Xandros bid farewell to the Old King and Gorthok, leaving them to discuss their next move. As he exited the old castle, he was met with the wise and weathered face of Raven, his trusted advisor.
"Master Xandros, I must say I'm not pleased with your decision to give the crystal to the orc king," Raven said, his voice laced with concern and respect.
Xandros chuckled, his mask glinting in the sunlight. "Ah, Raven, you worry too much. Eldrida's Tear won't take the Old King to his peak, not by a long shot. He'll be strong, but not strong enough to pose a threat to our plans."
Raven's eyes narrowed. "And what of the city of Eldrador, Master? I've heard rumors of a... royal visitor, shall we say. Is that wise, given the current tensions?"
Xandros laughed loudly, the sound echoing through the castle courtyard. "Ah, Raven, you know me too well! Yes, the city of Eldrador is about to receive a very special guest, one who will shake things up quite nicely. But don't worry, my friend, I have everything under control. Or, at least, I will soon enough."
Raven bowed his head slightly, his expression a mix of respect and concern. "As you say, Master Xandros. I will trust in your wisdom and planning."
Xandros nodded, his mask glinting with a hint of approval. "I expect nothing less, Raven. Now, let us prepare for our next move. The game is afoot, and we must stay one step ahead of our enemies."
=======
In the city of Eldrador, Kaidon paced back and forth in the throne room, his mind racing with thoughts of the missing Eldrida's Tear. Throne, a skilled warrior and Kaidon's trusted advisor, sat calmly beside his student, Eryndor, their eyes fixed on the prince.
The silence was broken when Thorold, the city's new guild master and former chief, burst through the door, a hint of urgency on his face. "Your Highness, I bring news from the fifth prince's kingdom. He has sent an envoy to our city."
Kaidon's pacing halted, his eyes narrowing. "What do you mean? Who has he sent?"
Thorold took a deep breath. "I'm not entirely sure, Your Highness. But I do know that the fifth prince's kingdom is vast and powerful, and his influence reaches far and wide. We must prepare for the arrival of this... envoy."
Throne's eyes sparkled with interest. "Agreed. We must be cautious and prepared. Eryndor, see to the city's defenses and make sure our guards are ready."
Eryndor nodded and departed, leaving Kaidon, Throne, and Thorold to discuss the impending arrival.
Kaidon's expression turned grim. "I don't like it. We still haven't found Eldrida's Tear, and now this. It feels like a distraction, or a trap."
Throne's hand rested on the hilt of his sword. "We'll be ready, Your Highness. We won't let our guard down."
Thorold nodded in agreement. "I'll see to the city's preparations, Your Highness. We'll be prepared for anything."
Later that night, the throne room was filled with tension as Kaidon sat on his throne, his mother, Queen Lirien, beside him on a smaller throne, her expression worried. Amir stood tall and unwavering beside Kaidon, his face a mask of confidence.
The doors burst open, and the fifth prince's envoy was announced. Commander Kynzie Valtor, a powerful beast tamer, strode into the room, her presence commanding attention. Her piercing green eyes scanned the room, her raven hair falling like a waterfall down her back.
Rumors whispered that she possessed a Level 4 beast, though none had seen it. Her reputation preceded her, and the room was electric with anticipation.
Kaidon's voice was firm as he addressed her. "Commander Valtor, welcome to Eldrador. What brings you to our city?"
Kynzie's smile was razor-sharp. "I come bearing a message from my prince. He wishes to... discuss a potential alliance between our nations."
Queen Lirien's eyes narrowed. "An alliance? What kind of alliance?"
Kynzie's gaze never wavered. "A mutual defense pact, Your Majesty. In these uncertain times, it's wise to have powerful friends."
Amir's expression remained neutral, but his eyes never left Kynzie's face. Kaidon's grip on his throne tightened, his mind racing with the implications.
Amir's voice was laced with skepticism. "The fifth prince never saw Kaidon as his brother, yet now he wants to form an alliance? What does he gain from this?"
Kynzie's expression remained neutral, her silence speaking volumes.
