Varden's brow furrowed as he sensed the unmistakable energy.
The sight of his brother's familiar grey beard brought a surprising warmth—and then his eyes caught on the man beside him. "Your Majesty," he greeted, eyes narrowing, heart pounding. "I see your visit won't be a quiet one."
The king took a step forward, his gaze as piercing as ever. Time had added lines to his face but softened none of its sharpness. "It rarely is, Varden," he said, though a hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Not when the developments are this... peculiar."
Varden held his ground, his eyes flicking between his brother and the king. "And what are the developments this time?" Varden knew from his many years in the court that developments are just a polite word for trouble.
Varden glanced at Terrance, who shifted uncomfortably. It was rare to see his brother on edge. "What's this about?" Varden asked, gaze moving back to the king.
The king's expression grew darker, more cautious. "Our envoy never returned. He was meant to make contact with a… small group," he began, choosing his words carefully, "a group that may or may not be of any danger to Davra or its surrounding villages."
"The chosen ones," Terrance muttered under his breath, casting a wary look at the nearby trees. "Rumors are stirring. Our informants say there's a powerful necromancer among them."
Varden's eyes widened as he did his best to look surprised. "So you think this necromancer—what, killed your messenger? And you came all this way alone, hoping to get answers?"
"We didn't come without caution," the king replied, his voice sharp. "But yes, we need to know what we're dealing with. If they are dangerous to our people, then we need to act sooner rather than later. I refuse to risk Davra's peace."
Terrance nodded, his tone uncharacteristically grim. "We've heard unsettling accounts about this necromancer, Fang, and his companions—a demoness and a dwarf. They've already fought some of the elves at the forest's edge, and not all of those who faced them returned."
Varden glanced between them, understanding the weight of their concern. "Then you suspect they could be hostile. Why send only a single envoy?"
The king's jaw tightened. "Because I'd hoped… I'd hoped they might be open to negotiation. To peace. But now that our messenger has vanished, I'm forced to consider that might have been a costly mistake."
Varden took a moment to think, the weight of the revelation was dire as they are now suspecting Fang's involvement in this messenger's disappearance.
'Could it be Fang and his group set this all up? Just so they can attack the king? Nonsense, that poison was no joke. There is no way they're behind this, so it must be that other faction.
The question is should I leave it to Fang's decision whether to share this, or should I take action before the situation escalates?'
Terrance shook his head. "We can't just sit back and let this group run wild if they mean harm to Davra and our people. Our soldiers may be needed soon—if this visit confirms our fears."
"Your Majesty, perhaps we should discuss this over breakfast? You must be weary from your travels, and a more private setting might serve us well."
Seeing Varden this polite was never a rare sight, but doing so when they're alone?
The king was the first to grasp the hidden meaning behind his actions.
'Privacy is never a bad choice, but it must be a very good choice if he suggests it openly.'
"Certainly, lead the way."
Varden led the way through the dense woods, the scent of damp earth and pine filling the air. As they walked, the light filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. The tension was palpable, an undercurrent beneath their measured steps.
The location he was leading them to was the famous cave that several adventures still wet their pants just thinking of.
Terrance fell in line beside Varden, his brow furrowed in thought. "Do you think Fang poses a threat?" he whispered, his voice low.
Varden cast a cautious glance back at the king, who walked a few paces behind them, his expression unreadable. "That's precisely the issue. The king is right to be wary. If there's even a chance Fang and his companions are dangerous, we need to tread carefully. We're in the heart of their territory now. Either way, I didn't see him fight personally.
His skill with the sword is mediocre, not anything to brag about.
But his mana capacity is very impressive for his age, he can rival Fujin in that matter."
Terrance knew Fujin as the war hero of the West, one of the few silver mages who lived outside the capital.
'To hear a young boy who only appeared several months ago is being compared to one of our most influential war heroes was unthinkable. Fujin was the one to command the army that secured the villages behind the lines, and more than once he went on to slaughter the enemy while they slept. Such cruelty is common in war, but in peace it is irregular.'
The king's sharp voice cut through the quiet. "Are you two discussing something without me?" His gaze was keen, a hunter assessing the movements of his prey.
"No, Your Majesty," Terrance replied quickly, forcing a smile. "Just discussing how best to approach this delicate matter."
