Redemption In The Shadows

Within the confines of the Blackspire Mountains, the coldness lingered as Damien and his band sped past the thickets of the forest. In the distance, the fortress stood aloof, its stark outline against the pale light of the rising moon. The slight sounds of shouting were still heard behind them, but they had made good ground to lose their pursuers.

"We are safe," Amara said, her breath misting in the frigid air. "I take it you have noticed the new arrivals?"

The first to speak was the woman, tall with harsh features and piercing green eyes. "You did not really give us that many options back there."

Sheathe his sword, but analogously retained his eyes on her. "You are alive, aren't you? That's above and beyond what Elyas would have offered."

"That's true," the scarred man said blandly. "He would have sold us out in a heartbeat once we ceased to be convenient, Carys."

"Carys," Amara said, tilting her head to see how it sounded. "It's nice to get a name. And you?"she gestured at the man.

"Loric," he answered, casting his eyes throughout the forest for any possible signs of movement.

"Well then, Carys and Loric," Amara said, absentmindedly spinning one of her daggers. "If the two of you are going to stab us in the back, better not. Because I don't miss."

Carys crossed her arms unceremoniously. "Yes, you might have saved us back there, but do not confuse that with being loyal. We are here because it is simply wiser—at least for now."

"Good," Damien said. His voice was a knife. "I don't need your loyalty; what I need is information. Everything you know about Elyas: his contacts; where he moves; what he wants to accomplish."

Loric cast Carys one of those glance-glances, nodding reluctantly. "But we'll need safe lodging, then."

---

The group took refuge in a small cave nestled among the rocks. It was damp and cold, but offered protection from the patrolling Elyas. A small fire burned in front, making shadows dance across the stone walls.

Damien sat opposite them, steel-gray eyes fixed on Carys and Loric. Amara hung about, leaning against the wall, waiting with a stare that compelled attention.

"Start talking," ordered Damien, his tone low and authoritative.

Carys bent toward him, her green eyes luminous from the campfire's flickering light. "Elyas doesn't just back the rebellion of Reynard; he's also using it as a facade to effectuate his larger aim of reconstituting power in the whole kingdom. In silence, he has forged alliances with merchant guilds, noble houses, and mercenary groups."

"And what of the rebellion?" Damien pressed.

"Just an obvious diversion," asked Loric bitterly. "Reynard thinks he is fighting for the throne, but the reality is that Elyas is using him to weaken the kingdom. Once all warring is done, Elyas will emerge from behind the curtains to take control."

Damien clenched his jaw. "What does Reynard know about this?"

Carys shook her head. "Unlikely. An ambitious man, yes, but shortsighted. Elyas has kept him sufficiently occupied with a diet of information that gives him enough attention to sustain the fight while working things to his advantage backstage."

Amara crossed her arms. "What other alliances are in the picture? Bring this down to names, place, and statistics."

"There are many mercenary groups funded by Elyas; one such group isn't the Iron Scales. He has reached out to the Crimson Blades and the Silent Daggers. Both are smaller, but very skilled and loyal to gold."

"And the nobles?" pressed Damien.

"House Draemir and House Falcrest," said Carys. "The two of them funnel resources for the rebellion under the guise of trade agreements. Elyas has promised them a vast influence when his plans succeed."

Damien felt a light head with things racing through his mind. Draemir and Falcrest were big hitters, pockets deep, and connected. Just having them behind Elyas suggested the rebellion might be even deadlier than he had previously imagined.

"We need proof," Damien announced. "Evidence to turn their allies against them."

Carys's smirk was faint. "We tell you this and think it's enough?"

"No," was the blunt reply, "Your words are worth nothing without firm evidence."

"I like him much better this way," grinned Amara. "I really do."

---

The conversation went into the wee hours of the night, with Carys and Loric unfolding details about Elyas's undertakings. All the while, Damien listened with great attention, weaving together bonds in the network of friendships Elyas had constructed.

They had planned their next move as skilfully as a spider weaving its web by the time the dying fire had consumed everything within its fold.

