Chapter 7 A Treacherous Truth

Darion's heart pounded in his chest as he scanned the room for any signs of weakness in their captors' security. The guards, clad in mismatched armor, laughed and played dice near the entrance. A single door, reinforced with heavy metal bars, was the only exit he could see.

He whispered to the woman beside him, a lithe woman with fiery red hair. "Have you seen anyone escape from this place before?"

The woman gave a bitter chuckle. "Escape? You're more likely to end up dead before you even reach the door. These people don't play games. They'll gut you the moment you step out of line."

Darion clenched his fists. He wasn't going to give up, not like this. He had to find a way out, back to Xenric, back to freedom.

That night, as the other prisoners huddled together for warmth, Darion kept his eyes open, watching and waiting. When the guards changed shifts, he noticed one of them pocketing a set of keys before leaving the chamber. The remaining guard slouched against the wall, his eyes drooping.

Darion saw his chance. Moving as quietly as he could, he crawled toward the door. The woman grabbed his arm, her grip surprisingly strong. "Don't do it," she hissed with glaring eyes.

"I have to," Darion whispered back. "I'm not going to die here."

The woman sighed and released him. "If you're going to be foolish, at least take this." She slipped a small, sharp fragment of metal into his hand.

Darion nodded his thanks and crept closer to the guard. The man's snores filled the room, masking Darion's soft footsteps. With trembling hands, he used the metal shard to pry at the keyring hanging from the guard's belt. The keys jingled softly, and Darion froze, holding his breath.

The guard stirred, but didn't wake. Darion carefully removed the keys and moved toward the door. He inserted the largest key into the lock and turned it. The soft click of the mechanism echoed in the chamber, and Darion winced.

As he pushed the door open, a voice boomed from the shadows. "Going somewhere?"

Darion spun around, his heart sinking. A tall, broad-shouldered man stepped into the light. His face was partially obscured by a hood, but his voice was unmistakable.

It was Alric.

Darion stared at him, disbelief and anger bubbling to the surface. "You? What are you doing here?"

Alric smirked, his charm now a sinister mask. "Did you really think my generosity came without a price? Poor, naive Darion. You and your friend made such easy targets."

"You tipped them off," Darion said, his voice shaking. "You're working with the slave traders."

Alric's smirk widened. "Not just working with them. I'm one of the trusted hands of their leader. Aeronberg's wealth comes from more than just trade, boy. Slavery is a lucrative business, and someone has to keep it running smoothly."

Darion's hands balled into fists. "You bastard! Xenric trusted you. We trusted you!"

Alric stepped closer, his tone mocking. "And that trust brought you here. But don't feel too bad. You'll fetch a fine price on the market. Young, a strong fighter. Buyers love that."

Darion lunged at him, but Alric was quicker. With a single motion, he drew a dagger and pressed it against Darion's throat. "Brave, but foolish," he said, pushing Darion back against the wall. "You're not in control here."

Darion glared at him, his mind racing. He needed to escape, but Alric's revelation had shaken him to his core. The man whom they saved them from the bandits, who had offered them kindness and hospitality, was nothing more than a predator hiding behind a mask of nobility.

Alric turned to the guards. "Put him back with the others. And double the watch. This one's got too much fight in him."

The guards grabbed Darion, dragging him back to the center of the chamber. As they locked him back in his chains, he made a silent vow. He would escape. He would find Xenric. And he would make Alric pay for his betrayal.

The forest stretched endlessly before Xenric as he trudged forward, his injuries still fresh but his determination overriding the pain. The memory of Darion being taken gnawed at him, each step driven by a mix of guilt and resolve. The two masked figures who had saved him had left as quickly as they had appeared, leaving only vague instructions to follow a faint trail that led deeper into the woods. Now, the moon hung low, casting silver beams through the canopy, and the sound of rustling leaves signaled he was not alone.

Finally, he stumbled upon a clearing where a small group of bandits had set up camp. Their fire flickered weakly against the encroaching shadows, casting elongated silhouettes of the men and women gathered around it. Xenric's hand instinctively went to his sword as he approached cautiously.

"Look who's made it," a familiar voice drawled. A man stepped out from the group, pulling down his mask to reveal a rough, scarred face. "Didn't think you'd actually follow us."

The other masked figure stepped forward, a woman this time, her piercing green eyes glinting in the firelight as she removed her mask. "Relax, we're not your enemies," she said. "Not tonight, anyway."

Xenric recognized them immediately as the two who had saved him during the ambush. "You… Who are you? Why did you help me?"

The man smirked, leaning casually on a spear. "Call me Simon, and that's Lyra. As for why we helped you, let's just say we've got our reasons."

"Your friend," Lyra interjected, her tone sharper. "The one they took. Darion, right? He's in serious trouble."

Xenric's grip on his sword tightened. "What do you know? Where is he?"

The bandits exchanged a glance, and Simon's smirk faded. "We know exactly where he is. And who put him there." He gestured for Xenric to sit by the fire. Reluctantly, Xenric obeyed.

"Start talking," Xenric demanded, his voice low but firm.

Simon sat across from him, tossing a twig into the flames. "You remember that merchant, Alric? The charming guy who seemed too good to be true?"

Xenric's stomach sank. "What about him?"

Lyra crossed her arms, her expression cold. "He's not who you think he is. Alric's one of the main players in a massive slave-trading network. He's been using his position to lure travelers and unsuspecting victims, handing them over to the traders."

The words hit Xenric like a blow. "You're lying."

"Am I?" Simon sack his voice hard. "Think back to when you met him. The bandit attack on his carriage, it was staged. By us. He hired us to make it look convincing so he could gain your trust. He needed someone like you to help fend off the attackers, to make his act more believable."

Xenric's mind reeled as he pieced together the puzzle. The sudden attack, Alric's effortless charm, his unusual skill with a blade. It all made sense now. "Why are you telling me this? If you worked for him, why betray him now?"

Lyra's gaze softened, though her voice remained steady. "We didn't sign up for this. We thought we'd be stealing from the rich, not delivering people to slavers. When we found out what was really going on, we bailed."

"But not before getting enough dirt on Alric to bury him," Simon added. "We've been looking for a way to bring him down. Helping you might just be the chance we need."

Xenric's jaw clenched, anger boiling in his chest. "Where is Darion?"

"He's being held underground," Lyra said. "They're planning to move him and the other captives soon. If we act fast, we might be able to get him out."

"We?" Xenric echoed, narrowing his eyes.

"We want to help," Simon said earnestly. "Call it redemption, or maybe just guilt. Either way, you're going to need us if you want to take on those slavers and their guards."

Xenric hesitated, weighing his options. Trusting them felt like a gamble, but with Darion's life on the line, he couldn't afford to turn down any help.

"Fine," he said at last. "But if you're lying to me, I'll make you regret it."

Simon grinned. "Fair enough. Let's get some rest. We'll move at first light."

As the fire crackled between them, Xenric's thoughts lingered on Darion and the betrayal that had brought them to this point. He swore to himself that no matter the cost, he would bring his friend back and make Alric pay for his treachery.