The city of Veylor transformed after midnight. By day, its markets and towers bustled with life, but by night, shadows thickened and the streets belonged to those who thrived in darkness. Kael and Rylan moved quietly, avoiding lantern-lit patrols and the drunken laughter spilling from tavern doors.
Kael kept the silver coin pressed in his palm, its crescent moon glinting in the faint light. He remembered the masked woman's words: "If you want answers, follow the moon."
They passed through winding alleys and over narrow bridges, the city's pulse slowing as the hour grew late. Rylan walked at Kael's side, eyes sharp, hand never far from his blade.
"Any idea where we're going?" Rylan whispered.
Kael shook his head. "We'll know when we see it."
As if in answer, a patch of moonlight broke through the clouds, illuminating a narrow archway marked with the same crescent symbol as the coin. Kael paused, heart pounding.
"This is it," he murmured.
They slipped through the archway into a hidden courtyard. At its center, a stone well reflected the moon's pale glow. Around the well, figures in dark cloaks stood in a silent circle, faces obscured by hoods and silver masks.
One stepped forward, the masked woman from their room. She nodded in greeting, her eyes sharp behind the mask.
"You came," she said. "That's a good sign."
Kael held out the coin. "You left this for us. We want answers."
She gestured for them to approach. "Answers have a price. But you already know that, don't you, Kael Veyen?"
Rylan stiffened at the use of Kael's full name. Kael's grip tightened on the box in his pack.
"What do you know about the dagger?" Kael asked.
The woman's gaze flicked to the other Veilwalkers. "It's older than this city. Older than the shifting realms. It can open doors—or close them forever. There are those who would kill to possess it. And those who would kill to keep it hidden."
Kael felt Silas stir in his mind, restless and eager.
Ask about the price, the spirit whispered. Ask what your father paid.
Kael swallowed. "My father sacrificed everything to hide the dagger. What did he do?"
The woman's expression softened, just for a moment. "He bargained with shadows. He paid in memories and blood. The Eclipse Order hunts you because they believe you are the key to finding the rest of the dagger."
Rylan stepped forward, voice hard. "Why help us?"
She hesitated. "Because the Order's vision is madness. If they unite the dagger, they'll tear the realms apart. We want to stop them. But we can't do it alone."
Kael studied her, searching for deception. "What do you want from me?"
She reached into her cloak and produced a folded map, pressing it into his hand. "There's a hidden vault beneath the city. Your father left clues—runes, wards, traps. Only someone with his blood and his magic can pass. Find the vault. Find the truth."
The other Veilwalkers melted into the shadows, leaving only the woman. She leaned close, her voice barely a whisper.
"Trust no one, Kael. Not even me."
Before he could reply, she was gone.
Kael stared at the map, the lines and symbols swimming before his eyes. The weight of destiny pressed down on him, heavier than ever.
Rylan touched his shoulder. "What now?"
Kael looked up at the moon, its light cold and distant. "Now we find the vault. And we learn what my father was willing to die for."
As they left the courtyard, Kael felt the shadows closing in. Every answer brought new questions, and the silent price of shadows was far from paid.