Chloe's POV
The mist of the morning still clung to the castle grounds as Chris and I walked down the long corridors toward the war room. The tension of the last few days had only heightened, with guards doubling their rounds, and the staff moving with a hushed, apprehensive energy. I could feel an invisible presence, as if eyes followed our every step, watching and waiting. The thought sent a chill down my spine, but I steeled myself.
Chris's hand brushed mine as we walked; a gentle reminder of the pact, the promise to face this together. We were starting our own inquiry today, with those who sat closest to the throne. The council was already convening, but he wanted a few words beforehand, in private. There was information Tomas had brought in since the note went missing that he wanted Chris to run over.
The war room was deserted, with the big table strewn across with maps and reports. Chris closed the heavy doors, and I felt his gaze on me-a silent check-in before the storm. I met his eyes and nodded to indicate readiness.
He took a deep breath. "Tomas found something strange. There have been some members of the inner circle of the castle who have been making these late-night visits to the villages around here. Mostly to the fringe, where no one is likely to notice. And Lord Davian particularly.".
He was a faithful advisor, after all. A steady presence during uncertain times. But I'd learned that loyalty could be a fragile thing. "What would Davian have to gain by taking part in plots against us?" I murmured, trying to work my head around the idea of betrayal.
Chris clenched his fists, jaw set. "That's what we need to find out. There is also a whisper that there is a breakaway from the neighboring Galarcia moving in the south. They have been waiting for the chance to get hold of Celavia for quite some years now. They might have found a cooperative inside the walls.".
We looked at each other, the weight of our lives—and of the kingdom—hanging in the balance. This realization weighed down on me, but so did a newfound determination.
"Tomas will keep an eye on Davian," Chris whispered. "But we need to be cautious. If this is some plot to destroy us from within, then any hint of suspicion will alert them to the ruse."
I can talk to Lady Marta," I said. "She's always been one of Davian's confidantes and might know something about his disappearance during the late-night hours."
Chris's face smoothed, a small smile smoothing the creases of his face. "You're a real fearlessness-aholic, Chloe."
Later That Day
Mute beams from the sun crept in through the palace windows, and I sat talking to Lady Marta within one of the quieter drawing rooms. We made ordinary pleasantries, though when I gently inquired into recent affairs, a shade of gloom slipped into her face.
She whispered, taking care to make sure she had us alone. "My lady," she started, her voice reserved. "Lord Davian has… been distant recently. He's often agitated, always talking of protecting Celavia but would not explain what he spoke of. I've found him leaving in the dead of night, always southwards, and I fear …)
My heart now was racing. "Do you know where he goes?
She hesitated, concern etched on her face. "I don't know, but. I suspect he may be in contact with someone outside the kingdom." She swallowed and wrung her hands. "My lady, I fear he's become desperate.".
The pieces started coming together but with so many questions. I thanked her and excused myself while my head kept racing on all that wasn't clarified. From out of nowhere, Tomas came out into the room as I entered the drawing room.
"Lord Davian is making his move tonight," he whispered into my ear while his eyes darted like sharp instruments across the rooms. "If you and Chris want to pursue him then this would be your biggest opportunity.".
Nightfall descended quickly and shrouded the palace in an unearthly silence. Chloe and I were swathed in darkness, becoming shadows which made detection highly improbable. My heart beat with each step. Answers lay ahead, answers that would rip the ground from under everything I'd been taught to trust.
We crept through the courtyard, keeping to the shadows, watching as Davian mounted his horse and slipped through a side gate that led into the nearby forest. Tomas had arranged a pair of horses for us, and within moments we were following him at a safe distance, barely daring to breathe.
As we rode deeper into the woods, I reached out and squeezed Chloe's hand lightly. She looked up at me, fierce and tender in her eyes. Reminding me that at least we had each other tonight, and that had to be enough.
After what felt like an eternity, we crested a small rise and came upon a secluded clearing. There, partially hidden among the trees, were a half dozen shadowed figures around Davian. Their voices were low, but the tone unmistakable; this was no ordinary meeting. One figure stepped forward, handing Davian a scroll, which Davian then unfurled by the light of a torch.
My heart ran cold when I strained to listen to his words as he read them; the mentioning of Galarcia and the throne of Celavia made this conspiracy in the making - to crack and shatter our kingdom.
"Tonight," Davian's voice carried above the whispers, with a conviction to his words. "We begin building foundations. The throne is soon to be ours and whatever stands in our way will fall."
Chloe gripped my arm, her eyes wide. We had to move fast, but any misstep could jeopardize our advantage. I motioned for us to fall back and as we mounted our horses, I turned back for one last look. Davian was laughing—a sound that would haunt me long after tonight.
Back at the Castle
We returned just in time for dawn. Tomas awaited us in the stables, and after a very brief debriefing we called for a select team of guards, some whose loyalty we could truly be sure of in such desperate times. This was not even the beginning but as I stood there by Chloe's side, I was certain that whatever this thing was, we would weather the storm.
Chloe
There it was where Chris and I slipped into the still corridors of the castle, exhaustion tugging at me but oddly, I couldn't quite forget the distorted smile that Davian had worn, or the ominous words ringing in my head.
We got to our rooms and as Chris closed the door, I felt this sense of thankfulness for the other in the chaos and danger we had each other. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me close, and I could feel the steady beat of his heart, a grounding force amidst the storm.
"We'll see this through," I whispered, my voice a vow as much to him as to myself. "For Celavia. For us."
And in that quiet, as dawn broke over the kingdom, I knew that together, we would fight—no matter what lay ahead.