Chapter 26: Gathering Evidence.
The Sentinel post had grown quiet as the group gathered around the table, the weight of their task settling heavily over them. The room, dimly lit by a few flickering lanterns, felt like a bubble in time—isolated from the bustling streets of Green Arbor just outside. Maps, hastily drawn diagrams, and lists of names cluttered the table, but the real power lay not in documents or photos. It was in the whispers and quiet revelations that Clara was now sharing.
Clara leaned forward, her voice hushed yet steady. “It’s not just about escorting goods anymore,” she said, glancing at Ava, then Talon. “We’ve been getting some odd orders lately. The mayor’s had us moving shipments into Green Arbor late at night, but it’s always under wraps. Whatever’s in those crates, we’re told not to ask. Some of the goods get stashed in the tunnels beneath the town, and no one questions it.”
Ava’s brow furrowed. “What kind of goods are we talking about?”
Clara shook her head. “I don’t know. None of us do. It’s all sealed up, and only a handful of people are allowed near it. But that’s not the only thing. The mayor’s been having private meetings with men from out of town—heavily guarded, always behind closed doors, and no one knows what’s being discussed.”
Talon, who had been silent, stepped away from the wall and joined the table, his face hardening. “So he’s still trying to keep a foothold with the Syndicate. That’s what this sounds like. The mayor doesn’t meet behind closed doors unless he’s hiding something.”
Clara nodded, her frustration clear. “That’s exactly it. Most of us in the Arbor Defense Force see the Sentinels as friends. You’ve always protected us, and we’ve always had your back. But the truth is, we’re a young force. We don’t have strong leadership yet, and that’s why the mayor has been able to manipulate things so easily. He’s taken advantage of the fact that we’re still finding our feet.”
Miko, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up, crossing his arms as he leaned against the doorframe. “That’s the problem right there,” he said. “Without solid leadership, it’s easy for someone like the mayor to turn the ADF into his own private army. He’s been playing on your fears, pushing you around like pawns, because he knows he can.”
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Clara’s face tightened with frustration, but she pushed on. “That’s why we need you now, more than ever. There are very few ADF members who still stand with the mayor. Most of us remember what happened during the Siege of Green Arbor. Without the Sentinels, there wouldn’t even be an ADF. And without your protection, that battle would’ve ended very differently.”
Ava looked at Clara, her face softening in understanding. “We haven’t forgotten what the ADF has done either. You’ve stood with us through some of the toughest fights. But we can’t do this alone. If the mayor’s using the ADF to secure his grip, we need to show the town who he really is.”
Talon’s eyes flicked between Ava and Clara, his jaw clenched. “The Syndicate’s pulled out, but the mayor’s not going to back down without a fight. He’s running out of allies, and he knows it. But if he’s got even a few of the ADF loyal to him, he’s still dangerous.”
Clara’s expression grew more determined. “I’ve already spoken to some of the others. They’re scared, sure, but they’re ready to stand with you if it means exposing the mayor. They just need to know they’re not alone in this.”
Miko pushed off from the doorframe and crossed the room, standing beside Clara. “We’ll need to move fast, though,” he said. “The longer we wait, the more time the mayor has to spin this. If he keeps rallying people with his lies about Sentinel overreach, we’re going to lose control of the narrative.”
Ava nodded, her eyes narrowing in thought. “We’ll gather everyone we can and make sure the town hears the truth before the mayor can poison them with any more lies.”
Talon tapped the table, a grim look crossing his face. “I wish Lucas was here. He’d cut through this legal mess like a hot knife through butter.”
A faint smile crossed Ava’s lips at that. “We’ll have to do it without him for now. But we’ve got this. Clara, gather the ADF members who are ready to stand with us. We’ll need them tomorrow when we take this to the council and the town.”
Clara straightened, a renewed sense of purpose in her eyes. “Don’t worry. With the Sentinels at our side, we’ll bring the truth to light.”
As the group resumed their planning, the room buzzed with a newfound urgency. The stakes had never been higher, and they knew the fight ahead wasn’t just about revealing the mayor’s corruption—it was about reclaiming Green Arbor’s future. The post was alive with determination, the shadows of doubt and fear slowly giving way to resolve.