Aelric kept his hand near the hidden dagger at his side, his gaze locked on the woman before him. Her green eyes burned with conviction, but he'd seen too many liars wearing the same mask of sincerity.
"Who are you?" he asked, his voice steady.
The woman folded her arms, her posture tense. "My name is Kaelina," she said. "I served as a scribe in the royal archives before… before I saw too much."
Aelric raised an eyebrow. "A scribe? And now you're whispering treason in the dark. Forgive me if I'm not convinced."
Kaelina's lips tightened. "You think I wanted this? That I chose to be hunted like an animal?" Her voice rose, then softened into something bitter. "The truth has a price, General. One I paid dearly."
"What truth?" Aelric pressed, his patience wearing thin.
Kaelina stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Cassiel is preparing for war—not with another kingdom, but with his own people. He's consolidating power, silencing dissent, and purging anyone who questions his rule."
Aelric frowned. "The prince is ruthless, but that's hardly treason. If anything, it sounds like he's securing the crown's position."
Kaelina shook her head, her expression grave. "You don't understand. He doesn't want to secure the throne. He wants to take it."
Aelric's blood ran cold. "You're saying Cassiel means to overthrow his father?"
"Yes," Kaelina said. "The king's health is failing, and Cassiel isn't content to wait for the natural order. He's already begun eliminating those loyal to the king, replacing them with his own loyalists. He doesn't just want to be the heir—he wants to rule, no matter the cost."
Aelric felt the weight of her words settle over him like a shroud. It wasn't an impossible notion—Cassiel's ambition was no secret, and his methods had always been… extreme. But to move against the king himself? That was a different kind of danger entirely.
"Why tell me this?" he asked, his voice low. "What do you gain from dragging me into your conspiracy?"
Kaelina's gaze hardened. "Because you're the only one who can stop him."
A bitter laugh escaped Aelric before he could stop it. "You think I'm some kind of savior? I'm not a hero, Kaelina. I'm a soldier."
"You're more than that," she said fiercely. "You've seen the way he watches you, the way he tests you. Cassiel doesn't just see you as a tool—he sees you as a threat. That means you have power, whether you like it or not."
Aelric opened his mouth to argue, but the sound of distant voices cut him off. He turned toward the entrance, his instincts flaring.
"Guards," Kaelina hissed, her eyes widening.
"How did they know?" Aelric demanded, his hand tightening around his dagger.
Kaelina cursed under her breath. "Cassiel always knows. If you're here, he's already suspicious."
The footsteps grew louder, the sound of boots and clinking armor echoing through the chapel.
"You need to leave," Kaelina said, grabbing his arm. "If they find you here—"
"Then I'll deal with it," Aelric snapped, pulling free. "I don't run."
Kaelina's eyes blazed with frustration. "Fine, then stay and die. But if you're caught, you'll never stop him. Is that what you want?"
Aelric hesitated, his jaw clenching. The thought of retreating grated against every instinct he had, but she was right. If Cassiel's men found him here, it would only tighten the noose around his neck.
"Go," Kaelina urged, shoving him toward a side door hidden in the shadows. "I'll cover for you."
Aelric didn't argue this time. He slipped through the door and into the night, his heart pounding as he moved through the maze of alleys surrounding the chapel.
Later That Night
Aelric paced his chambers, the pieces of Kaelina's revelation spinning in his mind like a broken puzzle. If what she said was true, Cassiel wasn't just dangerous—he was a threat to the entire kingdom.
But even if he believed her, what could he do? His position as general gave him authority, but it also tied his hands. To openly oppose Cassiel was to sign his own death warrant.
And yet…
His gaze fell on the dagger resting on the table, its blade gleaming in the moonlight.
There's always a way.
A knock at the door shattered his thoughts. Aelric stiffened, his hand instinctively going to his weapon.
"Who is it?" he called, his voice sharp.
The door opened slowly, and Cassiel stepped inside.
Aelric's blood turned to ice.
The prince closed the door behind him, his gray eyes glinting with something cold and dangerous.
"Your Highness," Aelric said, forcing his voice to remain steady. "To what do I owe the honor?"
Cassiel's smile was razor-thin. "I thought we might have a… private conversation."
Aelric's grip tightened on the dagger beneath the table. "Of course. What about?"
Cassiel stepped closer, his movements languid and deliberate. "I've been hearing whispers, General. Whispers of shadows in the night. Meetings in places you shouldn't be."
Aelric's heart pounded, but he kept his expression neutral. "I don't know what you mean."
Cassiel chuckled, the sound low and dark. "Come now, Thorne. Don't insult me. I told you—I don't miss a thing."
He stopped a mere foot away, his gaze boring into Aelric's. "Loyalty is a precious thing, General. And once broken, it's almost impossible to mend."
"I've never wavered in my loyalty to the crown," Aelric said evenly, meeting Cassiel's gaze.
"Good," Cassiel murmured, his voice almost a purr. "Because I'd hate to see you make a mistake you can't come back from."
The threat hung in the air between them, heavy and unspoken.
Cassiel turned away, his smile returning as if nothing had happened. "Sleep well, General. Tomorrow promises to be… eventful."
And with that, he was gone, leaving Aelric alone with the weight of his choices.
The Cliffhanger
As the door clicked shut, Aelric sank into his chair, his mind racing.
He reached into his belt and pulled out the folded note Kaelina had given him before they parted—a second message written hastily before he'd left the chapel.
Meet me in the catacombs beneath the eastern gardens tomorrow night. I'll show you the proof you need. But come prepared—Cassiel won't let you go without a fight.
Aelric stared at the words, his pulse quickening.
The catacombs were forbidden territory, a labyrinth of tunnels and tombs that stretched beneath the palace. If Kaelina truly had proof, it could be the key to exposing Cassiel's treachery.
But stepping into those tunnels meant walking straight into the lion's den.
Aelric tightened his grip on the note, his resolve hardening.
Let the lion come.