Chapter 25: Cracks in the Foundation

A heavy mist lingered over Velmire's slums as dawn arrived, shrouding the city in a damp, uneasy silence. The streets were never truly quiet—dogs barked in the distance, and voices murmured from behind thin walls—but there was something different in the air.

The balance of power had shifted, if only slightly. And in a city like Velmire, even the smallest shift could cause an avalanche.

Aedric sat by the window of the hideout, absently running his fingers over the edge of his dagger. Below, he watched as a group of dockworkers gathered in hushed conversation. Even from this distance, he could see the tension in their shoulders.

Lirian leaned against the doorframe behind him. "They're talking about Dorn's little victory."

Aedric didn't look away. "Good."

"Good for now." Lirian's tone was light, but her expression wasn't. "It's only been a day. Gorran won't let this go unanswered."

That was the real problem. They had forced Gorran to react. But what that reaction would be was still uncertain.

Tessa entered the room, flipping a dagger between her fingers as she walked. "Word's spreading. More people are listening. Dorn's got men looking to join him already."

Aedric turned slightly. "How many?"

Tessa shrugged. "A dozen? Maybe more by nightfall. Some are just watching to see what happens next. But it's something."

Lirian exhaled. "Then we better make sure Dorn doesn't screw it up."

---

Dorn's hideout was a small warehouse near the river, repurposed in the aftermath of his recent victory. By the time Aedric and his group arrived, the place was alive with movement. Men sharpened weapons, counted supplies, and whispered about the battles yet to come.

Dorn himself stood near a crate, speaking with a group of rough-looking men. He looked different than before—less like a desperate rebel and more like a leader.

When he saw Aedric approach, he dismissed the others with a nod. "You've seen what's happening, haven't you?" His voice carried an edge of excitement, though he tried to mask it. "They're coming to me. More every hour."

Aedric studied him. Victory had changed him. Not entirely, but enough.

"That's why I'm here," Aedric said.

Dorn folded his arms. "You don't think we can handle it?"

"I think you've started something big. But keeping it together is harder than starting it."

Dorn's jaw tightened. "I know that."

Aedric didn't press. Let him think he was in control. That was part of leadership, after all.

Instead, he motioned toward the room. "Have you thought about what comes next?"

Dorn hesitated for just a second. It was barely noticeable, but Aedric caught it. He hadn't.

Tessa, standing nearby, smirked. "That's what we're here for."

Dorn exhaled, rubbing his temples. "Gorran won't just sit back, will he?"

"No," Aedric said plainly. "And when he strikes back, it won't be subtle."

Dorn nodded slowly. "Then we need to hit him first."

Aedric had expected that answer. Dorn wasn't thinking like a tactician—he was thinking like a fighter.

"That's exactly what he'll expect," Aedric said. "Gorran is used to dealing with rebels. If you rush in, you'll be playing into his hands."

Dorn scowled. "Then what do we do? Wait for him to crush us?"

Lirian chuckled. "Hardly."

Aedric gestured toward the map spread across the crate. "We make him unsure. We make him react to the wrong things. The more confused he is, the harder it'll be for him to strike back."

Dorn frowned, but he was listening.

Aedric pointed at a location on the map—a small supply outpost near the eastern part of the city. "This is one of Gorran's minor storage houses. Not as important as the warehouse we took, but still valuable."

Dorn leaned in, studying the map. "You want to take it?"

Aedric shook his head. "No. I want him to think we're taking it."

Tessa grinned. "Distraction."

Lirian tapped the map. "While we make him look there, we hit somewhere else."

Dorn considered that for a moment before nodding. "Alright. Let's do it."

---

Night fell quickly, wrapping Velmire in a blanket of shadow. Aedric and his team worked fast, spreading just enough rumors to catch Gorran's attention. A few well-placed words in the right taverns, a handful of fake scouting missions—it was enough.

By midnight, Gorran's enforcers had mobilized toward the eastern supply house.

And while they were distracted, Dorn's men struck somewhere else entirely.

It wasn't a grand battle. It didn't need to be. The goal wasn't destruction—it was pressure.

A smaller warehouse, lightly guarded, fell in less than twenty minutes. Dorn's men seized weapons, coin, and a handful of supplies, leaving Gorran's forces scrambling to figure out what had happened.

When morning arrived, Velmire was talking again.

Another victory. Another crack in Gorran's grip.

And once again, Aedric was the one pulling the strings.

---

Back at the hideout, Lirian stretched out on a chair, smirking. "I think that went well."

Tessa grinned, tossing a coin she had taken from the warehouse. "Gorran's got to be furious."

Aedric sat quietly, watching the flickering light of the lantern on the table. "Furious is good."

Varen exhaled, rubbing his temples. "Furious also means dangerous."

They all knew what was coming. Gorran wouldn't sit back forever.

This was no longer just a rebellion.

It was a war.

And war had consequences.