The flickering lanterns cast eerie shadows across the warehouse as Aedric crouched on the wooden beam, absorbing every word spoken below. The Raven's voice was smooth, calculating, and laced with confidence.
A bounty. On him.
Aedric had known he was making enemies, but to have someone as dangerous as The Raven personally set their sights on him meant things had escalated faster than he anticipated. His presence in Velmire was no longer a mere inconvenience to the Red Vipers—it was now a threat that needed to be eliminated.
Seris barely shifted beside him, her eyes locked onto the figures below. Aedric could feel the tension in her posture. She wanted to strike, but it wasn't time yet. Not when they still needed more information.
Below, the man who had reported the failed assassination hesitated. "If we double the bounty, every mercenary and thug in Velmire will know his name."
The Raven chuckled, amused. "Exactly. Fear does not come from hiding in the shadows—it comes from making an example. Let them hunt him, let them fail, and let the city see what happens when you cross us."
Aedric exhaled slowly. They don't just want me dead. They want to make a spectacle of it.
Another voice spoke up, this one belonging to a woman in a dark leather coat. "And what of Garron's forces? The boy has been working with them, and they're already restless."
The Raven tapped a gloved finger on the table. "Garron is old, predictable. His men follow him because they lack other options. If Aedric continues to grow, they will see him as an alternative."
Aedric's jaw tightened. The Raven wasn't just an assassin—they were a strategist. They understood power and how to manipulate it.
One of the guards shifted. "Shall we take care of Garron as well?"
The Raven paused, then shook their head. "Not yet. The moment he falls, Aedric's influence will solidify. No, let the old wolf remain for now. We will ensure his leash remains tight."
Aedric exchanged a glance with Seris. This was critical information—proof that The Raven wasn't just working with the Red Vipers, but manipulating the city's entire power structure.
He needed to get out of here and act on this before it was too late.
But just as he was about to signal their retreat, the door to the warehouse suddenly burst open.
A figure stumbled inside, panting heavily. He was a younger man, clad in tattered clothes, his forehead slick with sweat. "The city guard—" he gasped, clutching his side. "They're raiding the docks!"
The Raven's head tilted slightly. "Already?"
The man swallowed hard. "They've arrested two of our men near the west pier. Someone tipped them off."
Aedric didn't allow himself to smirk, but he felt a deep satisfaction. He had made sure to spread rumors about the Vipers' activities among the right ears before coming here. If the city guards were finally taking action, it meant his plan was already in motion.
The Raven sighed. "How inconvenient." They turned to the others. "Pull our people from the docks immediately. Burn anything that can't be moved."
Aedric tensed. If the Vipers destroyed evidence, it would be harder to track their network. He needed to move now.
He touched Seris's shoulder, signaling their exit. Carefully, they shifted toward the ventilation opening they had come through. But as Seris moved, a loose beam creaked beneath her weight.
The sound was faint—but The Raven's head snapped upward instantly.
Aedric's heart pounded. Damn it.
The Raven's eyes narrowed. "We have visitors."
The guards below reacted instantly, drawing weapons as they scanned the rafters.
Aedric whispered, "Go."
Seris didn't hesitate, slipping through the opening first. Aedric followed, but as he swung onto the ledge, a sharp whistle cut through the air.
Thunk.
A crossbow bolt buried itself into the wood an inch from his hand.
He didn't look back. He just moved.
Scrambling up the rooftop, he barely made it over the edge before shouts erupted below.
"Find them!"
Seris was already running, her movements swift and precise across the sloped rooftops. Aedric followed, pushing himself forward as more bolts whistled past them.
They reached the far end of the warehouses, where a narrow alleyway led toward the city streets. Without slowing down, they leaped—Seris landed gracefully, while Aedric barely managed to roll on impact.
Tessa was waiting at the entrance to the alley. "What the hell did you do?"
"No time," Aedric panted. "They know we're watching."
Seris pulled her hood tighter. "And they put a bounty on him."
Tessa's expression darkened. "That means we have even less time to act."
Aedric steadied his breath. "Then let's make sure we strike first."
Because now, The Raven wasn't just his enemy.
They were his next target.