Varden felt a ripple of unease at the king's probing gaze. "We must handle this with utmost care. Fang may have power, but the stories of his cruelty could be exaggerated. We don't know all the details yet."
As they reached a small clearing, Varden gestured toward a rustic wooden table nestled beneath a canopy of branches. "Here we are. A humble place for a humble meal, but it will do. This table is a gathering point for our lumberjacks who work for Fang."
Terrance furrowed his brows and asked, "Davra villagers work for him? You did not mention that, brother..."
"You will find out the rest of the details from Fujin, but he and Fang have traded more than once now."
The king surveyed the setting, his lips pressing into a thin line. "It's adequate." He took a seat, adjusting his posture to command the space despite its simplicity. "Now, let's get to the matter at hand."
Varden sat across from him, with Terrance beside him. He hesitated, the weight of the discussion looming heavy in the air. "We need to determine how to approach Fang's group. If they are indeed hostile, we must consider our options carefully."
"Options?" the king echoed, arching an eyebrow. "What options do you suggest?"
"The best path might be to approach them with caution, but with an offer of peace," Varden suggested, choosing his words with care. "If we can establish communication without alarming them, perhaps we can uncover the truth behind the envoy's disappearance."
Terrance nodded. "And if they refuse? What then?"
Varden's heart raced at the prospect of what lay ahead. "Then we prepare for the worst. We can't risk another envoy vanishing, nor can we let Davra fall into chaos. But first, we must find out what Fang is truly after. From my interactions with him, he is truly a peaceful yet cunning man.
The king leaned back, considering their words. "And what do you know of this Fang? You seem to leave information that is quite crucial, don't you think old friend?"
Varden knew they would suspect him from the get-go, but he had to get them close enough for them to decide and negotiate with Fang.
Varden took a deep breath, and let it all out:
"Fang was the first to offer peace to our village, sending two of his members as they brought gifts to our village as a peace offering.
From what Fujin told me, Fang's companions are not suckers when it comes to negotiating.
They established several trade rules, and are even looking to start an herb garden for the sake of developing the village's economy while also securing a leverage point for Fang's group.
He is intelligent, and he knows that the effect of money and trade is sometimes more influential than the sword."
"So he is not to be underestimated in the tactical departments as well, yet you still describe a need for his so-called advisors to handle the relations between them and the village. Is there a reason for that, brother?"
Varden took almost an entire minute to resume his report.
'I must not expose his secrets so easily, I need them to unite with us against the rebelling village. Who knows how many villages are in on this scheme too?'
"As of now, I met all of them personally and sparred with one of them on occasion.
They're capable of working alone, but they have zero battle experience and their biggest win factors are their large mana pools, and their ingenuity in trap-making.
If you both take them on in a battle, I can assure you it won't be an easy battle but surely not a losing battle."
The king took a moment of silence to process the new information that was revealed to him.
Terrance was the first to respond of the two:
"Let's assume they are here to fight, would you join us in a fight against them?"
"Absolutely not." Said Varden without a shred of hesitation, leading to a synchronous frown on the duo in front of him.
"You do understand your duty is still to the empire? Disobeying a direct order will be unwise, Varden." Said the king with a cold stare, one that only veteran soldiers can pull off.
Varden met the king's cold stare with a resolute calm. "Your Majesty, I understand the gravity of my duty. But consider this: Fang has already shown a willingness to engage in dialogue. To treat him as an enemy before we fully understand his intentions would be a grave mistake. Our strength lies not just in the might of our armies but in the alliances we forge."
Terrance crossed his arms, skepticism etched on his face. "You're willing to put our people at risk for the sake of your friendship with a necromancer? You sound almost naïve, brother."
Varden held up a hand, urging calm. "It's not naivety; it's strategy. Fang is a man of opportunity. If we can convince him that an alliance with Davra is beneficial, we not only gain a powerful ally but also potentially mitigate the risks of conflict with him. He could be instrumental in defending our village from any external threats."
The king leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "You think he'll stand by us? That he wouldn't betray us the moment it suits him?"
"I believe he values the peace we offer. He understands that a thriving economy and a peaceful existence could benefit him and his companions far more than a war would," Varden replied, his voice steady. "If we can extend an olive branch, we might just secure our safety and gain a powerful ally against the insurrections brewing nearby."
