The King's Guard

Chapter 74

Night blanketed the northern range in a cool, silent hush. The moon hung low, its pale light washing over the forest that ringed the Academy’s perimeter.

Kael adjusted his grip on the training spear as Reyna moved beside him, her voice low. “This exercise was supposed to be routine. So why does it feel like a trap?”

“Because Archon planned it,” Kyna muttered from behind, eyes flicking through the dark. “And his ‘routine’ never means simple.”

Jared snorted softly. “Maybe you’re all just jumpy. It’s a mock raid. Capture the beacon, bring it back, easy.”

Reyna’s look could’ve cut stone. “You said the same thing last time and almost got us killed.”

“I call that experience,” Jared replied, a faint smirk tugging at his mouth.

Kael stopped at the treeline and signalled the group to fan out. “Keep eyes open. Our commanders, Drax and Ember, will be joining us and as such, they'll be covering the ridge. We take the west route. Kyna…shadows only.”

She grinned. “Wouldn’t dream of anything else.”

They moved silently through undergrowth, boots muffled against damp soil.

Reyna whispered, “No guards?”

“Not yet,” Kael said. “Too quiet.”

Kyna vanished into darkness, her Shadowstep flickering like smoke in moonlight. One heartbeat she was there, the next gone, only a faint shimmer left behind.

Jared muttered, “Still freaks me out.”

“Then don’t blink,” Reyna said dryly.

Kael’s hand brushed the insignia on his gauntlet. “She’s our eyes. Trust her.”

A few minutes later, Kyna’s voice drifted through the comm bead. “Three figures by the beacon. Armour pattern doesn’t match Academy gear.”

Reyna froze. “What do you mean doesn’t match?”

“They’re not ours.”

Kael’s pulse jumped. “Kyna, pull back. Now.”

“Already on it,” she said, tone clipped.

Then static.

Jared frowned. “Did she…”

Before he finished, an arrow hissed past Kael’s ear and thudded into a tree.

“Contact!” Reyna shouted, diving for cover.

Masked figures burst from the darkness with gleaming blades. Not trainees. Not Academy troops. Rebels.

“Ambush!” Kael snapped. “Form up!”

Jared drew steel with a hiss. “You’ve got to be kidding…”

A rebel lunged at him, and Jared parried hard, boots skidding across dirt. “Guess not!”

Kael blocked a blow aimed for Reyna, twisting his wrist and countering. Sparks flew as metal scraped metal. The rebels fought fast, coordinated, and viciously real.

Reyna’s dagger found a throat. She exhaled sharply. “These aren’t mock blades!”

“No, they’re not,” Kael growled. “Fall back toward the ridge!”

They retreated in measured steps, forming a line. The beacon’s blue flare lit the clearing, shadows leaping wildly across faces.

“Kael!” Kyna’s voice came from nowhere. She reappeared beside him, eyes wide. “They’ve got archers on both flanks. At least a dozen.”

“Any idea who sent them?”

“No insignia. But they’re using Stormhaven-forged steel.”

That hit like ice. “Stormhaven?” Kael echoed.

Jared deflected another strike. “You sure?”

“Positive,” Kyna spat.

“Then we’re not in a drill anymore,” Reyna said grimly.

They fought their way up the slope. Drax and Ember appeared at the ridge, one with a crossbow, the other wielding a glaive.

“About time!” Ember yelled, firing into the tree line.

Drax grinned through sweat. “You call this a night exercise? Remind me to send Archon a thank-you note!”

Reyna barked, “Focus, Drax!”

But his grin only widened as he deflected a sword blow with the haft of his weapon. “Focused enough!”

The rebels pressed harder. Arrows split branches, thudding into trunks inches from Kael’s head.

Kyna disappeared again, her form melting into the dark. Shadows rippled as she stepped behind one of the archers, her dagger flashing once. When she emerged, her cloak was smeared with blood.

“Clear on the left!” she called.

Jared shouted, “Then take the right!”

She smirked. “You first.”

Kael leapt into the open, twisting his spear and catching an attacker mid-swing. The man dropped instantly.

