Chapter 11: Shadows of Deceit Eldan's face didn't look good. He wasn't the type to show emotions easily, but the lines around his eyes were deeper than Peter had ever seen. He held out a scroll, sealed with what looked like the royal crest, but he didn't say anything. He just looked at Peter, then at Shade, like he was weighing whether or not to trust them with what was inside. Which, Peter figured, was probably exactly what he was doing. "This came by messenger," Eldan finally said, his voice rough. "It’s… delicate." Peter took the scroll, the parchment feeling strangely cold against his skin. He glanced at Shade, who was already studying Eldan, his face unreadable as always. Peter broke the seal and unrolled the scroll, scanning the contents. It was brief, to the point, and terrifying. It spoke of a traitor within the allied ranks, someone feeding information to the Dragon King. The scroll didn't name names, but it warned that the betrayal could cost them the war. "A traitor?" Peter said, looking up at Eldan. Eldan nodded grimly. "That's what it suggests. I need you and Shade to investigate. Discretely. I can't afford to create panic, but I also can't ignore this." Shade stepped forward, his eyes narrowed. "Who else knows about this?" "Only myself and the messenger," Eldan said. "I trust neither of you to speak of it to another soul. The fewer who know, the better." Peter thought about the implications. A traitor could explain how the Dragon King's forces had anticipated their every move at the Spire Pass. It could explain a lot of things. This wasn’t just about one battle; it was about the entire war. "We'll find them," Peter said, meeting Eldan's gaze. "See that you do," Eldan said, his voice hard. "Eldoria depends on it." The war council was already underway when Peter and Shade arrived, though they stood back, observing instead of participating. Lady Vaelis was there, her usual fiery spirit tempered with exhaustion. Borin the Gallant nursed a bandaged arm, his face set in a grim line. Seraphine, despite her own wounds, was attentive, offering a counterpoint to the gruff dwarves. General Markus, a man Peter hadn't interacted with much, stood near the large map table, occasionally offering input, his voice calm and measured. Lyriana was perched on a crate, arrows within reach. Peter watched them, trying to read their faces, their body language. Was there a flicker of guilt in Vaelis’s eyes? A nervous twitch from Borin? Did Seraphine hesitate before speaking? He knew it was ridiculous to judge them based on so little, but he couldn't shake the feeling that the traitor could be anyone. "What are you looking for?" Shade murmured, his voice barely audible above the murmur of voices. "Anything," Peter said. "Anything that seems out of place." The discussion centered on troop movements and supply lines. General Markus argued for a more aggressive stance, pushing deeper into the Dragon King’s territory, while Lady Vaelis advocated for consolidating their defenses at the Spire Pass. The debate was heated, but it seemed genuine. Everyone was invested in the outcome, passionate about their strategies. Peter found himself focusing on General Markus. There was something about his demeanor that seemed…off. He was too calm, too collected. Maybe it was just his military bearing, but Peter couldn't shake the feeling that Markus was hiding something. Although, Peter admitted to himself, he probably just fixated on Markus more than others, just because he was a general. "See anything?" Peter asked Shade after an hour. "Everyone looks tired and stressed," Shade said dryly. "Except maybe Markus. He seems… composed." "That’s what I thought," Peter said. "But it could just be his personality." "Maybe," Shade said, but Peter could tell he was skeptical. The council adjourned, the leaders dispersing to their respective duties. Peter and Shade lingered, watching them go. Vaelis headed towards the training grounds, Borin towards the armory, Seraphine towards the healer's tents. Markus returned to his own war tent. "Let’s start with Markus," Peter said. "I want to know what he’s up to." They spent the afternoon observing Markus. He seemed to be a model officer, visiting the troops, inspecting the defenses, and poring over maps. Peter saw no obvious signs of treachery, no clandestine meetings, no suspicious packages. But he couldn't shake his unease. As dusk settled over the camp, Peter saw a messenger raven take flight from Markus’s tent. The raven circled once, then headed south, towards the Dragon King’s territory. Peter nudged Shade. "Did you see that?" Shade nodded. "Markus sent a message." "We need to know what it said," Peter said. Intercepting a raven wasn’t easy. They needed to find a way to lure it down without alerting Markus or anyone else. Peter racked his brain, trying to come up with a plan. He remembered Lyriana’s skill with animals, her ability to communicate with them. "I have an idea," Peter said. "But we need Lyriana’s help." Finding Lyriana wasn’t difficult. She was in the woods, as usual, practicing her archery. Peter explained the situation, emphasizing the need for secrecy. Lyriana listened intently, her brow furrowed. "I can try," she