The dim lantern light flickered against the cellar walls of the Silver Drake, casting long shadows over the weary figures gathered within. The night's events had left them bruised and bloodied, but their resolve had only hardened.
Aedric turned the small silver coin over in his fingers, studying the serpent's fang engraved on its surface. The token was their only clue to the Red Vipers' employer, and if used correctly, it could become a weapon.
Seris leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "So, we plant the coin and let them tear each other apart?"
"Not exactly," Aedric said. "We need them to believe there's a traitor among their ranks. If they start questioning each other, they'll slip up."
Lirian, still clutching his wounded side, chuckled weakly. "And how do we make them believe that?"
Aedric placed the coin on the wooden crate between them. "The Vipers operate in secrecy. If they think one of their own leaked information, they'll become paranoid. We need to choose a location where they'll find it—a place only someone on the inside would have access to."
Garron grunted. "There's a smuggler's den near the eastern docks. It's where Gorran does most of his dirty work, but the Vipers have been seen there before."
Tessa tightened the straps on her leather bracers. "It's risky. That area is crawling with Gorran's men."
Aedric nodded. "That's what makes it perfect. If the Vipers think one of their own is selling them out to Gorran, they'll start looking for the leak. And in their search, they might reveal who hired them."
Seris tapped her chin. "We'll need to be careful. If the Vipers catch wind of what we're doing, they'll hunt us down."
Aedric met her gaze. "Then we make sure they don't."
---
The night was thick with fog as Aedric and Seris made their way toward the eastern docks. The others had remained behind to recover, leaving the task to the two of them.
The smuggler's den was a worn-down warehouse near the water's edge, its entrance guarded by two men dressed in dark leathers. They leaned against the wooden beams, idly chatting, unaware of the figures watching from the rooftops.
Aedric signaled to Seris, who nodded before vanishing into the shadows. Moments later, a soft clatter echoed from an alleyway nearby. One of the guards straightened. "What was that?"
His companion scoffed. "Probably a rat."
Another noise followed, this time further away. The first guard hesitated before stepping away from the entrance. "I'll check it out."
As soon as he disappeared around the corner, Seris struck. Silent as a phantom, she emerged from the darkness and drove her dagger into the second guard's throat before easing him to the ground.
Aedric wasted no time, slipping inside the warehouse. The air was thick with the scent of salt and damp wood. Crates of stolen goods were stacked high, and a dim lantern flickered in the far corner.
He moved quickly, finding a small desk covered in papers. This was where the Vipers exchanged messages with their contacts. Carefully, he placed the silver token among the documents, making sure it would be discovered.
A whisper of movement made him freeze. Footsteps approached from the opposite end of the warehouse. Aedric ducked behind a stack of barrels, his pulse steady.
Two figures entered—one clad in the dark garb of an assassin, the other wearing a merchant's cloak. Their voices were hushed but urgent.
"…this wasn't part of the deal," the merchant hissed.
"The contract stands," the assassin replied coldly. "Your employer knew the risks."
Aedric narrowed his eyes. This was it. If he could hear their conversation, he might learn who was backing Gorran.
He edged closer, careful to stay hidden. The merchant glanced around nervously. "We didn't expect resistance. The boy and his group—they're more dangerous than we thought."
The assassin's lips curled into a smirk. "Then perhaps we underestimated them."
Aedric felt a surge of satisfaction. They were afraid.
The merchant hesitated. "What now?"
The assassin stepped forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Orders remain the same. The Red Vipers do not fail. And if they do… they are eliminated."
Aedric didn't wait to hear more. He had what he needed. Silently, he slipped back toward the entrance, where Seris was waiting.
As they vanished into the fog, Aedric allowed himself a small smile. The game was changing. And soon, the Vipers would be hunting their own.