Echoes of Broken Vows

Chapter 10

Agentle knock at Rowan’s door woke him from his sleep.

His heart pounded heavily, has he been already caught? He got up from his bed silently, taking the dagger he hid under his pillow, his years of training allowed him to move without a sound.

He opened the door slightly, and relaxed when he saw Sam’s face, softly lit by the golden glow of dawn.

He made room for Sam to slip through the door, his eyes scanned the room before settling on Rowan.

“It’s time,”

he whispered, his voice was barely audible even in the pre-dawn quiet of the temple.

Rowan nodded, gesturing for Sam to sit at the small desk while he perched on the edge of his bed. The weight of what they were about to do hung heavy in the air between them.

Sam pulled a small, tightly rolled scroll from within his robes.

His hands trembled slightly as he opened it, trying not to damage the old paper. It showed a detailed map of the surrounding area.

His finger gently traced a route along the paper, “The shipment leaves tomorrow, at night,”

he said. “They’ll take this road here, through the narrow pass between the hills. And here,”

he pointed to a circled spot on the map, “will be a perfect place for us to hide for the ambush.”

Rowan leaned in, trying to remember every detail as best as possible.

The fate of their lives will depend on the success of the mission.

“The convoy will consist of three wagons,”

Sam continued, his voice growing steadier as he delved into the details. “The Mytholite will be in the middle one, guarded by at least six men. I’ll be with the guards, Garron will expect me to be there to ensure everything goes smoothly.”

Rowan’s brow furrowed. “Are you sure about this? If anything goes wrong... You can get hurt, or worse, caught”

Sam cut him off with a sharp nod.

“It’s the only way to be sure I’m above any suspicion, I told you already, with this new position they expect me to make sure everything goes perfectly. Besides, I need to be there to make sure you have a clear shot at the target.”

For a moment, silence fell between them. The scale of what they were planning stunned them both. Rowan thought of the vision he’d seen of a future under the Eidolon’s total control. The risk was great, but the alternative was unthinkable.

“What time will you reach the pass?”

Rowan asked, pushing aside his doubts.

“If everything goes the way it should, I believe we will be there slightly after midnight,”

Sam replied. “Trust me, position yourself where I suggested, on the eastern ridge. It’ll give you the best vantage point and plenty of cover for your escape.”

Rowan lay on the bed beside Sam, exhausted just from thinking about it, but he agreed, “And how will I know when to strike?”

He then rose to sit, He couldn’t concentrate lying down.

Sam thought for a moment, his expression grew serious. “Try to Watch for my signal. When you’ll see me stretching, that’s your cue to attack. It’ll be subtle enough not to alert the other guards, but clear enough for you to see from your position.”

Rowan reimagined the whole act in his mind, trying to make sure he remembered every detail perfectly. He knew that getting caught was a worse fate than dying.

“Remember,”

Sam said, “you can’t hesitate. Once the attack begins, you must destroy all the Mytholite. Leave no trace behind, don’t show mercy to anyone”

Rowan met Sam’s gaze, the uncertainty mixed with fear was clear in his eyes. “I understand. And you’re sure you can maintain your cover?”

Sam smiled. “I’ll put on such a show of resistance, they’ll be singing ballads about my bravery for years to come.”

Rowan couldn’t help but chuckle.

Sam rose to leave, as the first rays of sunlight began to filter through the window. He paused at the door, turning back to Rowan with a comforting smile. “This is it, brother. Tomorrow night will be the true test of our plan. Every time we succeed we’re making a real change and progress forward.”

Rowan nodded, “It’s a crucial moment. We’ll soon see if our efforts can truly make a difference.”

With a final nod, Sam slipped out of the room, leaving Rowan alone with his thoughts and the map that would guide their mission. As he carefully hid the scroll, Rowan couldn’t shake the feeling that they were about to cross another threshold. The success or failure of this operation could set the course for everything that followed.