Chapter 198: Hunger's Shadow
The Hollow was alive, but its heartbeat was fragile.
Kael felt it in every corridor, in every whispered conversation. The stolen bounty was dwindling, and though no one beyond the council and a handful of hunters knew it, the Hollow teetered once more on the edge of hunger.
It gnawed at him.
The weight of their trust, their smiles, their laughter, all carried on the brittle promise of food that would not last. And so, when the torches burned low and the halls emptied, Kael did something reckless.
The Attempt
His study was dark but for the sickly glow of chaos magic spiraling between his hands. Shadows bled into flame, flame warped into smoke, and smoke twisted into substance. Kael forced mana into shape, twisting it into the outline of bread, fruit, meat.
The chamber stank of burnt ozone, the air heavy, wrong.
A loaf of bread lay steaming on the table. Beside it, a cluster of berries glistened. A slab of venison smoked faintly as though freshly cut from a spit.
Kael's chest heaved, sweat dripping down his temples. He reached for the bread with trembling fingers.
It looked perfect.
But when he tore off a piece and placed it in his mouth, the taste hit him like ash and rot. He gagged, spitting it out, bile rising in his throat. The berries oozed bitter sludge when squeezed. The meat crumbled into foul-smelling dust.
Chaos could make food… but not life. Not sustenance. Only poison dressed in the shape of salvation.
Kael slammed his fist into the table, the bread scattering into blackened fragments. "Damn it!" His voice cracked, echoing against the stone walls.
For a long moment, he stood alone, the stench of failure thick around him.
The Letter
When he finally calmed, Kael sat at his desk, pulled a sheet of parchment close, and began to write.
To His Majesty, King Thalren of the Ocean Kingdom,
The Hollow prospers, but too swiftly. Our stores cannot meet the need of so many mouths. I request aid—two to three months' worth of supplies—to see us through until our harvest is complete.
I know the weight of what I ask. To that end, I pledge this: should you grant us this boon, I will offer you a personal favor. Any task, any service, no matter the danger or cost. This I swear by my name and my people.
He signed it with a heavy hand:
Kael, Lord of the Hollow.
The seal was pressed, the wax cooling beneath his thumb. A messenger would leave at dawn.
The Conversation
When the chamber doors opened, Kael was not surprised to see Thalos and Varik waiting. The two men had a way of knowing when his burdens grew too heavy.
Thalos spoke first, his bluntness cutting through the silence. "We heard what you tried. The magic."
Kael didn't look at him. "It failed."
"We guessed," Varik said softly. His voice was steady, but his eyes were sharp. "You look like you've been breathing ash."
Kael exhaled slowly. "I've written to Thalren. Supplies for two or three months. Enough to keep us alive until the harvest."
"And if he refuses?" Thalos asked.
"Then we find another way."
A silence stretched. The fire crackled low in the hearth.
Finally, Thalos leaned forward, his scarred hands clasped. "Kael, Varik and I have talked. If Thalren fails us, we're ready to go back out. Raiding. Quiet. Clean. You don't need to bloody yourself again. Let us take it."
Varik nodded firmly. "We've done it once. We can do it again. And if we plant rumors of bandits nearby, it'll keep suspicion away. But—" He held Kael's gaze. "—we wait. We see if Thalren answers. We owe ourselves that much."
Kael studied them both. His oldest companions. His most trusted blades. They were offering to bear his sin for him.
Slowly, he nodded. "We wait. If Thalren fails, then we take the risk. But until then…" His eyes hardened. "We hold the line. No more chaos. No more shadows. Not unless we must."
Thalos smirked faintly. "Then let's hope the ocean king believes in his pact."
Varik added, almost grimly, "Or else he'll learn just how sharp desperation can be."
Kael leaned back, weary, the letter heavy on the table before him. "Either way, the Hollow will not starve."