Earlier.
Somewhere in a dungeon beneath the gullies of Hebran.
"Funny", The voice low and ominous, came from a figure draped in a cloak, the colour of the shadows itself. He was standing so close that his forehead rested against the bars.
On the other side, seated on a wooden chair and wrapped snuggly in a tattered gown that was in dire need of a wash sat Rwen, well she most certainly looked like her in the waning light of the candle on the stump table. But this was Princess Dira. Who you would have already figured, had a great likeness to Rwen.
"It has been more than a week, still no one is the wiser of your absence, I even heard your sister is in Delorel, at the prince's party, why that doesn't sound like you were missed at all! Then my men reported seeing you at the award ceremony. I was most certain, but it seemed Jensari has outsmarted me. Again. You are not the real princess! I won't let it happen another time!" he snarled retreating into the darkness.
"Vermoth!" He hollered as soon as he had ascended from pits of the dungeon. He stubbed his toe on an jut of rock and cursed.
The tall creature of mostly bones, shuffled from around a pillar.
"Yes my Lord?"
"Ever since you failed to assassinate the target, the people have been bolder, I don't feel", he drew in a deep breath as if he was searching for a scent. "See, already I can feel their hearts turning from me. It can not happen! Jensari won't win, not after how she had..." He caught himself and exhaled, calming his heart. "Prepare the battle horses. We strike at dawn. Delorel won't be the wiser, we'll take the underground caverns and encamp around them until..." He left the sentence hanging. He liked to disappoint Vermoth by only sharing half of his plan.
Vermoth had grown quite accustomed to his master's ways and hung his head in pretence disappointment. Shuffling away to carry out Roland's commands.
The gully was a very cavernous place and after years of careful search, Roland had found a tunnel leading to the river of Gale which ran adjacent to Delorel. It was a narrow strip but large enough for a surprise party. It would be enough to frighten the hearts of the Delorians. They were a simple people under the joint rule of Queen Jensari and prince Carmon. A rose cheeked smiling boy, who was a bit on the chubby side. He was a simple soul believing in living while you can. Hence his extreme love for throwing banquets and balls and inviting even the commoners to court. He was also not that bright and made little to no preparations for wars. Infact his ideas on wars were rather questionable. The beast laying on the outskirts of his land had been his shield before and it had proved a pretty good one indeed!
Roland did not worry for him or his simple mind. Infact, he was hoping on them.