The night cloaked the city in a thick blanket of darkness as Aran stepped out of his study, the streets of Valeria below teeming with shadows and whispers. His steps were measured, calculated, as he made his way down the narrow alleyways. Tonight, the city felt different—alive, pulsing with the tension that always preceded a major play on the chessboard of power.
Aran had given Ravenna her orders, and the wheels of his new plan were already in motion. He could sense it in the air. The Shadow Hand's growing influence was troubling, but he relished the opportunity it presented. Kade Voss was careful, but careful men often became predictable. They feared the unknown, and that fear could be exploited.
Ahead, a small tavern came into view, its dim lights flickering as the sound of drunken chatter and clinking glasses spilled into the street. Aran pulled the hood of his cloak lower over his face as he slipped inside, unnoticed by the patrons who filled the crowded room. He moved quietly, weaving through the throng of people, until he reached a dark corner in the back, where a solitary figure sat waiting for him.
"Right on time," the figure said, his voice low and raspy.
Aran slid into the seat opposite the man, his eyes cold and unreadable. The man was Wren, the elusive information broker who had begun to stir the pot in Valeria. Aran had learned more about him in the past two days than most people knew in years. Wren wasn't a native of Valeria, but he had quickly established himself as a key player in the city's underground circles. He was a man who thrived on knowledge, selling information to the highest bidder.
Wren leaned forward, his eyes gleaming in the dim light. "You've been busy," he said, his lips curling into a smirk. "Word on the street is that you've got Kade Voss in your sights."
Aran remained silent, watching Wren carefully. This was a test. He needed to know how much Wren truly knew and how much was speculation.
Wren shrugged, sensing Aran's caution. "Relax. I'm not here to interfere with your plans. In fact, I think we can help each other."
"And what makes you think I need your help?" Aran asked, his voice calm but laced with an undercurrent of warning.
Wren chuckled softly. "You don't need help. But you could use more… perspective."
The information broker leaned back in his chair, casually placing his feet on the table as though this meeting were a mere formality. He enjoyed the theatrics, the subtle flexing of power. But Aran was not impressed. He'd dealt with men like Wren before—men who believed that knowledge alone could win wars. They often forgot that power wasn't just about knowing; it was about the ability to act on that knowledge.
Wren reached into his cloak, pulling out a small, folded parchment. "I have something you might want," he said, sliding it across the table to Aran.
Aran unfolded the parchment, his eyes scanning the contents. It was a list of names—names of Kade Voss' lieutenants, his trusted inner circle. Each name had a detailed dossier, including their strengths, weaknesses, and more importantly, their secrets.
Aran's mind began to race. This information was valuable—perhaps too valuable. Wren was playing a dangerous game, offering this kind of intel without a clear motive.
"And what do you expect in return?" Aran asked, folding the parchment and tucking it into his cloak.
Wren grinned, leaning forward once more. "I want a seat at the table when this is all over. The Shadow Hand is becoming a thorn in my side as well. If you take Kade down, there will be a power vacuum in the city, and I want a piece of it."
So, that was his angle. Wren wasn't loyal to anyone but himself. He was an opportunist, looking for the best way to come out on top once the dust settled. Aran admired that, in a way. It was the kind of mindset he could use to his advantage—if Wren could be trusted.
"And what's stopping me from taking this information and leaving you out of the picture entirely?" Aran asked, his gaze hardening.
Wren's smirk didn't falter. "Because you're smart enough to know that having me as an ally is more valuable than having me as an enemy. I know this city, Aran. I know its secrets, its undercurrents. You may have your spies, but none of them have my reach."
Aran didn't respond immediately. He knew Wren was right in a sense. The information broker's network was vast, and while Aran's own resources were formidable, having Wren on his side could make things easier.
But trusting a man like Wren came with risks. Men like him were only loyal as long as it served their interests.
"I'll consider it," Aran said finally, standing up.
Wren raised an eyebrow. "Consider it? I expected a more decisive answer from you."
Aran smiled faintly, the kind of smile that never reached his eyes. "I'll give you an answer when I see how valuable you really are."
With that, Aran turned and walked out of the tavern, leaving Wren behind. As he stepped back into the cool night air, his mind was already turning, calculating the next move. Wren could be useful, but Aran needed to be sure. If he was going to let Wren into his plans, he needed leverage—something to ensure that Wren wouldn't turn on him when the opportunity arose.
He slipped through the streets, the moonlight casting long shadows in his path. The night was his ally, the quiet of the city masking the chaos that was about to unfold.
Back in his study, Aran retrieved the list of Kade's lieutenants and began to plot. Each name on that list represented a potential target, a weak link in Kade's organization. If he could take them out, one by one, without drawing attention, Kade would be left vulnerable, isolated.
Aran's fingers traced over the parchment as he mentally categorized each individual, noting which ones could be bribed, which ones could be blackmailed, and which ones would need to be eliminated. This was the part he enjoyed—the quiet manipulation, the careful orchestration of events that would lead to the inevitable fall of his enemies.
Kade Voss wouldn't know what hit him until it was too late. And as for Wren, Aran would keep him close—for now. But the moment Wren became more of a liability than an asset, Aran would make sure that he disappeared, just like all the others who had underestimated him.
The pieces were in place. Now, it was time to make his move.