Chapter 20: The Game Begins

  The caravan creaked as it rolled over uneven ground, the wooden wheels kicking up loose dirt and dust as the group pressed forward in uneasy silence. They had been walking since dawn, following the old road toward the ruins of Sable Hollow, a town long abandoned by trade and civilization. The sky overhead was a dull gray, clouds hanging thick like a storm waiting to break. The only sound was the occasional clink of Sylas spinning one of his daggers and the slow, rhythmic breathing of the horses pulling the cart.

  Kael sat near the front, his gaze drifting between the others. They didn’t know. They didn’t see what he had seen. The Riftspawn attack had come fast, chaotic, but amidst the battle, Kael had watched Varyn—watched as the creatures moved around him, as if he weren’t there at all. And then, when the fight had ended, Kael had seen it—the flicker of dark fire licking at Varyn’s fingertips before disappearing beneath his glove. And the worst part? The way Varyn had smiled, not in relief, not in surprise, but as if it had all gone exactly as he expected.

  Kael clenched his fists. He had to tell them.

  Lirien rode just ahead of him, her posture stiff as she kept an eye on the terrain. She had taken charge during the fight, giving orders without hesitation, making sure they moved as a unit. The others followed her without question. Even Sylas, despite his usual cynicism, had listened. Kael had always known she was capable, but after seeing her command the battlefield, he realized she was more than just strong—she was a leader. And right now, she was the only person he trusted to hear the truth first.

  Taking a slow breath, Kael nudged his horse forward, pulling up beside her. "We need to talk."

  Lirien didn’t look at him, but he saw her shoulders tense. "Figured you’d say that."

  Kael exhaled. "You noticed something, didn’t you?"

  Lirien gave a small nod, her fingers tightening on the reins. "I don’t know what, but something’s wrong. You’ve been on edge since we left camp. And you didn’t use your flame last night. That’s not like you."

  Kael hesitated. Then, in a voice low enough that only she could hear, he said, "Varyn has power."

  Lirien turned her head sharply, eyes narrowing.

  Kael continued before she could speak. "I saw it during the fight. He wasn’t attacked. The Riftspawn didn’t even look at him. And then, when the last one fell… he had flames on his hands. Not like mine. Dark. Tainted. And he smiled, Liri. Like he knew something we don’t."

  Lirien kept her expression carefully neutral, but Kael could see the way her breathing had slowed, the way her fingers curled slightly as if resisting the urge to reach for her sword. Finally, she murmured, "We should tell the others."

  Kael nodded. "We will. But not yet."

  She frowned. "Why?"

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  "Because we don’t know what he wants yet," Kael said, his voice barely above a whisper. "If we expose him now, he’ll just talk his way out of it. He’s too smart, too controlled. But if we wait… if we get to the Shattered Throne, we might be able to force his hand."

  Lirien exhaled slowly, considering his words. After a long moment, she gave a single nod. "Alright. We wait. But Kael, if he makes a move before then—"

  "We stop him," Kael finished, his voice firm.

  Lirien met his gaze, searching for any sign of doubt. Finding none, she turned forward again. "Then let’s be ready."

  Kael exhaled, tension easing from his chest. At least now, he wasn’t alone in this.

  They reached the outskirts of Sable Hollow by late afternoon. The town was exactly what Kael expected—half-collapsed buildings, old market stalls long abandoned, a once-thriving place now swallowed by time and decay. The air smelled of damp wood and dust, with a hint of something sour beneath it, like rotting fruit left out too long.

  Sylas hopped off his horse first, stretching. "Well, this place is a damn paradise."

  Mira rolled her eyes as she scanned the streets. "Stay sharp. Just because it looks empty doesn’t mean it is."

  Rhea, already pulling her knives free, smirked. "Always assume something’s waiting to kill you. Keeps life interesting."

  Varyn dismounted last, surveying the ruins with an unreadable expression. "We should see if anything useful remains. The last time I was here, the trade houses were still standing."

  Kael frowned. The last time?

  Lirien caught it too. "You’ve been here before?"

  Varyn smiled, but this time it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "A long time ago."

  Kael’s unease deepened.

  As the group spread out to search the ruins, Kael found himself thinking.

  If Varyn had a mirror of the Flame Unseen, then that meant his power wasn’t just similar—it was a corrupted version. Which meant if Kael could call down a Moonfire Beam, then Varyn could likely do something just as devastating.

  A Void Beam.

  Kael’s stomach turned.

  If Varyn was leading them to the Shattered Throne, it wasn’t just because he wanted to see it. It wasn’t just because he was interested in its history.

  He wanted something there.

  Something powerful enough to corrupt the world itself.

  Kael tightened his grip on his hammer.

  Varyn wasn’t just a threat. He was a disaster waiting to happen.

  And Kael needed to figure out how to stop him before it was too late.

  By the time the sun dipped behind the ruined buildings, they had set up camp near the remnants of an old trade house. The fire crackled low, casting flickering shadows across the stone walls.

  Varyn sat on the far side of the fire, idly sharpening a blade. His movements were precise, practiced. He looked completely at ease.

  Kael watched him carefully.

  Varyn had expected them to come here. Kael was sure of it now. Every step of this journey, every decision, had led them exactly where Varyn wanted them to be.

  This wasn’t just a journey. It was a game.

  And Varyn was playing to win.

  Kael exhaled slowly, glancing at Lirien. She met his gaze briefly before returning to her own watch, pretending not to notice Varyn at all. They would wait. They would play along.

  And when the time came, Kael would be ready.

  Because now, he understood the stakes.

  If Varyn had a Void Beam, if he could wield that kind of Rift energy, then there was only one truth Kael could take from this.

  One of them wouldn’t leave the Shattered Throne alive.

  And Kael intended to make damn sure it wouldn’t be Varyn.