The safehouse was quiet except for the faint scratching of a quill on parchment as Kaelron copied key details from the shipment ledger. The others were gathered around the table, their faces set with grim determination.
Zerin leaned back in his chair, flipping a dagger in one hand. "So, we're really going to try and ambush a bishop of the cult? Bold move."
Kaelron glanced up from his work. "It's not about the bishop. It's about stopping whatever they're planning with the shadow-forged weapons. If we can disrupt this meeting and destroy their supply routes, it will buy us time."
Nyx, sitting with Umbra at her side, nodded. Her arm still bore the faint scars of her ordeal with the corrupted orb, but her gaze was as sharp as ever. "Zerin's right, though. We can't underestimate them. If this bishop is anything like Veyrith, we'll need to be prepared for the worst."
Eryk crossed his arms, his frost wolf Frostbane sitting alert at his feet. "The letter called the bishop 'The Whispered Flame.' That's not a name you give to someone weak. If they're involved, this meeting is more than just a strategy session—it's a power play."
Kaelron tapped the map spread out on the table, drawing their attention. "Then we'll use their arrogance against them. Here's the plan."
According to the shipment ledger, the meeting was set to take place in a secluded manor just outside Lyndara. Zerin had already scouted the location earlier that morning and now detailed what he had found.
"The place is crawling with guards," Zerin began, tracing a finger along the map. "They've got patrols covering every major entrance, and there are shadow glyphs woven into the main gates. It's subtle, but they'll trigger if anyone without clearance tries to pass through."
Kaelron frowned. "What about the surrounding area?"
"There's a forested ridge overlooking the manor," Zerin replied. "It's close enough to give us a good vantage point without being seen. If we're careful, we can use it to stage the ambush."
Eryk studied the map, his expression grim. "And the bishop? What do we know about their arrival?"
Zerin shrugged. "Nothing concrete, but judging by the increased security, I'd say they're expecting someone important. The Whispered Flame won't just stroll in through the front door—they'll make a spectacle of it."
Nyx smirked faintly. "Then we make sure that spectacle works against them."
The group divided their tasks, each member focusing on their strengths.
Nyx and Zerin worked on securing a fallback point in the forest near the ridge. If the ambush went sideways, they needed a place to regroup and recover.
Eryk focused on crafting traps and distractions using supplies they had gathered from the safehouse. He set Frostbane to guard the entrance while he worked, ensuring no one could sneak up on them.
Kaelron prepared the group's weaponry and supplies, double-checking everything they might need for the operation. Ignis perched nearby, her wings folded tightly as she watched him with a steady gaze.
By nightfall, they had a working strategy:
1. Zerin and Nyx would position themselves on the ridge to observe the manor and identify the bishop's arrival.
2. Eryk would set traps along the forest's edge to isolate the cultists from reinforcements.
3. Kaelron and Ignis would be the primary strike force, attacking the manor directly to destroy the shadow-forged weapon stockpile and disrupt the meeting.
As they prepared to leave, Elira approached Kaelron, her expression grave.
"Wait," she said, handing him a small vial filled with a shimmering blue liquid. "Take this. It's a restorative, but it's not for healing wounds. It's for the mind."
Kaelron tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
Elira hesitated, then said, "The Whispered Flame... if they're anything like Veyrith, they'll use more than brute force. They'll attack your will, your thoughts. This will help you resist, but only for a short time."
Kaelron took the vial, her words sinking in. "Thank you. We'll be careful."
Elira nodded, her gaze lingering on him. "Just remember, the cult doesn't care about losses. They'll sacrifice as many as it takes to achieve their goals. Don't let them break you."
---
Under the cover of darkness, the group made their way to the forested ridge overlooking the manor. The air was cool and tense, the only sounds the rustle of leaves and the distant hum of the manor's activity.
Zerin and Nyx took position near the ridge, their eyes scanning the manor grounds. Below, the glow of lanterns illuminated a gathering of cultists, their shadow-forged weapons gleaming ominously in the light.
"They're getting ready," Zerin murmured, his voice low. "Look at the way they're lining up. It's like a parade."
Nyx narrowed her eyes. "They're waiting for someone. This has to be the bishop's arrival."
Kaelron and Ignis stood a short distance away, watching for Zerin's signal. Eryk worked quietly nearby, setting his final trap near the ridge's base.
Suddenly, the air grew heavy, a wave of oppressive energy washing over the forest. A low hum resonated through the trees, growing louder with each passing second.
"They're here," Nyx said, her voice barely above a whisper.
A column of shadowy energy erupted in the manor's courtyard, swirling with flames that flickered unnaturally. As the column dissipated, a figure stepped forward, their presence radiating power.
The Whispered Flame was clad in dark robes embroidered with fiery patterns that seemed to move and dance. Their face was obscured by a mask shaped like a burning ember, and their voice carried a weight that silenced the cultists instantly.
"Devotion breeds power," the bishop intoned, their words echoing unnaturally. "And power demands sacrifice."
Kaelron's grip on his staff tightened as he felt the bishop's aura press against his mind. It was as if the air itself carried whispers, trying to worm their way into his thoughts.
Ignis growled low, sensing the same malevolent energy.
Zerin signaled from the ridge, his hand motioning for Kaelron to proceed.
"This is it," Kaelron said, his voice steady. "Let's move."