Three days passed quickly, filled with planning and preparation. Rake provided floor plans of the merchant offices, while Lyra gathered information about the guards' routines and shift changes.
The vault was underground, accessible only through a heavily reinforced door in the back office. Two guards stood watch at all times, with four more patrolling the building itself.
"Six guards total," Rake said, spreading the plans across the table. "Not impossible, but tricky. The vault door needs two keys—one held by the head merchant, the other by Julian's treasurer."
"Where are they?" Kael asked, studying the layout.
"The merchant keeps his key on him at all times. The treasurer..." Rake tapped a building across the street. "Lives there. Alone. Easy target."
Lyra leaned forward, her finger tracing the routes between buildings. "So we hit the treasurer first, quietly. Get the key. Then move on the merchant during the shift change when security is weakest."
"Exactly," Rake agreed. "My men will create a distraction in the market square. Fire, maybe, or a staged fight. Something to draw attention. While the city guard responds, we slip in and out."
Kael looked at the vault's location on the map, noting how deep underground it was. "What about after we open it? How do we get out with the ledgers?"
"That's where you come in," Rake said, pointing at Kael. "You're fast, and that sword of yours makes people hesitate. You grab the books, we cover your escape. Simple."
"Nothing about this is simple," Lyra muttered, but she was smiling slightly. "Still, it's a solid plan. Better than most."
That night, they moved. Kael and Lyra approached the treasurer's house while Rake positioned his men around the merchant offices, ready to strike.
The treasurer's house was modest, unremarkable. A single candle burned in an upstairs window.
"He's still awake," Lyra whispered, crouching beside Kael in the shadows across the street. "We wait for the light to go out."
They waited. Minutes stretched into an hour. Finally, the candle flickered and died.
"Now," Lyra said, already moving.
They crossed the street silently, reaching the back door. Lyra pulled out her lockpicks, working them with practiced ease. The lock clicked open within seconds.
Inside, the house was dark and quiet. They moved through the kitchen, down a hallway. Stairs leading up creaked under their weight, but not loudly enough to wake anyone.
The treasurer's bedroom door stood slightly ajar. Kael pushed it open slowly, every muscle tense and ready.
The man slept in his bed, snoring softly. His clothes hung on a chair nearby, and Kael could see a glint of metal—the key, hanging from a chain.
Lyra moved forward, her steps impossibly quiet. She reached for the key, her fingers closing around it—
The treasurer's eyes snapped open.
"Wha—" he started, but Kael was already there, hand clamping over his mouth.
"Don't scream," Kael said quietly, his voice cold and dangerous. "We just want the key. Give it to us, and you live. Fight, and you don't. Simple choice."
The treasurer's eyes were wide with terror, darting between Kael and the black sword on his back. He nodded frantically.
Kael released him slowly. The man didn't scream, just sat there breathing hard, watching them.
Lyra unhooked the key from the chain. "Thank you for your cooperation," she said pleasantly, as if they were having tea. "Stay quiet for the next hour, and you'll see tomorrow."
They left him there, frozen in fear, and slipped back out into the night.
"One key down," Lyra said, holding it up. "Now for the hard part."
They met Rake two streets away. He had six men with him, all armed, all looking nervous but determined.
"The distraction is ready," Rake reported. "On your signal."
Kael nodded. "Do it."
One of Rake's men ran off. Minutes later, shouting erupted from the market square. Smoke began to rise.
"That's our cue," Rake said, and they moved.
The merchant offices were in chaos. Guards were running toward the market, responding to the distraction. Only two remained at their posts—one at the front door, one at the back.
"I'll take the back," Kael said. "You handle the front."
"Alive or dead?" Rake asked.
"Your choice," Kael replied, already moving.
He approached the back entrance, where a single guard stood looking toward the smoke in the distance, clearly debating whether to abandon his post and help.
Kael made the decision for him, slamming the guard's head against the wall. The man dropped without a sound.
Inside, the building was dimly lit and eerily quiet. Kael moved through the corridors, following the floor plan he'd memorized. Down the stairs. Through a storage room. Another locked door—Lyra had given him lockpicks, but he'd never been good with them.
"Just break it," Soulrender suggested lazily.
Kael kicked the door. Once. Twice. The lock gave way on the third kick.
Beyond was the vault room. The massive iron door stood before him, waiting. Two keyholes, just as Rake had said.
Footsteps above. Shouting. Someone had heard the noise.
Kael pulled out the treasurer's key, inserted it into the first lock. It turned smoothly. Now he needed the merchant's key—
The door behind him burst open. A guard stood there, sword drawn, and behind him was a portly man in expensive clothes. The merchant.
"You!" the merchant shouted. "Guards! To me!"
The guard charged. Kael drew Soulrender, meeting the attack. Their blades clashed once, twice, then Kael's sword cut through the guard's weapon and continued through his chest.
The merchant screamed and turned to run, but Kael caught him, slamming him against the wall.
"The key," Kael demanded. "Now."
"I don't—I don't have—"
Kael pressed Soulrender's blade against his throat. "Last chance."
With trembling hands, the merchant reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. Kael snatched it and shoved the man aside.
More footsteps coming. He had seconds.
Kael jammed the second key into the lock, turned it. The vault door groaned and began to swing open.
Inside were shelves of documents, ledgers, account books. Everything Julian wanted hidden.
Kael grabbed as many as he could carry, stuffing them into the bag Lyra had given him. Names. Numbers. Crimes written in ink.
"Kael!" Lyra's voice from the stairs. "We need to go! Now!"
Kael grabbed one more ledger and ran. Lyra was waiting at the top of the stairs, Rake beside her. Behind them, more guards were coming.
"This way!" Rake shouted, leading them down a side corridor.
They burst out into an alley. Rake's men were there, holding horses.
"Ride!" Rake commanded, and they did.
The horses carried them through the dark streets, away from the shouting and chaos. They didn't stop until they reached the safe house, where they finally dismounted, breathless and exhilarated.
Kael dumped the ledgers onto the table. There were seven of them, each one thick with pages.
"We did it," Lyra said, her eyes shining. "We actually did it."
Rake picked up one of the ledgers, flipping through it. His smile grew wider with each page. "This is everything. Names of corrupt officials. Illegal deals. Money laundering. Julian's entire empire, written down in black and white."
"This is enough to destroy him," Kael said, feeling the weight of what they'd accomplished.
"Not just him," Rake corrected. "Everyone who worked with him. The whole corrupt system." He looked up at Kael. "You've just struck the biggest blow yet. When this information gets out, Julian won't be able to trust anyone."
Lyra placed her hand on Kael's arm, squeezing gently. "Well done," she said softly.
For the first time since this all began, Kael felt like victory might actually be possible.
* * *
END OF CHAPTER 16