The western outpost didn't look like much from a distance. A collection of wooden structures perched along a ridge overlooking a vast expanse of rolling plains. But appearances could be deceiving, as I'd learned repeatedly since becoming the Monster Lord.

  I stood atop the highest watchtower, the early morning breeze carrying the scent of distant rain. Below me, the camp swarmed with activity. Not the chaotic movement of an ordinary military encampment, but the precise, coordinated patterns of Nerk's evolved hobgoblin forces.

  "Impressive, isn't it?" Nerk asked, joining me at the edge of the platform. His tactical eyes scanned the horizon with a precision no human scout could match. "Three thousand hobgoblins deployed in under five days. Full defensive perimeter established. Supply lines secured."

  "You've outdone yourself," I admitted, watching as a unit of hobgoblin scouts returned from patrol, moving with a synchronization that made them appear almost as a single organism. "The Confederation representatives seemed shocked when they visited yesterday."

  "Expected monsters," Nerk nodded, a hint of pride in his voice. "Found disciplined army instead."

  Below us, the encampment continued its morning routine. Each hobgoblin knew exactly where to be and what to do, their movements governed by Nerk's revolutionary command structure. Where goblin forces had once been chaotic mobs, these evolved hobgoblins functioned with a military precision that would have made royal commanders weep with envy.

  "How close are you to completing the thousand-captain system?" I asked, knowing how important this evolution was to my first lieutenant.

  Nerk's yellow eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Structure complete. Hierarchy established. Nine hundred eighty-seven captains confirmed." He gestured toward the western plains. "Need only final element."

  "A real battle," I finished for him.

  "Precisely. Theory requires practical application. Tactical innovation demands battlefield testing."

  I understood his meaning perfectly. For months, Nerk had been developing his revolutionary command structure, a complex hierarchy of specialized captains, each responsible for different tactical elements. The bond network allowed them to coordinate with unprecedented efficiency, but theory could only go so far. Like any military innovation, it needed the crucible of actual combat to reach its final form.

  "And you're certain your forces alone will be sufficient?" I asked, though I already knew his answer.

  "Hobgoblins will handle Crimson Empire's initial forces," Nerk stated with absolute confidence. "Blood warriors unnecessary. Trolls redundant. This battle belongs to first lieutenant."

  I smiled at his determination. Each of my lieutenants had distinct personalities, despite their monstrous origins. Nerk's pride in his tactical acumen and his hobgoblin forces had only grown as the bond network enhanced his natural abilities.

  "Movement detected," Nerk said suddenly, his enhanced vision focusing on a distant point beyond the plains. "Ridge line, western approach. Crimson scouts observing."

  I squinted, seeing nothing but distant haze. "You're sure?"

  "Unmistakable. Six observers. Crimson Empire uniforms. Taking position three leagues out." Nerk's tactical eyes narrowed. "Exactly where our intelligence predicted."

  I nodded, unsurprised. Our reconnaissance had suggested the Crimson Empire would send advance scouts before committing to any serious engagement. They had conquered Elmridge through careful planning and preparation. They would approach us with the same methodical attention to detail.

  "Let them watch," I decided. "Let them see exactly what we want them to see."

  "My thoughts precisely." Nerk's expression shifted to something almost like a smile. "Third and fifth battalions will perform standard drills. First and seventh remain concealed. False impression of force size and capability."

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  This was why Nerk's tactical genius was so valuable. He didn't just understand battle formations; he grasped the psychological elements of warfare. The Crimson Empire's scouts would report back on what they observed, never realizing they'd seen only what we intended them to see.

  "The Confederation merchants are getting nervous," I commented, watching as a trade caravan approached our outpost from the east, their wagons heavily laden with goods clearly destined for markets in the Crimson Empire. "Yet they're still conducting business with both sides, even as war seems imminent."

  "Logical approach," Nerk observed. "Confederation strategy consistent. Maintain commercial relationships with all parties until physically prevented. Confederation maximizing profit while routes remain open."

  "Playing both sides," I mused. "I suppose it makes a certain kind of sense. Gold is gold, no matter whose face is stamped on it."

  "Also provides intelligence value," Nerk added pragmatically. "Merchant observations from Empire territories more valuable than military reconnaissance in some ways. Confederation shares selectively with us."

  He wasn't wrong. The Merchant Confederation's policy of continued trade even with potential enemies had given us insights into Imperial movements we couldn't have gained otherwise. Still, there was something almost comical about watching merchants pass through our defensive lines to sell goods to the very forces we might soon face in battle.

  "Something's changed," Nerk said suddenly, his attention snapping back to the distant observers. "Scouts withdrawing rapidly. Messenger departed toward imperial lines."

  That was unexpected. The Crimson scouts had arrived barely an hour ago, hardly enough time for a thorough assessment of our forces.

  "What do you think it means?" I asked, trusting Nerk's tactical analysis more than any human commander's.

  He considered for a moment, his enhanced mind processing countless variables. "Two possibilities. Either our presence alone sufficient to delay planned advance, or..." His eyes narrowed further. "They recognized hobgoblin force structure. Intelligence better than anticipated."

  Neither option was particularly comforting. If they were delaying, it meant they were gathering more forces. If they had recognized the nature of our defenses, it meant they understood more about evolved monsters than they should.

  "Keep the outer patrols doubled," I instructed. "And I want updates on any imperial movement, no matter how small."

  Nerk nodded sharply. "Already done. Additional scouts deployed in five-league perimeter. Nightshade battalion positioned for emergency response."

  We descend the watchtower, having seen what we needed to see.

  The Merchant Confederation's representative waited for me at the base of the tower, a nervous-looking man in expensively practical traveling clothes. Master Tolbert was younger than most Confederation officials I'd met, his appointment likely a result of more senior representatives being unwilling to risk position near contested borders.

  "Monster Lord," he greeted me with a formal bow. "The weekly caravan has arrived safely. Magister Vortrax sends her regards and requests confirmation that our northern route remains secure."

  "Your caravans have nothing to worry about on our side of the border," I assured him. "Nerk's forces have established control all the way to Highpass Ridge. The Empire would have to go through us to threaten your trade routes."

  Relief washed visibly across his face. "Excellent news. The Confederation Council will be most pleased." He hesitated, then added less formally, "There are rumors from our western outposts. Imperial forces gathering in significant numbers beyond the old Elmridge border. Merchant families being... strongly encouraged to relocate to Crimson-controlled cities."

  "Not just rumors," I confirmed. "Our intelligence suggests they're consolidating control before making their next move."

  "Then I'm doubly grateful for your protection, Monster Lord." He glanced around the camp, watching hobgoblin troops drilling with unsettling precision. "Though I admit, when the Council spoke of monster forces defending our borders, I imagined something quite different."

  I smiled, understanding his confusion. "You expected rampaging beasts and chaotic hordes?"

  He had the good grace to look embarrassed. "Something like that, yes. Not this level of... discipline."

  "Yeah, they're not what most people expect," I said with a shrug. "Nerk's been working with these hobgoblins for months. They're a lot more organized than they used to be."

  As the Confederation representative departed to oversee his caravan's progress, I felt the familiar pull of the bond network, sensing Eliana's distant presence. She would be in the midst of diplomatic negotiations in Dawnhaven's capital, working to build the coalition we would need if the Crimson Empire moved beyond border posturing to actual invasion.

  Whatever came next, we would face it together. Queen and Monster Lord. Human and goblin. All connected through bonds that transformed everything they touched.

  I just hoped Nerk would get the battle he needed before the Empire brought their full might to bear. Once that happened, we'd need every evolutionary advantage we could muster.