophia may be the death of us but I’m having second thoughts at this very moment, Joren," Laia said to him.

"You may be the death of us," Nia said, completing Laia’s words to Joren.

Joren seemed unbothered. He shrugged his shoulders. "I was just being truthful."

"But you weren’t asked to be truthful," Cat muttered.

Even as they spoke, Orion could see them getting into shape. There was a reason this group was one of the most promising on the training grounds right now.

Just as the laughter died, Orion watched as snow drifted between them and, in a moment, the smiles disappeared while his widened.

They moved into position like they had done it before. They moved in synchronization, like they were already warriors. Dren moved to his left, running wide and kept moving in a circling path designed to draw attention and to tempt Orion into a larger motion. Micah swept the opposite arc, his axe an intent threat; Cat angled to the near side, heavy swing prepared to bite. Laia and Nia kept tight and compact, their shortswords whisper-fast and practiced for feints. Joren’s role was subtle — to draw the eye and to signal a seam.

Sophia folded into the center like a quiet hinge, knives ready, breaths measured.

Orion watched them all and did not hurry. He could see the contour of their plan: split his attention, threaten the circle from multiple vectors, use timing and anchor steps to force him to flinch or to step. It was a sound strategy for a pack of trainees. It was also exactly the kind of thing a careful alpha would let play out to see where the seams ran.

And for now, he was that careful alpha. He was going to let them have their fun. He wanted to see how they would be able to put this plan in action and if they would be able to execute it flawlessly. It was a bit risky given that they were not full-fledged warriors, but it showed improvement — and that was what he wanted.