said. "But ravens aren't easily swayed. Especially not trained messenger birds." Lyriana led them to a secluded clearing. She pulled out a small whistle and blew a series of notes. A few moments later, a falcon appeared, circling overhead. Lyriana whistled again, and the falcon landed on her outstretched arm. "This is Whisper," Lyriana said. "She can help us." Lyriana explained what they needed Whisper to do. The falcon listened patiently, its intelligent eyes fixed on Lyriana’s face. After a few minutes, Lyriana released Whisper, who soared into the sky. They watched as Whisper climbed higher and higher, until it was just a speck against the darkening sky. It took nearly an hour, but eventually, Whisper returned, the messenger raven struggling in its talons. Lyriana gently took the raven, soothing it with soft words. She removed the message scroll from its leg and handed it to Peter. "Be careful," she said. "These messages are often coded." Peter unrolled the scroll. It was a series of numbers and symbols, completely meaningless to him. He glanced at Shade, who was already studying the message, his brow furrowed in concentration. "It's a cipher," Shade said. "A simple substitution code, but it will take time to break." They returned to Peter’s tent, lighting a single candle to illuminate the scroll. Shade worked methodically, comparing the symbols to common letters and phrases. Peter watched him, his anxiety growing with each passing minute. The message could confirm their suspicions about Markus, or it could lead them down a dead end. After what felt like an eternity, Shade finally cracked the code. He read the message aloud, his voice low and grave. "’Allied defenses at Spire Pass weakened. Main force concentrated on the west flank. Attack on the east flank at dawn will meet minimal resistance.’" Peter felt a chill run down his spine. The message was clear: Markus was telling the Dragon King exactly where to strike. "We were right," Peter said, his voice tight. "He’s a traitor." "But why?" Shade asked. "Why would he betray his own people?" Peter didn't have an answer. But they needed to find out, and fast. If the Dragon King attacked the east flank at dawn, the allied forces would be decimated. They had to confront Markus, expose his treachery, and stop the attack. But they needed proof, something more than just an intercepted message. "We need to search his tent," Peter said. "Find something that confirms his connection to the Dragon King." Breaking into a general’s tent was risky, but they had no choice. They waited until the camp was asleep, the only sounds the soft snores of the soldiers and the crackling of the dying fires. Peter and Shade crept through the darkness, their movements silent and stealthy. Markus’s tent was well-guarded, but Shade was an expert at bypassing security. He quickly disabled the tripwires and silenced the alarm bells. Peter watched his back, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Shade produced a set of lockpicks and set to work on the tent flap. The lock clicked open with a soft sound, and they slipped inside. The tent was dimly lit by a single lantern, casting long shadows across the interior. Maps and charts covered the walls, and a small table held writing implements and stacks of parchment. "Split up," Peter whispered. "Search everything." They moved quickly and efficiently, searching every corner of the tent. Peter examined the maps, looking for anything that seemed out of place. Shade rummaged through the papers, scanning for coded messages or incriminating documents. Peter found something tucked away beneath a stack of maps. It was a detailed map of the allied defenses at the Spire Pass, but this map was different. It was marked with enemy troop movements and unit placements, information that only a high-ranking officer like Markus would have access to. "Shade, I found something," Peter said, his voice urgent. Shade came over and examined the map. His eyes narrowed. "This is it. This proves he's been feeding information to the Dragon King." They had their proof. But they still didn't know why Markus had betrayed them. Peter felt a surge of anger, but he knew that they couldn't act rashly. They needed to confront Markus, get him to confess, and find out what he was planning. As they left the tent, Peter spotted something out of the corner of his eye. A faint light flickering in the distance, beyond the camp boundaries. He nudged Shade, pointing towards the light. "What’s that?" Peter asked. Shade squinted, trying to make out what it was. "Looks like a signal fire. Someone's meeting someone outside the camp." Peter's heart pounded in his chest. It had to be Markus. He was meeting with an agent of the Dragon King, finalizing the details of the attack. They had to stop him, expose his treachery, and save the allied forces. "We need to see who he's meeting with," Peter said. "Come on." They crept through the darkness, moving towards the signal fire. The ground was uneven and treacherous, but they pressed on, their determination fueled by the knowledge that the fate of Eldoria hung in the balance. As they got closer, they could make out two figures standing near the fire. One was tall