Kael adjusted the hood of his cloak to better conceal his face as he and his group moved through the streets of the stronghold.
The air was thick with the acrid smell of burning timber from collapsed structures, mixed with sweat and old blood. Soldiers with hardened, weathered faces walked with grim purpose, their armor bearing deep dents and scratches that told stories of brutal combat. This place had been utterly ravaged by years of war.
They had gathered most of the information they needed. The Earth Kingdom had not been the victims in this conflict as they had struck first, initiating the violence. And now they were using their own captured royals as justification to continue the bloodshed.
But one crucial question remained unanswered.
Why?
Mira and Sera walked on either side of him, their expressions unreadable. Neither had spoken much since learning the truth, but their silence spoke a thousand words, the heavy contemplation of people reassessing everything they thought they knew.
As they rounded a corner into a wider street, a sudden commotion ahead brought them to an abrupt halt.
A line of heavily armored guards marched down the cobbled road, forcing civilians and soldiers alike to step aside. They moved with synchronized precision, clearing a path.
Between them rolled a luxurious black carriage, its wheels clattering loudly against the rough stone surface. Silk curtains embroidered with the Earth Kingdom's deep crimson crest hung in its windows.
Kael studied the guards with sharp attention. Unlike the battle-worn soldiers they'd seen throughout the city, these men's armor was pristine as though polished to a shine, free of dents or scratches. These guards had never seen actual combat.
'A noble,' Kael thought immediately.
Even as this kingdom bled from prolonged war, certain people still traveled in obscene luxury. That meant whoever sat inside that carriage wielded considerable power. And power usually meant answers.
Mira spoke quietly, keeping her voice low. "That's not a general's transport. Too ostentatious. A lord, maybe?"
Sera's eyes narrowed as she watched the procession pass. "Or someone even higher up the chain."
The carriage turned down a side street, heading deeper toward the more fortified section of the city where the architecture improved noticeably.
Kael made his decision instantly. "We follow it."
They moved quickly but carefully, maintaining enough distance to avoid detection while keeping the carriage in sight.
Mira and Sera matched Kael's pace without question, staying in the shadows cast by buildings and keeping to the less-traveled side paths.
They understood the risk, if guards spotted them trailing the carriage, they'd be surrounded and overwhelmed within seconds.
The streets here were noticeably cleaner, largely untouched by the destruction that had ravaged the outer districts. Wealth and power had not just survived the chaos, they had thrived within it, insulated and protected.
After roughly a dozen minutes of careful pursuit, the carriage came to a stop before an imposing manor.
Kael crouched behind the remains of an old wooden cart, observing from cover.
The manor was substantial, stone walls reinforced with iron supports, topped with steel gates that gleamed even in the dim evening light. At least a dozen guards stood at attention around the perimeter, their postures rigid and disciplined.
Then the carriage door opened.
A middle-aged man emerged, wearing rich royal blue robes with intricate gold embroidery along the edges. His face bore the lines of age, but his expression was unnervingly serene, far too calm for someone whose kingdom was supposedly tearing itself apart.
Kael didn't recognize him specifically, but his bearing and the quality of his clothing said everything necessary. This man held significant power.
The noble barely acknowledged the guards flanking him as he strode toward the manor entrance. The steel gates swung open silently, then clanged shut behind him with an air of finality.
Mira exhaled quietly beside Kael. "What now?"
A cold smile curved Kael's lips. "We need answers. He's the perfect person to provide them."
Sera tilted her head, interest sparking in her eyes. "I assume you don't mean we'll ask politely?"
Kael's smile widened slightly. "We get inside, secure him, and have a very direct conversation."
Mira sighed, though she didn't sound particularly surprised. "I'm hoping you have an actual plan for this."
Kael's eyes gleamed in the fading light. "I always do."
---
The manor was too heavily fortified to approach directly through the main entrance, but Kael had no intention of doing so anyway.
During their brief observation, he'd studied the building's layout carefully. The walls were too high and smooth to scale easily from the front, but there was a smaller side entrance that appeared less guarded. A servants' entry, perhaps, or a secondary access point for supply deliveries.
