Into the Lion’s Den
The journey to the capital was long and arduous. The landscape shifted from the dense forests and rolling hills of the countryside to the vast, barren plains that led to the kingdom’s heart. As they traveled, the tension in the air grew palpable. Each day brought them closer to the heart of their enemy’s power, and each step felt heavier than the last.
Aaric rode at the front of the group, his thoughts consumed by the mission. The plan had been simple—get into the capital undetected, infiltrate the palace, and deal a decisive blow to the Council’s puppet king. But now, with the reality of it so close, doubt gnawed at him.
He glanced over his shoulder at Damon, who rode quietly beside Elira, his expression unreadable. The last few days had been difficult for Damon. The weight of the betrayal still hung over him like a cloud, and Aaric could sense that the closer they got to the capital, the more Damon retreated into himself.
“Aaric,” Elira’s voice broke through his thoughts. She was riding beside him now, her horse moving at a steady pace. “You’re thinking too much again.”
He forced a half-smile. “Just trying to figure out if this is a terrible idea or if we’re really going to pull this off.”
Elira chuckled, the sound a welcome distraction from the otherwise tense silence. “We’ve come this far, haven’t we? I think it’s too late to turn back now.”
Aaric grinned, though the uncertainty still lingered in his gut. “I suppose you’re right. No turning back now.”
As the group continued on, the capital’s towering walls slowly began to emerge on the horizon. They had been riding for days, but the sight of the city’s stone fortifications still struck Aaric with awe. The walls seemed to stretch endlessly toward the sky, imposing and unyielding.
“We’ll need to take the back route,” Damon said, his voice low, as he reined in his horse to ride alongside Aaric. “The main roads are too dangerous. The king’s guards are too vigilant, and they’ve likely been watching for rebel movements.”
Aaric nodded. “What’s the plan once we get inside?”
Damon paused, considering. “We’ll need to split up. I can get us inside the gates through a secret entrance I know. But once we’re in, we’ll need to move quickly and stay low. We’ll rendezvous at the palace entrance—there’s a courtyard where we can regroup. We’ll find the king and end this once and for all.”
Elira raised an eyebrow. “End it? You mean kill him, don’t you?”
Damon didn’t flinch. “Yes. If we want the Council to fall, the king’s death is the first step. They won’t back down unless we make an example of him. We have no choice.”
The harshness in his voice surprised Aaric, but he couldn’t deny the truth in Damon’s words. The king, though once a figurehead of authority, had long since become a puppet—a figurehead for the Council’s agenda. Taking him out would be a symbolic act, a beacon of defiance that would spark the flames of rebellion across the kingdom.
They reached the outer walls as the sun began to set, the last rays of light disappearing behind the fortress. Damon led them to a narrow path that wound through the rocks and hills toward a concealed door hidden beneath the wall. It was a passage used by the palace’s staff—something Damon had discovered in his years of service to the Council.
“Stay close,” Damon warned, his voice low but urgent. “And stay quiet. This is where the real danger begins.”
The narrow passage was dark and musty, the air thick with the scent of stone and decay. The walls seemed to close in on them as they moved through the tunnels, their footsteps echoing in the silence. Aaric’s hand rested on the hilt of his sword, ready for whatever might come their way.
After what felt like hours, they emerged into a small courtyard just inside the capital’s walls. The city sprawled out before them, a maze of narrow alleys, towering buildings, and the distant gleam of the palace rising above the city’s rooftops. It was as if the kingdom’s entire weight pressed down on them, suffocating and overwhelming.
Damon led them through the streets, taking them through hidden alleys and forgotten backdoors, avoiding the watchful eyes of the city’s guards. The further they went, the more tense Aaric became. His senses were heightened—every movement, every sound seemed to echo in his mind.
They finally reached the palace’s outer courtyard, a place of stone and gravel where guards often stood watch. Damon signaled for them to stop, his eyes scanning the area.
“We’ll wait here for now,” Damon said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll find a way to get us inside.”
Aaric nodded, his pulse quickening. They were so close now. But even as he stood there, waiting in the shadows, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The city was too quiet, too still.
“Something’s not right,” Aaric murmured to Elira, his voice low.
She glanced around, her hand resting on the hilt of her dagger. “I know. But we don’t have a choice now.”
Just then, a sharp noise echoed from the other side of the courtyard. A guard, walking too close to their hiding spot, turned the corner. The group froze, every muscle tensed in anticipation. The guard’s footsteps grew louder, and Aaric’s heart raced.
“Get down,” Damon hissed, pulling them all further into the shadows.
They crouched low, blending into the darkness, waiting for the guard to pass. Time seemed to slow as the man moved closer, his armor clanking with every step. Aaric’s hand was on his sword, ready to strike if necessary.
Just as the guard reached their hiding spot, Damon’s hand shot out, gripping the guard’s arm with inhuman speed and yanking him into the shadows. The guard let out a muffled cry before Damon slammed his fist into his temple, knocking him unconscious.
Aaric exhaled in relief, his body still tense from the near encounter.
“That was too close,” Elira whispered.
Damon gave her a grim smile. “We can’t afford to make any more mistakes. We’re in this now, and we’re not leaving without the king.”
With the guard incapacitated, Damon quickly stripped him of his armor, dressing one of their own in it. They now had a brief window to slip through the palace’s outer defenses. It was now or never.
“We move now,” Damon said, his voice low and commanding. “Follow my lead, and stay close.”
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The path ahead was fraught with peril, but the spark of rebellion had been ignited. With their cover blown and their mission clear, the only thing left was to confront the king and dismantle the Council’s stranglehold on the kingdom. They had come this far, and they weren’t about to turn back now.
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To be continued...
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Journey of the Betrayed
ActionA novel about someone who gets betrayed and get his revenge back, will he succesed the revenge? or no? read till the end!
