Aria found Lyrien in the great hall of the stronghold, his eyes fixed on a large map of the kingdom spread out before him. She approached him quietly, not wanting to disturb his thoughts.
"Lyrien, I need to speak with you," she said, her voice low and urgent.
Lyrien looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in Aria's expression. "What is it?" he asked, his voice neutral.
Aria hesitated, unsure of how to broach the subject. "Eirak is worried about you," she said finally. "He thinks you're acting strangely, and he's not sure what's going on."
Lyrien's expression didn't change, but Aria could sense a flicker of tension beneath the surface. "I'm fine," he said, his voice dismissive. "Eirak is just being overly cautious."
Aria wasn't convinced. She knew that Lyrien was a complex man, driven by a desire for justice and a need for revenge. But she also knew that he was human, and that he was capable of making mistakes.
"I don't think that's all there is to it," she said, her voice firm. "I think there's something more going on, something you're not telling me."
Lyrien's eyes flashed with anger, but Aria stood her ground. She knew that she had to push him, to get to the bottom of whatever was going on.
"Fine," Lyrien said finally, his voice low and menacing. "I'll tell you. But you have to promise me one thing: you have to promise me that you'll keep this secret, no matter what."
Aria hesitated, unsure of what she was getting herself into. But she knew that she had to trust Lyrien, to believe that he was doing what he thought was right.
"I promise," she said finally, her voice firm.
Lyrien nodded, his eyes locked on hers. "I'm working with someone," he said, his voice low. "Someone who has the power to help us bring down the king and his supporters."
Aria's eyes widened in surprise. She had suspected that Lyrien might be working with someone, but she had no idea who it could be.
"Who is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lyrien smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "That's the best part," he said. "It's someone you least expect."
Aria's eyes were fixed on Lyrien's, her mind racing with possibilities. Who could this unexpected ally be? Someone from the king's court? A member of the nobility? Or perhaps someone from a neighboring kingdom?
Lyrien's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You're not going to guess, are you?" he said, his voice low and teasing.
Aria shook her head, her curiosity getting the better of her. "No, I'm not," she said, her voice firm. "You're going to have to tell me."
Lyrien chuckled, his eyes sparkling with mirth. "Very well," he said, his voice low. "But you have to promise me one thing: you have to promise me that you'll keep an open mind."
Aria nodded, her curiosity getting the better of her. "I promise," she said, her voice firm.
Lyrien nodded, his eyes locked on hers. "Our ally is none other than the king's own brother, Prince Arin," he said, his voice low.
Aria's eyes widened in surprise, her mind racing with the implications. Prince Arin was known for his progressive views and his desire to reform the kingdom. But she had never suspected that he would be working with Lyrien and the rebels.
"Why?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lyrien's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Prince Arin is tired of his brother's tyranny," he said, his voice low. "He wants to see the kingdom reformed, and he's willing to work with us to make it happen."
Aria's mind was racing with the possibilities. With Prince Arin on their side, they might actually have a chance to bring down the king and his supporters.
"What's the plan?" she asked, her voice firm.
Lyrien's eyes locked on hers, his expression serious. "We're going to meet with Prince Arin in secret," he said, his voice low. "We're going to discuss the details of our plan, and we're going to make sure that we're all on the same page."
Aria nodded, her mind racing with the possibilities. She knew that this was a risk, but she also knew that it was a risk worth taking.
"When do we leave?" she asked, her voice firm.
Lyrien's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. "We leave tonight," he said, his voice low. "Under the cover of darkness."
Aria nodded, her heart pounding with excitement. She knew that this was just the beginning of a new chapter in their struggle for freedom. And she was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.