CHAPTER 67
1030 Words
The barracks smelled faintly of oil, leather, and damp stone. Rian moved through the rows of weapon racks with the quiet precision of someone used to moving unseen. Most of the soldiers were asleep; the few on duty kept their heads down, pretending not to notice their captain slipping toward the far corner where Elise waited.
She had discarded her cloak, standing in a simple tunic and boots, hands clasped loosely behind her back. But the stillness in her posture was a weapon of its own.
“You sent word,” Rian said, stopping in front of her.
“Elise’s eyes flicked toward the door. “I need to know exactly where Luka’s loyalties lie.”
Rian didn’t hesitate. “Not with us.”
“That much I guessed,” she said. “But guessing isn’t enough. He’s too careful to be just another council pawn. The way he moves—the way he knows where to be before anything happens—it’s deliberate.”
Rian nodded slowly. “If you want proof, I can set a trail. Let him think he’s getting information you didn’t mean to give.”
Elise tilted her head. “A trap.”
“A mirror,” Rian corrected. “Whatever he does with the bait will show you who’s feeding him orders.”
Her lips curved faintly. “Do it. And make sure the bait is tempting enough to take without hesitation.”
Rian’s expression hardened into something almost grim. “That’s the easy part.”
Council Wing – The Same Night
Luka slipped into the dim corridor outside the council’s private archive, his footfalls soundless on the worn carpets. The guards here weren’t the obvious sort; they watched without watching, noting faces, footsteps, silences.
A shadow detached from the wall ahead. “You’re late,” Becky murmured.
“Your clock runs faster than mine,” Luka replied.
She didn’t smile. “We’re getting close. Too close for mistakes. The council is ready to move as soon as they’re certain the two of them can’t stand in the same room without tearing each other apart.”
“They’re already halfway there,” Luka said. “Elise is… contained. Kai’s the variable.”
Becky’s eyes narrowed. “Then contain him.”
Luka gave a mock salute. “As you wish, my lady.”
Palace Training Yard – Pre-dawn
The first pale light of morning spilled across the yard as Kai worked alone, his sword moving in tight, controlled arcs. The rhythm was sharp, each strike driving harder into the air, as though sheer force could cut through the mess surrounding him.
“You’re going to wear yourself into the ground,” a voice said.
He didn’t have to turn to recognize Elise.
“You’re here early,” he said.
“So are you.” She stepped into the yard, her boots crunching on the sand. “We need to speak.”
He sheathed his blade but didn’t relax. “This going to be another lecture about how I’m playing into their hands?”
“Not if you listen this time.”
His jaw flexed, but he gestured for her to go on.
“There’s a pattern to how they’re working,” she said. “Becky keeps you busy defending yourself from her insinuations. Luka does the same with me. It’s not about truth—it’s about time. They’re bleeding our attention away from what the council is actually doing.”
Kai frowned. “Which is?”
“Consolidating control of the outer trade routes. If they succeed, it won’t matter whether we stand together—they’ll have the resources to crush dissent without lifting a blade.”
He was silent for a moment, then shook his head. “So what? We stop arguing and magically solve the rest?”
“No,” she said. “We stop letting them choose the battlefield.”
Something in his expression shifted—not agreement, not yet, but the first c***k in the wall between them.
Servants’ Hall – Midmorning
The hum of kitchen activity was a familiar cover for quiet conversations, and today was no different. Elise moved along the narrow passage between the spice shelves until she reached the far alcove where Rian was waiting.
“I placed the bait,” he said without preamble. “A falsified letter implying you intend to meet with one of the outer lords to secure your own alliance.”
“Risky,” she murmured.
“That’s the point. Luka won’t be able to resist.”
She glanced toward the bustle of the hall. “And if he brings it straight to Becky?”
Rian’s mouth curved faintly. “Then we’ll know exactly who’s holding his leash.”
Kai’s Quarters – Noon
The knock came just as Kai was unstrapping his armor. He opened the door to find Luka leaning casually against the frame, expression unreadable.
“Busy?” Luka asked.
Kai’s tone was flat. “What do you want?”
“Just to let you know—word’s moving that Elise is arranging her own… alternatives.”
Kai’s gaze sharpened. “You have proof?”
“Only what I overheard,” Luka said, shrugging. “Thought you should hear it from me before it makes its way into council chambers.”
Kai’s hand tightened on the door. “You enjoy this, don’t you?”
“What?” Luka’s smile was faint. “Keeping you informed?”
Kai shut the door without answering.
But the seed had already been planted.
Outer Wall – Twilight
Elise stood once more at the parapet, but this time she wasn’t alone. Rian joined her, handing over a folded scrap of parchment.
“Courier intercepted this,” he said. “Straight from Luka to Becky.”
She opened it, eyes scanning the neat, deliberate script: Our friend took the bait. Preparing to move her next piece into place.
Elise’s fingers curled around the paper. “So he’s not just Becky’s ally—he’s her instrument.”
“And now you have proof,” Rian said.
Her gaze turned toward the distant palace towers. “Then it’s time we stopped letting them play the game alone.”
- Writer
