Lyra's POV
A patchwork of tents barely able to withstand the stinging wind, the camp stretched out in front of me. Soldiers crowded together for warmth as lengthy shadows were cast over them by fires flickering in rudimentary pits. In sharp contrast to Kael's immaculately kept castle, the air was heavy with the stench of unwashed bodies and damp canvas.
I adjusted the old cloak that weighed heavily on my shoulders and pulled my hood down. Although the disguise wasn't flawless, it didn't have to be. Scarves and smoke half-hidden faces out here, and the rest would be done for me by the tired minds of these warriors.
As I got closer to the main tent, a grizzled man with thick shoulders and scars eyed me. "You're running late."
I said, my voice muffled by the scarf covering my face, "Blame the scouts. Took us by the roundabout to avoid Kael's patrols."
With a grunt, his suspicions subsided enough to allow me to pass.
---
The temperature inside the tent was higher, but it was still unbearable. A lantern swung softly overhead, illuminating the faces of a group of policemen seated around a rough wooden table. The table was covered in marked documents and maps, each of which was a component of their plan to defeat Kael.
As I walked in, a man at the head of the table glanced up, his beard more grey than black framing his sharp face. "Who are you supposed to be, lady?"
I hastily said, "Message runner," pulling a sealed scroll out of my cloak. "From the scouts in the east."
I kept it just out of his grasp as he reached for it.
I answered, "Just for your eyes, Commander."
He signalled the others to go outside, but his gaze narrowed. After they left, I gave him the scroll and observed him cracking the seal.
I let my eyes wander across the table while he read. Map markings showed army movements, supply lines, and something else: symbols engraved close to Kael's outpost in the north.
He jolted me out of my reverie with the question, "What do the scouts say?"
I lied while maintaining a steady tone, saying, "They're tracking Kael's forces near the Bloodwood.They also claimed to have spotted a convoy of supplies moving west. It's a little on the risky side, admittedly."
The commander gave a grunt. "All right. We'll take care of it."
I paused, considering my next course of action. "There's another thing."
His inquisitive gaze flitted up.
"Remember the Blood mage, Ash?"
"Yeah," he replied me with a hint of impatience. "My memory works fine. Get on with it."
"I will get to it," I shot back. "His memories appear to be problematic these days and missing large chunks too. What this means for us is that we don't know if we can expect him on our side."
The only reply I got was a sigh. But now he knows not to count on help from that fellow.
---
For the next hour, I pretended to be the silent spectator, listening while the commander summoned his officers back and explained their strategies. Their animosity for Kael was as evident as the smoke filling the tent as they discussed coordinated attacks and coalitions with other groups.
But what kept my attention was the reference to the planned assassination.
Pointing to the map, one officer remarked, "A hit during his next campaign. He won't have anywhere to flee if we attack while his forces are dispersed."
The commander enquired, "And who's handling it?"
"Varrick's team," the man answered. "They have already infiltrated his inner circles. Just awaiting the ideal opportunity."
Varrick. Even in Kael's social circles, that name was significant—a shadow of a guy who was renowned for finishing tasks at any cost.
I carefully kept my expression neutral as I stored the knowledge away.
---
The chilly air hit me like a slap when I eventually left the tent. My head racing, I hurried across the camp, swerving as though on an errand.
I could wait for the preparations to finish. Regardless of the power vacuum, Kael's passing would present opportunities for me. However, the Adrian situation is something that is a bit dicey. At the moment,I wasn't sure what to think of the man.
I paused close to the camp's perimeter and gazed into the night. Adrian differed from Kael. Yes, he had secrets, but underneath his feigned indifference in the face of what was essentially forced servitude, there was a glimmer of humanity.
"What are your thoughts?"
With a sudden turn, I reached for the dagger beside me. A soldier stood close by, his eyes alert but his stance relaxed.
"Lost in the cold," I remarked, letting go a little. His question was a sort of passphrase to identify ourselves. Now that I had answered correctly, he relaxed his guard.
He laughed. "You'd rather be lost here than in Kael's stronghold, wouldn't you?"
"True enough," I remarked in a light-hearted manner.
He only observed me with an intensity that made me uneasy; he didn't move or say anything.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" I enquired.
His smile stopped short of his eyes as he said, "Just making sure you're not lost. Or in the incorrect camp."
I went past him and answered, "Not likely. But I appreciate your concern."
---
The long, uneventful trek back to Kael's fortress was surrounded by shadows that acted as a second cloak. The gates were silent when I eventually got there, and the guards merely gave me a quick look before letting me pass. I was a known figure here.
I made my way directly to Adrian's quarters, knocked twice, and entered.
He was looking through one of his endless scrolls at his desk. Startled, he looked up but immediately covered it up.
"Lyra," he said. "I didn't anticipate your coming. Are you here with some more needlessly cryptic messages?"
"Relax," I responded as I shut the door. "I got some things I need to discuss with you."
He arched an eyebrow. "Okay, I guess?"
I leaned against the wall and muttered, "Kael. And a plot for assassination. And no this isn't a trick of any kind."
He was interested in that.
"Go ahead," he said.
I repeated all I had heard while observing his face change from interest to worry.
When I was done, he mumbled, "Varrick. That's not good."
I replied, "No, it's not. What do we do about it?"
"We?" he said with a little smirk. "Why we? I didn't consider myself a piece that would be considered."
"I don't either," I replied. "But you're... complex."
"Thanks," he responded sardonically. "That makes everything clear."
I crossed my arms and moaned. "Look, I might end up benefiting from Kael's passing. But you? You're not prepared to handle the next situation."
"And you're only here because you're good at heart?"
"Don't push it," I warned in my tone. "I would walk away and let the pieces fall if that was my desire. Luckily for you, I am here to be the big sister."
After examining me for a while, he nodded. "All right. What is the plan, then?"
"That's your responsibility," I smirked. "Remember, you are the strategist."
"Excellent," he mumbled. "That isn't too demanding of the level 1 mage."
"What?" I had to ask.
"Oh, maybe level 3 mage now," was Ash's reply. "Don't mind my words. I'm not that right in the head at the moment as you know."
I decided to let it slide. We spoke about our possible plans for the next hour, and when the topic of strategy came up, our tensions started to significantly lessen. However, I couldn't get rid of the thought that I had just tipped the scales in a game that was much bigger than either of us as I left his room.
And the shadows watched constantly. That was very comforting for me. The shadows do love me as they always did.