Chapter 10: The Meeting

The designated meeting location was an abandoned church on the outskirts of the city. The building loomed like a skeletal giant against the starless sky, its crumbling walls and broken windows offering countless hiding spots.

Juhtmed arrived at the entrance to the church, the sound of his shoes echoing off the beaten earth on a still night. He wore a simple black cloak, the bonnet pulled down to hide his features. On his belt, he carried a dagger to enable him to defend himself if necessary.

He glanced around, his sharp eyes scanning. "Rovan," he called, his voice steady resonates. "I'm here. Show yourself."

For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then a figure emerged from the shadows, stepping into the faint moonlight filtering through the broken roof. Rovan was a tall, well-built man, his face framed by a small beard. He wore a long coat, with frayed edges but solid leather. A sword hung from his hip.

"Your Highness," Rovan said, his voice laced with mockery. "I must say, I'm impressed. I didn't think you'd come so willingly."

Juhtmed's lips curved into a faint smile, though his eyes remained cold. "I could say the same about you, Rovan. Inviting me here, alone—knowing you just lost your precious stockpile."

Rovan's jaw tightened, but he quickly recovered, his expression twisting into a smirk. "You think you've dealt me a blow? Burning one warehouse means nothing. The Empire's arrogance blinds it to the tide rising against it."

Juhtmed stepped closer. "Is that so? Tell me, then—who's funding you? Who's providing these weapons? That inverted crescent moon isn't an ordinary smith's mark."

Rovan's smirk faltered, his eyes narrowing. "You've done your homework. But don't think you'll get answers so easily."

From a distance, Kaitsja watched the exchange through binoculars, perched on a high building. Lian was stationed outside, scanning the perimeter for any signs of ambush.

Juhtmed tilted his head, studying Rovan. "If you're not willing to talk, why arrange this meeting? What do you hope to gain?"

Rovan chuckled darkly. "I wanted to see you, at first i thought it was the second prince who had come, but it was only you the third prince i don't have much information about you its more like someone was trying to erase your existence, but im not here to talk about your past."

Rovan's hand drifted to the hilt of his sword. "I could kill you for what you did."

Juhtmed didn't flinch. His voice grew colder. "Go ahead, Rovan. Draw your sword. But you know if you kill me, the might of the Empire will rain down on you and your little rebellion. Are you prepared for that?"

For a moment, the two men locked eyes, the tension between them palpable. Then, Rovan's hand dropped back to his side. "You're clever, I'll give you that. But im not scared of your menace the emperor will never send an army for a son he never care of."

Juhtmed took a step closer, his voice lowering to a near-whisper. "If you know that why did you want to meet me."

Rovan's smirk returned, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I need an ally within the capital. You are the only one of your family who can resent the emperor. And i discovered a member of your family attempted to murder you, it seem not too much people know about it...why not join me and overthrow this empire."

Juhtmed jaw clinched, "Its an interesting offer but ill decline, i will stop you and the people behind your back." 

Rovan's faint a small smile as he walk away, "Shame, I could see us forming an alliance. On that note, I'll see you soon, Prince." 

"What do you mean by a see you soon," Juhtmed exclaims.

"This is just one of our many future encounter my prince, you postponed our plan and the emperor is must aware of us, now i don't need to stay here." With that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Juhtmed standing alone.

Juhtmed waited a moment, ensuring Rovan was truly gone, as kaitsja join him inside.

"So?" Juhtmed asked, his tone clipped.

Kaitsja shook his head. "He didn't have any back up. Either he's stupidly confident, or he wanted this to be a clean conversation."

As they exited the church, Lian appeared from the shadows, her face taut with concern. "What happened?"

"I didn't learn that much," Juhtmed said. "Only that there initial plan was postponed."

Kaitsja said. "We still hitting a wall, we still know nothing about rovan is plan and who is behind him."

Back at their quarters, the group reconvened around the table. Kaldor had returned from the archives, a stack of old books and scrolls in hand.

"I didn't find anything in the archive of the empire," Kaldor said, unrolling a parchment. "The only closest thing i found about it's an ancient guild of assassins. They were disbanded during the reign of the second emperor, i tried to find any link between this guild and the Dervain family but there nothing."

Juhtmed's eyes narrowed. "An assassin's guild? I don't think Rovan would have this much support for a dead guild."

"I think the same," Kaldor replied.

Juhtmed leaned back, his mind racing.

Kaitsja twirled a dagger between his fingers. "Looks like we just going in circle."

The room fell silent as the group could find no answers to their question. 

The intense quiet in the room weighed heavily on everyone. Juhtmed leaned forward, resting his elbows on the wooden table. His crimson eyes scanned the crossbow, the symbol etched into its surface seeming to mock him.

Juhtmed his voice steady. "Rovan's confidence tonight was expected. He was already aware of our presence. So find clue about his whereabouts seem impossible."

Kaldor frowned, as he studied the documents he'd brought from the archives. "If the crescent moon isn't tied directly to the old guild, perhaps it's symbolic."

Lian added quietly, "a group with no loyalty to the guild's original motives. they just acting under the guise of a cause."

Kaitsja tilted back in his chair, balancing precariously on two legs. "That doesn't explain why they'd be helping Rovan. They are assassin not mercenaries. What's did they would gain by support him?"

Juhtmed drummed his fingers on the table, his expression contemplative. "That's the question? They're not doing this out of charity...."

The room get silent again as there trying to find answers. Juhtmed's voice broke the quiet.

"Kaldor, continue to looking for anithing. If the archives don't have answers, check on the ancient member of this guild, anything that might hint at who's behind this. Lian, investigate the merchant circles."

Kaitsja smile. "And what about me."

"Just stay close to Ronin and his father just in case." juhtmed said

"great babysitting..." kaitsja said with a bored look.