Redemption In The Shadows

Along the shadowed uneven corridors of the Blackspire Mountains, the fortress was a build of cold stone; deep inside it, whispers began fabricating secrets that had long stayed unconfessed. Quietly moving through its innermost depths, Damien and Amara found that their presence was covered in silence by the echoes of any patrolling guard and the flickering glow of the distant torch.

Amara crouched low; her piercing blue eyes scrutinized the other corridor. "How many turns does this case have? I'm certain we've been looping within this coal for hours."

"We're close," Damien said, just a whisper. One hand rose sharply to communicate for silence.

Amara leaned against the wall and folded her arms. "And you have said this in the last three rooms."

Damien shot her a sharp glance. "Would you rather have me cede the leadership to you?"

A slight twitch crossed her lips. "I would have, but then you would owe me for doing your job."

Damien ignored her and focused on the soft voices that had permeated through the chilling air. They were soft and distant, yet distinct enough to guide his way.

"This way," he said as he gestured for them to move.

---

They pressed themselves into the hallway until they reached a gigantic wooden door. The voices were clearer now, loud and heated; their words barely being audible through the thick timber.

Damien put his ear at the door and motioned for Amara to stand on guard.

"We have been patient long enough, Elyas," said a voice that was unfamiliar to Damien. It was deep and was charged with restrained fury. "Promises don't mean a thing without actual results. Reynard is losing his ground, and this war has become comic."

It was Elyas, his tone unfaltering and the same as he had always known it to be. "Reynard's losses are only temporary. Victory is never realized without sacrifices in progress. If you cannot take this, I'd advise you to go away now."

A voice in the room scoffed. "Bold word yourself, Elyas; still, I wonder if you remember that our investments keep this rebellion afloat. If Reynard collapses, we go down with him too."

Damien's jaw tightened because he was putting the conversation together. The hitherto uncovered voices belonged to Elyas's benefactors—they were powerful figures, who had joined hands for financing Reynard's rebellion. If he could expose them, they would deal a death blow to Reynard's cause.

Amara put her hand softly on his shoulder and murmured, "What's the plan? Listen until they spill all their secrets or make this more... hands-on?"

"Patience," whispered Damien. "We need proof; we cannot be dealing in words only."

Amara nodded slowly, although a hand lingered over the hilt of her dagger.

---

Inside, the conversation continued.

"What about Vryce?" asked one of the voices. "He disassembles your plans faster than you can rebuild them, for Christ's sake! At this rate, there'll be nothing left to fight for."

Elyas laughed abundantly. "Vryce may be a nuisance, but that's all he is—a distraction! He'll fall soon, just as he always does; and when he does, we'll sweep in to take what is ours."

Damien tightened his hold on the sword. The statements pierced him, and they hurt not because they were untrue, but rather because Elyas's unshakable belief in his fall reminded Damien of the man he'd borne once—carelessly and oblivious to the consequences of his actions.

"And what about your benefactor?" the voice prodded again, "the one pulling your strings?"

Elyas's voice turned sharp and cold. "You forget your place. I'm no one servant. I work with those who share my vision, but no one commands me."

A hush fell over the room as awareness descended.

Amara turned incisively toward Damien, silently asking him for help. The latter only shook his head slightly, communicating with Amara to wait.

---

The discussion resumed, but the voices dropped an octave lower as they exchanged whispers. Half-distracted, Damien was catching snatches of the conversations-noble houses, mercenary groups, and plans to further destabilize Winterhold.

Finally, Amara turned toward him, issuing the words under her breath. "That ought to seal the deal. Strike now, while we still can."

The risk was tremendous, Damien thought. What if they acted now and were pinned down within the very heart of enemy territory and met their failure fates?

And if they succeeded…

"Agreed," he muttered back. "We move fast; focus on Elyas. He has to be alive."

The smirk returned to Amara's face. "Alive? You must be joking."

---

With a nod, Damien opened the door just enough to allow Amara into the room.

With the only light coming from a few low burning candles, the most striking detail was the massive table, upon which maps and documents had been spread throughout it. Elyas stood at the head of the table, with three others surrounding him-two men and one woman-all of whom had turned at the arrival of the intruders.

"What a pleasant surprise," Elyas said with a smile of surprise mingled with amusement.

Damien, however, was on them before Elyas could speak again. "Get away from the table. All of you."

The general turned toward them, and the brute's, more bulky frame broken by a raking scar across his face, let escape a little snicker. "You're brave, Vryce; but do you really believe you can take on all of us?"

Amara moved at Damien's side, daggers glimmering in the few streams of light. "Bravado does not equal stupidity. You might want to think twice before testing us."

Elyas lifted a hand, never dropping that smirk. "Stand down," he told the others. "Damien is nothing if not... resourceful. Let us hear what he has got to say."

"What I've got to say?" began Damien in a cold tone. "This is how I end the rebellion-and you, Elyas, will help me."

Elyas give a laugh. "And why should I do that?"

"Because I will bring down everything you have built if you do," said Damien. "Starting with your allies."

He gestured toward the rest of those around the table, glimmering with the sword under dim light. "Every one of you is involved in this rebellion. When Reynard falls-and it shall be so-you will all go down with him. Unless you change sides right now."

The woman, who had been quiet until now, pierced Damien with her eyes. "And you seriously expect us to betray Elyas and cast our lot with you? What guarantees can you give us that once we help you, you're not going to turn around and betray us?"

Damien met the stare full-on. "Because, unlike Elyas, I don't treat people like pawns. Do you want to help me finish this thing? I promise you'll not suffer for it."

Elyas let out a laugh that throbbed with cold and bitterness. "You have changed, Damien, but you still remain incredibly naïve. These people do not care about loyalty-they care about power."

"You know what? Power is useless if you don't survive. What he's providing you is survival," Amara cut in hotly, glinting towards Elyas. "Elyas? He's merely postponing the reality check that created him and everyone else. What promises do I have that you won't just sell us out once you accomplish whatever mission you're out on?"

With that, silence fell hard.

Damien's sword did not waver, and he stared at Elyas. "It is your choice: fight me and lose everything, or help me end this now."

One of the men could carry it no longer, and he took a step back as though pale with fright. "I'm no fool. If Reynard loses, there will definitely be no future for us in this rebellion."

The woman paused, then nodded reluctantly. "I will think over the terms."

Elyas's mocking smile fell away, to be replaced by a cold-eyed glare. "Cowards, all of you."

"You are alone, Elyas," Damien said. "It is over."

Elyas's expression darkened, but before he could speak, a distant sound like boots echoing down the hall proclaimed the arrival of backup.

Amara cursed under her breath. "We should be going."

Damien beckoned toward the others. "If you're coming with us, now is the time."

The woman and the scarred man exchanged glances then stepped away from the table.

"Traitors," Elyas sneered.

"To recognize a traitor one has to be one," Amara's smile was belligerent.

---

The gang slipped out the chamber as the reinforcements arrived. They did take easy escape; Elyas's voice conjugated along the halls, filling them with threats of revenge.

Damien clenched his jaw. Though Elyas slipped through his fingers for the second time, he had gained something far more important-proof of the rebellion's inner workings and a chance to dismantle them from within.

Damien retreated into the murky coldness, feeling the scales of rebellion swing and change. For the first time, he saw a clear path to victory.

And Elyas, clever as he was, would never do that to him.