Duncan's lips still tingled from Lyra's kiss as they parted ways. He couldn't believe what had just happened. He had been so focused on finding the traitor that he hadn't realized his feelings for Lyra had grown so strong.
As he made his way back to his quarters, Duncan's mind was a whirlwind of emotions. He knew he had to focus on the task at hand, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that his feelings for Lyra were going to complicate things.
The next morning, Duncan met up with Lyra again, this time to work on deciphering the code. They spent hours poring over the parchment, trying to make sense of the strange symbols.
"I think I've found a pattern," Lyra said, her eyes shining with excitement.
Duncan leaned in, his heart racing with anticipation. "What is it?" he asked.
Lyra pointed to a series of symbols on the parchment. "These symbols here, they're a substitution cipher," she said.
Duncan's eyes widened in surprise. "A substitution cipher?" he repeated.
Lyra nodded. "Yes, it's a simple code, but it's effective. The symbols represent different letters."
Duncan's eyes narrowed. "Can you decipher it?" he asked.
Lyra nodded, her eyes shining with determination. "I'll try," she said.
As Lyra worked on deciphering the code, Duncan couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for her. She was smart, resourceful, and determined.
After what felt like hours, Lyra finally looked up, a triumphant smile on her face. "I did it," she said.
Duncan's eyes widened in surprise. "What does it say?" he asked.
Lyra's smile faltered, and she looked at Duncan with a serious expression. "It's a message from Taymen Rekonsin to Rectale," she said.
Duncan's eyes narrowed. "What does it say?" he asked again.
Lyra took a deep breath before speaking. "It says that Taymen has arranged for a shipment of supplies to be delivered to Rectale's hideout," she said.
Duncan's eyes widened in surprise. "A shipment of supplies?" he repeated.
Lyra nodded. "Yes, it looks like Taymen is working with Rectale after all."
Duncan's face hardened. "We need to stop that shipment," he said.
Lyra nodded, her eyes shining with determination. "I'll help you," she said.
Together, Duncan and Lyra set out to stop the shipment and bring Taymen Rekonsin to justice. But as they delved deeper into the heart of the city, they realized that nothing was as it seemed, and that the truth was far more complex than they had ever imagined.