Margaret had always been the one to confuse others, whether it be her choice of learning the sword or taking up the command of knights after her father passed away due to illness. She had earned respect and admiration for her skills and determination. But right now, she felt like the most confused being in the world, the reason being her companion, Alaric.
For the past two weeks, Alaric had been dragging her around through different parts of the forest, leading them deeper into the wilderness only to be chased away by hordes of goblins. This rinse-and-repeat cycle had left her frustrated and exhausted. Each time they would venture into the forest, they would soon find themselves on the run, barely escaping with their lives.
"What is he doing?" Margaret thought, watching Alaric with a mixture of suspicion and bewilderment. She had been patient, trusting his instincts, but her patience was wearing thin. Alaric seemed to know what he was looking for, but he kept it all to himself, leaving Margaret in the dark.
One day, as she watched Alaric marking yet another tree after narrowly escaping from another goblin horde, her frustration reached its peak. She couldn't take it any longer. Drawing her sword, she pointed it at Alaric, her eyes blazing with anger.
"Enough!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the forest. "You've been leading us around in circles, getting us chased by goblins over and over again. What are you really up to?"
Alaric turned to face her, his expression calm and unruffled despite the sword aimed at him. "Margaret, put the sword down. I can explain."
"Explain?" she scoffed, her grip tightening on the hilt of her sword. "You've had two weeks to explain! For all I know, you're orchestrating this entire invasion. How else could you know exactly where the goblins will be?"
Alaric sighed, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "I understand your frustration, but I assure you, I am not behind this. I've been trying to figure out the pattern in their movements, and I think I've finally cracked it."
Margaret's eyes narrowed. "You expect me to believe that? After everything?"
"Yes," Alaric said firmly. "But first, let me show you something." He reached into his bag and pulled out a map, unfolding it carefully. "Look here," he said, pointing to several marked spots. "These are the places we've encountered goblin hordes. There's a pattern. They're not moving randomly; they're being directed."
Margaret lowered her sword slightly, curiosity piquing through her anger. "Directed by whom?"
"That's what I'm trying to find out," Alaric replied. "But to do that, we need to follow these markers. They're leading us to something—or someone—who is controlling the goblins."
Margaret sheathed her sword, though her eyes remained wary. "And you couldn't tell me this sooner?"
Alaric shook his head. "I needed to be sure. If we're wrong, it could cost us our lives. But I'm certain now. Trust me, Margaret, we're close to uncovering the truth."
Margaret took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. "Fine. But no more secrets. We do this together, or not at all."
"Agreed," Alaric said, relief evident in his voice. "Together."
With a renewed sense of purpose, they continued their journey through the forest, following the markers Alaric had placed. The tension between them eased, replaced by a shared determination to uncover the truth. Margaret still had her doubts, but she was willing to give Alaric the benefit of the doubt, at least for now.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the air grew colder, and the trees seemed to close in around them. The sounds of goblins echoed in the distance, a constant reminder of the danger they faced. But Alaric and Margaret pressed on, driven by a shared goal.
"Whoever is behind this," Margaret thought, glancing at Alaric, "they're going to regret it."
With each step, they drew closer to the heart of the mystery, ready to face whatever awaited them in the depths of the Carmine forest.
After a few days of this cycle repeating again and again, Alaric and Margaret started returning to the estate to report to the Baroness. Despite Alaric's assurances, Margaret still felt a lingering confusion. They had been running through the forest, dodging goblin hordes, but they had yet to uncover the mastermind behind the invasion. Why were they heading back now, seemingly empty-handed?
"Alaric, are you sure about this?" Margaret asked, her voice tinged with doubt as they rode back toward the estate.
Alaric, as always, responded with a riddle. "The key to the puzzle is often hidden in plain sight, Margaret. Patience and observation will reveal the truth."
Margaret sighed in frustration. "Can you stop with the riddles for once? Just give me a straight answer."
Alaric smirked. "Where's the fun in that?"
Margaret bit back a retort, focusing on the path ahead. By the time they reached the estate, the sky had turned a dusky pink, the sun dipping below the horizon. As they entered the courtyard, they were greeted by the sight of Baroness Celeste, who immediately embraced her daughter in a warm, familial hug.
"Margaret, thank goodness you're safe," Celeste said, her voice filled with relief. "I've been so worried."
Margaret returned the hug, her earlier frustration melting away in her mother's comforting presence. "I'm fine, Mother. We're both fine."
Alaric cleared his throat, a reminder of the urgency of their mission. "I hate to interrupt, but we have work to do."
Celeste pulled back from the hug, her expression shifting to one of concern. "Of course. Let's discuss inside."
They moved into the study, where Alaric immediately began arranging a map on the table. Margaret and Celeste exchanged a glance before turning their attention to the map.
Alaric pointed to the various markers he had placed. "These are the locations where we encountered goblin hordes. As you can see, they form a pattern—a ring, closing in on a central point."
Celeste leaned in, studying the map. "So, they're being directed to encircle something or someone."
"Exactly," Alaric confirmed. "The mastermind is likely situated at the center of this pattern, using the goblins to create chaos and distract us."
Margaret frowned. "But why retreat now? We're so close."
As the preparations continued, Margaret couldn't help but voice her thoughts. "Why don't we just kill the mastermind ourselves? The two of us should be enough for a covert operation."
Alaric chuckled, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Death is beautiful, Margaret, but not beautiful enough for me to fall in love with it."
Margaret rolled her eyes. "You and your cryptic responses."
Turning to the Baroness, Alaric asked, "What about the reinforcements from my father?"
Celeste nodded. "The letter has been sent. The aid should arrive within the week."
Alaric seemed satisfied with that response. "Good. Then I'll leave the rest to you and Margaret. My work here is done."
Margaret looked at him in surprise. "What do you mean, your work is done?"
Alaric gave her a reassuring smile. "I've identified the pattern and the likely location of the mastermind. Now, it's up to you and your forces to execute the plan. I'll be around if you need me, but I have some new ideas I need to work on."
Celeste stepped forward, placing a hand on Alaric's shoulder. "Thank you, Alaric. We wouldn't have gotten this far without you."
Alaric nodded, his expression serious. "Just make sure you take down that mastermind. The goblin threat needs to be eradicated."
With that, Alaric turned and left the room, his mind already buzzing with new inventions and strategies. Margaret watched him go, feeling a mix of frustration and admiration.
Celeste looked at her daughter. "He's a strange one, but he's helped us a lot. We need to make sure his efforts aren't in vain."
Margaret nodded. "I know. We'll see this through."
As the forces continued their preparations, Margaret couldn't shake the feeling that Alaric was keeping something from them. But for now, she pushed those thoughts aside. They had a battle to win and a mastermind to defeat.
With their strategy in place and reinforcements on the way, the Karmon household braced themselves for the fight of their lives.