Chapter 20: The Spark of Rebellion

The tavern was a world of its own, buzzing with murmurs of trade, drunken laughter, and the occasional scuffle. Karima kept her hood low as she listened to Corvin explain the rebellion's movements. They had been gaining ground, but the High Council's forces were relentless, crushing uprisings before they could grow into anything meaningful.

She traced the rim of her cup with her finger, her mind racing. Ten thousand gold for her capture—alive. That wasn't just a bounty. It was a statement.

"They're afraid of you," Corvin said, watching her closely. "You realize that, don't you?"

Karima scoffed. "If they were afraid, they'd have killed me by now."

"They tried," Haytham reminded her, leaning back against his chair. "And failed. Multiple times."

Corvin nodded. "And that's why they need you alive. Whatever the Council is planning, you're a part of it."

Karima sighed, glancing around the room. "Then we strike first."

Corvin chuckled. "Bold. But where do you plan to start?"

She met his gaze. "By finding the rebels."

He leaned forward, his expression serious. "They don't just let anyone walk in."

Karima tilted her head. "Good thing I'm not just anyone."

The journey to the rebel hideout was grueling. Corvin led them through abandoned roads and forgotten trails, places where the Council's patrols rarely ventured. Days passed in a blur of movement, resting only when absolutely necessary.

Karima and Haytham rarely spoke, but the silence between them was no longer uncomfortable. It was something else—an understanding.

She caught him watching her once, late into the night when they sat by the fire. He said nothing, but the weight of his gaze lingered longer than it should have. She didn't call him out on it. She wasn't sure she wanted to.

By the fourth day, they reached the entrance to the rebels' stronghold—a hidden fortress nestled within the ruins of an old kingdom long forgotten. Watchtowers stood against the skyline, their torches barely visible through the thick mist that clung to the valley.

Corvin stopped just short of the outer perimeter. "This is as far as I go."

Karima arched a brow. "You're not coming with us?"

He smirked. "I have my own ways of getting in."

Before she could question him further, he disappeared into the trees, leaving her and Haytham to face the guards stationed at the entrance.

One of them stepped forward, his armor worn but well-kept. "State your business."

Karima pulled back her hood. "I want to speak with your leader."

The guard's eyes widened as recognition set in. "You're—"

"Yes," she cut him off. "And I don't have time to waste."

The man hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Follow me."

The rebel camp was unlike anything Karima had expected. It wasn't just soldiers preparing for war—it was families, children playing between tents, healers tending to the wounded, blacksmiths forging weapons. It was a community, a place where people had carved out a life despite the looming threat of the Council.

Haytham took it all in with a quiet sort of admiration, but Karima could see the way his jaw tightened when they passed a group of orphans sitting outside a makeshift schoolhouse. He had never spoken much about his past, but she knew enough to understand that sights like these hit closer to home than he let on.

The guard led them to a large tent near the center of the camp, where a woman stood over a map, deep in discussion with a group of advisors. She was tall, her presence commanding, her dark hair braided back in intricate loops.

She looked up as they entered, her gaze sharp. "Karima Crown."

Karima inclined her head. "And you are?"

"General Eryn," the woman answered, studying her. "You made quite the entrance."

Karima crossed her arms. "I'm here because we have a common enemy."

Eryn smirked. "And what exactly do you think you can offer us?"

Karima met her gaze without hesitation. "The one thing the Council fears more than you."

Silence stretched between them before Eryn chuckled. "I like you already."

She gestured to the map. "The Council is planning something big. We've intercepted messages—troop movements, supply lines shifting. They're gathering their forces, but we don't know why."

Haytham frowned. "A preemptive strike?"

Eryn shook her head. "If it were that simple, they would've done it by now."

Karima leaned over the map, tracing her finger along one of the marked locations. "Then we need to find out what they're planning."

Eryn nodded. "Agreed. But infiltration won't be easy. They're locking down their cities, doubling security. If we send the wrong person, they won't make it out."

Karima met her gaze. "Then send me."

Eryn studied her for a long moment before nodding. "Very well. But you won't go alone."

She turned to one of the soldiers beside her. "Get supplies ready. We move at dawn."

Karima exhaled, feeling the weight of the moment settle over her. This was it. No more running. No more hiding.

It was time to face the Council head-on.