Aric followed behind the viscount, his eyes scanning the ruined halls. Dust filled the air, catching the faint beams of moonlight that slipped through broken windows.
The place had once been grand—its cracked walls and faded artworks were proof of that—but now, it stood abandoned, a shell of its former self.
Yet, despite its decay, there was movement. People, their faces shadowed, walked quietly through the corridors. Whispered voices and the shuffle of feet echoed through the vast space.
This manor, the home of House Draylen, now served as the base of operations for the Ashen Covenant. A forgotten ruin, housing the kind of power that didn't need to be seen to be felt.
"This place," Kael said, his voice low as they walked deeper into the hall, "was once the heart of my family's power. We ruled from here—planned, negotiated, fought for our place in the empire." His lips twisted in a bitter smile.
"But that all changed when the empire turned on us. Treason, they called it. A charge fabricated by those who envied our influence. They stripped us of everything."
Aric glanced at him, remaining silent as they continued through the dimly lit corridors. The silence between them felt choking, filled with unspoken thoughts.
"But from the ashes of this place," Kael continued, "we built something new. Something greater than what we lost."
Explore more adventures at empire
As they stepped into what used to be a grand hall, now mostly empty and filled with the quiet bustle of shadowed figures, Kael gestured around him.
"This is the heart of the Ashen Covenant. Our people work here, out of sight, away from the empire's watchful eyes."
Aric scanned the room. It wasn't much—scattered tables, old chairs, broken chandeliers hanging low—but there was something alive about it. The quiet huzz of planning, of unseen forces moving the pieces into place.
This was more than rebellion. It was a war, fought in whispers and shadows.
Kael's gaze flicked to a nearby alcove where a tall woman stood, her posture straight and composed. "Lady Syenna Vallis," Kael introduced, nodding in her direction.
They stopped in front of a large map pinned to the wall, marked with symbols and notes that covered the entire empire. Kael's voice dropped as he gestured to the map.
"These are the places where we already have influence. But it's not enough. If we're going to succeed, we need more."
Aric looked at the map, his eyes tracing the lines of control. His mind turned, calculating the next steps.
"What do you all need from me?" he asked, his voice calm but cold.
Kael met his gaze, his expression hardening.
"We need you to lead us. The Ashen Covenant has worked in the shadows, but we need more than whispers now. We need action."
Aric's jaw clenched. He had known from the beginning that it would come, a day people who thought him nothing would see him as one who could sit on the Valerian throne, but now, standing in the middle of this ruined manor surrounded by secret supporters, the weight of it all felt heavier.
These people were risking everything for him—for the vision of an empire they believed only he could bring about.
"I will," Aric said after a long pause. His voice was quiet but firm. "But know this—loyalty is earned, not given. If anyone within this" he gestured around "—betrays me, Death would seem a fine offering compared to their fate."
Kael smiled—a sharp, cold smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"That's exactly what we've been waiting to hear."
The room fell quiet again, the soft hum of whispered conversations filling the space as Aric and Kael exchanged a final look.
The Ashen Covenant had sworn their loyalty to him, but Aric knew better than to trust blindly. In the empire, loyalty was fickle, and power was something you took, not something you were given.
And Aric had every intention of taking it...all of it.