The cold wind carried with it an unnatural silence, as though the world held its breath. Ashlar, once bustling with newfound hope, had grown quiet. The people moved with purpose but avoided lingering in the open. A collective unease gripped the city, and no amount of rallying speeches could quell the undercurrent of fear.
Selene stood in the palace courtyard, overseeing preparations for the coming battle. The armory had been emptied, and blacksmiths worked tirelessly to forge weapons from whatever materials they could salvage. Training grounds buzzed with activity as recruits honed their skills under the watchful eyes of seasoned fighters.
"You're pushing them hard," Jareth said, approaching her with a grim expression. "Many of them have never held a sword before. They're farmers, merchants—not soldiers."
Selene turned to face him, her fiery gaze unwavering. "And yet they'll have to fight. The Harbinger won't care about their professions. It will destroy them just the same."
Jareth sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know. But fear can break a man as surely as a blade. We need more than weapons and training—we need hope."
Selene's expression softened, and for a moment, she looked almost vulnerable. "Hope doesn't win wars, Jareth. Strength does. Preparation does. We don't have the luxury of comforting lies."
Jareth studied her for a long moment before nodding. "Then we make them ready. Whatever it takes."
The scouts returned from Halvar's Rest late that evening, their horses foaming at the mouth from the speed of their journey. Selene met them in the council chamber, the air heavy with anticipation.
"We found tracks," one scout reported, his voice trembling. "Strange ones—too large for any beast we know. And they led east, toward the Bloodstone Ridge."
Selene's brows furrowed. The Bloodstone Ridge was a desolate expanse of jagged rocks and treacherous cliffs. Few dared to venture there, for the land itself seemed hostile. "Was there any sign of survivors?"
The scout shook his head. "None. Just the tracks and... something else."
"What else?" Selene pressed.
The scout hesitated, his eyes darting toward the others as though seeking confirmation. "An aura. A feeling. Like the air itself was watching us. And there were whispers—faint, but... chilling."
Selene's flames flickered uneasily, as though reacting to the scout's words. She straightened, her resolve hardening. "You've done well. Get some rest. We'll decide our next move soon."
That night, Selene convened a smaller meeting with Jareth, Lira, and Corvin, who had returned from his diplomatic missions empty-handed.
"The tracks lead to the Bloodstone Ridge," Selene began, tracing a path on the map. "If that's where the Harbinger is gathering its strength, then we need to act before it does."
"That's suicide," Corvin said bluntly. "The ridge is a natural fortress. Even if we could navigate it, we'd be walking into a trap."
"We can't just wait here," Jareth argued. "If we give the Harbinger time to grow stronger, it'll sweep over us like a tide."
Lira spoke up, her voice steady despite the tension in the room. "We're not ready for a direct assault. But perhaps there's another way—something more precise."
Selene's eyes narrowed. "What are you suggesting?"
"A strike team," Lira said. "Small, fast, and skilled. If we can infiltrate the ridge and disrupt whatever the Harbinger is planning, we might stand a chance."
"It's risky," Corvin said. "And if it fails, we'll lose some of our best fighters."
"Every plan is risky at this point," Selene replied. "But Lira's right. A direct assault would be a massacre. A strike team gives us a fighting chance."
The room fell silent as they considered the proposal. Finally, Selene made her decision.
"I'll lead the team," she said.
Jareth immediately objected. "Absolutely not. You're the heart of the rebellion. If something happens to you—"
"If something happens to me, then you'll carry on," Selene interrupted, her tone leaving no room for argument. "This is my fight. The Harbinger taunted me, challenged me. If I don't face it, we're already lost."
The strike team was assembled by dawn. Selene chose Jareth, Lira, and three of the rebellion's most skilled scouts to accompany her. They traveled light, carrying only essential supplies and their most trusted weapons. The journey to the Bloodstone Ridge was grueling, the terrain growing harsher with every mile.
As they neared the ridge, the air grew colder, and the whispers began. At first, they were faint—a mere suggestion of sound. But as the team ascended the rocky slopes, the whispers grew louder, more insistent, like a thousand voices speaking just beyond comprehension.
Selene stopped abruptly, holding up a hand. The team froze, their breaths visible in the frigid air.
"Do you hear that?" she asked softly.
Jareth nodded, his hand on the hilt of his sword. "It's like the shadows are speaking."
Lira shivered, her normally calm demeanor faltering. "It's more than that. It's... pulling at us."
Selene closed her eyes, focusing on the fire within her. The whispers grew fainter, pushed back by the warmth of her flames. She opened her eyes and looked at the others. "Stay close. Don't let it get into your heads."
They pressed on, the ridge looming above them like the jagged teeth of some great beast. The tracks they followed grew more distinct, leading to a narrow crevasse that disappeared into the earth.
"This must be it," one of the scouts said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Selene nodded. "Stay alert. We don't know what we're walking into."
The crevasse opened into a vast cavern, its walls glistening with an eerie, otherworldly light. At its center stood another obelisk, larger and more menacing than the one at Halvar's Rest. Around it, figures moved—twisted, shadowy forms that seemed to shift and ripple like smoke.
Selene's heart pounded as she watched the scene. The Harbinger's minions, she realized. They were performing some kind of ritual, their movements synchronized and deliberate.
"We need to stop them," Jareth said, his voice tight.
Selene nodded. "We split into two groups. Jareth, take the scouts and create a distraction. Lira and I will deal with the obelisk."
"Understood," Jareth said, his expression grim.
As the team moved into position, Selene felt the fire within her surge, ready and waiting. Whatever lay ahead, she would face it with everything she had.
And when the moment came, the Phoenix would rise.