The march back from the Iron Pass was heavy with silence. The soldiers carried victory in their eyes, but also unease. They had seen Tharos's fire unleashed, had felt the heat of Kael's fury. Some whispered reverence, others whispered fear.
By the time the spires of the capital rose against the horizon, Kael felt the weight of every step. He had won the battle, but the war for trust had only begun.
---
The throne room was crowded with nobles, commanders, and courtiers. The Emperor sat high upon his seat, his gaze sharp as steel.
Rowan stepped forward first, bowing low. His voice was smooth, venom hidden beneath courtesy.
"Your Majesty, the Iron Pass is reclaimed. Yet the cost was perilous. The peasant wielded fire recklessly, nearly consuming his own men. Victory was bought with chaos."
Murmurs rippled through the hall. Some nodded, others frowned.
Kael stepped forward, his voice steady. "Without Tharos, the pass would still be lost. The men fought bravely, and they endured. That is not chaos. That is survival."
Rowan's smile was thin. "Survival bought with fear is no victory at all."
Garrick limped forward, his scarred face grim.
"Your Majesty, I was there. Kael did not falter. He carried men who doubted him into battle and brought them back alive. That is command. That is loyalty earned."
The Emperor's gaze lingered on Kael, unreadable. "Loyalty earned… or loyalty forced?"
Kael's chest tightened. He had no words to answer.
Later, in the marble corridors, Kael overheard whispers.
"He fights like a demon."
"No it is the beast. The beast is the demon incarnate ."
"Rowan says he is full of misfortune."
The words cut deep but he could not care less not anymore.
---
At dawn, Kael was summoned again. The Emperor's voice carried across the hall.
"The Iron Pass is reclaimed. The rebellion falters. Yet questions remain. You are untested in politics, Kael. You are unproven in loyalty. You will prove yourself again."
He gestured to a new map, provinces marked in crimson.
"The rebellion spreads west. You will march. And this time, the court will watch."
Rowan's smirk returned, sharp as a blade. Garrick's eyes met Kael's, steady but grim.
Kael raised his sword, determination burning in his chest.
The storm was no longer at the borders. It was here, in the heart of the Empire.
And Kael knew that the fire that never dies must burn brighter than ever.