章 109: The Obsidian Shade
While the Serpents maintained elaborate chains of command, whispers about the so-called "Shadow Enemy" circulated among their ranks and allies. This entity, or perhaps faction, was not a recent addition to the rumor mill—its legend predated the stalemate, predating even the Elders.
No one claimed to have seen this Shadow Enemy directly. Some said it was an assassin's guild hidden beyond borders, others believed it to be a cabal of robed figures who collected secrets from both Serpent and Ember lands. The most common name murmured in fearful tones was "The Obsidian Shade."
Elder Ravessa admitted to Kazreth that she once intercepted half-burned letters hinting that the Obsidian Shade offered "services" to the highest bidder: information leaks, sabotage, or the sudden disappearance of key figures. Yet the Shade never fully aligned with the Serpents. Sometimes their interventions aided Serpents indirectly; other times they seemed to aid no one at all, as if they stoked chaos for its own amusement.
Kazreth considered the Obsidian Shade a wild card. He never invited them into his plans openly. Osereth thought them a myth conjured by frightened subordinates, while Ravessa suspected they were all too real. Malzaryn's scouts found no traces of their lairs, Ivrineh's spies returned with no confirmation, and Yashever's informants could not name their leader.
Captains feared the Shade's unpredictability. Rivek once swore he glimpsed a silhouette vanishing into a rockslide, and Surien discovered a coded note left where her infiltration route should have been secret. Vesarl woke to find a vial of unknown toxin on his bunk—no threat, just a silent reminder that he was not beyond the Shade's reach.
Clan leaders discussed the Shade in low voices. Dhazul cursed this unseen foe for adding uncertainty to already fraught alliances. Velsa wondered if they sought to sell secrets about her herb gardens. Harrek sharpened his axe, muttering that he'd face any foe openly, if only they'd show themselves.
The existence of this Shadow Enemy frayed the tapestry of Serpent confidence. Their complex web of generals, captains, and clans now included a lurking unknown that might strike at any moment, from any side. As the Serpents prepared for future confrontations with the Ember Circle, they knew they faced not only a disciplined rival but the watchful, invisible gaze of an entity beyond their control.
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