After months of rain and cold, winter finally gave way to summer in Basilica, bringing strong winds and welcoming warmth. Taking advantage of the pleasant weather, the King decided to gather the family in the Queen's Garden, which was beginning to fill with colors and scents.
On the lawn of the garden, guarded by dozens of knights dressed in black armor, the king, wearing a white cotton shirt and black pants, ran barefoot with the children who laughed joyfully, while the queens, dressed in light and elegant summer dresses, watched from a carpet under the shade of a fragrant pear tree.
— Athena and Artios are growing up fast — commented the king, panting, as he threw himself on the carpet between his wives.
Helena and Karina were not friends. They never made an effort to become close, and it was possible to see some rivalry between them. But both smiled when they looked at the children playing together.
The older sisters, Serena and Cecilia, helped the infants, Athena and Artios, walk on the lawn in a game of tag, while Serien pretended not to be able to catch the babies who laughed in their slow and clumsy escape.
— They really are — agreed Karina, wearing a light blue summer dress, her hair braided into a long platinum rope. — It doesn't seem like they are only six months old. It's a shame that Her Highness, Princess Celia, caught a summer cold.
— When she gets better, we can come back here — said the King. — I would hate to leave my sweet Celia out of our family moments.
The three agreed and continued watching the children having fun. It was good and peaceful. Artios wanted that moment to last forever.
— The Prince and Princesses are growing up fast — commented Kalmir as he approached.
Unlike the royalty, Kalmir was not there to relax and enjoy the summer day but to protect his king. He wore a half-armor over a black uniform of the Order of the Black Lions, like the other knights scattered around the garden.
— We were just talking about that — smiled Karina.
— Soon His Royal Highness, Prince Artios, will be succeeding Your Majesty and the Princesses will be married — declared the minister with a smile that envisioned a prosperous future for the kingdom.
— You want to get rid of me so quickly? — laughed the king. But he had no plans to pass the crown anytime soon. — There's no need to rush.
— Why not? — asked Helena, closing the heavy book she was reading. — Serien, Selena, and Cecilia are already betrothed.
— Not by my will. I wanted them to have a different fate than ours. Certainly, Serien's marriage will bring a new trade route through Mizhar and an important alliance with Prince Falak Tur. But I wanted her to marry someone she loves.
— Love can be built, Majesty — said Kalmir. — Your Majesty, Queen Helena, and you, my king, are proof of that.
Artios reached for Helena's hand and smiled, making her face almost as red as her eyes.
— Indeed — he agreed, reaching for the Second Queen's hand. — I am a lucky man.
As the afternoon advanced, the warmth of the sun seemed to make the moment even cozier. The children continued their games, their laughter filling the air with a joyful melody that blended perfectly with the garden's scent around them.
— Majesty, a messenger from Sindarin wishes to speak to you — announced a knight who approached, followed at a distance by a man dressed in a gray and blue jerkin, the colors of House Balth'or.
The King sighed, his eyes glinting with concern. He looked at Kalmir, who nodded discreetly.
— Bring him here — ordered the King, his tone firm. He turned to his wives and children, offering a reassuring smile. — It seems peace doesn't last as long as we'd like.
As he approached, the messenger, a man in his thirties with black hair, kneeled on one knee and, with his head bowed, placed a closed fist on his chest.
— May the goddess bless the king with many years of life — said the messenger in greeting. — I bring news about the "Huntress."
— Huntress?
— I believe he is referring to the woman who has been hunting the bandits, my king — clarified Kalmir.
— Ah! Of course, go on. Did you catch her?
— On our way back to Sindarin, we found the woman in the midst of a massacre — explained the messenger, who kept his head down. — We checked the dead and they were all wanted bandits from Dardalian's gang.
— Is Dardalian dead? — asked the king with interest.
Dardalian had been a thorn in his side since the end of the war. The deserter, along with his gang, always managed to escape when pursued.
— He was not found among the dead, but the Huntress said she wounded him and that he is probably dead somewhere in the north.
— And the woman? — asked Karina. She had a great interest in the Huntress.
— She did not resist, Majesty. And, as we were a few days from the capital, we decided to bring her here.
— Bring her before the throne — ordered the king as he stood up. — I want to speak with her.
— May I accompany you, my king? — asked the Second Queen.
— Don't you think it's better to wait? She may not be everything the people have been saying.
