They spent the next three days moving from safe house to safe house, never staying in one place long enough for Julian's people to find them.
Kael used the stolen documents to plan a systematic dismantling of Julian's empire. Each page revealed another piece of corruption—smuggling routes, bribed officials, hidden warehouses.
"This one," Lyra said, pointing to a shipping manifest. "Julian's moving weapons through the south dock. Enough arms to equip a small army."
"When?"
"Tomorrow night."
Kael marked it on their growing map of targets. "We hit it. Take the weapons, burn the warehouse."
"That'll hurt him," Lyra agreed. "But it's not enough. Julian has too many operations. We take down one, he rebuilds. We need to cut off the head, not just chop at the limbs."
She was right. They'd been hitting Julian's assets for weeks now, and while it was slowing him down, it wasn't stopping him.
"The documents mention a meeting," Kael said, pulling out a specific page. "Once a month, Julian meets with his top lieutenants. All of them, in one place."
"Where?"
"Doesn't say. Just says 'the usual place.'"
"That's not helpful."
Ethan, who'd been quiet in the corner recovering from his near-death, spoke up. "I might know where."
They both turned to him.
"When I was... when Julian held me," Ethan continued, "I overheard things. The guards talked. There's a place outside the city. An old fortress. Julian uses it for important meetings. Somewhere he feels safe."
"Can you find it?" Kael asked.
"Maybe. I remember the route they took when they moved me there once."
Lyra looked between them. "If we can find this fortress, if we can catch Julian with all his lieutenants..."
"We end this," Kael finished. "One strike. Take them all down at once."
"It's risky," Lyra warned. "If Julian's bringing all his top people, he'll have serious security."
"Then we bring serious violence."
Over the next two days, Ethan guided them through the countryside outside the city. His memory was fragmented—trauma and captivity had left gaps—but slowly they pieced together the route.
They found it on the third day.
An old fortress built into a hillside, abandoned decades ago but recently restored. Guards patrolled the walls. Supplies were being moved inside.
"That's it," Ethan confirmed. "I recognize the tower."
Kael studied the fortress through a spyglass. At least thirty guards visible. Probably more inside. This wasn't going to be subtle.
"We need a plan," Lyra said.
"I have a plan. Walk in. Kill everyone."
"That's not a plan. That's suicide with extra steps."
"You have a better idea?"
Lyra thought for a moment. "Actually, yes. We don't attack during the meeting. We attack before. Set a trap. When Julian and his people arrive, we're already inside waiting."
"How do we get inside without being seen?"
"I have a contact who owes me a favor. He can get us guard uniforms, forged papers. We infiltrate during a shift change, hide until the meeting, then strike when they're all gathered."
It was smarter than Kael's plan. "How long until the next meeting?"
Lyra checked the documents. "Five days."
"Then we have five days to prepare."
They returned to the city, to a new safe house Lyra swore only she knew about. Ethan stayed behind while Kael and Lyra gathered supplies—weapons, uniforms, explosives for sabotage.
On the fourth day, Lyra's contact came through. Two guard uniforms, perfectly made, and papers identifying them as transfers from Julian's city operations.
"This might actually work," Lyra said, examining the uniforms.
"It will work," Kael replied. "It has to."
That night, unable to sleep, Kael found himself writing in his journal. The memory loss was getting worse. He'd forgotten his mother's voice. Couldn't remember what his sister looked like. Important pieces of his life were disappearing.
"You're troubled," Soulrender observed.
"I'm losing myself," Kael thought back. "Piece by piece. Soon there won't be anything left but you and the rage."
"Is that so terrible? Rage is pure. Honest. Better than the weakness of memory."
"No," Kael said aloud. "It's not better. Memories are what make us human. Without them, I'm just a weapon. Like you."
"And what's wrong with being a weapon?"
"Everything." Kael closed the journal. "Everything's wrong with it."
He looked out the window at the sleeping city. Somewhere out there, Julian lived in stolen luxury. Wore his father's crest. Sat in his father's chair.
Soon that would end.
Soon there would be blood and justice and hopefully peace.
If Kael could hold onto himself long enough to see it.
A sound behind him. Kael turned to find Lyra standing in the doorway.
"Can't sleep either?" she asked.
"Too much to think about."
She moved to stand beside him at the window. "Scared?"
"Of the fight? No."
"Of what?"
"Of forgetting you," Kael admitted. "The sword takes memories. Important ones. What if one day I wake up and I don't remember... this?" He gestured between them.
Lyra was quiet for a long moment. Then she took his hand.
"Then I'll remind you," she said simply. "Every day if I have to. I'll tell you about how we met, how you saved Ethan, how you kissed me first even though I was about to say something romantic."
Despite everything, Kael smiled. "You were taking too long."
