Pale gold streaks appeared on the tired faces of Kael's team as the first rays of dawn peaked through the dense forest canopy. The memories of their betrayal at the temple were still vivid in their thoughts, and the night had been long and sleepless. The wounds to their trust and morale were still fresh even after the injuries had been treated.
Standing apart from the others, Kael gazed into the dwindling campfire's embers. His mind was racing with ideas of what they would do next. The Syndicate's treachery had shown a weakness—their conceit—but it had also served as a planned reminder of their dominance.
He clenched his fists and whispered to himself, "We'll use that against them."
A Strategy Develops
The crew convened around mid-morning to deliberate on their next course of action. Even though there was still a hint of hesitation, Kael stood in the middle, commanding their attention with his powerful presence.
He started, "The Syndicate believes they have won." They believe that we
