42. Thalos

42

THALOS

T he night is thick with tension as we crouch outside Eryndor’s estate, the moon casting long shadows over the heavily guarded walls. The place crawls with dark elves, but we know how to navigate it—we’ve been here before.

This isn’t our first time coming into this place.

My jaw tightens, my mind racing. We’d had dealings with Eryndor in the past, and we’d been fools to trust him. The memory of our last encounter gnaws at me, a bitter reminder of our naivety.

Kael’s voice is a low growl beside me. “He never intended to keep his promise to us, his end of the bargain.”

I nod, my eyes scanning the estate. “We should have known.” The words taste like ash in my mouth. Eryndor’s betrayal was inevitable, yet we walked right into his trap.

Irix shifts beside me, his eyes gleaming with barely restrained fury. “What’s the plan?” His fingers twitch on the hilt of his axe, eager for action.

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to focus. “We split up. Irix, you take the left flank and create a distraction if necessary. Kael and I will go through the main gate and check on the main entrance. I’ll signal you once we find it.” My voice is steady, but inside, I’m a storm of worry and determination.

Kael nods, his jaw set in grim resolve. “And Laia?”

“We find her,” I say, my voice hardening. “No matter what it takes.”

Irix’s lips curl into a fierce grin. “Then let’s get this done.”

We move silently through the shadows, each step bringing us closer to the estate. The dark elves patrol the grounds with a practiced vigilance, but they’re no match for our combined stealth and strength.

As Irix slips away to be on the lookout, Kael and I approach the main gate. My every sense is heightened by the imminent danger. We’ve fought battles before—faced death more times than I can count—but this is different. This is for Laia.

The gate looms ahead, guarded by two dark elves. Kael signals me, and we move as one—silent and deadly. In a blur of motion, we take them down before they can raise an alarm.

My pulse quickens as we slip inside the estate grounds. Every corner could hide an enemy; every shadow could be our last mistake. But there’s no turning back now.

“We find her,” I whisper to Kael as we press forward. “And we end this.”

His eyes meet mine, filled with a determination that mirrors my own. We will save Laia or die trying.

We move swiftly, each step measured and deliberate. The entrance to the underground tunnel is hidden beneath a pile of debris—a secret even Eryndor doesn't know exists. Irix pushes aside the rubble with a grunt, revealing the narrow opening. The tunnel is pitch black, but we've navigated it before. We slip inside, the darkness swallowing us whole.

The stench of death greets us as we emerge into the cold, stone corridors of the dungeon. My grip tightens on my axe, every sense on high alert. The air is thick with decay, a grim reminder of what awaits those who fall into Eryndor’s hands.

"Stay close," I whisper to Kael and gesture for Irix to follow. Their silent nods are the only acknowledgment I need.

We move through the shadows, our footsteps barely a whisper against the stone floor. Dark elves patrol these corridors, but they’re no match for us. The first guard rounds the corner, his eyes widening in surprise. My axe is faster than his scream, cleaving through his neck with brutal precision. Blood sprays across the walls as his body crumples to the ground.

Kael and Irix move with deadly efficiency, their blades cutting down anyone who crosses our path. We don’t stop; we can’t afford to. Each second brings us closer to Laia—or further from saving her.

We reach the chamber where the human cages are kept. The sight before me makes my heart sink. Rows of cages filled with emaciated humans, their eyes hollow and lifeless. But Laia isn’t among them.

My chest tightens as I scan each face, desperation clawing at me. “Where is she?” I mutter under my breath, my voice rough with fear and frustration.

Irix curses under his breath, his eyes darting around the chamber. “She has to be here somewhere.”

Kael’s hand rests on my shoulder. “We’ll find her,” he says quietly, his voice steady despite everything.

But doubt gnaws at me as we move deeper into the dungeon. Each step feels heavier than the last.

A soft whisper catches my attention. I whirl around, my eyes locking onto a terrified human huddled in the corner of a cage. His body trembles, his eyes wide with fear. I step closer, my voice a low growl. “Where is she? Laia? Do you know her? She has green eyes, someone who is defiant and a fighter.”

The humans look at each other, nodding. One man trembles as he speaks, his voice barely above a whisper. “They took her at noon. we don’t know where she is.”

A curse escapes my lips, boiling over with frustration. Noon. Hours ago. I exchange a grim look with Irix and Kael, Our situation is dire.

“We need to find her—now,” I say, my voice hardening with determination.

Irix nods, his eyes flashing with barely restrained fury. “We’ll search every inch of this place if we have to,” he growls.

Kael’s jaw is set in grim resolve as he meets my gaze. There’s no hesitation in his eyes—only the fierce determination to bring Laia back, no matter the cost.

My voice is sharp as I give orders, every word laced with urgency. “We split up. Search every room and every hallway of this damn estate. We don’t stop until we find her.”

They nod in unison, their expressions mirroring my own resolve.

As we move out, each of us takes a different direction, our movements swift and deliberate. The corridors twist and turn like a labyrinth, each shadow hiding potential danger. But we don’t slow down; we can’t afford to.

Every room we search brings us closer—or so I tell myself as we press on through the maze. The sound of our footsteps echoes off the walls, mingling with the distant cries of other prisoners.

Laia’s face flashes through my mind—a beacon of hope amid the darkness threatening to consume us all. We will find her. We have to.

And Eryndor will pay for what he’s done.

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