Aeron hardly received a moment's sleep before the break of dawn over Ardentia bathed the city in orange and golden tones. He and Kaela had spent the night at the Veilborn hideout below the city, stockpiling supplies and planning for the arduous journey ahead.
Selene met them at the hidden exit, her silver robes darkened by the shadows of the tunnels. "You'll need to move quickly," she said. "The Order won't stay idle for long."
Aeron tightened the strap of his hammer. "We won't waste time."
Selene handed him a sealed parchment. "Give this to a contact of ours in the town of Blackmere—a scholar named Varian. He may have information about the Obsidian Key's location."
Kaela took it. "And if the Order gets there first?"
Selene's gaze darkened. "Then pray you're faster."
Without hesitation, Aeron and Kaela crept out of the concealed passageway, into the streets of early morning Ardentia. Already, the city was stirring, merchants arranging their stalls, guards walking the gates.
But Aeron sensed the invisible eyes on him.
The Order was already tracking them down.
The First Attack
They had hardly stepped past Ardentia's outer walls when the first attack began.
They were crossing the Marrow Hills, a rock-strewn strip of ground leading to the open roads of the west. There was fog on the ground, curling unnatural around their ankles.
Kaela froze, tugging on Aeron's arm. "Something's wrong."
Then, out of the mist—a sword sliced in toward Aeron's throat.
He barely managed to raise his hammer in time, the clang of metal on metal ringing through the air. A hooded figure lunged at him again, a curved dagger glinting in the mist.
More shadows moved around them.
Assassins.
Kaela leaped back, her bow already drawn. "We've got company!"
Aeron swung his hammer, catching his attacker in the ribs. A pulse of silver energy erupted from the weapon, sending the assassin flying.
Another approached from behind.
Kaela released two arrows in rapid succession. The first missed—but the second went straight through the assassin's knee, sending them crashing to the ground immediately.
Aeron spun around just in time to witness the third attacker rushing towards Kaela.
"Watch out!" he yelled.
Kaela spun around, but she was too slow.
The assassin's blade flashed towards her chest—
Aeron acted instinctively.
The hammer throbbed.
A shockwave of blinding silver light burst out, propelling the assassin backward into a rough rock.
Silence.
The final attacker whimpered, attempting to crawl away. Kaela walked over and planted her boot in their back, holding them to the ground.
"Who did you work for?" she growled.
The assassin coughed, blood leaking from their lips. "You… don't comprehend… the power you wield."
Aeron moved closer. "The Order hired you, didn't they?"
The assassin let out a weak chuckle. "You're too late. The Key… is already lost…"
Before Aeron could ask more, the assassin bit down—a crunch of glass.
Their body convulsed, eyes rolling back as black veins spread across their skin.
Poison. They had chosen death over capture.
Kaela cursed, stepping back. "Well, that's just great."
Aeron's hold on the hammer constricted. If the assassins would rather die to maintain their secrets, then the Order was stronger than he'd assumed.
And to boot—possibly they were already a step ahead.
A Warning from the Shadows
Kaela prodded one of the deceased assassins with her heel. "What did he say about 'the Key is already lost'?"
Aeron let out a breath, his thoughts whirling. "Either they're falsifying information to stall us… or we're out of time."
Kaela shrugged her shoulders. "Then we had best be on our way."
They left the corpses behind and pushed on west, their mission's burden heavier than it had ever been.
The Crimson Wastes still lay ahead, and Blackmere was their best lead.
But one thing was certain.
The Order wasn't merely pursuing them.
They were waiting.