The trade

I entered the prison, the cold air biting my skin. The dim light barely illuminated the stone walls, but I could see her clearly. For the second time, I stood in front of the Princess.

She sat on the bed, her back straight, hands resting elegantly on her lap. Her dress was torn and dirtied, but she didn't seem to care. There was no fear in her expression, just calm.

I stopped a few steps away, watching her in silence. She noticed me almost immediately and raised her dark blue eyes to meet mine.

"What?" she asked in a steady, quiet voice. "What are you staring at?"

I didn't answer right away. There was something about her, something unsettling. The way she held herself, the way she looked at me, it made my chest feel tight. 

Finally, I spoke. "It's just a feeling, but I can say" I paused for a second "that you're happy."

Her eyes widened slightly, surprised. "Happy? I'm in prison. What are you talking about?"

I tilted my head, studying her. "You could say that I can tell the difference between a depressed person and a happy one."

For the briefest moment, something in her expression faltered. Her fingers curled slightly in her lap, and she looked away.

"You're imagining things," she murmured, but there was no confidence in her words.

I stepped closer, "Tell me..." my voice low and steady. "You know who I am, and I feel like I know you... Tell me what you know. "

Her lips parted slightly as if to respond, but she hesitated. I could see the conflict in her eyes.

Silence.

Then she finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "I… I just..." 

"Roy," a voice called urgently, interrupt her.

I turned slightly to see a guard stepping in, his face tense. "Daniel needs to see you immediately. It's an emergency."

I exhaled sharply, annoyed at the interruption. My eyes flicked back to her, and for a moment, the cold air in the room felt sharper, heavier.

I stepped back from the bars. "Whether today or tomorrow," I said, voice sharp, "I'll find out what you're hiding."

She didn't reply. She only watched me, her expression unreadable.

I turned and walked out, the sound of my boots echoing against the stone floor. But even as the door closed behind me, I couldn't shake the weight in my chest.

For the first time in my life, I felt weak in front of someone. And I hated it.

I stepped into the reunion room. The conversations hushed, and all eyes turned toward the center, where Daniel and Yuri stood. Around them, Andrew, Sophia, Crimzo, and the soldiers who had fought alongside with us in the mission were already seated. A few unfamiliar faces lingered at the edges of the room.

I took my seat beside Andrew, who gave me a quick nod. Everyone was waiting.

Daniel didn't waste time. He stepped forward, his voice sharp and direct. "We've received an answer from Drayton. They've agreed to the trade."

A ripple of murmurs passed through the room, but Daniel raised a hand, silencing them. "The deal is this: the princess in exchange for every soldier of ours they captured. Two hundred and ten men."

That number hit hard. Two hundred and ten prisoners. Two hundred and ten men who had been rotting in enemy hands, waiting for rescue.

"The king has already approved it," Daniel continued. "But there's a condition. Drayton wants all their soldiers back, every last one, including those we captured with the princess."

A fair trade...

Daniel's gaze swept over us. "I need some additional teams to lead the exchange. We'll assemble additional forces too as backup in case anything goes wrong."

Before anyone else could speak, Yuri stepped forward. "No," he said, his voice calm but firm. "We don't have time to form new teams. Let me lead this, I'll take the soldiers I've already trained, two hundred men and I can take a hundred more for the backup. My soldiers are ready."

Daniel studied him, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. "Are you sure, Yuri? You're willing to take full responsibility for this?"

I glanced at Yuri, my thoughts swirling. He always seems so confident, so strong... but how strong is he really? I can't tell. Maybe this time, I'll get to finally see.

Yuri held Daniel's gaze. "I am." A little smile drawn in his face. "We'll handle this quickly and cleanly. If Drayton tries anything, we'll be ready."

Sophia leaned forward, her voice steady. "And if this is a trap?"

Yuri didn't hesitate. "We already got a backup, and we'll avoid the fight if we can, besides this it's difficult for them to put a trap if the princess was in the middle of this."

A thick silence followed his words. 

Crimzo, who had been lounging in his chair, raised a hand lazily. "And what about us archers? If things go ugly, where do we stand?"

Daniel answered. "Oh, about you... You will stay hidden with your men and Yuri's men and cover our retreat if necessary. If it turns into a fight, don't waste your shots. Make them count."

Crimzo smirked. "Got it. Just give me a clear line of sight."

Daniel ignored the remark and turned back to the room. "This mission requires precision. No room for mistakes. We get in, we take our soldiers back then finally we leave. Any questions?"

For a moment, no one spoke. Then one of the unfamiliar men beside Daniel finally stepped forward. He was broad-shouldered, he has a dark brown skin. His black eyes carried a weight of experience.

"We'll handle the training sessions while Yuri is gone," he said, his voice steady. "That way, he can focus on the mission without worrying about the upcoming team selections."

Daniel nodded. "Makes sense. Yuri, do you trust them to handle it?"

Yuri looked at him for a moment, then put a hand on his shoulder and said with a smile " Sure, I trust the right people."

Daniel clapped his hands together. "Then it's settled. Get ready. The trade happens in two days."