Elyra returned to the camp under the cover of darkness, her mind churning with Kael's words. The firelight flickered weakly in the distance as she approached, casting shadows across the faces of her soldiers. The air was thick with unease; even the wounded seemed restless, their quiet groans blending with the murmured conversations that hushed as she came into view.
Mara was waiting, arms crossed and eyes sharp. The moment Elyra stepped into the camp, Mara approached, her expression a mix of relief and anger.
"You're alive," Mara said bluntly. "That's something."
"Barely," Elyra replied, pulling her cloak tighter around herself.
Mara didn't let her off that easily. "And? What did Kael want? Or do we all have to guess while you decide whether to trust us with the truth?"
Elyra stiffened at the accusation, but before she could respond, Toren and several others gathered around, their faces expectant.
Elyra glanced at the group. She could feel the weight of their gazes—hungry for answers, for hope, for any shred of direction.
"He offered us a deal," Elyra said finally, keeping her voice steady. "He claims the Council's reinforcements are on their way, and when they arrive, they'll wipe us out completely."
Mara's jaw tightened. "And what's his 'deal'?"
Elyra hesitated, the words tasting bitter in her mouth. "He wants me to surrender."
A stunned silence fell over the camp. Then, as if a dam had broken, voices erupted all around her.
"Are you serious?"
"Surrender? After everything we've sacrificed?"
"He's trying to break us!"
Mara's voice cut through the chaos like a blade. "Enough!"
The rebels fell quiet, though their anger still simmered just beneath the surface. Mara turned back to Elyra, her eyes blazing.
"And what did you say?"
Elyra met her gaze, her voice firm. "I told him I wouldn't kneel to the Council."
That brought a few murmurs of approval, but Mara wasn't appeased.
"And now what?" Mara demanded. "We sit here and wait for the Council's forces to crush us? Or do we take Kael's word at face value and assume reinforcements are coming?"
Elyra's patience frayed. "Do you think I don't know the stakes, Mara? I'm trying to keep us alive!"
"Are you?" Mara shot back. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're spinning in circles while the rest of us bleed for this rebellion."
The camp was deathly silent now, every pair of eyes fixed on the two women.
"Mara," Toren said, his voice low but warning.
"No, let her speak," Elyra said coldly, her gaze never leaving Mara's. "If you have something to say, say it."
Mara took a step closer, her voice dropping but no less sharp. "I followed you because I believed in you. Because I thought you could win this war. But lately, I'm starting to wonder if you're too wrapped up in whatever's going on with Kael to see clearly."
The accusation hit like a slap. Elyra's face hardened, her shoulders squaring.
"You think I've forgotten why we're fighting?" Elyra said, her voice low and dangerous. "You think I'd risk everything we've built because of him?"
Mara didn't flinch. "I think you're human, Elyra. And humans make mistakes. Big ones."
The words hung heavy in the air. For a moment, Elyra said nothing, her mind racing. She could feel the tension around her, the unspoken doubts rippling through the group. If she lost their trust now, it was over—not just for her, but for all of them.
"I haven't forgotten," Elyra said finally, her voice steady and clear. "I know what's at stake. I know what we've sacrificed. And I won't let Kael—or anyone else—take that away from us."
She turned to address the group, her gaze sweeping over them. "We don't have the luxury of doubt right now. If Kael's telling the truth, then we need to prepare for what's coming. That means rallying our forces, gathering supplies, and finding a way to outmaneuver the Council before they strike."
Her words seemed to steady the group, though Mara's expression remained stormy.
Toren stepped forward, his voice gruff but calm. "What do you need from us?"
Elyra exhaled slowly, grateful for the show of support. "Start organizing the scouts. We need to know exactly where the Council's forces are and how much time we have. And we need to send messengers to our allies in the south. If there's ever been a time for them to join the fight, it's now."
Toren nodded, moving to relay her orders to the others. The camp slowly began to stir with activity, the rebels throwing themselves into their tasks with grim determination.
Mara lingered, her arms still crossed, her expression unreadable.
"You're making a mistake," she said quietly.
"Maybe," Elyra replied, meeting her gaze. "But I'm making it for the right reasons."
Mara studied her for a long moment before turning and walking away, leaving Elyra alone with the weight of her choices.
As the camp buzzed with renewed purpose, Elyra stood at the edge of the firelight, her thoughts drifting back to Kael. His words, his offer, his motives—they all gnawed at her like an open wound.
She had made her decision, but doubt lingered like a shadow, whispering in her ear.
The rebellion was hers to lead, but it was also hers to lose.