Chapter 9: Shadows Within Shadows

The Infiltration Begins

The night air was sharp with the scent of damp stone and burning torches. Blackhold Prison loomed before Kael and Selene, its towering walls stretching into the darkness.

The supply wagon rumbled closer, flanked by four armored guards. Two rode ahead on horseback, while the other two walked alongside the cart, their hands resting on the hilts of their blades.

Selene, crouched beside Kael in the shadows, whispered, "Four guards. Not as many as I expected."

Kael's golden eyes didn't waver from the scene before him. "Which means there are more inside."

Selene smirked. "That's where the fun begins, isn't it?"

Kael didn't answer. They had one chance to do this right.

He watched the wagon roll closer, its wooden wheels creaking against the rough stone road. The driver—a bearded man in a tattered cloak—cracked his whip, urging the horses forward. The cargo? Large barrels and wooden crates strapped down with thick rope.

Likely food, weapons, or supplies for the prison garrison.

Kael's mind worked quickly. They had two options.

1. Kill the guards quietly and take the wagon by force.

2. Slip inside unnoticed and hide among the cargo.

Selene leaned toward him. "Your call, Emperor."

Kael smirked. A test of strategy, then.

His eyes flickered to the guards. Their movements were lazy, their confidence unshaken. They weren't expecting trouble.

Perfect.

Kael's voice was barely a whisper. "We take it quietly."

Selene's grin widened. "I was hoping you'd say that."

---

Death in the Dark

The moment the wagon passed their hiding spot, Kael moved.

Like a shadow, he slid through the tall grass, Selene mirroring his movements with deadly precision.

The rear guard never saw them coming.

Kael grabbed him from behind, his arm locking around the man's throat as he dragged him into the shadows. The guard struggled, but Kael's grip was unyielding. Within seconds, the man's body went limp.

Selene, just as quick, had already taken care of the second rear guard. A flick of her dagger, a quick slash across the throat, and the man silently crumpled.

Kael wiped his blade against the dead man's cloak. Two down.

Now for the real challenge.

The two horsemen at the front were still unaware, their gazes fixed ahead.

Kael and Selene exchanged a glance. No words were needed.

They sprinted forward, their movements swift and precise.

Selene reached the first rider in a blur, vaulting onto the back of his horse. Before he could react, she plunged her dagger into his spine, silencing him instantly.

The second rider turned, eyes widening—too late.

Kael's thrown dagger caught him just beneath the jaw, the steel punching through flesh and bone. The man gurgled, clutching at his throat before toppling off his horse.

The wagon kept moving, the driver oblivious to the death surrounding him.

Kael and Selene caught up, grabbing onto the side rails and hauling themselves onto the wagon's wooden platform.

The driver finally noticed something was wrong.

He turned, eyes widening—

Kael's blade sank into his chest before he could scream.

The man sagged, lifeless, and Kael yanked his sword free, wiping it clean.

Selene leaned back against the crates, exhaling a satisfied breath. "Well, that was smooth."

Kael nodded, turning his gaze to the prison gates ahead.

Step one: Complete.

Now, the real challenge began.

---

Inside the Beast's Belly

The wagon rolled through the outer gates, the guards barely sparing it a glance. The forged insignia on the driver's belt had done its job—no questions, no suspicion.

Kael and Selene lay hidden beneath a pile of old sacks and crates, their breathing controlled. The sound of marching boots echoed as the wagon came to a halt inside the prison courtyard.

A gruff voice spoke. "Took you long enough. Unload it."

Kael felt the weight shift as guards began pulling crates off the cart.

Selene whispered beside him, "How long before they notice the driver's missing?"

Kael's voice was steady. "Not long."

They had minutes at best.

He tensed, listening. Two guards were handling the cargo—but they weren't paying attention. The perfect moment to strike.

Kael signaled with his fingers.

Three… Two… One.

They moved.

Kael burst from the sacks, his blade flashing in the torchlight. The nearest guard barely had time to turn before Kael's sword slashed across his throat, blood spraying onto the stone.

Selene, just as swift, drove her dagger into the second guard's heart, silencing him instantly.

They dragged the bodies behind the wagon, out of sight.

Now, they were inside.

Kael exhaled, his golden eyes scanning the courtyard. The real fight was about to begin.

---

The Forgotten General

Blackhold's inner dungeons were carved deep into the mountain, a labyrinth of iron-barred cells and damp stone corridors.

Kael and Selene moved quickly, their stolen armor helping them blend in.

"The guards will notice the missing men soon," Selene whispered.

Kael's jaw tightened. "Then we find Darius before that happens."

They descended the spiral staircase, torchlight flickering against the damp walls. The stench of rot and filth thickened the air.

Then—voices.

Two guards stood by a cell, laughing.

"He's finally breaking," one sneered. "Another few days, and he'll beg us to let him talk."

The other chuckled. "About time. The Wolf of Eldoria… reduced to a whimpering dog."

Kael's blood turned to fire.

Darius Vale was no dog.

His fingers tightened around his sword.

Selene noticed. She placed a hand on his arm. "Stay sharp."

Kael exhaled slowly. Then he moved.

The guards never had a chance.

Kael grabbed the first by the throat, slamming him into the bars. A sickening crunch echoed as his skull cracked.

The second guard reached for his weapon—too slow.

Selene's dagger buried itself in his ribs, twisting. The man gurgled, collapsing.

Silence.

Kael stepped forward, his gaze fixing on the man inside the cell.

A broken warrior sat against the wall, chains shackled to his wrists. His hair, once dark and strong, was streaked with gray. His frame, once powerful, was scarred and thin.

But his eyes—his eyes still burned.

Kael took a slow breath.

"Darius Vale," he murmured.

The old general looked up.

His tired gaze locked onto Kael's.

For a long moment, there was nothing.

Then—recognition.

And a whisper.

"...Your Majesty?"

Kael's golden eyes burned.

"Yes, old friend."

"I have returned."