By dawn, a fine mist clung to the ground around the castle, swirling in ghostly patterns as early sunlight pierced through. The air was icy as I crossed the courtyard, passed by soldiers beginning their drills. Arkenvale's envoy had been gone before sunrise, riding fast to carry our acceptance of Lord Alder's terms. Now all we could do was prepare.
Chris joined me watching the soldiers sparring, moving fast with furious intensity. "They are as ready as they can be," he said in that low voice. "Even with Arkenvale's assistance, however, we will need something more than swords to fend off Galarcia's legions.".
"Agreed," I said, watching the soldiers swing and parry. "We'll have to outthink them. Lord Alder's alliance helps, but there's still too much we don't know. We need to know exactly what Galarcia's planning."
Chris's eyes grew sharper, thoughtful. "Then we'll send a scout team ahead, past the border and into Galarcian territory.".
It was a gamble. The last scout we'd sent into Galarcia had been found dead, the only message returned with his body a brutal warning: any attempt to spy on them would end the same way. I turned to Chris, feeling the weight of his suggestion. "If we send scouts, they may not return."
"They'll know the risks," he said, firm. "But if we're to stand a chance, we have to understand what we're up against. Galarcia's movements, their numbers, their weak points." He looked away, his face set. "And we'll have to keep Davian alive. There's no telling what else he might know."
I hesitated as the memory of Davian's betrayal flashed through my mind. He'd been one of us, but his ambitions had driven him to shatter bonds that seemed unbreakable. Clenching fists, forcing myself to let go of the anger—at least for now—"Do you trust him?"
Chris's gaze darkened. "No. But I believe he fears Galarcia even more than he resents us.".
We spent the morning getting a small group ready to cross over. The three scouts—Harlan, seasoned tracker; Isla, quiet and quick as a shadow; and Finn, sharp-eyed and steady with a blade—gathered in the briefing room, listening to Chris's words as he outlined their mission.
Keep a low profile, he instructed, his voice firm. Get as much information as you can. Don't avoid a fight if you don't have to, but defend yourselves if you must. If you're captured, deny everything,
They nodded, all accepting their assignments with steady resolve. I caught Isla's eye as they filed out of the room. She nodded at me, twisting her mouth into a thin line of determination. There was something in her eyes, something more than risks she knew better than anyone else. It was a flame I recognized.
As soon as the scouts had gone, Chris and I concentrated back on Davian. He sat in a tiny stone cell, under close guard at all hours of the day. He raised his eyes toward us when we came in. The faintest smirk played at his lips.
"Chloe. Chris," he said, his voice a dry rasp. "I was beginning to think you'd forgotten me."
We require information, Davian, I said steadily. "Galarcia's plans, their weak points, their strengths. If you know anything, it's time to tell us."
He laughed softly, his head shaking. "You think I'd betray them like that? As if I was some simple turncoat?"
Chris stepped forward, his gaze steely. "You betrayed us for Galarcia's promises, Davian. You can betray them now.
Something flickered across Davian's face-perhaps it was fear, or the bitter taste of his own betrayal. He leaned back against the wall, his expression turning stony. "You think Galarcia's like Celavia, bound by honor and loyalty? They are ruthless. Not even I can say where they'll strike next, because they won't share that with anyone. But one thing is certain: they'll come when you least expect it, and they'll strike where it hurts most.".
My head spun as it put all that into perspective. "So we are up against an army that has no use for chivalry, and which its leaders truly will give up everything to conquer?"
Davian's eyes dropped away, something like regret settling in his orbs. "They care not who stand before them. When they are done, there is nothing left over - no allies, no treaties, only a desolate wasteland where kingdoms once stood.".
And a silence fell over us, his words laced with a chill reminder that force lurked on our borders. Chris clenched his fists and spoke in a low, deadly calm voice. "Then we have no choice. We will have to strike first."
Leaving Davian's cell, I felt a cold resolve settle over me. We could not rely on him, but the warnings he had given were clear: Galarcia was to be brutal and unpredictable. To survive, we needed to be exactly like them.
The following days were a blur of preparation, tense and nervously charged: We strengthened our defenses; we coordinated with Arkenvale's arriving forces under the banner of Lord Alder, then sent out envoys to nearby villages, rallying them to our cause. Slowly, their numbers grew, and our soldiers looked up to seeing allies by their side. The tension was palpable, but so was a new determination.
Then, one stormy night, a messenger came - a young boy, drenched and breathless, with a message from Harlan, one of our scouts. He had seen Galarcia's forces moving under cover of night, converging on our kingdom's eastern borders. They are bringing the siege equipment - enough to tear through our defenses if they ever reach us unchallenged.
Chris's jaw tightened. "They're moving faster than we expected.".
Tomas, who had arrived with us in the council chamber, scowled. "If they break through the eastern wall, we'll be battling in our streets within hours."
A thought struck him: rash but feasible. "If we send a diversion—a small, fast team—they might divert Galarcia's attention long enough for our actual forces to outflank. We can trap them between our own lines and Arkenvale's men. It's a risk, but it's doable."
Chris thought for a moment, his jaw set in resolve. "It's a risk, but it's our only hope.".
Tomas nodded. "I'll assemble a team of our finest riders. We'll keep them busy long enough to flip the switch."
It was decided on in minutes. The urgency pressed in on us, as if it weighed on us. As Chris and I prepared to ride out with our forces, I could feel the tension in every one of my parts, but also determination that burned hot.
As we mounted our horses, Chris turned to me in the dark. There was that intent look again. "Whatever happens, Chloe… we ride together."
I tightened my hands about the reins, steady and calm inside. "Always."
And as the darkness gathered overhead, casting shadows over the fields, we rode out into the night to face whatever was to come to us. The battle lay before us, and we would meet it with all our strength and as much courage as we could muster for our kingdom, our people, each other.