A Heart Divided

Chapter 42

The Last Stand

The rebels quickly fell into formation, their backs against the jagged rock walls of the pass. The first wave of Duke's soldiers appeared on the horizon, their weapons drawn, their faces grim. They had the advantage of numbers, and the mountain pass was too narrow for the rebels to use their full strength. It was now or never.

Eliza stood beside Alden, her sword at the ready, her heart pounding. She could see the terror in the faces of the younger rebels, but she refused to let fear take hold. She was not the princess who would run from a fight. She was Eleanor—the leader of this rebellion. And she would not let her people die in this pass, not without a fight.

"Hold the line!" Elias's voice rang out, steady and commanding. "We fight together! For the kingdom!"

The first wave of soldiers charged, and the rebels met them with a battle cry that seemed to shake the mountains themselves. The clash of steel echoed through the pass as Eliza fought with all the fury she could muster, her body moving instinctively, her sword cutting down enemies left and right.

But the Duke's forces were relentless, and the gap between the rebels and their pursuers was closing quickly.

"Elias!" Eliza shouted, her voice barely carrying above the chaos. She saw the rebel leader cut through the soldiers with brutal efficiency, but he was becoming surrounded.

"We need to break through!" Alden said, grabbing her arm. "We can't stay here!"

But Eliza hesitated. She couldn't leave them. She couldn't leave Elias, who had given them everything. She looked over to where he stood, holding the line, bloodied but unyielding.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze. And then, as if on cue, the rebel leader's gaze met hers. In his eyes was an unspoken command—a silent promise.

Do what you came here to do.

And Eliza knew then that it wasn't just about the rebellion. It wasn't just about the throne. It was about freedom—for everyone.

"Let's go!" she shouted to Alden.

And with that, the rebellion surged forward, their fury unmatched as they broke through the ranks of the Duke's soldiers, cutting their way toward freedom. The battle for the kingdom had only just begun.