Capítulo 15: Whispers of Betrayal
Rayna finally spoke up, still visibly upset as the tension from their earlier argument had yet to be resolved and lingered in the air.
She crossed her arms, her back turned slightly toward Kaleb, refusing to meet his gaze.
"You're still not fully recovered, and now you're going to put yourself in danger again, after everything you've just been through?"
"Rayna, I don't have a choice here. I can't just sit around and do nothing while there's a chance this could help us."
"You do have a choice!" she shot back, her eyes finally meeting his as tears welled up.
"But you're choosing to throw yourself into yet another risky situation without thinking about the consequences."
Her voice trembled slightly, and Kaleb could tell she was holding back more than just anger.
"I am thinking about the consequences," he replied, his tone softening. "But we can't afford to waste a possible…"
"What if you don't make it back this time?" she asked, cutting him off, "What if you get so hurt you aren't able to make it back and we're left alone? Have you thought about that?"
He could do nothing but stare at her blankly as he had no answer. He frowned, guilt washing over him. "I'm sorry, Rayna… I really am…. But this is something I need to do."
Rayna's frustration finally reached its boiling point, and without another word, she stormed out of the shed.
"Where are you going?" he asked, but his attempts to talk fell flat.
Eliora, ever the quiet observer, hesitated for a moment before darting out after her.
Kaleb let out a deep sigh, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.
"She'll be alright," Atara said, breaking the silence. "But what about you? You can't seriously be thinking about meeting that man alone."
Kaleb opened his mouth to respond, but Atara wasn't done.
"I know what you're going to say," she continued, stepping closer. "That you can handle it. That you don't want anyone else getting involved or getting hurt. But it's time you stopped thinking you have to do everything by yourself." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm coming with you."
Kaleb paused, the familiar battle between wanting to protect them and knowing he couldn't do this alone flaring up again.
He sighed, realizing that Atara wasn't going to back down from this. She had that look in her eyes, stubborn and unyielding, much like Rayna's but with a sharper edge.
Kaleb hesitated, caught off guard by her determination. "Atara… this could be dangerous. I don't even know if we can trust this Miller guy," he argued, but she stepped even closer.
"That's exactly why I'm coming with you." she countered, "If this is a trap, I won't just sit here waiting and wondering if you'll come back in one piece. Not again. I'd rather take the risk of coming with you than sit here waiting."
Kaleb exhaled heavily, "Alright, fine. You can come with me," he relented, his voice tinged with resignation.
Atara smirked slightly, "Good."
Kaleb frowned, glancing toward the door where Rayna had stormed out. "Now what do I do about Rayna?"
"I already said she'll be fine," Atara said, rolling her eyes "Just give her some time to cool off. Though I don't think she'll be sleeping here tonight"
The appointed time was fast approaching, and now with Atara by his side, Kaleb steeled himself for whatever awaited them at the stables.
As they made their way to the back of the stables, Kaleb's mind raced with questions.
"Do you think he really wants to help us?"
Atara shrugged. "I hope so."
Determination settled in as they approached the meeting spot. Whatever lay ahead, they would face it together.
As they rounded the corner, Miller stood there, leaning against a wooden post, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp.
The dim light of the moon cast shadows across the ground between them.
Miller looked up as they approached, a knowing smile creeping onto his face. "I was starting to wonder if you'd actually come. And you even came with one of your girlfriends."
"Well I'm here, so get on with it. Who are you exactly and what do you want?"
Miller straightened, his expression turning serious. "I need your help, but first, I need to share my story. You need to understand what's at stake."
His expression darkened as he began his narration. "I am a member of a fallen noble house, the Auburn family," A sad expression crossed his face, "A year ago our proud and loyal family was wrongfully accused of embezzling the kingdom's gold." the weight of his family's downfall still fresh in his mind.
Miller's voice was filled with bitterness as he continued his recounting, "My father was publicly executed, our titles were stripped, our possessions seized, and every living member of my family was sold into slavery."
His hands clenched, his jaw tightened, and for a moment the weight of those memories seemed like they might crush him.
His voice trembled with every word he spoke, "I escaped," but not before I had lost everything"
His eyes flickered with a mix of rage and sorrow as he stared into the distance, recalling every painful memory in detail.