"I was building atmosphere," Lyra protested, but she was smiling too. "The point is, even if you forget, I'll remember. And I'll make sure you know what you mean to me."
"What do I mean to you?"
She looked at him, her dark eyes serious. "Everything. You mean everything."
Kael pulled her close, resting his chin on top of her head. She fit perfectly against him, like they'd been designed to match.
"After this is over," he said quietly. "After Julian's dead and the sword's quiet and there's nothing left to fight for... what do we do?"
"We live," Lyra replied. "We find a place that's just ours. Somewhere Julian never touched. And we build something new."
"Something new," Kael repeated. "I'd like that."
They stood there for a while, watching the city sleep, holding each other against the darkness.
Tomorrow they'd prepare for battle.
Tomorrow they'd risk everything.
But tonight, they had this. This moment. This peace.
And maybe that was enough.
* * *
The day of the meeting arrived with gray skies and cold wind.
Kael and Lyra dressed in their guard uniforms, weapons hidden beneath the fabric. The forged papers were perfect. They looked like any other guards in Julian's employ.
"Remember," Lyra said as they approached the fortress. "We're supposed to be transfers. Act bored. Guards are always bored."
Kael schooled his expression into indifference. "How's this?"
"Perfect. You look like you'd rather be anywhere else."
"I would rather be anywhere else."
"That's the spirit."
They joined a group of guards arriving for the shift change. The fortress gates opened, and they filed in with the others.
Inside, the fortress bustled with activity. Servants prepared a feast. Guards took up positions. Everything was being readied for Julian's arrival.
Kael and Lyra were assigned to the east tower—a posting far from the main hall where the meeting would occur.
"We need to move closer once everyone's settled," Lyra whispered.
They waited. Hours passed. The sun set.
Then carriages began arriving.
Through a window, Kael watched as men in expensive clothes filed into the fortress. Julian's lieutenants. All the people who'd helped destroy his family, who'd profited from others' misery.
And finally, a carriage bearing the Voss family crest.
Julian stepped out, looking every bit the noble lord. He smiled and greeted his people like a king among subjects.
Kael's hand went to Soulrender.
"Not yet," the sword whispered. "Wait for them to gather. Wait until they're all in one place."
It was good advice. But watching Julian walk into his father's fortress, wearing his father's crest, made Kael's rage burn white-hot.
"Soon," Lyra said beside him, sensing his tension. "Soon you'll have your revenge."
The meeting began. Guards sealed the main hall. No one in or out during the discussions.
Perfect.
Kael and Lyra made their way through the fortress, avoiding patrols, using Lyra's knowledge of guard patterns to stay undetected.
They reached the hall's upper gallery, a balcony overlooking the meeting room.
Below, Julian sat at the head of a long table. Twenty men surrounded him—his inner circle, his most trusted people.
"Status reports," Julian was saying. "I want to know everything about our friend with the cursed sword."
Kael tensed.
"He's been hitting our operations hard," one lieutenant said. "We've lost fifteen percent of revenue this month."
"Unacceptable," Julian replied calmly. "Where is he hiding?"
"We lost track after the safe house incident. Whoever helped him escape knew our protocols."
"So we have a traitor." Julian's voice was cold. "Find them. Make an example."
"Already done, sir. We think it was Marcus from the docks. He's been dealt with."
They were killing their own people, trying to plug leaks. Good. Let them turn on each other.
"And the sword?" another lieutenant asked. "If Kael has been using it this much, shouldn't it have consumed him by now?"
"He's stronger than I expected," Julian admitted. "More resilient. But no one resists the sword forever. Eventually, it takes everything. We just need to wait."
"What if we can't wait? What if he attacks us directly?"
"Then we'll be ready." Julian gestured, and a man stepped forward carrying a wooden box. "I've acquired something special. A countermeasure."
He opened the box. Inside was a sword, but unlike any Kael had seen. White blade, silver crossguard, radiating a light that hurt to look at.
"Holy steel," Julian said. "Blessed by the Church of Light themselves. Designed specifically to counter cursed weapons. If Kael comes for me, this will end him."
Kael stared at the white blade. Could it really counter Soulrender?
"We should go," Lyra whispered. "We have the information. We know about the sword. Let's retreat and plan—"
"No," Kael said. "I'm tired of planning. Tired of hiding. He's right there. All of them are. This ends now."
"Kael—"
But he was already moving, vaulting over the balcony rail.
He landed in the middle of the meeting table, Soulrender blazing with black fire.
Twenty faces turned toward him in shock.
Julian's expression shifted from surprise to something that might have been satisfaction.
"Hello, cousin," Julian said, standing calmly. "I was wondering when you'd show up."
"Surprise," Kael replied.
"Not really." Julian reached for the white sword. "I've been waiting for this."
The battle began.
* * *
END OF CHAPTER 27