The Shadow Hunter headquarters received their report with less enthusiasm than Kaelen had expected.
"You consumed a cultist's soul," Commander Helena said flatly. She was the regional head of operations—a stern woman in her fifties with gray-streaked hair and scars that suggested she'd seen her share of combat. "Using Soulrender's primary function."
"To break a control spell," Kaelen explained for the third time. "The villagers were going to kill us. There wasn't another option."
"There's always another option," Helena replied. "You just didn't think of it fast enough."
Kaelen bit back an angry response. Beside him, Lia put a warning hand on his arm.
"With respect, Commander," Lia said carefully, "Kaelen made a split-second decision that saved thirty innocent lives. The cultist was dying regardless—he simply accelerated the inevitable to prevent greater harm."
"I understand the tactical reasoning," Helena said. "What concerns me is the precedent. Forbidden Blades corrupt their wielders gradually. Each use makes the next use easier. Each soul consumed makes consumption more acceptable. We've seen it a hundred times—good people, making reasonable decisions, slowly becoming monsters."
"I'm not going to become a monster," Kaelen said.
"Everyone says that," Helena replied. "Right up until they do." She leaned back in her chair, studying him. "But you did complete the mission. The well is cleansed, the villagers are safe, and you eliminated a cultist operative. That's worth something."
She pulled out a ledger, made a notation. "Mission payment is two hundred gold as agreed. Plus a fifty gold bonus for eliminating the cultist." She counted out coins, slid them across the desk. "However, given the... circumstances, I'm placing you on restricted assignment for the next two weeks. Observation period. Make sure the soul consumption isn't affecting you adversely."
"Restricted assignment?" Kaelen repeated. "What does that mean?"
"It means you take low-risk missions only. No combat unless absolutely necessary. You report to our monitoring mage daily for corruption checks. And if your Shadow Scar count increases by more than five, you're immediately suspended until we can assess whether continued service is safe."
It was reasonable, Kaelen supposed. Still felt like punishment for doing the right thing.
"Understood," he said, taking the coins.
"Dismissed," Helena said. "Report to Mage Karsten for your first evaluation tomorrow morning. Don't be late."
They left the headquarters in silence.
"She's not wrong," Lia said once they were outside. "About the progression, I mean. Consuming souls is dangerous. We need to be careful that it doesn't become your default solution."
"I know," Kaelen said. He could still feel the cultist's soul inside Soulrender, still hear their memories whispering. "But what was I supposed to do? Let them kill us?"
"No. You made the right choice for the circumstances. Just... be aware of how it felt. How easy it was. That's the warning sign we need to watch for."
Kaelen nodded, not trusting himself to speak.
They walked through Eredor's streets. The city had recovered surprisingly well from the battle three days ago—most of the damaged buildings were being repaired, the bodies had been removed, normal commerce was resuming. Like the city was determined to prove it couldn't be broken.
"What do we do for two weeks?" Kaelen asked. "If we're on restricted assignment."
"Research," Lia said immediately. "I need to figure out how to manage my echo-scar progression before it becomes permanent. And you need to learn more about Soulrender's capabilities, understand what you're dealing with."
"The Shadow Hunter archives?"
"Probably the best place to start." Lia paused outside a bookshop, looked at the window display. "Though I might also check the Royal Library. They have older texts about Forbidden Blades, historical accounts from before the war."
"You think historical accounts will help?"
"Can't hurt. The more we understand about how these blades were used before, the better we can adapt their power without repeating past mistakes."
It made sense. Kaelen was about to agree when he noticed someone watching them from across the street.
A young man, maybe early twenties, well-dressed, with the kind of careful posture that suggested noble training. He was trying to look casual, but his attention was clearly focused on Kaelen.
"We're being watched," Kaelen said quietly to Lia.
"I know. Southeast, about forty feet. He's been following us since we left headquarters."
"Friend or enemy?"
"No idea. Want to find out?"
They turned and walked directly toward the watcher. He saw them coming, looked briefly panicked, then seemed to decide running would be worse than facing them.
"Kaelen Voss?" he said as they approached.
"That's me," Kaelen confirmed, hand resting casually on Soulrender's hilt. "You are?"
"Thomas Aldric. Junior." He said it like it should mean something. When Kaelen's expression didn't change, he clarified: "My father is Council Chairman Aldric. I wanted to talk to you about—" He glanced around at the busy street. "Could we speak somewhere more private?"
Kaelen and Lia exchanged looks. This felt like a trap.
"Why?" Kaelen asked bluntly.
