CHAPTER 27: Kael's Internal Council
Duskwatch Fortress – The War Room
The flickering torchlight cast long shadows across the faces gathered around the war table. Kael watched his council as Myrren read aloud a captured Imperial dispatch detailing the state of the advancing legions: dwindling supplies, low morale, and panicked reports of disappearances in the Blackwood.
"Virelle's whispers are taking root," Myrren said, a grim satisfaction in her voice. "The Empire is starting to doubt itself before we've even drawn a proper battle line."
Dren snorted from where he sharpened his sword. "Good. Let the bastards starve. It's better than facing their numbers head-on."
Seyda stood near the brazier, her red veil shimmering in the firelight. "This doubt… it is a poison of the mind. Subtle, but it weakens the spirit. It is not the way of the Flame, but it is… effective." There was a thoughtful, almost wary, tone in her voice. She seemed to acknowledge the power of Virelle's methods, even if they were foreign to her own zealous faith.
Nalen leaned against the doorframe, his gaze thoughtful. "The reports corroborate the rumours I've been hearing through my old channels. There's a growing resentment within the lesser houses forced to supply this massive host. Virelle is exploiting existing fractures."
Kael nodded slowly. "So, her serpent's tongue is striking true." He looked at Virelle, who stood slightly apart, observing the discussion with a detached air. "My lady, your methods are… unconventional."
Virelle offered a small, enigmatic smile. "War is rarely fought with only swords, Sovereign. Fear and doubt are weapons with their own keen edge, and they cost far less to wield."
Myrren frowned, her gaze sharp on Virelle. "But this reliance on lies and whispers… is it honorable? We fight for a new world built on truth, not the Empire's deceit."
"Truth is a luxury few can afford in war, Myrren," Virelle countered, her voice smooth. "Survival is the only currency that matters. And if a lie can save a thousand lives, is it truly a sin?"
Seyda stepped forward, her eyes fixed on Virelle. "The Flame demands clarity. Deception breeds shadows, and in shadows, heresy can fester." There was an undercurrent of disapproval in her tone, a clash between her fervent belief in the purity of their cause and Virelle's pragmatic manipulation.
Nalen pushed himself off the doorframe. "From the Empire's perspective, we are all heretics. Virelle is simply using their own tools against them – fear, suspicion, self-interest. It's a game they understand, even if they don't like being played."
Kael observed the subtle tensions within his council. Myrren's ingrained sense of honor clashing with Virelle's pragmatism, Seyda's spiritual unease with such deception, and Nalen's detached understanding of the game of power. He saw the potential for friction, but also the strength in their diverse approaches.
"The Empire seeks to erase us," Kael said, his voice firm, cutting through the debate. "They bring fire and steel. We will use every weapon at our disposal to survive. Virelle's methods buy us time and weaken our enemy without shedding our own blood in open battle. For now, that is enough." His gaze lingered on Seyda. "But we must be mindful that our own beliefs remain our foundation, even as we navigate the shadows."