A Heart Divided

Chapter 37

The First Strike

The night was their cover, but the storm that rolled in soon after they began their march only added to the chaos. Eliza and the rebels moved through the rain-soaked fields, their cloaks clinging to their bodies, their feet slipping in the mud. The sounds of their movements were drowned out by the pounding rain, but their hearts beat loudly in their chests.

As they neared the Duke's patrol post, Eliza's mind raced. She had trained for this moment, but nothing could truly prepare her for what was to come. The first clash, the first blood shed—this was real.

A sharp command rang through the air, and the rebels sprang into action. Eliza's heart pounded in her chest as she gripped her sword, the metal cold in her hand. This was it.

The patrol was small, no more than a handful of soldiers. But they were well-armed, and their surprise at the rebels' attack was brief. Within moments, the clash of swords and the shouts of battle filled the air.

Eliza's body moved on instinct as she fought alongside the rebels. The weight of the sword felt natural now, the motions smoother, faster. She parried a blow from one soldier, then swiftly struck back, her sword cutting through the air with precision. She was a fighter now.

Alden was by her side, his own blade flashing in the dim light. Their movements were coordinated, like a dance, a rhythm they had perfected through days of training. For a brief moment, Eliza allowed herself to believe that maybe—just maybe—this was the beginning of something that would change everything.

But as the last of the soldiers fell, Elias's sharp voice broke through the storm.

"Move! Now!" he shouted. "We've got more incoming!"

Before Eliza could react, the sound of galloping hooves filled the air. The reinforcements had arrived. The storm was only beginning, and it wasn't just the rain that would test them. It was the forces of the Duke, and they were coming for her.