"Because I have information about Marcus Blackwood's next move," Thomas said quietly. "And if I'm seen talking to you publicly, my father will have me arrested for treason."
That got Kaelen's attention.
"Follow us," he said.
They led Thomas to Ronan's tavern, down to the basement room that had become their unofficial headquarters. Ronan was there, cleaning weapons, and he looked up with interest when they entered with a nervous noble.
"This is Thomas Aldric," Kaelen explained. "Says he has information about Marcus. Thomas, this is Ronan."
"I know who he is," Thomas said. "Former Shadow Hunter, current informant, excellent reputation for discretion."
"Flattered," Ronan said dryly. "What's the Chairman's son doing slumming with shadow mages and vigilantes?"
"Trying to prevent a war," Thomas replied. He took a breath, seemed to steel himself. "My father is in contact with Marcus Blackwood."
Silence.
"Explain," Kaelen said carefully.
"Not direct contact. They use intermediaries. But my father has been receiving letters with strategic advice about 'managing the shadow magic threat.' Letters that coincidentally help Marcus's position by restricting Shadow Hunter operations, limiting your movements, preventing proactive strikes against cultist positions."
"Your father is working with Marcus?" Lia said, disbelieving. "The Council Chairman is a traitor?"
"Not a traitor," Thomas corrected. "A manipulated fool. He genuinely believes he's preserving order and preventing another shadow war. He doesn't realize Marcus is feeding him exactly the advice that benefits the cult."
Ronan set down his weapons. "This is a serious accusation. You have proof?"
"Some." Thomas pulled out a folded letter from his coat. "This came three days ago. Unsigned, but I tracked the courier. They have connections to known cultist safehouses."
Ronan took the letter, read it, passed it to Kaelen.
The contents were vague—suggestions about "limiting dangerous wielders," "increasing magical oversight," "restricting combat authorizations." Nothing explicitly treasonous. But if implemented, it would cripple the Shadow Hunters' ability to operate.
"Why bring this to us?" Kaelen asked. "Why not the City Guard, or Princess Isabella?"
"Because Isabella will arrest my father immediately, which causes a political crisis that benefits Marcus," Thomas said. "And the City Guard is too compromised—half their officers follow my father's orders over crown directives. I need people who can act independently, investigate quietly, and stop Marcus's manipulation without triggering a civil war."
"That's a tall order," Ronan said.
"I know. But you're the only people I could think of who might manage it." Thomas looked at Kaelen. "You fought Marcus directly. You understand his methods. And you're already investigating cultist operations. I'm just pointing you toward a specific target."
Kaelen studied the young noble. Thomas seemed sincere, genuinely worried about his father's manipulation. But it could also be an elaborate trap—lure them into investigating the Council Chairman, get them arrested for sedition, eliminate them as threats.
"We'll look into it," Kaelen said carefully. "But we're not making any promises. If your father is genuinely compromised, we'll deal with it appropriately. If this turns out to be manipulation to get us arrested, we'll deal with that appropriately too."
Thomas nodded. "That's all I'm asking. Just... be careful. My father has resources, connections, political leverage. If he realizes you're investigating him, he can make you disappear legally."
"Noted," Ronan said. "Anything else we should know?"
"One more thing." Thomas hesitated. "There's a gathering in three days. All the major noble families, including representatives from other kingdoms. My father is hosting. I think Marcus is planning something for that event—the timing is too convenient. But I don't know what."
"We'll watch for it," Kaelen said. "Thank you for the information."
Thomas stood to leave, then paused. "For what it's worth? I'm glad you're using that sword to help people instead of hurt them. My father thinks all Forbidden Blade wielders are monsters waiting to happen. It's good to see evidence he's wrong."
He left before Kaelen could respond.
"Well," Ronan said after the door closed. "That's concerning."
"Understatement," Lia replied. She was already pulling out paper and ink, starting to make notes. "If the Council Chairman is compromised, even unknowingly, that explains a lot. Why the City Guard was slow to respond during the battle. Why our mission assignments suddenly became more dangerous. Why funding for Shadow Hunter operations got cut last month."
"Could still be a trap," Kaelen pointed out.
"Could be," Ronan agreed. "But if it's real, we need to handle it carefully. Very carefully. Taking down a Council Chairman isn't like killing cultists in dark alleys. This requires strategy."
"Then we strategize," Kaelen said. "We've got three days before this noble gathering. Let's figure out what Marcus is planning and stop it before it starts."
Ronan grinned. "Now you're thinking like a Shadow Hunter."
They spent the rest of the evening planning, researching, preparing.
Marcus was making his next move.
But this time, they'd be ready for him.
Or so they hoped.