"I have been on the run ever since."
His eyes seemed clouded with a mixture of pain and rage as if he was constantly reliving the betrayal that had torn his world apart.
"So why come to us? What can a group of two weak human slaves and two beastmen do for you?"
Miller's gaze hardened. "I want revenge against the people who destroyed my family," the weight of his words hanging in the air.
"And to that end, I am willing to do whatever it takes. With that in mind, I have determined that you would be of use to me because I plan to kill the count"
"You plan to do what?
Kaleb's body stiffened and his breath hitched as he felt a chill run down his spine.
As Miller's words sank in he felt his chest tightening and a lump forming in his throat.
"You want to kill the count!" he exclaimed, disbelief washing over him, the thought sending a jolt of fear through his veins.
"Are you aware of the weight of the words spewing from your mouth right now?"
"I very much am aware." Miller replied, his voice steady and laced with urgency as he conveyed his intentions "He was instrumental in my family's downfall and one of the main players in the embezzling scheme."
Atara exchanged a glance with Kaleb, their expressions mirroring the gravity of the situation.
"This is reckless. I don't know the laws of this land, but I would imagine that this is akin to treason; you realize that right?" she asked, her voice firm, cutting through the tension.
Miller's fierce determination contrasted sharply with their growing apprehension. "You're asking us to risk everything. This isn't just about revenge; it's about a fight for survival."
Miller met Kaleb's gaze, "Let me make this clear: I'm not asking for the group's help," he clarified, raising his hand and pointing at Kaleb. "I need you, Kaleb."
"Me?" he asked, looking dumbfounded. "What could you need me for?"
"I'll explain everything once you have agreed to help me"
Doubt flickered in his mind, battling against a sense of responsibility. The weight of the impending decision pressed heavily on him.
"But if we fail…"
"Failure isn't an option," Miller interrupted, his tone fierce. "This is about more than just petty revenge; it's about taking a stand against those who have wronged us. But I can't do it alone. I need your strength, your resolve."
"So you are willing to go that far? This could cost us everything." Kaleb said, his voice laced with hesitation.
"I know. But I'm done running," Miller replied, his eyes burning with intensity. "I need to… No, I will take back what was stolen from me."
Kaleb took a moment and contemplated Miller's proposal. He opened his mouth, ready to voice his thoughts when Atara interjected, her voice cutting through the tension, sharp and unwavering.
"You can't seriously be considering this. Think about the risks! This isn't just about revenge; it's our lives on the line " Atara warned, her eyes fierce.
Miller shot her a frustrated look. "You don't understand the stakes girl. This is more than just a personal vendetta for me. This is about me seeking justice for…"
"Justice or not, you're asking him to throw away everything he's worked for!" Atara cut him off, her voice rising. "He risked his life to get a deal with the count not that long ago and you want us to throw that chance away?."
"Do you think that traitorous scum will actually keep his word?"
"I'd rather trust him right now than some sketchy guard!"
Kaleb felt the tension between them crackle in the air, torn between Miller's determination and Atara's caution.
"This is a path filled with too much blood Kaleb, and I don't want to see you get dragged down with it," Atara said, dragging him away.
Kaleb met her gaze, feeling the weight of her concern. "I understand where you're coming from, but,"
"But nothing!" Atara interrupted, stepping closer.
"You're not just risking your life; you're risking ours too. We've come this far and I won't let you throw it all away on a revenge plot that could get us killed!"
Kaleb stood his ground, pulling his hand from her grasp. "I get it, Atara. I understand why you are apprehensive about this."
His gaze flickered as he looked into her eyes. His fingers twitched slightly at his side and his lips parted, then pressed together again as if the words were stuck.
Shifting from one foot to the other, his brow furrowing deeply with tension rippling across his features. A faint breath escaped him, almost like a sigh.
"You're right…" he murmured, his voice wavering and filled with reluctance "The last thing I want is to put you at risk again. "
Atara's eyes lit up, the tension in her shoulders easing as her lips parted slightly and the storm of emotions within her calmed, but before she could say a word, Kaleb turned
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