Where Ashes and Oaths Collide

Chapter 48: Almost Empty Estate

“Leo, check those boxes for contents,” Luz ordered quietly. “Cassandra, keep watch at the ladder– if anyone comes down from that estate, take them out immediately.” The cargo containers appeared mundane– food, supplies, medical kits– but their presence suggested that Amelia was right, that this tunnel is connected to Cidade dos escravos surface and was used to smuggle illegal goods. The ladder hinted at access points for smuggling goods into and out of Cidade dos escravos. While Leo began prying open the lids with practiced efficiency, Luz approached the ladder cautiously. His armoured boot tested each rung before trusting his weight to it. The structure seemed stable enough. “Sol, gather everyone, we are going up.” Luz said quickly before ascending the ladder with deliberate caution, his back gauntlets gripping the rusted rungs securely, Cassandra follows close behind him.

The basement area was constructed entirely from rough-cut sandstone, the walls and arched ceilings made of uneven, timeworn stone blocks and the surfaces textured with age, cracks and subtle discolouration. Warm, flickering lights from mounted lanterns casts a golden glow across the room, creating deep shadows that pool in the corners and emphasize the rooms depth. The light reflects softly off the slightly damp stone floor, which is laid with irregular slabs, worn smooth in places by years of foot traffic. in one corner of the room, a thick wooden cellar door is set into the floor at an angle, its heavy planks reinforced with iron bands. The wood is aged and scuffed, with visible grain and a weathered patina that speaks to long use. It stands partially open, revealing the bottom of a staircase.

Scattered throughout the cellar are sturdy wooden cargo boxes and crates of varying sizes. Some are stacked neatly, while others sit alone or at slight angles, as if recently moved. A few crates have lids ajar, revealing glass bottles inside, their dark shapes catching glints of lantern light. Nearby, a small table draped with a rough cloth holds additional bottles and tools, adding to the sense of ongoing use. Against one wall stands a large wine rack constructed from dark wood, its lattice-like structure filled with rows of horizontally stored bottles. The bottles are arranged rightly, their necks pointing outward in a uniform pattern. Barrels sit near the edge of the room, their curved wooden staves bound with metal hoops, adding to the impression of bulk storage.

Casandra moved to the slightly open door, peering into the hallway beyond. Leo followed them up and looked around the room curiously. “Find anything useful?” Luz asked Leo, who was now examining labels on several bottles. Leo uncorked one bottle and sniffed its contents appreciatively. “Just liquor, commander. Looks like out friends upstairs enjoy he finer things while their men freeze outside.” Luz’s amber eyes scanned the wine racks methodically, searching for any hidden compartment or false bottoms that might contain valuable intelligence. “This is too obvious,” Luz muttered mostly to himself as he ran gloved fingers along shelf edges. “Either they are incredibly lazy, or they want us finding this specific cache.”

The rest of the team joined Luz, Casandra and Leo in the basement. Darm closed the cellar doors leading to the main cavern and enchants its lock. “Or perhaps they thought that no one would dare steal from them because of their power,” Cassandra said bluntly. “Who cares, our army is probably already laying siege to the western gates. We have to join the fight.” Luz’s jaw tightened at her blunt reminder of their mission timeline. The mention of the siege reminded him acutely of Amelia waiting in that watchtower, vulnerable without his protection. “You are right,” he admitted grudgingly, turning away from the wine cellar with obvious reluctance. His amber eyes narrowed as he studied the grand staircase ascending from the basement. Its ornate design suggested wealth far beyond what should exist in a smugglers’ den, further supporting Cassandra’s theory about the owners’ confidence in their power.

“We move quietly,” Luz commanded, gesturing for his team to form up behind him. “Leo and Cassandra, you are on point with me. Sol, Lua and Darm, provide rear cover.” His armoured boots made minimal sounds against the marble steps as they ascended into uncertainty. Each step brough new risks– patrolling servants, locked doors protecting valuable information or personnel. “Report any unusual activity immediately,” Luz added quietly to Leo beside him. “Our priority is reaching the surface undetected.” At the tope of the stairs is a long, narrow hallway constructed from warm-toned large, uneven cut stone blocks, their surfaces slightly rough and worn. The corridor stretches straight ahead, drawing Luz’s attention toward a sturdy wooden door at the far end.

This door is set within a rounded stone arch and appears solid and heavy, reinforced with dark iron hinges and central latches. Above it, a decorative crest is mounted on the wall. Luz’s amber eyes scanned the hallway’s layout with tactical precision. A long, richly patterned run in deep red and gold tones run down the centre of the hallway and iron candles sconces holding lit candles are mounted along the walls. Their flames flicker gently, casting a warm, golden light that dances across the stone surfaces and creates soft, shifting shadows in the recesses of the arches. Along the right-hand side of the hallway, two evenly spaced wooden doors are set into arched stone frames. Each door is made of thick, dark wood planks and fitted with iron handles and hardware.

“Leo, Cassandra– check the rooms on the right,” Luz ordered quietly. His gaze shifted to the left-hand side of the hallway, where there is a single matching door with a wooden bench with a cushioned seat sitting beside it, beneath a hanging tapestry featuring a heraldic design. On the other side of the door, there is a narrow wooden table holding a ceramic vase and other small objects. “Lua, Sol– check out the room on the left.” Luz continued, his voice carrying just enough volume to be heard clearly without echoing through the silent manor. “Darm, with me,” Luz ordered as he headed for the door down the hall.