"What do you mean?" Princess Lena asked, her voice sharp with confusion.
"How can she be the daughter of the Phoenix Queen?" Lena's brows furrowed as she continued. "Why would the daughter of the Phoenix Queen save me when it's her people that attacked me in the first place?"
"I don't understand the full details either," General Bale replied, his tone calm but grave. "But it seems the Phoenix Queen adopted her after what happened. She helped the Queen locate the Prince in Wize. I'm sure you're aware the child also possesses a curse."
"I'm aware," Princess Lena said, her tone clipped.
"Yes," Bale continued. "It turns out the young Prince of Wize also has one, and I hear it's just as powerful as my son's—and the Princess of Eru's."
"You still haven't gotten to your point, General," Lena said, her head spinning from the flood of revelations.
"My apologies, Your Highness." Bale bowed slightly before speaking again. "I believe Jai's envoy will request that you come to Wize. Jai wishes to meet with you personally."
"Why wouldn't he come here instead?" Lena asked, her frustration growing.
"It's less… interesting for him," Bale explained. "If he summons you, he'll also be testing how much we fear him. Our reaction will tell him whether we intend to oppose him or not. If he comes here, the only statement he can make is to put fear in our hearts—something he's already succeeded in doing."
Princess Lena frowned deeply, her mind racing.
"So?" she pressed.
"So, once he asks you to come, he'll likely forbid me from accompanying you for obvious reasons. But he won't mind if you bring another general, your personal guards, and attendants," Bale said carefully.
Lena's frown deepened further.
"General..." she said in a heavy tone.
"Yes, my Lady?"
"I want you to explain what you're suggesting because I'm starting to think you've lost your mind."
Bale straightened, his expression unreadable. "I want you to take the Prince of Wize and the Princess of Eru as part of your retinue—under the guise of attendants. We aim to take Jai out."
Gor smiled deviously at his father's suggestion, but Henry looked utterly shocked. Princess Lena, meanwhile, was frozen in place, struggling to comprehend what Bale had just said.
"Children!" Lena finally managed, her voice incredulous. "You want to use three children to attack the King of Wize? How do you expect children to succeed where adults have failed? Are you out of your mind, General?"
"Can you take him in battle?" Bale asked bluntly.
"What?" Lena exclaimed, her voice rising.
"Can you take Jai on in a fight?" Bale repeated, his tone calm but firm.
"That's not the point!" Lena snapped.
"How about those children—Thia and Gor?" Bale pressed. "Could you take them on together?"
Lena froze, her mind flashing back to the terrifying power Gor and Thia had displayed during her capture. She had struggled to believe there were children in the world capable of such feats, feats even seasoned warriors couldn't achieve.
"How did you come up with such a plan, General Kindel?" she asked, her voice quieter now, tinged with disbelief.
"I didn't," Bale admitted. "The girl and the Prince of Wize did, apparently. I'm merely relaying their message to you."
Lena's mind reeled.
"Once Jai is gone," Bale continued, "everyone can return to their lives. If you help them take him down, not only will you avoid marrying anyone right now, but you'll also save countless lives that would otherwise be lost to war."
"Why… why are you doing this?" Lena asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm not doing anything," Bale replied, his expression unchanging. "I'm only bringing a proposal. The one doing anything would be you, Your Highness. The question is, what will you do?"
Lena felt trapped. On one hand, there was her obligation to protect her nation from Jai's growing influence. On the other, there was a bold and dangerous plan that could throw any chance of negotiation out the window. This wasn't a decision she could make on a whim; it required careful thought.
She turned to Bale.
"Have you informed my parents?" she asked.
"No," Bale said firmly. "And I won't. The royals need plausible deniability. You'll act on your own. That way, if you fail, they'll still have something to bargain with."
"So, you mean I might lose my head if things go wrong?" Lena asked bitterly.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Bale said without hesitation. "But you won't. Sir Laxe will ensure your safety, and I'll send my son Jo with you."
"How reassuring," Lena said with a scoff, her tone heavy with sarcasm.
"You don't have to do anything," Bale said.
"Oh, but I do," Lena replied, her voice steadying as a grim determination settled over her. "Chaos is coming, and I have a chance to stop it. But before I make my decision, I want to meet with them—Thia and the boy prince. What's his name?"
"Kin," Bale answered.
"Yes. Can you arrange a meeting with them?"
"It will be difficult, given the current situation, but I'll try," Bale said. "Give me a few days."
"Fine," Lena agreed reluctantly.
Bale turned to Gor and Henry.
"I trust you two know to keep this quiet?" he asked.
Gor didn't reply, but Henry saluted with a fervor that surprised everyone.
"Y-Yes, General!" he stammered.
"Good," Bale said, then turned back to Gor. "When will you return home? Your mother says she has something important to discuss tonight."
"Are Tuk and Tanith back already?" Gor asked.
"Yes," Bale replied. "Your brothers will be there."
"Then I'll head back soon," Gor said.
"You can leave now if you wish," Lena said.
"Trust me, Princess, its better if he goes first," Gor said with a smirk. "Otherwise, only one of us might make it home."