— Yes, but I need to see her with my own eyes — her green eyes seemed to say she would not give up.
— Since you insist — sighed the king. It was difficult for Artios to deny Karina's request. — Helena, will you come with us?
— To see some common criminal? — mocked the First Queen, her eyebrows furrowing in clear displeasure. — I'll pass. I will return to the palace with the children. Should I take Athena with me? — Helena's voice seemed to tremble when she spoke Athena's name.
— It will not be necessary — replied Karina with veiled courtesy in her voice. — We will take her with us.
— Kalmir, leave half of the knights with Helena and gather the rest to come with us.
— As you wish, Majesty — replied the minister. — In the meantime, you, my king, could deal with the acolytes of the Sacred Light.
— Him again? — frowned Artios. — What do they want this time?
— Apparently, the cleric leading them wishes to found a church here in the capital.
— Why not give permission? — asked Helena. — What harm could a distant land's faith cause? From what I've heard from the palace servants, the foundations of the Sacred Light are very noble.
At that moment, the King's frown became even more severe.
— A foreign faith that wants to divert the devotion of my kingdom, of my father.
— At least hear them, my king — advised Kalmir. — Nothing good will come from ignoring them, and they might complain to the people who have taken quite a liking to them.
The king sighed in disgust and agreed to hear the acolytes, thinking that it wouldn't hurt to at least hear their requests. Finally, after kissing Helena on the lips and forehead, Artios put on his boots and, followed by Kalmir and a dozen knights, departed with Karina and Athena.
Entering the throne room, King Artios and his entourage were greeted by the grandeur of the chamber. The vaulted ceiling, supported by six thick white marble pillars, boasted a majestic painting of a great winged lion with a crown on its head.
Inside the room, the daylight, filtered through frosted stained glass windows, combined with the lighting of the torches burning with a spiced aroma, creating a solemn twilight.
Each pillar, from the entrance door to the foot of the staircase, displayed a blue flag with the royal crest, a crowned black lion, meticulously embroidered. At the end of the room, atop a small staircase, three thrones stood out. The central throne, reserved for the king, was made of black wood adorned with gold, with arms sculpted into lion heads. The queens' thrones, one on each side, were simpler but still worthy of their position.
Artios advanced with firm steps, feeling the imposing nature of the place reflect his authority. Karina followed closely with her daughter in her arms, while the knights positioned themselves strategically around the room. The Huntress, still in the custody of the king's men, awaited in silence, as did a group of people dressed in white robes.
— Bring the woman first — ordered the king, his voice echoing in the vastness of the hall.
With a nod from Kalmir, the Huntress was led to the foot of the staircase. She raised her gaze, facing the royal presence with fierce determination. Her eyes, full of untold stories, met the king's, who stepped down one step, maintaining an imposing posture.
— Are you the Huntress of bandits? — asked Artios, without averting his gaze.
The woman nodded, and the tension in the room seemed to increase.
— What is your name? — asked Karina, her curiosity evident.
— My name is Luana — replied the Huntress, her voice firm despite the situation.
— Luana, you have made a great impact on our lands — said the king, evaluating her. — Dardalian was a dangerous enemy. I'd say it's a great feat for someone who seems so fragile to have managed to defeat him.
Luana remained silent, awaiting the king's verdict.
— My queen would like to hear your story — Artios continued. — Tell us how you got to this point, and perhaps I can consider a lighter punishment.
Luana took a deep breath, ready to share her journey. She started from the beginning, explaining how she had arrived in this world. This alone caused the listeners to express their disbelief and surprise in whispers.
— In the so-called "Desert of Exile," I met the "Saint of the Desert" — Luana continued, causing the whispers to intensify.
— Silence in the court — ordered the King with an authoritative voice. He then turned his eyes back to the woman kneeling between two knights. — Continue.
Luana recounted her story. After killing the bandits and burying Zira, she wandered through the kingdom until she reached a village on the borders of Deucalion and the High Plains. The memories flowed in Luana's mind as if she were reliving what she had experienced.
The cold wind burned her face and nostrils with each breath. The rain had turned to snow, falling indifferent to her fatigue and the horse's heavy march. She hadn't eaten in two days, and her wet clothes were starting to freeze to her skin. Upon reaching the village, she was on the verge of collapse from exhaustion and hunger, but once again, someone helped her.