Kael led them through the shadows, moving with practiced silence around the perimeter and out of the guards' direct line of sight.
Beside the manor, a narrow alley stretched into darkness, its uneven stone path littered with refuse. A single guard stood posted by a weathered wooden door, his spear resting lazily against his shoulder. He looked bored, his attention wandering.
"Perfect," Kael breathed.
He moved like a shadow given form, fast, silent, and deadly. Before the guard could register movement in his peripheral vision, Kael was on him.
His dagger pressed against the man's throat while a strong palm wrapped around his mouth, cutting off both air and any possibility of calling out.
The guard's eyes widened in shock and panic, but within seconds his struggles weakened. He slumped unconscious to the ground.
Mira gave Kael a look that was equal parts impressed and wary. "Remind me never to turn my back on you."
Kael ignored the comment, stepping over the guard's body and testing the door. It opened smoothly, unlocked, likely because no one expected an attack from this direction. He pushed it open carefully, listening for any sound of alarm.
But there was nothing.
The inside of the manor was eerily silent.
Too silent, in Kael's estimation.
His instincts prickled with warning, but they'd committed to this course of action. Hesitation now would be worse than pressing forward. They moved inside.
The interior was exactly what Kael had expected, obscenely lavish.
Polished marble floors stretched in every direction, reflecting light from golden chandeliers that hung from vaulted ceilings. Expensive paintings in ornate frames lined the walls, depicting scenes of pastoral peace and noble grandeur. Every surface gleamed with wealth.
A stark, insulting contrast to the city outside, where people starved and soldiers died in brutal combat.
Kael's jaw tightened as anger flickered through him. Men like this noble lived in comfort while others bled in the streets.
Mira studied the long hallway stretching ahead of them. "Where would he be at this hour?"
Sera's sharp eyes caught something at the far end of the corridor. A set of ornate double doors stood slightly ajar, candlelight flickering through the gap. Voices carried faintly from within, one voice, actually, speaking to himself.
"There," Kael murmured.
They moved silently down the hallway, keeping to the shadows along the walls and testing each step before committing their weight.
Through the gap in the doors, Kael could see the noble sitting at a long mahogany table. A half-empty goblet of wine sat in his hand. Before him lay a scattered pile of official-looking documents, each one sealed with the unmistakable royal crest of the Earth Kingdom.
Kael's eyes locked onto those documents immediately.
The noble sighed, swirling his wine absently. "The fools still believe we can negotiate peace with those Fire Kingdom dogs..." He laughed quietly, a sound without humor. "As if we'd give up our advantage now."
Kael had heard enough.
He stepped forward and kicked the door open hard. It slammed against the wall with a sharp crack.
The noble jerked upright, his goblet slipping from suddenly nerveless fingers and shattering against the floor in a spray of red wine that looked disturbingly like blood.
Before he could draw breath to scream, Kael was across the room. His dagger pressed against the noble's throat, the edge dimpling skin without quite breaking it.
"Don't move," Kael whispered, his voice carrying absolute certainty. "Don't make a sound."
The noble's entire body went rigid. He swallowed hard, throat working against the blade. His eyes darted desperately toward the door, likely hoping guards would burst through.
Sera moved to block that hope, leaning casually against the closed doors with her arms crossed. "Well, that was easier than expected."
Mira stepped forward, her attention immediately drawn to the papers scattered across the table. She picked up one of the letters, eyes scanning the text rapidly. "We came here for answers." She looked up at Kael. "Looks like we found them."
Kael's grip on the noble remained absolutely steady, the dagger never wavering. "Let's have a conversation, shall we? And I strongly suggest you be honest."
The noble's eyes were wide with fear, but Kael could see calculation working behind them. This man was used to talking his way out of problems.
That wasn't going to work tonight.
"Start talking," Kael said softly. "Why did the Earth Kingdom start this war? And why are you using your own captured royals as an excuse to continue it?"
The noble opened his mouth, then closed it, clearly weighing his options.
Kael pressed the dagger slightly harder. "Choose your next words very carefully."