Ludwig was still unsure of what to do. Sir Richard had brought news that was hard to believe, but the urgency in his voice made it difficult to dismiss.
"I understand your hesitation, my lord," Sir Richard said. "But time is of the essence. We must act quickly if we are to prevent any harm from coming to you."
The two men and woman made their way to the stables, where they mounted their horses and rode out of the palace gates. As they rode, Sir Richard gave Ludwig more details about the plot against him.
"It seems that some of your most trusted advisors and each of the five houses have been bribed by outside forces," Sir Richard said. "They are planning to stage a coup tonight, and if we don't act quickly, they will succeed."
Ludwig clenched his jaw. He had always known that there were those who coveted his throne, but to learn that some of his closest confidants were involved was a bitter pill to swallow.
"I won't let them take my throne," Ludwig said firmly.
Sir Richard smiled. "I know you won't, my lord. That's why I came to you. You're a strong leader, and I have always believed in your ability to lead this kingdom."
Ludwig felt a surge of gratitude towards Sir Richard. He had always trusted the man, and his words of encouragement were just what he needed to hear.
As they rode on, Ludwig noticed something strange about Sir Richard's demeanor. He seemed almost too calm, too composed, given the gravity of the situation.
Adalyn was still visibly nervous, and her eyes kept darting towards Sir Richard, who seemed to be ignoring her completely. Ludwig couldn't help but feel uneasy about the situation, especially since he was currently unable to use his magic and was still recovering.
As they rode, Sir Richard suddenly drew a small dagger from his belt and held it up. The blade began to glow with a faint red light, which Ludwig recognized as the use of sword intent. A skill that only skilled swordsmen are able to wield.
"What are you doing?" Ludwig asked, eyeing the dagger warily.
"I'm just making sure we're prepared for anything," Sir Richard replied with a small smirk.
Ludwig couldn't help but feel a sense of unease at Sir Richard's words and actions. The man had always been loyal and trustworthy in the past, but something about his behavior now seemed off.
As they continued on their journey, Ludwig couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. He scanned the surrounding area but saw no sign of danger. Suddenly, a group of armed men emerged from the trees, blocking their path.
Ludwig immediately reached for his sword, but before he could even draw it, Sir Richard launched of his horse throwing himself at Adalyn with his glowing dagger.
Ludwig watched in horror as Adalyn fell from her horse, her face twisted in pain. He quickly dismounted and charged towards Sir Richard, drawing his sword and engaging him in a fierce battle.
Sweat dripped down his forehead as he swung his sword with precision, blocking and parrying Sir Richard's strikes. Ludwig was painfully aware that he was without magic, recovering from the spell he had cast to restore the barrier. It was the perfect time for Sir Richard to strike.
Sir Richard's dagger began to glow brighter and brighter with red light, and Ludwig knew what that meant he was in trouble. The increased in sword intent, made it near impossible for Ludwig to keep parring them, the power behind each swing more than he can bear without his own sword intent and magic at hand. Ludwig's heart raced as he tried to anticipate Sir Richard's next move.
In a swift motion, Sir Richard lunged forward with his dagger aimed at Ludwig's heart. Ludwig managed to dodge the attack relying on his battle instinct and counter with a powerful strike that plunged his sword deep into Sir Richard's chest. The air was filled with the sound of clashing swords and the grunts of exertion, but it all came to a sudden stop as Sir Richard collapsed to the ground.
As Sir Richard's lifeless body hit the ground, Ludwig barely had time to process what had just happened before the group of armed men that emerged from the trees began to make their move.
Ludwig quickly raised his sword to defend himself, but he was caught off guard when the attackers began to use magic. Without his own magic to counter them, he was forced to rely solely on his swordsmanship.
Ludwig's heart raced as he realized he was outnumbered and outmatched once again. He could feel the heat of the flames and the sting of the arrows as they whizzed past him.
The attackers were skilled, and they managed to land several blows on Ludwig. He felt arrows pierce his cloth
and magic blasts singe his skin. Despite the pain, he refused to give up, fighting with all his might to protect himself.
The magic the attackers wielded was different than any Ludwig had encountered before. It seemed to be a darker, more twisted version of the magic he knew, the colours of the magic blasts muted, filled with malice and intent to harm. Ludwig struggled to keep his footing as the ground trembled beneath him and rocks flew through the air.
As Ludwig fought, he noticed that Adalyn was lying on the ground, motionless. His heart sank at the sight of her, but he knew that he couldn't afford to let his guard down. He had to stay focused on the battle at hand.
Ludwig knew he had to protect her, if he wanted her to have a shot at surviving this, he needed to win or get them out of here, but he also knew he couldn't take on this many attackers with a sword alone. He scanned the area, searching for a way out, and his eyes fell upon Sir Richard's body.
Without hesitation, Ludwig reached for Sir Richard's dagger and held it tightly in his hand. As he did, he felt a surge of power coursing through his veins, the remnant energy of sword intent from Sir Richard that still flows through the weapon, even beyond his death. He closed his eyes and focused on the power, allowing it to flow through him and into the dagger and sword.
The blade of the dagger and sword began to glow with an intense golden light, illuminating the dark forest around him. Staining Sir Richards sword intent with Ludwigs colour. Ludwig knew that he had only one chance to survive this attack until the energy runs dry, and he would have to use all the power he could muster. With a fierce determination, he charged toward the attackers, wielding the combination of glowing dagger and sword with deadly intent.
As he fought, he could feel the power of sword intent coursing through him, empowering his strikes and allowing him to move with greater speed and agility. He dodged arrows and parried spells, striking back with a force that took his opponents by surprise.
The battle was intense, and Ludwig fought with all his might, determined to protect himself and Adalyn. Despite the odds against him, he refused to give up or give in. In the end, his determination and skill proved too much for the attackers, and one by one, they fell before him.
As the last attacker fell to the ground, Ludwig collapsed to his knees, exhausted but victorious. Ludwig rushed to Adalyn's side, he held her in his arms her breathing shallow and weak. Ludwig quickly assessed Adalyn's wounds, knowing that time was of the essence. He saw the deep cut from Sir Ludwig and burns on her arms and chest, and her breathing was laboured. He needed to find something to heal her quickly.
He got up and began searching the bodies of the attackers, hoping to find something that could help Adalyn. He found a small satchel on one of the fallen guards and quickly rummaged through it. Inside, he found a vial of blue healing potion, which he recognized as a being made from the tears of a dragon, a rare and powerful elixir. Something that can normally only be found in the treasury of the castle.
Ludwig wasted no time in administering the potion to Adalyn, gently pouring it down her throat. As he waited for the potion to take effect, he looked around at the destruction wrought by the attack. The forest was scorched and torn apart, and bodies wearing the armour and faces of his personal guard lay scattered on the ground. He knew that the betrayal ran deep, and that he would need to act quickly to root out the conspirators.
At last, Adalyn's breathing began to even out, and colour returned to her pale cheeks. Ludwig breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a weight lifted from his shoulders. He scooped Adalyn up into his arms, holding her close as he made his way deeper into the forest.
As they walked, Ludwig thought about the conspiracy against him and his kingdom. He knew that he could not trust anyone now, not even those who had once been his closest advisors. He would need to rely on his own wits and skills to uncover the truth and bring those responsible to justice.