Plans in the Making

The fire crackled softly in the hearth, casting flickering shadows on the cabin's walls. Seraphine sat by the flames, her thoughts swirling with the weight of what lay ahead. She had never been one to sit idly by, but after everything she had endured, the exhaustion had finally caught up with her. Yet, her mind was sharp, never resting for long.

Kaelith sat across from her, sharpening a dagger with steady, practiced movements. His silence spoke volumes, but there was a tension in the air between them—one born of urgency, of a world unraveling around them.

Seraphine shifted in her seat, her eyes tracing the flames. "What's our next move?" she asked, breaking the quiet.

Kaelith's eyes met hers, a glint of resolve in his gaze. "We need information. Veylan, your father—whoever is behind this mess—they're all part of a bigger game. We can't just barge in without understanding what we're facing."

Seraphine nodded, though frustration simmered beneath the surface. "So we wait."

"For now," Kaelith agreed, his voice low. "But we don't do it passively. We make our own plans while we gather what we can. We need allies, Seraphine. People who are willing to stand with us when the time comes."

Her jaw tightened as she thought of her family—her father, the people who should have protected her. But they had chosen their sides. "I don't trust anyone in the court. No one is truly on our side."

Kaelith's expression softened, and he leaned forward. "I don't blame you. But not everyone in the court is against you. There are whispers, people who feel like you do. We need to find them, bring them into the fold."

Seraphine's gaze darkened, her mind already working through the possibilities. "But how do we even begin? The court is a web of lies and secrets. How do we untangle it without getting caught in the threads ourselves?"

Kaelith stood, pacing slowly as he thought. "We start small. We gather information quietly—nothing too bold yet. I'll speak to some of my contacts, see if there's anyone who's been watching the movement of your father's forces, anyone who might know the inner workings of Veylan's plans."

Seraphine stood too, her tired body moving with a renewed sense of purpose. "And I'll go back to the capital. There's someone I need to speak to."

Kaelith turned sharply, concern flickering in his eyes. "You can't go back there, Seraphine. It's too dangerous."

"I have to," she said, her voice unwavering. "There's someone there who knows more than they let on. A man who's been in my father's inner circle for years. I need answers from him."

Kaelith moved to her side, his hand resting on her shoulder, grounding her with his touch. "We'll do this together. You're not going back alone."

Seraphine looked up at him, the weight of their situation settling heavily between them. She had never been good at asking for help, but with Kaelith beside her, she felt the slightest flicker of something like hope. She wasn't alone anymore. And maybe, just maybe, they could figure out how to turn the tide.

"Tomorrow, then," she said, her voice firm.

Kaelith nodded, his lips quirking into the faintest smile. "Tomorrow. But tonight, you need to rest. We can't afford for you to push yourself too hard. Not yet."

She wanted to argue, to push for more answers, but she could feel the exhaustion in every bone of her body. She had fought so long to survive, to stay one step ahead of those who wanted to see her fall. But tonight, in this quiet cabin, with Kaelith beside her, she could afford a moment of peace.

For now.

"I'll rest," she whispered. "But only because you asked."

Kaelith chuckled softly and sat back down, the tension between them easing as they both allowed themselves a brief reprieve. Outside, the wind rustled through the trees, but inside, the warmth of the fire and the silent promise of the battle ahead gave them both the strength to face whatever came next.

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To be continued…