Chapter 16 NO TURNING BACK

Chapter 16 NO TURNING BACK
ETHAN'S POV
Marcus stepped closer. Water from the waterfall sprayed behind him. His sword stayed in its sheath, but twenty soldiers stood ready to attack.
My heart pounded. "Marcus, I can explain—"
"Quiet." His voice cut like ice. "I tracked you for three days. Through mountains. Through forests. Do you know why?"
I shook my head.
"Because my best friend became a traitor." Marcus's jaw clenched. "Because you broke a prisoner out of a royal prison. Because you're helping the enemy."
"The enemy?" Kiera stepped forward. "Is that what you think I am?"
"You're an orc. We're at war. That makes you the enemy." Marcus looked at me. "And he chose you over his own people."
"That's not fair," I said. "You don't understand what's happening."
"Then explain it." Marcus crossed his arms. "Make me understand why you betrayed everything we believe in."
I took a deep breath. "The war is fake. Lady Seraphina started it. She attacked our own villages and blamed the orcs."
"That's ridiculous."
"It's true!" I pulled out the documents Kiera gave me. "Look at these. They prove humans burned those villages before the war officially started."
Marcus didn't take them. "Those could be forgeries."
"They're not," Thorne said weakly from the ground. "I was there when Lady Seraphina planned it. I heard her give the orders."
"And who are you?" Marcus demanded.
"Thorne Ashwood. I was a peace negotiator before the war." Thorne coughed. Blood stained his lips. "Lady Seraphina had me tortured because I knew her secrets."
Marcus stared at Thorne's bruised face. At his broken fingers. At the fresh wounds covering his body. Something flickered in Marcus's eyes. Doubt, maybe. Or fear.
"Even if this is true," Marcus said slowly, "what can you do about it? You're fugitives. Criminals. Nobody will listen to you."
"Princess Elena will listen," Thorne said. "She's been investigating the Silver Covenant. She has proof too."
"Princess Elena?" Marcus laughed bitterly. "She's in Silverpeak. The most guarded city in the kingdom. You'll never reach her."
"We have to try," I said.
"You'll die trying." Marcus pointed at his soldiers. "I should arrest you right now. Take you back for trial. That's my duty."
"Then why haven't you?" Kiera asked quietly.
Marcus went silent. He looked at the ground. At his soldiers. At me.
"Because he's my friend," Marcus finally said. "Because we grew up together. Because I want to believe he's not a traitor." He met my eyes. "But I don't know anymore. I don't know what to believe."
"Believe the truth," I pleaded. "Help us expose Lady Seraphina. Help us end this war."
"And throw away my honor? My career? My family's name?" Marcus shook his head. "You're asking me to commit treason."
"I'm asking you to do what's right."
We stood there. Friend facing friend. The soldiers watched nervously. Nobody moved.
Then Marcus did something unexpected. He turned to his soldiers. "Leave us. Wait outside the forest."
"But sir—"
"That's an order!"
The soldiers hesitated. Then they left, disappearing into the trees. Marcus waited until they were gone. Then he sat down heavily on a rock.
"Tell me everything," he said quietly. "Start from the beginning."
We talked for an hour. I explained about the burned villages. About Commander Vex admitting he helped Lady Seraphina. About the Silver Covenant's plan to seize power. Kiera added details about orc villages being attacked too. Thorne described the conspiracy in full.
Marcus listened to it all. His face grew darker with each revelation.
"This is bigger than I thought," he finally said. "If you're telling the truth, the entire kingdom is in danger."
"We are telling the truth," I said.
Marcus stood up. He paced back and forth. "If I help you, I'm a traitor. If I don't help you, innocent people keep dying." He stopped pacing. "What would you do?"
"I'd help," I said without hesitation.
"Of course you would. You always do the right thing, even when it's stupid." Marcus almost smiled. Then his face hardened again. "But I'm not you, Ethan. I have responsibilities. A family. A future."
"So did I," I said. "But I gave it up because some things matter more."
Marcus looked at me for a long moment. Then he sighed. "I need time to think. To decide what I believe." He walked toward the cave entrance. "Stay hidden. Don't leave this area. I'll come back when I've made my choice."
"Marcus—"
"That's all I can promise." He pulled his hood up. "The next time I see you, Ethan, I'll either help you or arrest you. I don't know which yet."
He walked through the waterfall and vanished.
Kiera touched my shoulder. "Do you trust him?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "But he's all we have."
We waited through the night. Every sound made us jump. Every shadow looked like a soldier.
Dawn came. No Marcus.
"He's not coming back," Kiera said.
"Give him time—"
A horn blasted through the forest. Then another. And another.
War horns. Dozens of them. All around us.
Thorne struggled to his feet. "Those are Silver Covenant signals. Marcus betrayed us."
"No," I said. "He wouldn't—"
Soldiers crashed through the trees. Hundreds of them. They surrounded the waterfall completely.
Commander Vex stepped forward. He smiled coldly.
"Thank you, Captain Brightshield," Vex called out. "Your information was very helpful."
My world shattered. Marcus had sold us out.
Then Marcus walked out from behind Vex. But something was wrong. His hands were tied. Blood ran down his face. Soldiers held his arms.
"I didn't tell them anything!" Marcus shouted at us. "They followed me! I tried to warn you but"
A soldier hit Marcus in the stomach. He fell to his knees.
Vex laughed. "Your friend tried to protect you. Very noble.
P Very stupid." He drew his sword. "Now you all die together."