Chapter 31: Shackles and Shadows

The night air was thick with tension.

Aedric stood at the edge of the hideout, staring into the darkness beyond. The news of Gorran's crackdown spread like wildfire through the slums. Families torn apart, homes raided, people dragged into the depths of the city's prisons—all because of their defiance.

The fire had been a message, but Gorran had sent one of his own. He would not tolerate rebellion.

Aedric clenched his fists. But he would learn that fear could not silence the will of the people.

Varen paced restlessly behind him. "We can't let this stand. We need to hit back."

Lirian leaned against the table, arms crossed. "No. We need to be smart. If we charge in blindly, we'll end up in chains with them."

Dorn, still recovering, let out a weak chuckle from his cot. "For once, I agree with Lirian."

Tessa glanced between them. "Then what's the plan?"

Aedric's mind raced. Storming the prison wasn't an option. They weren't strong enough for a direct assault. They needed another way—a way to slip in and out like shadows.

He turned to Lirian. "You used to work the docks. Do you know anything about how Gorran moves prisoners?"

She nodded slowly. "Gorran's men don't keep all prisoners in one place. The worst ones—people who resist—get taken to the lower dungeons beneath the city watchtower."

Varen grinned. "Well, that sounds pleasant."

Lirian ignored him. "But not everyone is sent there. Most are held in the old stockade near the market district before they're sorted."

Aedric's eyes narrowed. "Then that's our way in."

Tessa hesitated. "You want to break into the stockade?"

"Not just break in," Aedric said. "We're going to free them all."

---

The stockade was a relic of a past war, its stone walls crumbling but still sturdy. It was never meant to hold long-term prisoners—only those awaiting judgment. Gorran had repurposed it, but that made it vulnerable.

Aedric and his group crouched in the shadows of an alley nearby, watching the movement of the guards. There were more than expected.

Varen muttered, "This won't be easy."

Aedric nodded. "We'll have to be fast. Silent."

Lirian tapped the hilt of her dagger. "I'll take care of the lookout on the wall."

Aedric gestured toward the side entrance. "Varen, Tessa, and I will handle the guards inside. Once we open the cells, we need to move quickly. The moment the alarm sounds, we'll be swarmed."

Dorn, despite his injuries, had insisted on coming. He would stay back, ready to cover their escape if needed.

"Let's go," Aedric whispered.

---

Lirian moved first. She scaled the outer wall like a shadow, slipping onto the walkway above. The guard stationed there barely had time to gasp before her blade found his throat. She caught him before he fell, lowering his body soundlessly onto the stone.

She gave a sharp whistle—the signal.

Aedric, Varen, and Tessa moved swiftly through the side gate. Inside, dim torchlight flickered against damp stone. The scent of sweat and fear lingered in the air.

A guard turned the corner, but Aedric was faster. He struck, the hilt of his blade slamming into the man's temple. No sound. He caught the body and dragged it into the shadows.

Varen smirked. "I thought you said we weren't killing anyone."

Aedric shot him a look. "We don't need to. Not yet."

Tessa scouted ahead. "Cells are at the far end. Three guards."

Aedric exhaled slowly. Three was manageable.

Lirian joined them from above, crouching beside Aedric. "There's a problem. Another patrol is coming soon. We have minutes at best."

Aedric made his decision. "We take out the three guards quickly. Get the prisoners out before the patrol arrives."

Varen grinned. "Now this is more like it."

---

The attack was swift.

Lirian's knife found one guard's throat before he even turned. Aedric struck the second with a precise blow to the ribs, knocking the wind out of him before finishing him with a strike to the head.

Varen handled the third, twisting the man's arm behind his back and slamming him into the bars of a nearby cell. The guard slumped, unconscious.

The prisoners stared in stunned silence.

Aedric pulled a keyring from one of the fallen guards and began unlocking cells. "We're getting you out."

A woman with dark, matted hair stepped forward. "Who are you?"

"A friend," Aedric said simply.

More prisoners poured out, whispering in awe. Hope flickered in their eyes—the first they had seen in a long time.

Lirian hurried them. "We need to move. The patrol will be here any moment."

Aedric led them to the back exit, but as they reached it, a bell began to ring.

The alarm had been raised.

"Run!" Aedric shouted.

They burst into the night, feet pounding against the stone streets. Behind them, shouts filled the air as guards scrambled to respond.

Dorn, waiting at their rendezvous point, saw them coming. "Go! This way!"

They sprinted through the alleys, weaving through abandoned buildings and narrow streets.

An arrow whistled past Aedric's ear.

Varen cursed. "They're faster than we thought!"

Tessa grabbed the hand of a younger prisoner, pulling him along. "We're almost there!"

They reached an old passage beneath the market—one of Velmire's forgotten underground tunnels. Aedric had scouted it weeks ago, unsure if they would ever need it. Now, it was their salvation.

"In!" he ordered.

One by one, the prisoners filed into the tunnel. Their breaths came in ragged gasps, but they were free.

Aedric was the last to enter, casting one final glance at the city behind him. The rebellion was no longer just an idea. It was real. And tonight, Velmire had taken its first step toward freedom.