Journey of the Betrayed

Chapter 7

Betrayal in the Shadows

The journey eastward continued, the weight of the discovery pressing on them like a storm on the horizon. The Shadow Council, the unseen hand controlling the kingdom, had cast a dark shadow over everything they had once believed. But now that they knew their true enemy, the question of what to do next loomed even larger.

As they traveled, Damon led them through hidden paths and forgotten roads, keeping them off the main routes where the king’s patrols roamed. His face was set in grim determination, yet there was a shadow in his eyes that Aaric couldn’t ignore. Each new piece of information seemed to burden Damon more than it lifted him.

But they had no time for distractions. They had to move quickly if they were to stay ahead of the king’s forces and the shadowy figures who worked behind the throne. The rebellion had its network of safe houses, but the further they ventured, the more dangerous their situation became.

The safe house they arrived at that evening was tucked into the hills near a river, a solitary cabin hidden beneath the canopy of thick trees. It was the kind of place that looked abandoned at first glance, yet they knew from Damon’s instructions that it was far from empty. There, they would meet Damon’s contacts, those who could provide them with the next piece of the puzzle.

As they approached the cabin, Damon’s pace slowed, and a deep unease settled over him. Aaric noticed it too—the way Damon’s hand hovered near the sword at his side, the way his eyes darted between the trees as though expecting something, or someone, to appear.

“Damon?” Aaric asked quietly, his voice tinged with concern.

Damon didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he stepped closer to the cabin’s door, his movements careful and deliberate. He knocked three times, then paused, waiting.

No answer.

He knocked again, a bit more urgently this time, but the cabin remained silent. Aaric exchanged a look with Elira, her brow furrowed in suspicion.

“This isn’t right,” Elira said under her breath, her hand moving to her blade.

Aaric nodded, his instincts on high alert. “We need to check the perimeter. Something’s wrong.”

They circled the cabin, scanning every corner and every window. When they reached the back of the house, Aaric felt his stomach drop. The door was slightly ajar.

“Damn it,” Damon muttered, rushing toward it. “They were supposed to be here.”

Aaric followed close behind, Elira at his side. As Damon pushed the door open, the interior revealed nothing but shadows. The small room was empty, except for overturned furniture and a trail of blood leading toward the back of the cabin.

“They were here,” Damon said, his voice tight with anger. “But they’ve been taken.”

The group followed the blood trail, moving cautiously through the cabin’s narrow hallways. The further they went, the more obvious it became that the rebellion’s network had been compromised. The place had been ransacked. Papers were scattered across the floor, a map of the kingdom torn into pieces, and a message scrawled on the wall in what looked like charcoal: The Council is watching.

Aaric’s heart raced. This wasn’t just an ambush—it was a statement. The Shadow Council was aware of their every move, and they had no intention of letting them succeed.

“Who would do this?” Elira asked, her voice low.

“Someone who wants us dead,” Damon replied grimly, his eyes scanning the room for any more clues. “Someone who knew we’d be coming here.”

The sound of footsteps outside made them freeze. Aaric’s hand went to his sword, and Elira positioned herself near the door, ready for a fight. Damon was already moving to the window, his eyes narrowing.

“Stay quiet,” Damon whispered. “We’re not alone.”

Aaric held his breath, listening as the footsteps grew louder. Then, just as suddenly, they stopped.

The door to the cabin burst open, and a group of soldiers from the king’s army stormed in, their weapons drawn. They were dressed in black armor, the insignia of the Shadow Council emblazoned on their chests.

It was an ambush.

Aaric drew his sword just as the first soldier lunged toward him, the clash of steel ringing through the air. Elira moved swiftly, her blade flashing in the dim light as she took down another soldier with a precise strike to the neck. Damon, however, stood frozen, his eyes locked on the soldiers as if recognizing them.

“Damon!” Aaric shouted, trying to draw his attention. But Damon was too far gone, his expression one of shock and disbelief.

Aaric was too late. One of the soldiers grabbed Damon from behind, holding him in a chokehold, and slammed him into the wall.

“Let him go!” Aaric yelled, rushing forward to engage.

But it was no use. The soldiers were too well-trained, too coordinated. They fought with an efficiency that spoke of deep knowledge and preparation.

One soldier turned his gaze toward Aaric, a cruel smile tugging at his lips. “You didn’t think you’d get away, did you?” he sneered. “The Council has been watching you for a long time.”

Aaric’s blood ran cold. “Who are you?”

The soldier’s grin widened. “I’m just the messenger. But you’ll meet the ones who sent me soon enough.”

Aaric lunged forward, his sword flashing through the air, but the soldier dodged with a swift movement, cutting a deep gash into Aaric’s arm. He gritted his teeth against the pain, but he didn’t back down. He couldn’t afford to.

“Get away from him!” Elira shouted, charging forward. She managed to push the soldier back, giving Damon a chance to break free.

“Damon!” Aaric yelled, rushing to his friend’s side. But Damon stood frozen, his gaze still locked on the soldier who had held him.

“Damon, what the hell is going on?” Aaric demanded.

Damon’s eyes flickered, his expression a mixture of anger and regret. “They… they were my old comrades,” he said quietly, as though the words burned him. “I… I helped bring them into the rebellion. But I never knew they were working with the Shadow Council. They’ve been tracking me for months.”

Aaric’s eyes widened as the truth hit him like a slap. Damon had been betrayed by his own allies. The people he had trusted to help him end the reign of the Shadow Council were now the very ones that had sold him out.

“I didn’t know…” Damon whispered, the weight of the betrayal crashing down on him.

Aaric placed a hand on Damon’s shoulder, his voice firm. “This is not your fault. We’ll deal with them. Together.”

The soldiers regrouped, and the battle resumed in full force. Aaric and Elira fought with everything they had, but the soldiers were relentless. Damon, now fueled by the betrayal, fought alongside them, his anger propelling him forward.

But the soldiers had the upper hand. They were too many, and the battle was growing hopeless. Just when Aaric thought they were about to be overwhelmed, a loud crash echoed through the cabin’s walls.

More rebels—real rebels—had arrived, cutting through the soldiers with brutal precision. The tide of the battle turned, and the soldiers retreated, fleeing into the forest.

Aaric stood panting, his sword heavy in his hand. He turned to Damon, his expression hard. “What now?”

Damon’s eyes were filled with both gratitude and guilt. “We can’t keep running. We need to strike now—while they’re vulnerable. But I can’t do this alone. We need to take the fight to the Council.”

Aaric nodded, his resolve hardening. “Then let’s finish this.”

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To be continued...

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