The corridors of Fortress Valtheron seemed quieter than usual. Too quiet. The air was thick with unease — the kind that seeps into the bones and makes every echo sound suspicious.
Kael walked with deliberate calm, though his fingers still ached from gripping his cane during the battle. Rylan matched his pace, scanning every doorway and alcove with the precision of a soldier who trusted nothing.
"They're inside the walls," Rylan muttered. "That strike wasn't a message — it was a test. They were probing the palace's defenses… and yours."
Kael's jaw tightened. "Then they've learned I won't sit idle."
Rylan shot him a look. "They've also learned who matters most to you."
Kael didn't answer. He didn't need to. The memory of Liora's face under the flickering torchlight — fierce, unyielding, yet so achingly human — was burned into his mind. If the serpent meant to exploit weakness, they would find none there.
---
Council in Shadows
By morning, the council chambers of Fortress Valtheron were gathered in uneasy silence. Ministers, generals, and advisors lined the long obsidian table.
King Valtheron sat at its head, his expression carved in stone. "You are certain this was no isolated attack?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Kael said, voice steady. "The serpent's operatives acted with coordination and foreknowledge. They struck where we were most vulnerable — near the hidden passages that only palace staff should know."
The king's gaze sharpened. "Then someone within our ranks is feeding them information."
Murmurs rippled through the council. Kael listened — the tones, the hesitations, the quickened heartbeats behind their words. Lies had a sound all their own.
Finally, one voice broke through the noise — smooth, calm, too deliberate. "Perhaps we should not leap to conclusions," said Lord Varyn, one of the king's senior counselors. "Panic benefits only our enemies. We might be chasing shadows that aren't there."
Kael turned his head slightly toward the sound. "Or perhaps you would prefer we ignore the serpent while they carve their mark into our walls?"
Varyn stiffened. "Mind your tone, Prince Kael."
"Mind your loyalties, Lord Varyn."
The room fell silent. Even the king's ring scraped faintly against the arm of his throne — a small sound, but one that ended the exchange.
---
Secrets in the Garden
Later that day, Liora stood in the eastern gardens, where the air still carried traces of the night's battle. Fallen petals mixed with the scent of iron and smoke. She looked up as Kael approached, the silver trim of his cloak glinting faintly in the light.
"They're looking for someone to blame," she said softly.
"They'll find many willing to point fingers — few willing to see truth."
Liora's gaze moved toward the marble fountain. "And you? What do you see?"
Kael was silent for a moment. "Patterns. The serpent's movements are not random. Someone in the court is guiding them — feeding them just enough to stay one step ahead."
Her expression hardened. "Then we find the traitor."
His lips curved faintly. "We will. But quietly. Panic is the serpent's weapon — we cannot let them think we're afraid."
Liora hesitated, then added, "Kael… when they attacked last night — you shielded me without hesitation. Why?"
Kael tilted his head. "Because if you fell, I would lose more than a guard. I would lose the only person who doesn't treat me like a symbol."
The words hung between them — quiet, raw, unguarded.
For a heartbeat, Liora couldn't breathe. Then, soft and steady, she said, "Then we fight together. As equals."
"As always," he murmured, and though his expression remained calm, there was something fierce beneath his composure — something only she could see.
---
The Betrayer's Trail
That night, Rylan returned with news. He set a small, bloodstained scrap of parchment on Kael's desk. The serpent symbol was drawn in silver ink.
"Found this near the northern archive. Guard was missing — found later in the stables. Throat cut."
Kael reached out, fingers brushing the parchment. Beneath the serpent mark, faint letters were visible, etched in haste.
"The coil tightens — within the council."
Rylan's expression darkened. "Whoever wrote that died trying to warn us."
Kael's mind raced. "Then our traitor is close. Very close."
He stood, moving toward the balcony where the moonlight spilled across the floor. "Have the council chamber sealed at dawn. I want every movement within these walls monitored. And keep Liora close — but discreetly. If the serpent knows she fights beside me, she'll be their next target."
Rylan nodded. "Understood."
As his footsteps faded, Kael remained at the balcony, the night breeze tugging at his cloak. The serpent's message replayed in his mind, each word twisting tighter — within the council.
The war in the shadows had just turned inward.
---
The Intercepted Letter
Hours later, Liora found something unexpected in the royal library — a sealed envelope addressed not to Kael or the king, but to Lord Varyn.
The seal bore the faint, curling impression of a serpent.
Her pulse quickened. She scanned the shelves, ensuring she was alone, before slipping the letter open with her dagger.
Inside was a single sentence, written in the same silver ink as the serpent's sigil:
"The prince suspects. Prepare the offering."
Liora's stomach twisted. Offering?
Before she could analyze further, a soft creak echoed from behind her. She spun — only to see Lord Varyn standing in the doorway, his eyes sharp, his smile too calm.
"Curiosity," he said smoothly, "is a dangerous trait in this palace, Lady Liora."
Her grip tightened on the letter. "And treachery is worse."
He took a slow step forward. "Careful. You're far from your prince's protection right now."
Her blade flashed, steady and unflinching. "And you're closer to mine than you should be."
Varyn's eyes glinted — admiration or threat, she couldn't tell. "You're brave. I almost pity what the serpent will do with that."
Then he was gone, leaving the faint scent of ink and smoke behind — and a dread that coiled like a living thing in her chest.
---
A Dangerous Revelation
When Liora returned to Kael's chambers, he was waiting — his expression grave. "You're late."
"I found something." She handed him the letter.
He read it silently, every muscle in his jaw hardening. "An offering," he repeated. "They're planning a sacrifice."
"To what end?"
"To draw me out," he said coldly. "They want a show of power — something that will break the court's faith in me."
He set the letter down carefully. "But they've made a mistake."
Liora frowned. "Which is?"
"They've given us time."
---
The Calm Before the Storm
Dawn crept across the horizon, painting the towers of Calderis gold and crimson. Kael stood at the balcony, the serpent's letter clutched in his hand. Below, the capital stirred — unaware that treachery brewed behind the palace walls.
Liora approached quietly. "You haven't slept."
"Neither have you."
She smiled faintly. "I could say I was guarding you."
Kael's lips curved. "And I could say I didn't need it."
But the truth lingered unspoken — he did. Not just her blade, but her presence. Her belief.
He turned toward her, voice low but resolute. "Today, we stop waiting for the serpent to strike. We strike first."
Her eyes met his. "Then let's make sure they never rise again."
Together, they stepped from the balcony into the light of morning — not as prey, but as hunters ready to turn the tide.
--