Gareth and Prince Aldric exchanged worried glances. "What is it, Elara?" Gareth asked, his voice filled with concern. "What is problem?"
Elara took a deep breath, her face pale as she relayed the Guardian's dire warning. "The Guardian showed me a vision of the future," she began, her voice trembling. "The king will be killed at the capital tomorrow. I saw a meeting, an indoor gathering of royals from neighboring kingdoms who are in league with the conspirators within the capital."
Aldric's eyes widened in recognition. "It must be the Conclave of Crowns," he said, his tone grim. "It's a prestigious event where only the most influential royals and nobles from across the realms are invited. It's a secretive meeting held once every few years to discuss matters of great importance."
Gareth clenched his fists, the urgency of the situation sinking in. "We need to act fast," he said. "If the king is killed, it could plunge the entire kingdom into chaos."
"They will poison the king, and if they succeed, what the people think is suffering is not suffering but enjoying," Elara continued, her voice steady despite the dire news. "The next person who will be ruling will be more ruthless than the present king. Knowing that you, Prince Aldric, have been labeled as a rebel, it is a perfect opportunity to claim the throne after the king's demise."
Gareth nodded in agreement. "It must be the same people who tried killing the king the first time. They are relentless and won't stop until they've succeeded."
Prince Aldric's mind raced with the implications. "We have to return to the capital, even though it's dangerous for all of us. If we don't, the kingdom will fall into the hands of a tyrant."
"But Aldric," Elara interjected, "I'm not allowed to enter the capital. I've been exiled and labeled a harbinger of doom. They'll arrest me on sight."
"I understand the risks," Aldric replied, determination in his eyes. "But we must find a way to save the king. We'll disguise ourselves and enter the capital. It's our only chance."
With no time to lose, the trio quickly formulated their plan. Gareth and Aldric donned simple merchant clothes, while Elara wrapped herself in a long cloak, her face hidden in the shadows of its hood. They gathered their few belongings and set out for the capital under the cover of night, their hearts heavy with the urgency of their mission.
As they approached the city gates, the bustling activity of the capital was evident. The streets were filled with people preparing for the Conclave of Crowns, unaware of the dark plot unfolding in their midst. The trio managed to slip past the guards at the gate, their disguises holding up under scrutiny.
Inside the city, Elara used her telepathic abilities to sense the emotions and thoughts of those around them, guiding them through the crowded streets to avoid detection. They made their way to a small, secluded inn where they could regroup and plan their next move.
"We need to get close to the Conclave," Aldric said, his voice low but urgent. "Elara, can you use your visions to locate the exact place and time of the meeting?"
Elara closed her eyes, focusing on the images in her mind. After a moment, she spoke. "The meeting is in the Great Hall of the royal palace, just before dusk. The conspirators will be there, preparing to execute their plan."
Gareth looked at Aldric, his expression grim. "We'll need a way into the palace. It won't be easy, but we have to try."
Aldric nodded. "We'll split up. Gareth, you and I will create a distraction to draw the guards away from the Great Hall. Elara, you'll use your telepathy to warn the king and guide him to safety."
As the sun began to set, they made their way to the palace. Gareth and Aldric slipped into the shadows, moving silently through the corridors. They reached a storage room near the Great Hall and set to work creating their distraction. A few well-placed torches ignited a small fire, and the smoke quickly spread, causing panic among the guards.
While the guards were distracted, Elara slipped into the Great Hall. Using her telepathy, she reached out to the king. "Your Majesty, you are in grave danger. There is a plot to poison you. Please, follow my guidance to safety."
The king froze, his eyes widening as he heard Elara's voice in his head. For a moment, he thought he was losing his mind. His gaze darted around the room, and the attendees of the Conclave of Crowns looked at him with growing curiosity and concern. The whispers and puzzled glances intensified, making the king's heart race.
"Who is speaking to me?" he demanded aloud, his voice tinged with fear and confusion. The hall fell silent, and all eyes were fixed on the king, wondering what had caused his sudden outburst.
"Nobody is speaking to you, Your Majesty," one of the nobles said, exchanging worried glances with others. "It's just us here."
The king tried to calm himself, but panic surged through him again as Elara's voice persisted in his mind. "Your Majesty, please, you must trust me. Follow my guidance to safety."
Unable to endure the inexplicable voice and the growing sense of danger, the king's eyes widened with renewed fear. He abruptly stood up, his face pale, and bolted out of the room, leaving the Conclave of Crowns in stunned silence.
As the king hurried out of the Great Hall, his heart pounded with fear and confusion. The corridors of the palace seemed to stretch endlessly as he tried to make sense of the voice in his head. Just then, a servant approached him with a goblet of wine.
"Your Majesty, a drink to calm your nerves," the servant offered, bowing slightly.
The king reached for the goblet, but Elara's voice resounded urgently in his mind. "Don't drink it. It's poisoned."
Startled, the king recoiled, causing the servant to look up in alarm. The king's eyes darted around, searching for any sign of treachery. He quickly knocked the goblet from the servant's hands, sending it crashing to the floor.
The servant's face paled, and he stammered, "Your Majesty, I swear, I didn't know—"
"Guards!" the king shouted, his voice echoing through the halls. "Seize him!"
As the guards rushed in, Prince Aldric and Gareth emerged from the shadows, their disguises abandoned. The king's eyes widened in recognition and disbelief. "Aldric? Gareth?"
The guards hesitated, unsure whether to attack or bow. The prince stepped forward, his expression resolute. "Father, we came to save you. There's a conspiracy to kill you and take the throne."
Before the king could respond, a commotion erupted behind them. The conspirators, realizing their plot was unraveling, began to flee, some drawing weapons in desperation.
Elara, her hood falling back to reveal her identity, stepped forward. "Your Majesty, we need to get you to safety now."
At that moment, one of the fleeing conspirators shouted, "It's a trap! The prince and his rebels are trying to overthrow the king!"
The accusation echoed through the hall, and confusion spread like wildfire. The guards, caught between conflicting loyalties, began to murmur uncertainly. One of the nobles, a conspirator in disguise, pointed an accusatory finger at Aldric. "Seize them! They've been plotting against the king all along!"
The king, already disoriented and fearful, looked at his son and Gareth with growing suspicion. "Is this true? Have you betrayed me?"
"No, Father!" Aldric pleaded, his voice filled with desperation. "It's them! They are the ones plotting against you!"
But the seeds of doubt had been planted. The conspirators, blending in with the crowd, continued to fan the flames of deceit. "Your Majesty, they attacked us! We saw them setting the fire to create chaos!"
The guards, now convinced of the lie, began to close in on Aldric, Gareth, and Elara. "Arrest them!" a guard captain commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Realizing the danger, Elara reached out telepathically to Aldric and Gareth. "We need to escape now, or we'll never get another chance."
Aldric, his heart breaking, gave his father one last pleading look. "Father, please, you must believe us!"
But the king, swayed by the conspirators' lies and the apparent evidence against his son, turned away. "Take them into custody."
With no other choice, the trio fought their way past the guards, their hearts heavy with betrayal. They managed to break free, sprinting through the palace corridors as shouts of "Traitors!" followed them.
Outside the palace walls, they paused to catch their breath. Aldric slammed his fist against a stone wall in frustration. "I can't believe this. They've turned him against us. The king believes their lies!"
Gareth placed console him, his voice grim but steady. "We can't give up. We know the truth, and we have to find a way to prove it. The kingdom depends on us."
Elara nodded, her eyes filled with determination. "We will expose the conspirators and clear our names and also stop the impending war. But first, we need to stay hidden and regroup. Our fight is far from over."