Zara huddled beneath the ruins of an ancient archway, breathing steadily in spite of the mayhem that lay ahead. The remains of the once-grand imperial palace were bathed in an amber glow as the sun sank low in the horizon. As their search groups searched the grounds and rebel soldiers screamed orders, their weak cries reverberated across the open air. Zara's hand stayed firmly on the hilt of her blade even while her heart quickened. Hesitancy was not an option.
She had been shocked by Kael's capture. They had struggled through peril together for weeks, united by necessity and an unspoken relationship that grew stronger with each experience they had in common. Now he was inside, imprisoned in the centre of the insurgent fortress. She questioned how long he could put up with their tactics. It had to be now if she was going to do anything.
Zara had spent the last two days crafting a strategy, but it was as flimsy as the ruins themselves. By attentively listening to snippets of talks and
