The Whispering Storm: A Tale of Secrets and Shadows
The storm gathered over Aelwood, dark clouds coiling like serpents, blocking out the stars. Rael Blackthorn stood at the edge of the watchtower, wind biting at his face, carrying the scent of rain and salt from the sea below. The first cold drops fell, sharp like needles, mingling with the metallic tang of the sword at his side. Far below, the capital sprawled in shadows, its crooked towers twisting against the faint torchlight.
He felt the storm, not just above him, but inside him. Tonight, everything would change. The truth of who he was, hidden for years beneath the weight of forgotten memories, was close. He would confront the Council of Elders, learn what had been stolen from him, and understand why they had turned him into an enemy.
Veira approached, silent as ever. She hadn’t spoken in years, but her hands moved swiftly, signing her message in the dim light. The storm will cover us, but the Council knows we’re coming. We can’t wait.
Rael didn’t answer right away. His eyes stayed on the distant city where the Council’s power lay. The smell of wet stone rose with the storm, mixing with the taste of iron that lingered in the back of his throat. He gripped the hilt of his sword, the tension creeping up his spine. “What if I’m not ready? What if I find something worse than I expect?”
Veira’s fingers danced again. No turning back. It ends tonight.
Rael’s chest tightened, the fear gnawing at him. He had chased his lost memories for years, but something told him the truth would change everything. Still, there was no choice now. Lightning split the sky, illuminating the streets below, and in that brief flash, he saw movement. Shadows slipping through the city toward the tower.
“They know,” Rael muttered, heart pounding. He felt the storm building inside him, the crackling energy begging to break free. “Let’s end this.”
Rain hammered down as they descended the tower, their boots slipping on the wet stone. Every step felt heavier, the smell of damp earth filling Rael’s lungs. The city’s narrow alleys spread out before them, dark and winding, the perfect setting for an ambush. The storm had driven most of the people indoors, but in the distance, Rael could make out the flicker of torches. Soldiers were coming, their shadows stretched long through the rain.
Veira touched his arm, her fingers moving quickly. Keldrin is here. The council’s enforcer.
Rael’s gut twisted. Keldrin—the man they sent when they wanted something silenced. Cold, merciless, and loyal only to the Council. Rael had heard the rumors, the stories of what Keldrin did to traitors. He swallowed hard, tasting the bitter rain on his lips.
“We can’t fight him here,” Rael said, his voice low. “Too exposed.”
Veira nodded. We’ll use the old passage. Follow me.
They slipped into the shadows, navigating the maze of crumbling streets and forgotten paths that led to the city’s underbelly. The air grew thick with the smell of decay and damp stone as they moved deeper. Every step echoed louder than it should, the rain muting some sounds but heightening others—the clink of armor, the scuff of boots behind them.
Veira signaled suddenly, her body stiffening. Rael stopped, listening. There, just beyond the next corner—the deliberate sound of footsteps. Keldrin’s men, closing in.
“We don’t have much time,” Rael whispered. His heart raced, the storm inside him swirling, fighting to break free. “We’ll have to fight.”
Veira’s hand shot out, her dagger flashing in the dim light. We can’t fight all of them. She motioned to a narrow gap between the buildings, a passage barely wide enough for them to squeeze through. We slip past them.
Rael hesitated. The tension was thick in the air, a buzzing that hummed in his ears, setting his nerves on edge. But Veira was right. The city was too crowded with Keldrin’s soldiers, and they couldn’t risk being trapped.
They moved quickly, slipping into the passage just as the first of Keldrin’s men rounded the corner. Rael held his breath, the scent of wet leather and steel filling his nostrils as the guards passed, their torches casting flickering light against the walls. He could hear the soft murmur of their voices, the clink of armor, but they didn’t spot him or Veira in the shadows.
When the guards were gone, Rael let out a slow breath. “That was too close.”
But Veira’s fingers were already moving again. We’re not safe yet. Keldrin’s ahead.
Rael felt the weight of her words sink in, his chest tightening. He could feel the storm building again, crackling at the edges of his control. Keldrin had to know something about his past, about the pieces of his life that had been torn away from him. If anyone had the answers, it was him.
The tunnel opened into a wide courtyard, the sound of rain slapping against the cobblestones louder here. And there, standing in the center of the courtyard, was Keldrin. His black cloak billowed in the storm, his sword glinting with every flash of lightning. Behind him, a dozen soldiers waited, their eyes locked on Rael and Veira as they stepped into the open.
“You should have stayed hidden,” Keldrin sneered, his voice cutting through the rain like a knife. “The Council doesn’t tolerate traitors.”
Rael’s grip on his sword tightened. The smell of blood filled his nose, though none had been spilled yet. His heart thundered in his chest, every beat in time with the crashing storm above. “This ends tonight.”
Keldrin laughed, his eyes cold. “You really think you can stop me? You don’t even know who you are.”
The words hit Rael like a punch to the gut. The truth, so close, teased the edges of his mind, but the fear of it threatened to break him. He felt the storm inside him rise, the crackle of lightning under his skin, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop.
Keldrin moved, faster than Rael expected. His blade flashed in the rain, aiming for Rael’s throat, but Rael’s instincts kicked in. His sword met Keldrin’s with a deafening clash, the force of it driving him back a step. He gritted his teeth, the taste of rain and blood mingling on his tongue as he fought to keep his footing.
The storm raged overhead, the wind howling through the courtyard, whipping at their cloaks. Rael could feel the energy building, the truth pressing against his chest, ready to explode. Keldrin’s blade came at him again, a blur of steel and fury, but Rael was ready this time. He blocked, then countered, driving Keldrin back.
But Keldrin was relentless, his strikes faster, harder. Rael’s muscles screamed in protest as he parried blow after blow, each clash of steel ringing out like thunder. Veira was beside him, her dagger flashing through the rain as she fought off the soldiers that flanked them.
And then, something shifted. Rael felt it—the storm inside him breaking free. The truth, the power he had long feared, surged to the surface. Lightning crackled around him, coursing through his veins, and with a roar, he unleashed it.
The blast of energy slammed into Keldrin, throwing him back with a force that shattered the ground beneath him. The soldiers fell back, eyes wide with terror as Rael stood over Keldrin’s crumpled body, the storm still crackling around him.
Keldrin coughed, blood staining his lips as he glared up at Rael. “You… don’t even know what you are,” he rasped.
Rael’s heart pounded in his chest, the truth finally clear. He had once been one of them—a tool of the Council, a man who had wielded this power for them. But they had wiped his memory, fearing what he could become. Now, he was free, and he would make sure they never controlled him again.
“It doesn’t matter,” Rael said, his voice steady. “I know enough.”
With one final crack of lightning, Rael drove his sword into Keldrin’s chest, ending it.
The storm above began to wane, the rain softening as Rael stood there, chest heaving, the weight of the truth settling over him. Veira appeared beside him, her eyes wide but steady. Her hands moved slowly, deliberately. It’s over.
Rael shook his head, looking toward the distant city where the Council still hid. “Not yet. But it will be soon.”
Together, they turned toward the city, the storm at their backs. This time, there was no fear. Only the promise of what was to come.
And Rael was ready.
A note from Sev:
The preceding story was free. I release 3 free stories per week and 5 premium stories for just $8.99 per month or $79 per year.
If you read and enjoyed it, please honor my efforts by sharing it on Facebook, X, BlueSky, and of course re-stack it here in Substack!
Also, your comments and messages (and smart Alec remarks) are always appreciated. Take a moment to help the algorithm find me by starting or joining the discussion.
I cannot grow this without your help! As they say, “Teamwork makes the dream work!”
Please and Thank you!
Sev