Damien's grip on the sword tightened as he regarded the man sitting before him. He had been an advisor in the former, confidant who whispered strategies and solutions to Damien's ear during his dynasty of terror. To see him now, on the other side of Reynard's rebellion, sent a frisson down his spine.
Elyas stood serenely, his smirk faintly illuminated by the moonlight. He showed no fear; Damien's blade stood squarely against his chest.
"This is unexpected," Elyas said, his voice smooth and mocking. "Damien Vryce, the fallen duke, acting the hero. Tell me, is this redemption act of yours convincing anyone?"
"I could ask you the same," Damien said, his voice frigid. "Why ally with Reynard? What do you stand to gain from a broken kingdom?"
Elyas's smirk grew broader. "Oh, Damien, you've always been so blind. This revolution isn't about anarchy—it's about potential. A kingdom worn down by war is an invitation for new rule."
Damien's jaw flexed. "And you think Reynard is the man to steer it?"
"Of course not," Elyas said with a laugh. "Reynard is nothing more than a tool. A useful distraction for me while I consolidate my own position. You, however. you are a complication I did not foresee."
"Well then, you're not half as smart as you look either," Damien said with a slow swinging of his sword.
Amara circled around Elyas, her daggers on a tighter rein. "What's the play here, Damien? Do we take him out now, or let him keep talking?" she asked in a low, even voice.
Elyas's eyes flicked to her, his smirk not wavering an inch. "And who might you be? Another of Damien's unlikely allies? You have the look of someone who thrives in the shadows."
"Flattery won't save you," Amara said, her tone sharp.
"Flattery?" Elyas said, feigning innocence. "No, merely an observation. I imagine you've seen Damien's dark side. Or has he kept that part of himself hidden?"
"That man is gone," Damien said, his voice firm.
Elyas's face darkened, and his smirk smoothed. "We both know that's a lie. You can put on the mask of a savior as often as you wish, but inside, you are the same merciless man I once served. It's only a matter of time before that side surges to the surface."
Damien's eyes narrowed. "Then maybe it's time I proved you wrong."
But before Elyas could say anything, Amara did. She launched forward, daggers flashing in the moonlight, aimed at his throat. But he is fast; he dodges it with the ease of practiced steps.
"That is quite clever," Elyas said, his tone sarcastic. "But not clever enough."
Damien charged forward next. Sword sliced through the air in a wide arc. Elyas parried his blow with a dagger he carried sneakily, with steps so perfect and sure.
"You always did rely on brute strength," Elyas said, parrying another hit.
"And you always talked too much," Damien growled, pushing forward.
The fight was swift, brutal. Elyas was agile; long experience showed in his every calculated movement. Yet Damien had been worse off. He fought with intent, each swing of his sword to disarm and disable.
Amara darted in and out of the melee, her attacks swift and relentless. She and Damien danced together, forcing Elyas to split his attention.
"You've improved," Elyas said, his breath coming faster. "But this changes nothing."
With a sudden burst of speed, Elyas feinted toward Damien before pivoting to throw a concealed blade at Amara.
"Amara!" Damien shouted, his instincts taking over.
Amara jerked out of the way just in time, the blade scrabbling down her arm instead of sinking into her. She hissed pain, but she didn't let her backness derail her, her own dagger slicing cleanly through Elyas's sleeve for good measure.
"You missed," she said, her voice glacial.
Elyas laughed, though a flicker of irritation crossed his face. "This isn't over," he said.
With a high-pitched whistle, Elyas summoned to unseen allies. In the shadows a few figures appeared, robed and armed.
"Reinforcements," Amara muttered. "Great."
"We need to move," Damien said, stepping in front of her protectively.
"Already running away?" Elyas jeered. "How disappointing."
Damien clench his jaw and keep himself from lowering. "This isn't over, Elyas. I'll watch you fall."
"Perhaps," Elyas said, making a mocking bow. "But not tonight."
---
Damien and Amara ran into the woods, their chasers just paces behind. Footsteps pounded and shouted orders through the trees, but Damien's group had the. advantage of knowing the lands, taking them down a narrow path to a hidden ravine.
He pushed down the incline, using the rock cover to conceal his escape. Damien's soldiers paced with him, gagging for air but making not a sound.
When they stopped at last, the forest returned to its usual silence. The faint glow of torchlight from their pursuers had faded into the distance.
"Everybody present?" Damien asked, his voice quiet but authoritative.
The soldiers nodded, their expressions a mix of relief and exhaustion.
Amara leaned against a tree, inspecting the shallow cut on her arm. "Well, that was fun."
"You're hurt," Damien said, stepping closer.
"It's nothing," she said, brushing him off.
"Let me see," he insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Amara rolled her eyes but held out her arm. Damien examined the wound carefully, his touch gentle. "You should clean it properly," he said, pulling a small flask of water from his satchel. "Worried about me?" she teased, though her smirk didn't reach her eyes. "Always," Damien said, his voice soft.
Amara's teasing face fell for a moment, and something serious took its place. "Thanks, Damien. For having my back."
He nodded, steady enough with his eyes. "Always."
---
Back at the hideaway base, tension grew thick; Damien called the core group of the team for a meeting to decide on their next course of action.
"Elyas is more dangerous than I thought," Damien said. "He's not merely Reynard's sponsor; he's manipulating this whole rebellion for his own interests."
"And he now knows that we know this," Amara stated.
"I am ashamed of myself. Why does he want? What is the end goal?"
"Power," Damien replied. "Elyas survives on chaos-he will use Reynard for the chaos to destabilize the kingdom and, once the storm has passed, he will seize control."
"Great! I've got to urge the rest of you to be fast. If Elyas is really a threat, chasing down Reynard is out of the question," Harrow advised firmly.
Damien nodded agreement. "Let us be sure, though! It is not easy for us. Elyas has seen much worse, and he will take countermeasures!"
Amara moved in so close that her blue eyes twinkled. "Then we can be unpredictable. We can freshen him where he expects it less."
Damien thought about her words; he felt something click into place in his mind.
"We are going to split up," he walked on. "Aldric, you chase Rae's supply line. Harrow, reinforce Winterhold; we cannot afford to lose it. Amara and I will take care of Elyas."
"You are gambling a lot," Aldric said, cautious.
"I can't help it. If Elyas is gone, the rebellion further dissolves, and once he is out of the way, we're tackling Reynard."
A silence enveloped the meeting room as those words settled in.
"Then let's rock it," Amara breathed with resolution.
Damien met her gaze, barely able to suppress a smile. "We will."
As the meeting broke, he felt a fresh anchoring and a new sense of purpose. Certainly, there was no way that he would have second-guessed the revelations put forth by Elyas; Damien was not that person anymore.
This time, he would battle smarter.
This time, He would win.