Chapter 7 

Clara reached Fort Ashen before dawn.

Marcus waited outside with two horses.

“Once we enter, we may not get out.”

Clara tightened her coat.

“Then we don’t get caught.”

They entered through an abandoned drainage tunnel.

Inside, the fortress was silent.

Too silent.

They found records.

Prisoner lists.

Execution orders.

Names crossed out.

Then Clara saw one name.

GIDEON VANCE.

Alive.

Transferred six days earlier.

Destination:

Northern Command.

Clara nearly collapsed.

“He’s alive.”

Marcus nodded.

“Then we move.”

A noise came from the corridor.

They hid.

Two soldiers walked past.

One spoke.

“The commander is being transferred tonight.”

Marcus looked at Clara.

“Julian.”

They followed.

Deep beneath the fortress, they found a cell.

Julian was there.

Bruised.

Exhausted.

But alive.

Clara rushed to him.

He grabbed her shoulders.

“What are you doing here?”

“Saving you.”

“You shouldn’t have come.”

“I know.”

His eyes softened.

“You never listen.”

“Neither do you.”

Marcus broke the lock.

Julian stepped out.

For one moment, Clara thought everything would be fine.

Then Julian looked at the documents in her hand.

“Gideon is alive.”

She nodded.

“I know.”

“Where?”

“Transferred north.”

Julian’s expression hardened.

“We have to find him.”

They moved toward the exit.

Then an alarm sounded.

Red lights flashed.

Soldiers flooded the corridor.

Marcus drew his weapon.

“Go!”

Julian grabbed Clara’s hand.

They ran.

At the tunnel entrance, they were surrounded.

General Vale appeared.

Clara raised her chin.

“Where is my father?”

Vale smiled.

“Closer than you think.”

Then a voice came from behind him.

“That’s enough.”

Clara froze.

The voice was impossible.

She knew it.

Her father’s voice.

Gideon Vance stepped from the shadows.

Older.

Thinner.

But alive.

Clara’s eyes filled with tears.

“Father?”

Gideon looked at her.

Then at Julian.

And whispered:

“You should never have come here.”