and imposing, dressed in the uniform of a general. The other was cloaked and hooded, their face hidden in shadow. "It’s Markus," Peter whispered. "And someone else. I can't make out who it is." They moved closer, hiding behind a cluster of trees. They could hear the murmur of voices, but they couldn't make out what they were saying. Peter strained his ears, trying to catch a snippet of conversation. "...the attack must proceed as planned," Markus was saying, his voice low and urgent. "The east flank will be undefended." "And the payment?" the cloaked figure asked, their voice raspy and cold. "It will be delivered once the attack is successful," Markus said. "As promised." Peter’s blood ran cold. He had heard enough. He stepped out from behind the trees, his sword drawn. "General Markus," Peter said, his voice ringing out in the night. "You are under arrest for treason." Markus whirled around, his eyes widening in shock. The cloaked figure stepped back, disappearing into the shadows. "Peter," Markus stammered. "What are you doing here?" "I know what you've been doing," Peter said, holding up the map they had found in his tent. "I know you've been betraying us to the Dragon King." Markus’s face crumpled. He looked like a cornered animal, desperate and afraid. He glanced around, as if looking for a way to escape. "It's not what you think," Markus said, his voice pleading. "Then tell me what it is," Peter said, his voice hard. "Tell me why you betrayed us." Markus hesitated, his eyes darting back and forth. He seemed to be weighing his options, trying to decide whether to lie or tell the truth. Finally, he broke down, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "I had no choice," Markus said, his voice choked with emotion. "They have my family. They’re holding them hostage in the capital city." Peter stared at him, stunned. He had expected many things, but he hadn't expected this. Markus, the respected general, the loyal officer, was being blackmailed. "The Dragon King threatened to kill them if I didn't cooperate," Markus continued, his voice trembling. "I had to do it. I had to save my family." Peter lowered his sword, his anger replaced by a wave of sympathy. He could only imagine the torment Markus must have been going through, forced to choose between his duty and his family. "Why didn't you tell us?" Peter asked. "We could have helped you." "I was afraid," Markus said. "I didn't know who to trust. I thought I could handle it on my own." Peter shook his head. Markus had made a terrible mistake, but he had done it out of love for his family. Peter thought about his own family. What would he do? Would he do the same to save them? "What about the attack?" Peter asked. "Is it still going to happen?" "Yes," Markus said. "At dawn. They don't know that I've been compromised." Peter looked at Shade, who nodded grimly. They had to stop the attack, but they also had to decide what to do with Markus. Exposing him would save Eldoria, but it would also condemn his family to death. Peter weighed the consequences, his mind racing. He thought about Lady Vaelis, about Borin, about all the soldiers who would die if the attack went ahead. But he also thought about Markus’s family, about the innocent lives that hung in the balance. "We can't expose him," Peter said finally. "Not yet. Not until we can rescue his family." Shade raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure about this? He's a traitor, Peter. He deserves to be punished." "I know," Peter said. "But he's also a father. And I can't condemn his family to death. Not without trying to save them." Peter looked at Markus, his eyes filled with determination. "We're going to help you get your family back. But you have to trust us. You have to do exactly what we say." Markus nodded, his eyes filled with hope. "I will. I promise. Just tell me what to do." "We need a plan," Peter said. "A plan to sneak into the Dragon King's territory, gather information about the capital's defenses, and find out where your family is being held." Peter looked at Shade. "I need your help. Your expertise in infiltration and stealth." Shade hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I'm in. But this is a long shot, Peter. A very long shot." "I know," Peter said. "But we have to try. For Markus, for his family, for Eldoria." They spent the rest of the night devising a plan. They needed to be quick, efficient, and above all, discreet. They couldn't afford to alert the Dragon King or his forces. "We'll travel light," Peter said. "Disguises, lockpicks, maps. We need to blend in, avoid detection." "I’ll prepare silent weapons," Shade said. "Just in case we run into trouble." As dawn approached, Peter gathered the essential supplies. He found some old cloaks and tunics to use as disguises. He collected lockpicks and other tools from Shade’s hidden stash. He studied the maps of the surrounding region, memorizing the terrain and the locations of key landmarks. Under the cloak of midnight, Peter, Shade, and Markus slipped away from the allied camp, heading towards the dark lands controlled by the Dragon King. The air was cold and still, the only sound the soft crunch of their boots on the frozen ground.