The air in the safehouse was tense as Kaelron, Nyx, Zerin, Eryk, and Lys gathered around a worn table, poring over the map of House Valdris that Lys had drawn from memory. Flickering candlelight illuminated their grim expressions.
"This is the main hall," Lys said, pointing to the largest room on the map. "It's where the gathering will take place. Most of the guests will be here, but the overseers will keep the weapons and the orb in the underground chamber."
Kaelron traced his finger along the path to the underground chamber. "We'll need to split up. Someone has to disrupt the meeting while the rest of us deal with the weapons and the orb."
Nyx crossed her arms, her expression sharp. "Disrupting the meeting won't mean much if they can just resupply their forces. We need to take out that orb first."
Zerin leaned back in his chair, spinning a dagger between his fingers. "And here I thought we'd just crash the party, grab some fancy drinks, and call it a day."
Nyx shot him a glare. "This isn't a joke, Zerin."
"I know," he replied, his tone turning serious. "But we need a solid plan, or we won't make it out alive."
---
The group decided to divide their tasks. Eryk and Frostbane would secure disguises to help them blend in with the estate's servants. Zerin and Lys would scout the area for possible escape routes. Nyx and Kaelron stayed behind to prepare their gear and coordinate the infiltration.
Eryk left first, accompanied by Frostbane. The frost wolf padded silently through the streets, its icy breath leaving faint traces of mist in the air. "We'll need something convincing," Eryk murmured. "Not just plain servant uniforms—something that gets us into the more restricted areas."
At a seamstress's shop in the poorer district, Eryk bartered for robes resembling those worn by House Valdris's overseers. The seamstress, an older woman with sharp eyes, regarded him with suspicion.
"You're not from around here," she said as she worked. "Why do you need these?"
Eryk smiled faintly. "A costume party. Very exclusive."
The woman snorted but said nothing further, handing him the finished garments. Eryk thanked her and quickly returned to the safehouse.
---
Zerin and Lys moved cautiously through the noble district, sticking to the shadows. Zerin's sharp eyes scanned for guards and patrols while Lys pointed out potential hiding spots and side exits.
"There's a servant's gate here," Lys whispered, gesturing to a narrow door hidden behind ivy. "It's locked most of the time, but I can get us through."
"Good," Zerin replied, his tone unusually focused. "If things go south, we'll need to move fast."
They continued their search, eventually spotting a secondary gate near the estate's storage area. A cart loaded with crates rolled through, its driver exchanging hurried words with the guards.
"That must be how they're bringing in the weapons," Zerin said. "If we can get to that cart, we might be able to sneak into the chamber."
Lys hesitated. "It's risky."
"Everything about this is risky," Zerin replied with a grin. "That's why it'll work.
By the time everyone regrouped at the safehouse, the plan was taking shape. Kaelron spread the map across the table, adding notes and markings based on what Zerin and Lys had discovered.
"Here's how it'll go," Kaelron began. "Zerin, Lys, and Eryk will use the servant's gate to get into the main hall. Your job is to blend in and gather as much information as possible about the cult's plans. If you get a chance to disrupt the meeting, take it."
Nyx leaned over the map. "Kaelron and I will take the storage route. If we time it right, we can use the cart to sneak into the underground chamber and destroy the orb. Once it's gone, the weapons will lose their power."
"What about the shadow-forged weapons already distributed?" Eryk asked.
"We'll deal with those later," Kaelron said firmly. "For now, our priority is stopping them from making more."
Zerin smirked. "Sounds simple enough. What could possibly go wrong?"
---
The group spent the next few hours preparing their gear. Kaelron inspected his staff, its runes glowing faintly in the dim light. Ignis, perched nearby, let out a soft trill, her fiery feathers casting a warm glow.
Nyx sharpened her daggers with quick, precise movements. Umbra lay beside her, its tail flicking as it watched her work. "We'll need to move quickly once we're inside," Nyx said, her voice steady. "If we get bogged down, it's over."
Eryk adjusted the stolen overseer robes, frowning as he tested the fit. "Convincing enough?" he asked.
Nyx glanced at him and nodded. "It'll do. Just try not to draw too much attention."
Zerin packed an assortment of throwing knives, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "If this plan goes sideways, we'll need a backup. Lys, you know this place best. If something happens—"
"I'll get you out," Lys said firmly. "I won't let them catch us."
As the night deepened, the group gathered one last time to finalize their plan. Kaelron stood at the head of the table, his expression resolute.
"We've all seen what the Veilborn Order is capable of," he said. "They've spread their corruption across this kingdom, and if we don't stop them now, they'll keep growing stronger."
Nyx nodded. "This is our chance to strike a real blow against them. We won't get another opportunity like this."
Zerin leaned back in his chair, his usual smirk returning. "Let's make it a night they'll never forget."
Kaelron glanced at each of his companions, his voice steady. "We move at dawn. Everyone knows their role. Stay focused, and we'll get through this."
The group dispersed to rest, the weight of the coming mission heavy in the air. As Kaelron sat beside Ignis, he closed his eyes, his thoughts drifting to Brighthearth and the people he had left behind.
I won't let them down, he vowed silently.