The Hidden Betrayal

Chapter 8: The Hidden Betrayal

The warm glow of the tavern fire did little to ease the chill settling in Kaelin’s chest. The old woman’s words lingered in his mind, each one heavy with meaning. Another shard, hidden in Everglen. Another trial. But something about her calm demeanor unsettled him.

Anara, however, seemed more relaxed. She leaned back in her chair, her daggers now sheathed but her eyes ever watchful. “So,” she said, breaking the silence, “this is the part where we trust the mysterious old woman and march off into another death trap, right?”

The woman smiled faintly, a glint of amusement in her eyes. “Skepticism is wise, child. But the shard will guide you, whether you trust me or not.”

Kaelin studied her carefully. “You seem to know a lot about the shards. More than most. Why?”

The woman’s smile faded. “Because I’ve seen what they can do. I’ve seen the darkness they bring.” She hesitated, her gaze distant. “And I’ve seen what happens when the wrong hands try to wield them.”

Anara leaned forward, her tone sharp. “That’s a lot of vague warnings. What aren’t you telling us?”

The woman’s eyes locked onto Anara’s, her expression hardening. “There are things you’re not ready to know. But if you doubt me, leave the shard here. Walk away, and spare yourselves the pain.”

Kaelin felt the shard pulse in his pocket, as if rejecting the idea. “We can’t do that. We’ve come too far.”

The old woman nodded slowly. “Then you must tread carefully. Everglen is no ordinary ruin. The shard there is well-protected, and not just by traps or monsters. The ruins are haunted by the mistakes of the past—mistakes that may seek to claim you as their own.”

Anara rolled her eyes. “Great. More cryptic warnings. Anything else we should know?”

The woman hesitated again, but before she could speak, the door to the tavern creaked open. A tall figure stepped inside, clad in a dark cloak that billowed slightly as the cold air followed them. Their face was obscured, but Kaelin felt the weight of their gaze immediately.

The tavern fell silent. Even the barkeep stopped what he was doing, his expression tense.

The figure moved toward their table with deliberate, measured steps. When they spoke, their voice was smooth but cold, like ice cracking beneath the surface of a frozen lake.

“Kaelin. Anara. You’ve been busy.”

Kaelin’s heart sank. “Who are you?”

The figure lowered their hood, revealing a man with sharp features and piercing gray eyes. His hair was dark, streaked with silver at the temples. There was something both familiar and foreign about him, a presence that sent a chill down Kaelin’s spine.

“I’m someone who knows what you’re carrying,” the man said, his gaze flicking to Kaelin’s pocket. “And I’m here to help.”

Anara’s hand moved instinctively to her daggers. “Help? Funny, you don’t look like the helpful type.”

The man ignored her, his focus solely on Kaelin. “The shard is dangerous in your hands. You don’t understand its power, its purpose. But I do.”

Kaelin clenched his fist around the shard, feeling its warmth against his skin. “If you’re here to take it, you’re wasting your time.”

The man’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Take it? No, Kaelin. I’m here to protect it—and you.”

Anara scoffed. “You’re awfully confident for someone we’ve never met.”

Kaelin studied the man’s face, searching for any hint of deception. “Why should we trust you?”

The man’s expression darkened. “Because the Legion is closer than you think. They’ve already sent scouts to Everglen. If you go there unprepared, you’ll walk into a trap.”

Anara narrowed her eyes. “And you just happened to know where we’d be? Sounds convenient.”

The man’s gaze shifted to the old woman, who remained silent, her expression unreadable. “I have my ways. But you don’t have to believe me. All I ask is that you let me guide you to the next shard. If I’m wrong, you can leave me behind.”

Kaelin hesitated, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. The shard pulsed faintly, as if urging him to decide.

Before he could answer, the old woman spoke, her voice low and firm. “Be wary of alliances forged in desperation, Kaelin. Not all paths lead where they seem.”

The man’s smile faltered slightly, but he recovered quickly. “And not all secrets are meant to be kept, old one.”

Kaelin looked between the two of them, doubt gnawing at his mind. Something wasn’t right. The shard’s light flickered, casting shadows that danced eerily across the room.

Anara stood, her hand resting on her hip. “Well, Kaelin? What’s it gonna be? Do we trust this guy, or do we take our chances alone?”

Kaelin’s throat tightened. The man’s gray eyes bore into his, unyielding and expectant. The old woman’s warnings echoed in his mind.

And then, the shard pulsed again—this time with such intensity that Kaelin stumbled. The room around them seemed to warp, the edges blurring as a voice, faint but insistent, whispered in his mind.

“Beware the shadow that walks in light.”

Kaelin’s breath caught, his decision hanging precariously in the balance.

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