A lady of Resilience

Chapter 21: A Dangerous Gambit

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Seraphina and Ashford huddled together near the edge of the dock, their breath visible in the cold night air. The stakes had never been higher. Destroying Montrose's shipment of arms could cripple his insurrection before it even began, but it was a task fraught with peril. They were only two against dozens of ruthless men, and one mistake would mean their deaths.

Ashford's brow was furrowed in deep thought as he scanned the warehouse entrance, where Montrose's men guarded the precious cargo. The tension between them was palpable, and the weight of what they were about to do hung over them like a storm cloud.

"We'll need fire," Ashford said quietly, his voice barely audible above the sound of the waves lapping against the dock. "It's the only way to destroy the shipment quickly without getting caught in a fight."

Seraphina's heart skipped a beat. The thought of setting the warehouse ablaze was bold, reckless even. But she knew Ashford was right. They couldn't afford to waste time picking off guards or dismantling the shipment piece by piece. A fire would cause chaos, create a distraction, and hopefully force Montrose's men to abandon the docks.

"We'll need oil," she replied, her eyes scanning the area for anything that might serve their purpose. "There are lanterns and barrels of supplies stacked near the warehouse. If we can get to those, we can set the fire and slip away before anyone realizes what's happening."

Ashford nodded, his face set in grim determination. "I'll start on the barrels. You find a way to get the lanterns without raising suspicion."

Seraphina hesitated for a moment, then nodded, her mind racing as she calculated the risks. They would need to act quickly and quietly. Montrose's men were already on edge, and any strange movement might alert them.

She slipped away from Ashford, moving silently along the dock, keeping to the shadows. The docks were still bustling with activity, but most of the workers were focused on unloading cargo from other ships, oblivious to the danger lurking nearby. Seraphina's heart raced as she approached the stack of supplies, her eyes scanning for anything that could help their plan.

There, near the base of the stack, were several oil lanterns. They were used to light the path for the dockworkers, but tonight, they would serve a more dangerous purpose.

Seraphina crouched low, carefully lifting two of the lanterns from their hooks. She glanced around, making sure no one was watching her. The flickering light from the lanterns cast long shadows across the dock, and for a moment, she felt a chill run down her spine. They were so close to the edge of danger, yet it felt like they were walking into the mouth of the beast.

She returned to Ashford, who was already working on one of the barrels of oil, prying it open with a small tool he had hidden in his coat. His movements were quick and precise, his focus unwavering.

"I've got the lanterns," Seraphina whispered as she knelt beside him. "How much oil do we need?"

"Enough to soak the crates inside," Ashford replied, not taking his eyes off his work. "Once the fire catches, it'll spread fast. We'll have minutes, maybe less, before the whole place goes up."

Seraphina's stomach twisted. The thought of setting such a destructive force in motion both thrilled and terrified her. But they had no choice. Montrose had to be stopped, and this was the only way to cripple him before he could act.

They worked in silence, moving with practiced efficiency. Ashford managed to pry open three more barrels of oil, positioning them near the entrance to the warehouse. Meanwhile, Seraphina spread the oil from the first barrel along the ground near the stacks of crates inside, careful not to make too much noise. Each step brought her closer to the heart of Montrose's plan.