Alaric led the way, his heart pounding in time with the thudding bass of the tavern's raucous laughter. The storm outside still raged, but it was the brewing storm of tension within the tavern that concerned him more. He cast a furtive glance back at Rosalind and Eleanor, who were right behind him, their expressions a mix of determination and fear.
They emerged onto a thin corridor that ran behind the tavern and over which the sounds were now receding. Alaric stopped at a door, catching his breath as he looked around. "This must lead to where Bramwell and the others are talking," he whispered.
Eleanor nodded, her eyes shining bright with urgency. "We need to listen in. Whatever they're planning, we need to know.
Alaric took a deep breath and pushed the door open enough to peer inside. The little room was poorly lit except by the dancing light of one flickering candle, and the shadows danced across the walls. At a large, battered table sat Bramwell and the group of merchants, huddled together, their voices low but tense.
"I am not going to allow some girl to stop our plans," Bramwell was saying, his voice full of malice. "We can't take her lightly, but we most certainly need to take action."
One of the others spoke, the frown on his forehead deeper. "If she has been snooping, then she already might have a friend in her corner. We cannot afford to have her warn the council.
Alaric felt his anger surge at the callousness of them all. They were speaking of Eleanor as if she was some problem to be rid of. He found her eyes, her face set with resolution, and a silent understanding passed between them on the need for caution.
"Let's get more," Alaric whispered. "We must know their whole plan before we act."
As they neared the door more of the conversation was audible.
"Tomorrow night's meeting is crucial," Bramwell added. "Once we secure the council's favor, our interests will be safeguarded. The trade routes shall be ours to have, and those who stand in our way shall know their mistake."
"In full agreement," said another merchant. "And how the dissenters are to be dealt with should also be taken into consideration. When an impending threat is eliminated before it strikes, one will not have to be so much concerned about it afterward.
Eleanor's grip on Alaric's arm tightened. "It is worse than I thought," she whispered. "They seek to control everything."
A sudden, loud noise from within the tavern exploded through the door, and Alaric's heart shot into his throat. "We need to get moving," he pushed. "If they catch us here-
But just as he turned to lead the way, the door swung open, and they found themselves face to face with Bramwell's piercing gaze.
"What do we have here?" he sneered, eyes narrowing as he took in the three of them. "Caught eavesdropping, were we?"
Before Alaric could utter a word, Rosalind sprang into action. "Run!" she cried, pushing Alaric and Eleanor toward the exit as she leaped into the fray.
The room erupted into chaos as patrons turned toward the commotion. Alaric clasped Eleanor's hand in his, and together they barreled through the crowd, dodging faces of surprise and flaying limbs.
"Over there!" she exclaimed to him, suddenly pointing ahead toward a side exit; she made her way through the throng. Alaric's heart was racing as he looked back to see Bramwell and the merchants in hot pursuit, their faces contorted in anger and shock.
They burst through the side door and into a narrow alley behind the tavern; the rain was coming down like a thousand tiny daggers. Pulling Eleanor and Rosalind deeper into the shadows, Alaric's adrenaline coursed with every beat of his heart.
"We can't stop!" he yelled, tugging them forward. "We need to find a place to hide!"
Eleanor nodded, her breathing ragged. "There's a storage shed down the way! We can wait there until they pass."
They sprinted toward the shed, slipping inside just as they heard voices behind them. Alaric pushed the door closed, barely managing to suppress the creak as it settled into place.
Inside, the shed was cramped and filled with stacks of crates and barrels. Alaric took a moment to catch his breath, pressing his ear against the door to listen for footsteps.
"Did they follow us?" Rosalind whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of rain hammering against the roof.
"I don't know," Alaric replied, his heart racing. "We'll have to wait a moment to be sure."
Eleanor stood beside him, her face pale, yet determined. "We cannot let them find us. We must formulate a plan somehow."
"What to do?" asked Rosalind, eyeing the darkened shed. "We can't just remain here forever.
Alaric took a deep breath and centered himself, even though there was a lump of fear inside. "We can't go back to the tavern. They know we're onto them. But if we can figure out where they're going, we might be able to find a way to warn the council before it's too late.
A sparkle of hope danced in Eleanor's eyes. "If we can follow their movements, we might just end up at the meeting. If we're stealthy enough, we may just have the evidence we need."
Rosalind nodded, her determination matching that of Eleanor's. "But we'll have to be careful. They'll be on high alert now that they know we're involved.
Alaric nodded, his heart still racing from the adrenaline coursing through his body. "We shall have to wait until they leave the tavern, then we are able to follow them where no one can see them. But we need to keep our distance."
They huddled together in the dark, listening intently as the rain continued to pour down outside. Minutes seemed like hours as they sat in the silence, the weight of their mission heavy upon their shoulders.
Finally, voices filtered through the door. Alaric leaned forward, heaving a strained breath.
"Where have they gone?" Bramwell's voice was heavy with frustration. "They cannot have vanished into the air!"
"They must have slipped away," the second merchant replied. "They knew too much. We have to move if we are to salvage this."
Alaric exchanged a look with Eleanor and Rosalind, his heart racing. "They're leaving," he whispered.
"Now, let's go," Eleanor prompted, bounding to her feet.
Holding their breaths, Alaric carefully opened the door a crack and peeked out into the alley. All was clear, save that he could see the dark silhouettes of Bramwell and the others vanishing around the corner.