The forest smelled of iron and smoke.

Reyna ducked under a blade, slashing low. “We can’t hold forever!”

Kael’s breath came hard. “We don’t need forever. Just long enough.”

“For what?” Jared demanded.

“For backup.”

As if answering, a flare exploded overhead: Drax’s signal. The Academy alarm echoed faintly in the distance.

Kael stepped forward, eyes narrow. “Kyna, cover Reyna. Jared, with me.”

Jared scoffed. “Since when do you give me orders?”

“Since you’d rather argue than survive.”

Jared hesitated a fraction of a second, then followed.

They cut through the last few rebels as the flare light dimmed. Two fled into the forest. Kael moved to pursue, but Reyna caught his arm. “Let them run. We need the wounded.”

Ember stumbled toward them, clutching his shoulder. “Arrow… missed the artery. I think.”

“You think?” Reyna snapped, pressing cloth against the wound.

Drax limped over, chuckling despite a cut along his thigh. “Well, that was exciting.”

“Really, commander?” Kyna muttered, wiping her blade. “You’re bleeding.”

“So are you.”

She rolled her eyes. “Fine.”

Kael crouched beside one of the fallen rebels, pulling the mask away. Young. No insignia. But the weapon: a curved shortblade, was unmistakably Stormhaven design.

Reyna whispered, “Stormhaven steel again.”

Kael nodded slowly. “This wasn’t random.”

Jared kicked a fallen weapon away, breathing hard. “Then who the hell arranged it?”

Kyna sheathed her dagger. “Same people who keep sending us half-truths. Archon’s hands are in this, one way or another.”

Reyna frowned. “You think he knew?”

Kyna’s smile was bitter. “He always knows.”

Kael stood, scanning the treeline. “Then we’ll find proof.”

Jared scoffed. “And what? Hand it over to Darius? To Archon? You trust either of them that much?”

Kael met his gaze. “I trust what I see.”

Reyna stepped between them. “Enough. We’re all tired.”

The sound of approaching soldiers echoed through the woods. Academy reinforcements.

Kyna murmured, “Finally.”

But Kael didn’t relax. His eyes lingered on the direction the last two rebels had fled north, toward the city.

Something was wrong.

By dawn, the squad sat under a tent near the medical wing. Darius stood before them, expression unreadable.

“Reports say it was a rebel ambush,” he said. “But Stormhaven weapons… that complicates things.”

Kael asked quietly, “What do you believe?”

Darius hesitated. “That someone wants to make us doubt our allies.”

Kyna crossed her arms. “They succeeded.”

Jared leaned back on the bench, arms folded. “If Stormhaven’s supplying rebels, then this alliance is a farce.”

“Watch your tone,” Darius warned.

Jared snorted. “I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking.”

Kael said nothing, watching Darius carefully. The older man’s restraint was deliberate, like someone walking on a blade edge.

Reyna finally asked, “What happens now?”

Darius’s voice dropped. “Now? You rest. You’ll be debriefed when Archon returns.”

Kyna muttered, “Wonderful. I’m sure he’ll have all the right answers.”

“Enough,” Darius said firmly. “Dismissed.”

They rose slowly.

Outside, morning mist rolled across the courtyard. Ember’s arm was in a sling; Drax limped but refused crutches.

Kyna adjusted her cloak. “So. That went well.”

Reyna shot her a look. “You call that well?”

Kyna smirked. “We’re alive. That’s the standard now, isn’t it?”

Kael didn’t answer. His gaze was distant, fixed on the horizon where the sun burned faintly through fog.

Reyna touched his arm. “You’re thinking too loud again.”

He forced a small smile. “Habit.”

“Bad one,” she said softly.

He nodded. “Probably.”

As they walked back toward the barracks, Kael spoke, almost to himself. “Stormhaven weapons. Rebels who knew our routes. Archon’s orders placing us there alone.”

Kyna said, “You’re suggesting it wasn’t an ambush.”

Kael looked up. “No. It was a test.”

Reyna’s eyes widened. “Of what?”

“Loyalty,” Kael said. “And who survives.”