Kaidon stood up, his eyes locked on Kynzie. "My city is having some... trouble. And you're offering to help us win the fight?"
Kynzie's laughter was like a bell, clear and melodious. "Oh, yes. The fifth prince is willing to lend us a few of his men. But, of course, there's a condition."
Amir took a step forward, his eyes narrowing. "What's the catch? I know how the prince operates, how crafty he is."
Kynzie's smile grew wider. "The condition is simple, really. Kaidon must bow to the prince and become his second commander, making him third in command... behind me, of course."
The room fell silent, the weight of her words hanging in the air like a challenge.
But then Kaidon laughed, the sound echoing through the throne room. He got to his feet, his eyes gleaming with a fierce light.
Kaidon's laughter died down, and his expression turned cold. "I refuse your offer, Commander Valtor. You may tell the fifth prince that once I've settled my affairs here, I'll be coming for him... first."
Kynzie's eyes flashed with anger, but she seemed to reconsider her next move. She took a step back, but Amir was quick to intervene, positioning himself between her and Kaidon. Heat radiated from Amir's body, a subtle warning.
Kynzie's gaze locked onto Amir, and for a moment, the two seemed to engage in a silent standoff. Then, with a graceful nod, she turned to leave. "I will deliver your message, Kaidon. But know this: the fifth prince will not be threatened."
With that, she departed, her presence vanishing as suddenly as it had appeared. The room was left to ponder the weight of Kaidon's words and the tension that lingered like a challenge, waiting to be answered.
No sooner had Kynzie departed than a guard burst through the door, his face etched with worry. "Your Highness! Neighbouring city of Brindlemark has been attacked!"
Kaidon's expression turned grave. "What's the situation?"
The guard's voice trembled. "Bodies everywhere, but no wounds... their skin as white as snow, eyes lifeless. It's as if the very life force has been drained from them."
Amir's eyes narrowed. "Eldrida's Tear. The Old King has used its power."
Kaidon's grip on his throne tightened. "Prepare our forces for battle. We must act swiftly—"
But before he could finish, a figure in a hood appeared in the middle of the throne room, their presence sudden and unsettling. They dropped a piece of paper on the ground before vanishing just as quickly, leaving behind an eerie silence.
The paper lay there, a cryptic message scrawled upon it: "The Old King's power grows. Meet me at the ancient oak in the heart of the Whispering Woods if you wish to save your city."
Kaidon's eyes widened as he snatched up the paper, his mind racing with questions. Who was this mysterious figure? And what did they know about the Old King's plans?
Amir's voice broke the silence. "We can't ignore this. If there's even a chance to save our city, we must take it."
Kaidon nodded, his determination evident. "Assemble a team. We'll investigate who sent this message and what they know."
Throne Room guards scrambled to obey, and soon a small group of trusted warriors stood ready. Amir, Eryndor, and Kaidon led the way, their hearts pounding with anticipation.
"Let's move out," Kaidon commanded. "We'll get to the bottom of this mystery."
With that, the group set off towards the Whispering Woods, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
As they arrived at the ancient oak, a figure in a mask stood waiting. Amir's eyes narrowed. "That's the one who took the crystal in the cave."
Xandros, the masked man, laughed. "I have no time for this. We must move quickly to defeat the Orc King."
Kaidon's grip on his sword tightened. "What do you know of the Orc King?"
Xandros gestured impatiently. "He's in a castle deep in the forest. But if you charge in without a plan, you'll fail. He's too powerful."
Amir's eyes flashed with anger. "Who are you? Why should we trust you?"
But before Xandros could respond, the hooded figure from earlier appeared beside him. Together, they vanished into thin air, leaving the group stunned and confused.
"Well, that was certainly unexpected," Eryndor said, his voice laced with wonder.
Kaidon's expression turned determined. "We can't let this mystery distract us. We need to come up with a plan to defeat the Orc King."
Amir nodded. "Agreed. Let's get to work. We have a castle to infiltrate."
The group began brainstorming, their minds racing with strategies and tactics. But the question lingered: who was the mysterious masked man, and what were his true motives?