"Now!" he whispered, and they slipped silently out into the shed yard, hurrying to take up after the merchants from a distance without any noise.
Hunching low and caught in the gloom of the alleyway, the three wove their way through the twisting streets of Brackenwood. Every step weighed more than the last, yet they couldn't turn back now. Alaric's head swam with conjecture on what they might find and how they could avert the coming peril.
They followed after Bramwell and the rest, finding themselves soon upon the outskirts of town, where the streetlights danced against a stormy sky. Alaric could make out a distant, faint glow-a cluster of lights which demarcated the council hall.
"That's where they're headed," Eleanor said, her tone even, though he could hear the fear creeping in. "We need to get inside without being seen."
They came to the grand hall of the council, its structure imposing like that of a fortress. It was guarded at the doors, and Alaric's heart sank at how difficult getting inside would prove without giving the meeting away.
"Let's circle around the back," Rosalind said. "There might be another way inside.
They crept along the building's perimeter, keeping to the shadows as they peered for some sort of entrance. Turning around a corner, they saw a little window open just the tiniest crack, its frame shrouded by ivy and shadow.
"Perfect," Alaric whispered. "We can get through there and maybe hear their meeting."
Eleanor nodded. Her eyes shone bright with determination. "We must be quick. Let's go.
First, Alaric hoisted Rosalind to the window and then Eleanor. He took a deep breath, knowing full well they were walking into danger, but it also drove him-knowing Eleanor and the town had to be protected.
Once they were inside, they found themselves in a darkened corridor. The murmur of voices was loud, coming from the other side of a room nearby, and Alaric felt the surge of adrenaline as they inched their way nearer, making their silent way down the hall.
"Do you hear that?" Rosalind whispered, her eyes alight with anticipation.
Alaric nodded, straining to catch the words that came from the meeting room.
.we've got to make sure all the pieces are set in place for tomorrow night," Bramwell's voice came, his voice low and urgent with an undercurrent of anticipation. "We can't afford any kind of screw-up."
"Agreed," another voice replied. "If we are to take over, we need to make certain that there is no opposition, most of all the girl and those friends of hers.
Alaric's gut plunged. They spoke of Eleanor once more, and in that, they made clear they would show no quarter to whatever got in the way.
"Then it is settled," Bramwell ruled, weight in the air from his authority. "We move at dusk. Take the necessary precautions."
Eleanor's breath caught in her throat, and Alaric could see the panic written in her eyes. The time to act was now.
"We can
t allow them to do this," Alaric said in a hushed voice, his determination hardening. "We have to find a way to unmask them."
"Maybe we can get evidence now," Eleanor said, the light of an idea popping into her eyes. "If we can find documents or something that proves their intent, we can take it to the council."
"Let's search the room," Rosalind said quietly. "But we have to be careful.
As they moved stealthily toward the meeting room door, Alaric's heart was racing at a stakes higher than ever before. They had come too far now to turn their backs. With a firm nod, they pushed open the door just wide enough to slip inside.
The room was not well-lit, and a long table filled it, scattered with papers. The candlelight danced, casting grotesque shadows. Alaric's heartbeat rapidly as they stepped inside, scanning the documents for any sign of their plans.
"Look for anything mentioning the council or their intentions," he whispered urgently.
Eleanor ran to the table, flipping through papers. Rosalind stepped aside, looking around at several things lying about.
"Here!" exclaimed Eleanor, holding up a document filled with hastily scrawled notes. "This outlines their plans for the council meeting tomorrow night. They are going to manipulate the votes!"
Excitement and dread ran across Alaric's heart. "Let's grab it and get out of here before anyone sees us.
As Eleanor tucked the document beneath her arm, a sudden noise echoed from the corridor beyond. The sound of footsteps neared and Alaric felt panic surge in him.
"Quick! Hide!" he hissed, darting behind the nearby curtain and pulling Eleanor and Rosalind with him.
They pressed flat against the wall, holding their breath as the door swung wide. Bramwell and two of his associates entered, their faces filled with frustration.
"Where are those three?" Bramwell raged. "They cannot have gone that far. We need to track them before it is too late."
Alaric's heartbeat quickened, his ears on each word, trying to catch every word, so close, and the air was filled with tension.
If we don't sort them out tonight, then we risk everything," said one of the associates in a very low, cold tone, intimidating. "We cannot allow them to interfere with our plans."
Alaric exchanged a glance with Eleanor and Rosalind; their faces showed fear mixed with determination. They just could not let Bramwell's threats go unchecked.
The door opened further, and into the room strode Bramwell, with his back to the curtain where they lay hidden. Alaric's heart was pounding; the thrill of danger sprinted through him.
"I will if necessary deal with them myself," growled Bramwell, pacing across the room frustratingly.
Alaric took a deep breath, ready to make any move. He couldn't just let them walk away with their plans intact, and they had the evidence they needed to expose them.
As Bramwell finally turned to his associates, Alaric made his split-second decision. "Now!" he hissed, and they burst out of their cover, catching the men off guard.
"Stop!" Bramwell shouted, his eyes going wide with shock.
But by then, it was too late. Alaric pressed the document onto Bramwell's face. His voice did not falter, though there was a riot building around him. "You are not going to get away with this!"
Pandemonium broke out when the men of Bramwell plunged toward them, but Alaric, Eleanor, and Rosalind held their ground and fought for what was right.