Kael woke to shouting outside.
He grabbed Soulrender and moved to the window. City guards were searching the streets below. Going door to door.
"Looking for you," Lyra said behind him. She was already awake. "Julian's mobilized half the guard. He's furious."
"Good."
"Good? Kael, they're tearing the city apart. Arresting anyone who might be connected to you."
"Let them waste resources. They won't find us here."
"Not today. But eventually—" She stopped. "We can't stay in the Black Market forever."
"I'm not planning to."
Ethan stirred on the bed. Sat up. "Lyra?"
"I'm here." She went to him. "How do you feel?"
"Better. Hungry."
"I'll get food." Lyra looked at Kael. "Stay with him. I'll be back in an hour."
After she left, Ethan stared at Kael. "You really scared those guards."
"That was the idea."
"Are you going to kill Lord Voss?"
Direct question. The kid didn't waste time.
"Yes," Kael said.
"Good. He's a bad man. He told me if Lyra didn't do what he said, he'd hurt me."
"He won't hurt you anymore."
"Because you'll kill him first."
"That's the plan."
Ethan thought about that. "My father taught me that killing was wrong."
"It is."
"But you do it anyway."
"Because sometimes the alternative is worse." Kael sat across from the boy. "Your father was probably a good man. He had the luxury of believing killing was always wrong. I don't have that luxury."
"Why not?"
"Because people like Julian exist. And they don't stop unless someone stops them."
Ethan nodded slowly. "Lyra says the same thing. She says sometimes you have to do bad things to protect the people you love."
"She's right."
"Do you love someone? Is that why you're doing this?"
Kael thought about his father. About the humiliation. The rage.
"I did. He's dead now. But I remember him. That's enough."
"I'd be scared to forget. Lyra says you lose memories when you use your sword."
Smart kid. Lyra had told him.
"Yeah. Small ones, mostly."
"That's sad."
"It's the price. I'm willing to pay it."
The door opened. Lyra came back with bread, cheese, dried meat. "Breakfast."
They ate in silence. Outside, the searches continued.
"How long will they keep looking?" Ethan asked.
"Days. Maybe weeks." Lyra broke off a piece of bread. "Julian won't give up easily. We embarrassed him."
"We rescued a kidnapped boy," Kael corrected.
"Same thing, to him. He doesn't care about Ethan. He cares about control. We took something of his. That's unforgivable."
"So what's next?"
"We lay low. Let him waste resources searching. Meanwhile, we keep hitting his operations. Make him paranoid. Make him weak."
"That could take months."
"It will take months. Revenge is patient work."
Kael's jaw tightened. Every part of him wanted to march to Voss Hall now.
"I know what you're thinking," Lyra said. "But patience wins wars. Rage just gets you killed."
"I hate waiting."
"I know. But you're learning." She smiled. "A week ago, you would've charged in alone. Now you're thinking about strategy. That's progress."
"Doesn't feel like progress."
"Progress never does. It feels like standing still while everyone else moves." She stood. "Come on. I want to show you something."
Lyra led Kael to a back room. Inside were weapons. Lots of them. Swords, knives, bows, armor.
"My cache," she explained. "Been building it for months. Preparing for when I'd have enough strength to move against Julian."
"You were planning this before I showed up."
"Of course. You think I'd just accept my brother being held hostage? I was gathering resources. Waiting for the right moment. Then you appeared and accelerated everything."
"Sorry."
"Don't be. You're exactly what I needed. Someone who can fight. Someone Julian underestimates." She picked up a leather chest piece. "Here. You can't keep walking around in a shirt. You need armor."
"That'll slow me down."
"It'll keep you alive. The sword makes you fast. Armor makes you smart." She tossed it to him. "Put it on."
Kael did. It fit well. Light but sturdy. Reinforced with metal plates at vital points.
"Better," Lyra said. "Now you look like a real fighter. Not just a kid with a stolen sword."
"It's not stolen. It's mine by birthright."
"Fair point." She moved to a table covered with maps. "Look. These are Julian's operations. Red marks are his gangs. Blue are his merchants. Green are his informants."
Kael studied the map. There were dozens of marks. Julian had his hands in everything.
"We've taken out the Red Vipers," Lyra continued. "Scared off Henrik the merchant. Killed his Crimson Blades. That's three marks gone. But look how many are left."
"Fifty at least."
"Fifty-seven, to be exact. Each one is a source of income or information for Julian. We need to take them all out."
"That'll take forever."
"Months, like I said. But each one weakens him. Makes him paranoid. Eventually, he'll make a mistake. And when he does, we strike."
Kael traced his finger over the map. So many targets. So much work.
"I can help," Ethan said from the doorway.
Lyra turned. "Absolutely not."
"I know the city. I know which guards are corrupt. Which merchants are scared of Julian. I can help."
"You're twelve."
"I'm twelve and was held hostage for six months. I learned things. Saw things. I want to help."
Lyra looked at Kael. "Tell him he's insane."
"He's brave," Kael said instead. "But your sister's right. This is too dangerous."
"You're only eighteen," Ethan pointed out. "Just six years older than me."
"And I've killed forty-five people. You haven't. Let's keep it that way."
Ethan's face fell. But he nodded. "Okay. But I still want to help somehow."
"You can," Lyra said gently. "By staying safe. By being the reason I keep fighting. Can you do that?"
"I guess."
"Good." She hugged him. "Now go rest. Kael and I need to plan."
After Ethan left, Lyra turned back to the map. "He's right, you know. About being helpful. He does know things. But I can't risk him."
"I understand. Family first."
"Speaking of family..." Lyra hesitated. "Julian will go after yours next. Anyone connected to House Voss. Friends. Servants. Anyone."
"I don't have anyone left. My father's dead. My mother died when I was young. Julian made sure I have nothing."
"Then he miscalculated. A man with nothing to lose is the most dangerous kind."
"That's what I'm counting on."
They spent the next hour going over the map. Identifying targets. Planning attacks. Building a strategy.
Outside, the searches continued. But in this hidden room, with maps and weapons and allies, Kael felt something he hadn't felt in days.
Hope.
Maybe they could do this. Maybe they could bring Julian down.
One operation at a time. One mark on the map at a time.
Until there was nothing left but Julian himself.
And then, finally, revenge.
* * *
END OF CHAPTER 12