"Well then, we hit his supporters first," Damien declared. "Once we bring down Elyas's alliances, he loses the solidarity of coherence in his power."

Carys raised an eyebrow. "So tell me, how do you plan to do it?"

"It won't be easy," Damien declared. "We shall divide and rule. We haggle with the supply magazine for Draemir and Falcrest, expose them to any or all avenues, and force them to withdraw under pressure. And in one fell swoop, we shall make sure the mercenary contacts are out of reach—starting with the Crimson Blades."

Loric nodded with visible slowness. "There are risks, but I think it could work."

"It will work," said Damien, sounding as if he-were sure of himself.

---

That dawn, the party prepared to move out. Damien had divided his forces into two teams: one to disrupt the noble houses' supply lines, while the other would target the suit and mercenery company: the Renegades known as the Crimson Blades.

Naturally, Amara insisted on remaining by Damien's side.

"We will not succeed without me," she prophesied with a knowing flash in her eye as they were finishing to get ready for battle.

"And I might well do more without the constant patter," Damien answered back, but his tone was softer than before.

With their knowledge of Elyas's ways, Carys and Loric made a powerful addition to Damien's team. While seemingly warier than the other men around them, they appeared committed to the crusade compared to the rest, at least for now.

As they moved toward the camp of Crimson Blades, Damien could not shake off the feeling that they were walking a very thin line. They could make one wrong step and cause a doom-all their fight would go to waste.

--

The encampment of the Crimson Blades lay nestled amidst a thick forest with natural barricades around it, making it nearly impossible to approach from the surface. Scouts had reported that this mercenary group was much smaller than they had expected-they were probably a detachment sent to meet up with Elyas's forces.

Squatting down amidst trees at a good distance from the camp, Damien narrowed his eyes. "Lightly guarded," he said. "We'll split into two groups. One team will create a diversion from the front while the other goes to the back, and take out their leaders."

Amara smiled slyly. "If I am guessing right, I am on the infiltration team?"

"Interrupting that would be a sin! Certainly, they won't notice you!" Damien retarded with a jest, to receive a mock scowl.

The plan fell smoothly into place. Once Damien's diversionary team attacked to draw the mercenary into the front, Amara and Carys would sneak in from the back.

The two women were more like shadows, silent and impossible to notice. They found themselves standing at the door of the central tent, wherein the commander of the Crimson Blades had a meeting with several lieutenants.

Amara lifted a finger, and Carys came to stop. A small blade ran quickly across the canvas of the tent from left to right, and she peered inside.

The burly commander with a scar across his face was conversing with the lieutenants, completely oblivious to the danger outside.

Amara turned to Carys, speaking in a low whisper, "We take out the commander first; the rest will go down without him."

Carys nodded, her green eyes aflame with determination.

---

It was a wild and savage attack. Amara bursted into the tent with her daggers flashing as she slashed the first lieutenant to death. Carys immediately followed her, stabbing the second.

The enraged commander drew forth a colossal broadsword and screamed as he charged at Amara. Amara sidestepped him and grazed his arm with one of her daggers as she did so.

"You'll regret that!" he bellowed, swinging his sword wildly.

"I don't think so," Amara replied with a sly smile on her lips.

The commander was toppling, and Carys gave the last stabbing blow, her sword sinking into his chest.

The remaining mercenaries were dazed at the unfolding drama. Damien's ambush team penetrated through the camp and wiped out the stragglers.

By dusk, the camp of the Crimson Blades lay in ruins.

---

Damien met up again with his boys. Grim satisfaction radiated from him. "One more piece of Elyas's network destroyed," he announced.

Amara wiped her blades clean, her sly smile undiminished. "What next?"

"We've got to keep going," replied Damien. "Elyas is playing a dangerous game, but we do, too. If we hesitate, we will be punished doubly."

Carys and Loric shot each other an unreadable glance.

As the party entered the fading light, a renewed sense of purpose shot through Damien. The road to victory was still riddled with danger, but it was the first time he felt it standing within his grasp.

And Damien Vryce was determined not to lose it.