The improvised circle of spectators was completely silent. The fight between Selene and Edmund had reached a critical point, and the outcome seemed uncertain to everyone.
Edmund, with his sword raised, advanced with quick and precise movements, searching for an opening in Selene's defense. His technique was flawless, but his frustration was beginning to spill over. Every time he tried to gain the upper hand, Selene countered with an unexpected move, maintaining control of the fight's rhythm.
Selene, for her part, remained calm. Although Edmund was more skilled technically, she knew that his rigid approach and arrogance made him vulnerable. She was waiting for the right moment, an opening she could exploit.
Finally, Selene saw her opportunity. With a quick and calculated move, she kicked Edmund just below the knee. The impact was enough to destabilize him, forcing him to drop to one knee to avoid falling completely.
Before he could recover, Selene placed her sword at his neck. The cold steel brushed against Edmund's skin, and the gleam of the blade under the torchlight made it clear that the duel was over.
"This ends here," Selene said firmly, with no trace of mockery or satisfaction. "Stand up, forget what happened, and let's move on. I don't want any more setbacks on this journey."
Edmund remained silent, his heavy breathing and trembling hands betraying his barely contained fury. Finally, he rose slowly, clenching his teeth so tightly that his jaw seemed on the verge of breaking.
As Selene sheathed her sword and turned away, Edmund felt the temptation to strike. The humiliation consumed him, and the idea of revenge in that moment was almost irresistible.
However, before he could act, one of his personal guards quickly approached. The man whispered something in Edmund's ear, low enough that no one else could hear.
Edmund halted his movement, though his hands still shook with anger. He cast one last glare at Selene before abruptly turning and heading back to his tent, the guard following closely behind.
Astor, watching everything from the edge of the circle, couldn't believe what he had just witnessed. He knew Edmund too well. The brother he remembered would never have accepted defeat in such a manner, much less in front of a group of soldiers.
"What was that?" Astor thought, his eyes fixed on the guard who had approached Edmund. "Since when does my brother listen to his guards?"
Astor began to suspect that the man wasn't just a simple guard. Perhaps their mother had placed him there to ensure Edmund acted with restraint. It was the only explanation that made sense for his brother's uncharacteristic self-control.
If that were the case, it meant Astor was in even greater danger. If Edmund could regulate his flaws with their mother's help, then he had fewer weaknesses for Astor to exploit.
While Astor was lost in thought, Selene approached him, her stride steady and firm. Seeing Astor's expression—a mix of astonishment and analysis—Selene let out a soft laugh.
"What's wrong?" she asked, crossing her arms. "Can't believe your brother lost?"
Astor blinked, shaking off his thoughts. The question was simple, but he knew he had to answer carefully. He immediately adopted his usual timid and clumsy demeanor.
"Yes, I'm… surprised," he murmured, scratching the back of his neck. "But not by Edmund. I'm amazed by you, Lady Selene. Your strength is incredible."
Selene chuckled softly, tilting her head slightly as she regarded him with apparent curiosity.
"Really?" she asked with a playful tone, though not an offensive one. Then, as she turned to walk away, she muttered something else, barely audible to Astor:
"Sure… surprised."
Astor felt his heart stop for a moment. Selene's ironic tone filled him with anxiety. Although he continued pretending he hadn't heard anything, inside, he was spiraling.
Astor returned to his tent and quickly set about organizing it. Every movement was mechanical, but his mind was in constant turmoil. What had Selene meant with that comment? Was it a simple tease or a hint that she knew something more?
When he finally settled inside the tent, he forced himself to take deep breaths to calm down. Thinking in a state of urgency was a mistake he couldn't afford.
Selene might suspect something, but that didn't mean she had proof. Astor began to review every interaction he had with her, searching for any mistake he might have made. Yet, as he went over it all, his performance had been flawless; he shouldn't have been discovered.
Then, he remembered something. There had been two key moments: first, during his duel with Selene, when she looked directly at him before he fled. And second, that night in the forest, when Selene had come so close their faces almost touched and commented on his "pretty eyes."
Could that have been enough to expose him? The coincidence of his eyes with those of the mysterious archer might be enough to raise suspicions, but was it proof?
Astor forced himself to remain calm. Panicking was pointless. For now, Selene only seemed to have doubts, but no certainties. However, for his own safety, he had to assume the worst.
If Selene had discovered him, he would need to act soon. And this time, he couldn't afford any mistakes.
During the night, when darkness had reached its deepest point, the camp lay shrouded in silence, barely breathing under the starry sky. The guards on duty patrolled slowly around the perimeter, their steps muffled by the damp earth. It was the perfect moment to move.
Astor emerged from his tent with calculated movements, dressed entirely in black, rendering him almost invisible in the dim light. His bow rested in his hands, and a quiver hung from his back, ready for use if necessary.
He knew he couldn't risk drawing the attention of the entire camp, least of all his brother Edmund. His target was Selene, but he had to ensure she would come to him alone.
Using his knowledge of the camp's layout and the positioning of the tents, Astor moved like a specter, evading the guards' gazes. Selene didn't share her tent with anyone, a detail Astor had noted from the first day. This was a crucial advantage, as it meant he could send her a message without alerting others.
With precise movements, Astor drew a small knife from his belt, around which he had wrapped a piece of paper. He threw it towards the tent, the blade piercing the fabric with a faint sound that was lost in the whisper of the nocturnal wind, before embedding itself into the ground.
Selene, ever the experienced soldier, awoke at the slightest disturbance caused by the knife. Quickly grabbing her sword, she assessed her surroundings. Her eyes adjusted swiftly to the darkness as she searched for the source of the noise. That was when she saw the knife on the ground, with a small parchment tied to its hilt.
She picked it up carefully, unrolling the message. The words written on it were clear and concise:
"Come to the forest alone if you don't want the Valenfords to become your enemies."
A sense of unease formed in Selene's gut. Something wasn't right, but she couldn't ignore what she had just read. If the Valenfords decided not to participate in the war—or worse, turned against her—the consequences would be devastating.
The Valenford family, though they had lost some of their former power, remained a ducal house, second only to the mighty royal family. Even they didn't underestimate their influence.
Determined to investigate, Selene took up her sword and, feigning normalcy, exited her tent.
"I'm going to take care of something," she said calmly to one of her nearby men. "There's no need to follow me."
"Is everything all right, my lady?" the soldier asked, visibly concerned.
Selene nodded with a faint smile.
"Yes, I just need a few minutes of privacy."
Without further explanation, she headed into the forest, her figure vanishing into the shadows.
Astor followed her from a safe distance, waiting for the right moment to act. Once Selene had ventured deep enough into the woods, he drew an arrow from his quiver and shot it into the ground, just in front of her feet.
The sound of the impact stopped Selene in her tracks. Her eyes fell on the arrow, and her mind immediately connected it to the assassination attempt she had narrowly survived days earlier.
"What do you want?" she demanded firmly, holding her sword at the ready as she turned slowly, scanning her surroundings.
Astor didn't reply immediately. He remained hidden among the shadows, watching as Selene maintained a defensive stance, her experience evident in every movement.
"Come out already," Selene said, her tone more severe. "Whatever it is you want, say it to my face."
Astor let out a faint sigh, allowing himself a brief smile in the darkness. Facing Selene was risky, but he knew he had no other choice. Finally, he stepped out of his hiding place, his face concealed by a mask that made him unrecognizable.