The oppressive silence of the deep tunnels was shattered by the frantic energy of the resistance base above. Commander Theron’s face was drawn, illuminated by the guttering oil lamps, as he confirmed the worst of Kai’s fears.
“We’re compromised,” Theron stated, his voice tight. “Dawn broke thirty minutes ago, and with it, the City gates sealed; martial law declared. Imperial soldiers are already searching house-to-house. But it’s worse than that. The hideout’s location—our very existence—it was leaked.”
Kai, who was busy forcing Captain Vex to ingest a slow-acting paralysis potion—ensuring the Captain remained alive as a symbol but utterly immobile—looked up sharply. “How?”
Theron grimaced, running a hand over his tired face. “The prisoner count. We saved twelve. But one of them—a clerk
