Chapter 11: A Deal in the Dark

The Stranger's Oath

The flames crackled behind them, casting flickering shadows across the stone walls of Blackhold. The cloaked figure remained still, their head bowed in reverence.

Kael, sword still in hand, took a slow step forward. Something about this person felt… wrong. Familiar, yet entirely unknown.

Selene's dagger was already drawn. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice edged with suspicion.

The stranger chuckled, lifting their head. Their hood slipped back slightly, revealing the sharp lines of a masked face, only their piercing silver eyes visible beneath the dark veil.

Kael didn't lower his sword. "You know who I am," he said evenly. "But I don't know you."

The figure inclined their head. "That is true. But that will change soon enough, Your Majesty."

Kael's golden eyes flickered. This was no ordinary rogue.

Darius, still weakened but standing firm, narrowed his gaze. "We don't have time for riddles. Are you with us or against us?"

The masked figure let out a small, almost amused sigh. "If I was against you, General Vale, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

Kael studied him carefully. The way the stranger stood—perfectly balanced, with not an inch of wasted movement. The way they spoke—measured, confident, unwavering.

This was a warrior. A trained one.

Selene scoffed. "You expect us to trust you just because you bowed and spoke in riddles?"

The stranger took a slow step forward, their voice calm.

"No. I expect you to trust me because if you don't… you won't make it out of here alive."

Kael's grip on his sword didn't loosen. But he smirked. "Is that a threat?"

The stranger chuckled. "A fact."

Kael tilted his head. "Explain."

The masked figure gestured toward the passage behind them. "That fire won't keep the guards back forever. And while you were busy breaking General Vale out of his cage, the Imperial Wardens have been called."

Darius stiffened. Kael's smirk vanished.

Selene muttered a curse. "Wardens? You mean—"

"Yes." The masked figure's voice darkened. "Elite enforcers of the empire. Not just soldiers. Hunters."

Kael exhaled slowly. This just got more complicated.

Blackhold had been heavily guarded—but regular guards could be evaded, outmaneuvered, or killed.

Imperial Wardens were different.

They were trained to hunt mages, warlords, and traitors. They would not hesitate. They would not break.

And Kael was at the top of their list.

The masked figure crossed their arms. "If you want to survive this, you'll need me."

Kael finally lowered his sword slightly, his golden eyes unreadable.

"…And what do you want in return?"

The masked stranger smiled beneath their veil.

"Simple. When the time comes… you owe me a favor."

Silence.

Selene frowned. "You're joking."

Darius' fingers twitched toward his blade. "This is a trap."

Kael, however, simply watched. The stranger wasn't lying. At least, not completely.

Finally, he smirked. "You're either a fool or a genius."

The stranger chuckled. "Why not both?"

Kael turned to Selene and Darius. "We need a way out. If they can provide it…" His smirk widened. "Then let's see what they can do."

Selene scowled. "You're insane."

Kael laughed. "You're just realizing that?"

Then he turned back to the masked stranger.

"Lead the way."

---

The Hunter Approaches

The halls of Blackhold trembled with the sound of marching boots.

The Imperial Wardens had arrived.

A squad of six armored figures moved in eerie unison, their heavy crimson cloaks swaying as they advanced. Unlike the regular guards, these men were disciplined. Efficient. Deadly.

At the head of the group, a tall figure moved with slow, deliberate precision. His silver armor gleamed beneath the torchlight, his helmet engraved with the sigil of the empire—a black sun over a shattered crown.

His voice was low, yet carried the weight of command.

"The prisoner is gone."

One of the wardens knelt beside the corpse of a fallen guard. "Multiple hostiles. At least three… no, four. One of them fights like a duelist. Precise."

Another warden ran a gloved hand through the still-warm blood. "Not just any duelist." He glanced at the leader. "You know who it is, don't you?"

The lead warden remained silent for a long moment.

Then, slowly, he reached up and removed his helmet.

Beneath it was a face Kael Drax would have recognized instantly.

Dark hair, sharp eyes like cold steel, and a scar cutting across his left cheek.

A face from Kael's past.

The lead warden exhaled, his expression unreadable.

"…So, you really are alive."

His grip on his sword tightened.

"I was hoping the rumors were false."

---

The Escape

Kael, Selene, Darius, and the masked stranger moved swiftly through the underground tunnels of Blackhold. The secret passages were narrow, damp, and carved from rough stone.

Darius grunted. "How do you know about these tunnels?" he asked the stranger.

The masked figure didn't turn. "Because I built them."

Selene shot Kael a glare. "We are definitely getting stabbed in the back."

Kael smirked. "Probably."

Darius let out a tired chuckle. "Feels like old times."

They rounded a corner just as the sounds of pursuit echoed through the tunnels. The Wardens were close.

Kael turned to the masked stranger. "Tell me you have a way out."

The stranger nodded. "One more passage. It leads to the cliffside outside the fortress. There's a rope bridge—we take it, we disappear into the canyon below."

Kael narrowed his eyes. "And if it's been destroyed?"

The stranger finally turned, their silver eyes gleaming.

"Then we make another exit."

Kael chuckled. He was starting to like this one.

---

A Leap of Faith

They burst through the final tunnel, emerging onto a narrow stone ledge overlooking a deep canyon. The wind howled, carrying the scent of wet stone and distant pine.

Ahead of them, a wooden rope bridge stretched across the chasm. The old planks creaked under the pressure of the wind.

Selene groaned. "Oh, this looks safe."

Darius glanced back. "No time to argue."

Behind them, the sounds of pursuing footsteps grew louder.

Kael didn't hesitate. "Move."

They rushed onto the bridge, the planks swaying beneath their weight.

Then—a shout.

Kael turned just in time to see a Warden step onto the ledge, sword drawn.

A flicker of recognition.

Kael's eyes widened.

"…No."

The lead Warden—his old rival.

The man smirked. "You have nowhere left to run, Kael."

Kael gritted his teeth. "I don't need to run."

The Warden raised his blade.

Kael cut the ropes.

The bridge snapped.

And they plunged into the abyss.

---

End of Chapter 11

Next Chapter Tease:

Kael and his allies' fate after the fall.

The reveal of the Warden's true identity.

A glimpse into the greater forces hunting Kael.