Chapter 160: Eyes in the Shadows

The traitor's heart was still racing after the encounter. The woman's words echoed in their mind, her voice laced with a threat that felt too close for comfort. She hadn't said it outright, but the implication was clear: she knew more than she was letting on. And in the Order, knowing too much was a deadly game.

After she left, the traitor leaned against the door, their hand still gripping the dagger. Trust was a scarce resource in the Order. Everyone had an agenda, and the lines between ally and enemy were constantly shifting. Even the slightest misstep could unravel everything.

The next mission couldn't come soon enough. If they could stay ahead of the game, if they could keep the Serpentmaster's trust, maybe—just maybe—they could find a way out of this deadly dance. But with each passing day, the walls felt like they were closing in.

Across the kingdom, Jay stood before the Council of War, his face grim as he surveyed the table. Maps were spread across it, detailing the borderlands and the recent skirmishes with the Order. The two commanders of the outpost were marked as missing, presumed dead. The impact was already being felt. There were whispers that the Order was making bolder moves, testing the kingdom's defenses.

Beside him, Mira watched silently, her sharp eyes flicking from one council member to another. Though she didn't say much during these meetings, her presence was a steadying force for Jay. They had been through too much together to take any threat lightly, especially one that came from the shadows of the Order.

"The loss of the commanders is a blow we can't ignore," General Tavos, one of the elder members of the council, spoke, his voice gruff and weathered. "We need to strengthen the outposts. The Order will come for more."

Jay nodded but remained silent, his mind elsewhere. There was something off about the way the Order had been moving lately. Their strikes were precise, coordinated, but they lacked the usual brutality. It was as if they were trying to make statements rather than wage all-out war.

"I'll send more troops to the borderlands," Jay said finally, his tone firm. "But we need to be strategic. The Order isn't just testing our defenses—they're probing for weaknesses."

The council members murmured in agreement, but Jay could see the uncertainty in their eyes. The Order of the Serpent had always been an enigma, a threat that lurked just beyond the borders of the kingdom. But now, it felt more personal. The traitor they had sent to infiltrate the Order had yet to send any useful information, and Jay's patience was wearing thin.

After the meeting adjourned, Mira pulled Jay aside, her expression serious. "You're still thinking about them, aren't you? The traitor?"

Jay nodded. "It's been too long. They should've sent word by now. Something's wrong, Mira. I can feel it."

Mira's gaze softened, but there was a hard edge to her voice. "We knew it was a risk, sending them back into the Order. They're playing a dangerous game. But they've survived this long. We have to trust that they'll make it through."

Jay rubbed the back of his neck, tension knotting his muscles. "I don't know if we can afford to wait much longer. If the Order finds out who they really are…"

He didn't finish the sentence, but Mira understood. The traitor's life hung by a thread, and if they were exposed, there would be no saving them.

Back at the Order's stronghold, the traitor was summoned to the Serpentmaster's chamber once again. This time, the air was different—heavier, more ominous. The guards outside the chamber stood more rigidly, their faces betraying nothing, but the traitor could sense the tension.

Inside, the Serpentmaster sat on their throne, their hood drawn low, casting their face in shadow as always. But this time, there was another figure standing beside the Serpentmaster—someone unfamiliar, dressed in the same dark robes of the Order but with an air of authority that set them apart.

The Serpentmaster's voice cut through the silence like a blade. "You have done well, but there is more work to be done. The kingdom is beginning to stir, and we cannot allow them to gain any ground. The king grows restless, and restless kings make dangerous decisions."

The traitor bowed their head, keeping their expression neutral. "What would you have me do?"

The Serpentmaster gestured to the figure beside them. "This is Isolde. She will be overseeing your next mission. The stakes are higher now, and I want you both to ensure that there are no mistakes."

Isolde stepped forward, her dark eyes piercing through the shadows. There was something unnerving about her presence, the way she moved silently, like a predator. "The king has sent reinforcements to the borderlands," she said, her voice low but commanding. "Our spies have reported increased activity along the outposts. We need to strike before they can fortify their defenses."

The traitor's heart sank. Another mission, and this time they wouldn't be working alone. Isolde was clearly someone high-ranking within the Order, and her involvement meant that the Serpentmaster was taking no chances.

"What is the target?" the traitor asked, keeping their voice steady.

Isolde smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "The king himself."

The words hit the traitor like a physical blow. Assassinating the king would be a declaration of all-out war, something that would plunge the kingdom and the Order into a conflict from which there might be no return.

But they couldn't hesitate. Not now. Not in front of the Serpentmaster and Isolde.

The Serpentmaster leaned back in their throne, their voice a chilling whisper. "You will infiltrate the palace during the next council meeting. We have our ways inside, but the timing must be perfect. Isolde will guide you."

The traitor nodded, their mind racing. There was no way they could allow this to happen, but how could they stop it without blowing their cover? Every move they made from this point forward would be scrutinized.

"You leave tomorrow," the Serpentmaster said, dismissing them with a wave of their hand. "Do not fail me."

As the traitor turned to leave the chamber, they could feel Isolde's eyes on their back, watching, analyzing. The mission ahead was more dangerous than anything they had faced before, and the consequences of failure were unthinkable.

That night, the traitor lay in their quarters, unable to sleep. The weight of the upcoming mission pressed down on them like a vice. If they went through with it, the kingdom would be thrown into chaos. But if they failed, the Order would kill them—and possibly everyone they had ever cared about.

The only way out was to find a way to warn Jay, to warn the kingdom. But how could they do that when Isolde would be watching their every move?

In the dead of night, as the stronghold lay in silence, the traitor made a decision. It was a reckless plan, but it was the only option they had left. They would have to find a way to communicate with the kingdom—before it was too late.