Terrance shook his head, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "You speak of idealism in a time when we need realism. If they refuse our peace, what then? Are you prepared to watch our people suffer because you chose diplomacy over strength?"
Varden's heart clenched at the thought of any harm coming to Davra. "No, I am prepared to fight for our people—but I believe we can do both. We must at least try to negotiate with Fang before drawing swords. If we confront him with hostility first, we might push him toward aggression. This is not just about the present, but about the future. We need to shift the narrative. Besides, the enemy is near, but not as near as You think..."
Terrance raised an eyebrow at that mysterious statement, "Your meaning?"
"There is a rebellion fire, fanned by an unknown faction. For all I care, it could come from the court, or maybe the families that were driven out of the capital after the war and settled down here. Either way, someone is supplying the nearby villages with information and even worse, motive to act on those fragments of information."
"What proof has been gathered by now?" Asked the king, his gaze softening but still investigative. His eyes now scanned Varden's body language for lies, as this was an accusation of treason.
Varden's eyes darkened with the weight of his next words. "Fang almost died a few weeks ago," he said, watching their reactions closely. "I was there when it happened. Alona, the healer mage, worked tirelessly to save him after an assassination attempt. There's something deeper at play, something orchestrated to sow discord."
The king's brows knit together in thought. "Assassinated? But he survived?"
"Yes," Varden replied, urgency creeping into his voice. "But the fact remains that someone wanted him dead. One of the magistos, Isgram, joined me as we investigated the scene.
The clues we found point to a coordinated effort. If they're willing to target him, they're willing to target us next."
Terrance exchanged a glance with the king, the gravity of Varden's revelation settling over them like a heavy shroud. "So you're saying that the rebellion we fear could be linked to this attempt on Fang's life?" Terrance pressed, his voice low.
"Exactly," Varden affirmed, his heart racing as he pieced together the implications. "If Fang is a target, then it stands to reason that his allies—my allies—are also at risk. We need to determine who is behind this before we make any rash decisions about engaging him in conflict. As of now Fang and Isgram are working day and night in setting multiple traps in the snowy paths, trying to capture any scout or straying man that might seem suspicious. I do not possess enough manpower for such tasks, but they left me the task of screening the village more thoroughly."
"Which is why you brought us here, as he isn't in the village. You're trying to suffocate the flow of information, and thus attract more scouts as they're growing desperate for information. How... unfitting of you, brother." Terrance stroked his beard with a sense of pride but also surprise.
'I thought I was the cunning one between the two of us, but he manages to surprise me to this day.'
"Hahaha, brother don't jest. This is the magistos idea, I am only executing my orders from the village chief. He seems to have taken a liking to the boy, seeing that his daughter was only treating Fang for the entire time he was poisoned."
The king's expression shifted, a mixture of contemplation and concern. "You speak as if you trust this necromancer," he said, skepticism lacing his tone.
"I can say that from my experience, he isn't taking advantage of the village of Davra, or else I would have long drawn the line. All confrontation is to be made outside the village, as far away as possible too. Right now, the village Greenhill is the number one suspect so Fang is sending his minions to scout the village come and goers."
After a couple of moments of silence, Terrance leaned in, his tone softening as he considered Varden's words. "So you propose an alliance. or at least a cautious approach?"
"Precisely," Varden said, his voice steady. "But we must tread carefully. If we approach him with aggression, we may unwittingly play into the hands of those who seek to disrupt the peace."
The king sighed, the weight of leadership heavy on his shoulders. "You realize the danger this puts you in, Varden? Trusting a chosen one and his companions could have dire consequences for Davra."
Varden squared his shoulders, determination shining in his eyes. "I understand, but I believe in the potential for peace. We must not underestimate Fang's ability to bring stability, even if it means walking a treacherous path. If we can uncover the truth behind this rebellion and its motives, we may very well turn the tide in our favor."
The king studied Varden for a long moment, weighing his words, before nodding slowly. "Very well, let us proceed with caution. But know this—should it come to conflict, your loyalty must lie with the empire first and foremost."
"Of course, Your Majesty," Varden replied, a flicker of hope igniting within him.