Blood and Vows

Shadows of the past

The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine as Kael rode alongside Selene through the dense forest. The weight of his sword against his hip felt heavier than usual, though he knew it wasn’t the steel that burdened him—it was the past. His past. His failures. His losses.

Selene had not spoken much since they had left the Xiatl stronghold, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings, ever watchful. She had given the order to move their forces deeper into the mountains, closer to the empire’s borders, where they could stage their next move. But Kael knew the real reason for the change in plans.

Lena.

He had not said her name out loud since he had learned of her betrayal, but it echoed in his mind like a cursed whisper. The woman he had once trusted, the woman who had fought beside him, had sold him out to Edric.

And now, they were all walking into a war.

The Ambush

The attack came suddenly.

A sharp whistle cut through the air, followed by the twang of bowstrings.

Kael barely had time to react before an arrow grazed past his shoulder, embedding itself into the tree beside him. The moment his brain registered the ambush, his body moved on instinct. He yanked the reins of his horse, pulling it into a sharp turn as a second volley of arrows rained down from the trees.

“Take cover!” Selene shouted.

Her warriors moved swiftly, breaking formation and diving behind the dense foliage for protection. Kael unsheathed his sword, the gleam of steel catching the dim morning light as he scanned the treetops. Figures moved between the branches, their dark cloaks blending into the shadows. Imperial assassins.

Another arrow whistled toward him. He raised his sword just in time, deflecting the deadly projectile. The force of the impact numbed his fingers, but he didn’t stop. With a sharp kick, he urged his horse forward, weaving between the trees as he assessed their enemies.

“There! The ridge!” one of Selene’s warriors called.

Kael’s gaze snapped upward. Perched atop the rocky outcrop were at least a dozen archers, their bows already drawn for another strike.

“We need to take them out!” Selene growled, her twin blades gleaming as she cut down an enemy soldier who had tried to rush her.

Kael didn’t need to be told twice. He leaped off his horse, rolling as he hit the ground before sprinting toward the ridge. Behind him, the clash of steel and the cries of wounded men filled the air. The scent of blood mixed with the crisp morning breeze.

A soldier charged at him, his sword slicing through the air. Kael dodged, shifting his weight to the side before bringing his own blade down in a deadly arc. The assassin barely had time to scream before collapsing.

Kael didn’t stop moving. He scaled the rocks with practiced ease, his muscles burning as he climbed higher. A second assassin turned toward him, a dagger poised to strike.

Too slow.

Kael drove his sword through the man’s chest, twisting the blade before kicking the lifeless body off the ledge.

“Kael!” Selene’s voice rang out.

He turned just in time to see a soldier lunging at him with an axe.

Kael barely managed to sidestep the attack, but the brute was strong. The force of the missed swing sent Kael stumbling back, his boots skidding against loose gravel.

The assassin took advantage of the momentary weakness, raising his weapon for a second strike.

Kael had no time to think.

He lunged forward, grabbing the soldier’s wrist before driving his knee into the man’s gut. As the assassin gasped for air, Kael wrenched the axe from his grip and buried it deep into his skull.

The body slumped forward, lifeless.

Kael exhaled sharply, wiping the blood from his face.

Below him, the battle was shifting in their favor. Selene and her warriors fought with unmatched ferocity, cutting down their attackers with precision. The archers on the ridge were either dead or retreating.

Kael turned toward the remaining enemy fighters. “Fall back or die,” he called, his voice carrying over the battlefield.

A few of the assassins hesitated. Then, one by one, they disappeared into the trees, vanishing like ghosts.

Silence settled over the forest. The only sounds left were the heavy breathing of warriors and the distant rustling of retreating foes.

Selene stepped forward, wiping her blade against her cloak. “They knew we were coming,” she said darkly.

Kael clenched his jaw. “Lena told them.”

Betrayal and Vows

The survivors gathered in a clearing, tending to the wounded. The Xiatl warriors had suffered losses, but they had won. For now.

Kael stood at the edge of the battlefield, staring into the distance. His mind replayed the fight, searching for patterns, weaknesses—anything that would tell him what Edric was planning.

Selene approached, her gaze unreadable. “Your Lena has been busy,” she said.

Kael scoffed, shaking his head. “She’s not my Lena.”

Selene arched a brow but didn’t press further. “We should keep moving. We can’t afford another ambush.”

Kael nodded. He sheathed his sword, but the weight in his chest remained.

Lena had once sworn loyalty to him. She had fought beside him, bled beside him. And yet, she had chosen Edric.

His fingers curled into fists.

“Kael,” Selene’s voice pulled him from his thoughts.

He turned to her.

She studied him for a long moment before speaking. “Revenge can cloud judgment. Don’t let it control you.”

Kael exhaled. “Revenge is all I have left.”

Selene’s eyes darkened. “Then let’s make sure it counts.”

With that, she turned and walked back toward her warriors, leaving Kael alone with his thoughts.

He looked toward the path ahead.

The war had only just begun.