Chapter 164: The Silence Before the Storm

The aftermath of the battle in the throne room left an eerie silence in its wake. The once-gleaming floors were now stained with blood, and the bodies of Isolde's disciples lay scattered, their weapons clattering to the ground. The faint echoes of the clash still hung in the air, but the immediate threat had passed.

Jay sheathed his sword, his chest heaving with exertion. He looked over to Mira, who was wiping blood from her twin blades, her expression grim but determined. The traitor, too, stood catching their breath, the weight of their decision visible in the tired slump of their shoulders. And then there was the woman—their ally—who had saved the traitor's life mere moments ago. Her dagger dripped with blood, and though her face remained calm, her eyes revealed the burden of her choices.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Jay's gaze flicked to the door where Isolde had disappeared, his brow furrowed in thought. "She'll be back," he said quietly. "That wasn't her defeat—it was just a retreat."

Mira nodded in agreement, strapping her swords back into place. "She's too dangerous to just walk away. She'll regroup, and next time, she won't make the same mistakes."

The traitor stepped forward, their voice shaky but resolute. "I know how she operates. She won't rest until she's finished what she started. But we've bought ourselves some time."

Jay turned to them, his expression unreadable. "And what happens now? You've turned on the Order, but you can't go back. What's your plan?"

The traitor hesitated, glancing at the woman beside them. "I never had a plan beyond this," they admitted, their voice quieter now. "I just knew I couldn't let Isolde succeed."

Jay studied them for a moment, weighing his next words carefully. "You helped us tonight, but that doesn't erase the past. Your loyalty is still in question. If you truly want to change sides, you'll have to prove it."

The traitor's face paled, but they nodded in understanding. "I will."

The woman—still nameless—finally spoke, her voice calm but firm. "The Order is fractured now, thanks to this. Isolde's grip is weakening. She'll be furious, but her power isn't what it used to be. If we move quickly, we can exploit that weakness."

Jay turned to her, his eyes narrowing slightly. "And why should we trust you? You've been with the Order for just as long. How do we know you won't turn on us the moment things get worse?"

The woman met his gaze steadily. "Because the Order's promise was a lie. They offered power, but all they gave was chains. I'm done being their puppet." She glanced at the traitor. "Besides, I owe them my life. That's enough reason to stay."

Jay nodded slowly, though his wariness hadn't fully disappeared. "Then we move fast. If Isolde's weakened, we need to strike before she regroups. But first, we secure the palace. The royal family needs to be moved somewhere safe."

Mira took a step closer, her expression thoughtful. "We can't fight the Order head-on. They still have influence in the city—many people don't even know they exist. We'll need to gather our own allies and fight from within."

Jay sighed, running a hand through his hair. The weight of leadership had grown heavier with every passing day. "It's never simple, is it?"

Mira smiled faintly, her usual humor peeking through the tension. "Not when you're trying to stop a secret society of assassins, no."

Hours later, the palace was secured, the royal family moved to a hidden safehouse on the outskirts of the city. Jay and Mira had spent the time ensuring every guard was in place and that no part of the palace was left unguarded. The night was still, but the sense of danger lingered.

In the war room, Jay stood by the large map of the city, tracing possible routes the Order could take if they decided to launch another attack. Mira sat nearby, sharpening her blades, her eyes never straying far from Jay.

The traitor and the woman were across the room, quietly discussing their next steps. Despite their outward calm, it was clear both of them knew the precariousness of their situation. Their survival depended on the trust they could earn, and that wasn't going to be easy.

Jay finally spoke, breaking the silence. "We need to know more about the Order's plans. If Isolde is regrouping, she'll need to do it quietly. But she'll also want to strike again soon—she can't afford to lose momentum."

The traitor nodded, stepping forward. "I can get you that information. I still have contacts within the Order—people who don't know I've turned. I can reach out to them."

Jay's expression was guarded. "You're sure you can do that without getting caught?"

The traitor hesitated for a moment but nodded. "Yes. It's risky, but it's the only way. We need to know what Isolde's next move will be."

Jay exchanged a look with Mira, who shrugged slightly. "It's a gamble, but it might be our only shot," she said. "If we sit around waiting, Isolde will come for us before we can make a move."

Jay sighed. "Alright. Do it. But don't take any unnecessary risks. If something feels off, you pull out. Understood?"

The traitor nodded. "I won't fail."

The woman spoke up then, her voice calm but serious. "I'll go with them. If something goes wrong, I can provide backup."

Jay looked between the two of them, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You're taking a big risk, both of you. If the Order finds out what you've done, there's no coming back."

The woman's gaze was steady. "I know."

The plan was set, and the traitor and the woman would leave the palace at dawn, heading toward the dark corners of the city where the Order still held sway. It was a dangerous mission, but it was their best shot at gaining the upper hand.

As Jay stood by the window, watching the night sky begin to pale into dawn, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was still amiss. Isolde's retreat had been too clean, too calculated. It wasn't like her to leave unfinished business.

He turned to Mira, who had joined him by the window. "What do you think? Can we trust them?"

Mira's gaze was distant, her thoughts clearly on the coming storm. "The traitor? Maybe. They've shown they're willing to help us, but I wouldn't let my guard down just yet. As for the woman... she's an enigma. She's dangerous, but I think she's telling the truth. For now."

Jay nodded, the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders once again. "We'll find out soon enough. If we're wrong, we'll pay for it."

Mira smirked slightly, though there was no humor in her eyes. "Then let's hope we're not wrong."

As dawn broke over the city, the traitor and the woman slipped out of the palace under the cover of early morning mist. Their mission was clear—gather the information, return alive, and give Jay the upper hand against the Order.

But deep down, the traitor knew that this mission was about more than just survival. It was about redemption—about proving that they were more than the weapon they had been trained to be.

And as they moved through the narrow streets, slipping into the shadows of the city, the traitor couldn't shake the feeling that Isolde was already waiting for them.