The narrow alleys of Lyndara were cloaked in the muted glow of lanterns as Kaelron and his companions navigated the maze of the western district. Zerin led the way, his sharp eyes scanning for any sign of danger. Eryk followed close behind, his frost wolf Frostbane padding silently at his side.
"We'll start with the estate's outer perimeter," Zerin whispered. "Haldric's no fool. His defenses are going to be tight, but if there's a weakness, I'll find it."
Kaelron nodded, his mind half-occupied by the thought of leaving Nyx behind. Lys had insisted she stay at the safehouse to recover, promising to tend to her and keep her safe. While Kaelron trusted Lys, he couldn't shake the unease of leaving their most experienced fighter out of this mission.
"We don't have much time," Eryk said, his voice low but firm. "If Haldric's funding the cult, every second we waste puts more weapons in their hands."
Kaelron tightened his grip on his staff. "Then let's make this count."
Haldric's estate loomed at the edge of the district, a sprawling manor surrounded by high stone walls topped with iron spikes. Lanterns lit the outer grounds, casting long shadows over the carefully tended gardens.
Zerin crouched behind a stack of crates near the wall's edge, motioning for the others to join him. "There are sentries patrolling the perimeter," he said. "Looks like two at each main gate and another pair cycling through the inner grounds."
Kaelron peered through a gap in the crates, his eyes narrowing. "Any signs of magical wards?"
Zerin smirked faintly. "You're catching on. I spotted glyphs on the main gates—probably alarms. But I haven't seen anything covering the side entrances yet."
Eryk crossed his arms. "That doesn't mean they're unprotected. If this guy's tied to the cult, he'll have more than just guards and glyphs keeping people out."
Zerin tapped his temple. "Which is why we're not going through the gates. There's a drainage channel running beneath the east side of the estate. It's narrow, but it'll get us inside without tripping any alarms."
Kaelron raised an eyebrow. "You're awfully familiar with this place."
Zerin shrugged, his grin returning. "Let's just say I have a history with nobles like Haldric. Now, are we going, or are we standing around all night?"
---
The group moved quickly, keeping to the shadows as they approached the drainage channel. Zerin pried open the rusted grate, revealing a narrow tunnel that sloped downward.
"This is cozy," Eryk muttered, crouching to fit through the opening.
Kaelron followed, Ignis perched on the wall above them, her wings folded tightly to avoid scraping the edges. The tunnel smelled of damp earth and stagnant water, but it was otherwise clear.
After several tense minutes, they emerged in a small courtyard hidden behind the estate's eastern wing. Tall hedges obscured the area from view, and the soft glow of a lantern hung from a nearby tree.
Zerin crouched low, gesturing for the others to do the same. "We're in. Now we find a way to the main building."
Kaelron pointed to a side entrance partially obscured by ivy. "There. It's less exposed than the main doors."
Eryk nodded, motioning for Frostbane to stay close. "Let's move."
Inside, the estate was eerily quiet. The polished floors and ornate furnishings spoke of wealth and power, but the faint hum of shadow magic lingered in the air, putting Kaelron on edge.
Zerin led them through a series of hallways, his steps light and deliberate. They paused outside a locked door, its surface engraved with faint glyphs.
"This is it," Zerin whispered, pulling a set of tools from his pouch. "Give me a minute."
Kaelron and Eryk stood guard as Zerin worked, the soft click of his tools the only sound in the corridor. After a moment, the lock gave way with a quiet snick.
Zerin pushed the door open, revealing a storeroom filled with crates stacked almost to the ceiling. The air was heavy with the metallic tang of shadow-forged weapons.
Kaelron stepped inside, his eyes scanning the room. "This is more than just a stockpile. This is enough to arm an army."
Eryk examined one of the crates, prying it open with his blade. Inside were rows of weapons, each one etched with dark runes that pulsed faintly with corrupted energy.
"They're distributing these across the realm," Eryk said, his tone grim. "If we don't stop this, they'll overwhelm every defense the Seven Realms has."
Zerin held up a ledger he found on a nearby desk. "Looks like a shipment schedule. If we can intercept these, we can cut off their supply chain."
Kaelron nodded, his resolve hardening. "Let's grab what we can and get out of here before we're discovered."
As the group worked, the faint sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway. Zerin froze, motioning for silence.
"Guards," he mouthed.
Kaelron extinguished the lantern they had been using, plunging the room into darkness. Ignis let out a low trill, her body tensed and ready.
The footsteps grew louder, stopping just outside the door. A gruff voice spoke. "Check the storeroom. Lord Haldric doesn't want anyone snooping around."
The door creaked open, and Kaelron raised his staff, ready to strike. But before the guards could step inside, Zerin hurled a small pouch to the floor. It erupted in a cloud of smoke, obscuring their view and filling the corridor with a sharp, acrid scent.
"Go!" Zerin hissed, shoving Kaelron toward a hidden side exit.
The group fled through the narrow passage, their footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. Behind them, the guards coughed and shouted, their voices fading as the group put distance between themselves and the storeroom.
---
They regrouped in another hidden courtyard, catching their breath as Ignis kept watch from above. Zerin pulled the ledger from his pouch, flipping through its pages.
"This isn't just a shipment schedule," he said, his voice tinged with urgency. "There are notes here about a meeting Haldric's hosting tomorrow night. It's a gathering of his allies... and the cult's top enforcers."
Kaelron frowned. "A war council?"
"More like a strategy session," Zerin replied. "If we can disrupt it, we'll throw their plans into chaos."
Eryk's gaze was steely. "Then we don't have a choice. We hit the meeting tomorrow."
Kaelron nodded. "But we need to be smart about it. We can't afford to go in blind."