A Heart Divided

Chapter 40

The Tides of War

The battle raged for what felt like hours, but Eliza lost track of time. Her body was sore, her clothes drenched, and her hands slick with the sweat and blood of the battlefield. The Duke's men fought with fierce determination, but the rebels, fueled by the knowledge that they had everything to lose, held their ground.

A sudden roar from the enemy forces broke through the cacophony of combat, and Eliza turned to see what it was. A large group of cavalry had emerged from the trees, flanking the rebel position. They had been surrounded.

"Eliza!" Alden's voice cut through the noise. He reached her side, his face pale but determined. "We need to move. They're closing in on us from all sides. Elias has given the signal to retreat."

For a moment, Eliza hesitated, her heart heavy with the weight of what retreat would mean. They had come so far. They had fought so hard. But they couldn't win this battle without more help.

She looked around, her eyes catching Elias's in the distance. He was signaling to the other rebels, his orders precise, his movements deliberate. He wasn't giving up. Neither could she.

"Go!" Alden shouted, taking her arm and pulling her away from the front lines. "We're not done yet. But we need to get to safety. Now!"

The two of them ran, the sound of hooves thundering behind them. The enemy was gaining ground, but they were fast, and the rebels had already started pulling back toward the forest.

As they reached the edge of the battle, Eliza saw Elias in the distance, leading the retreat, his figure moving like a commander in full control of the situation. The rebels were falling back, but they weren't fleeing—they were regrouping. They were preparing for the next move.

"We'll fight again," Elias had said earlier that day, and Eliza believed him. The rebellion wasn't over—not by a long shot.

But they were far from safe.