After three weeks of careful planning and observation, the day of the festival of great harvest finally arrived. Ryker, Erian, Arin, and Thorne stood by the king's side as the villagers gathered in the square, dressed in colorful masquerade costumes and eager to celebrate.The people brought their farm produce to thank their gods for giving them great harvest.
The ministers approached the king, bowing low. "Your majesty, the time has come to announce the start of the festival," one of them said.
The king nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "Very well. Let the celebrations begin!"
As the ministers backed away, Ryker, Erian, Arin, and Thorne exchanged a brief glance. This was their moment.
"Your majesty," Ryker said, stepping forward. "We have a special gift for you."
The king's eyes lit up with curiosity. "A gift? What kind of gift?"
Ryker smiled, drawing a small dagger from her belt. "A gift of loyalty and devotion," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
With a swift motion, she plunged the dagger into the king's chest. Erian, Arin, and Thorne followed suit, their own daggers flashing in the sunlight as they struck.
The king's eyes widened in shock, his mouth opening in a silent scream. The ministers and guards were caught off guard, unsure of how to react.
"Treason!" someone shouted, finally. "The king has been attacked!"
Pandemonium erupted as the villagers scrambled to get away from the scene, leaving their farm produce behind. Ryker, Erian, Arin, and Thorne took advantage of the chaos, fleeing the square and disappearing into the crowd.
"We need to get out of here, now!" Ryker yelled, her heart pounding in her chest.
They ran through the winding streets of Kragnir, dodging market stalls and leaping over obstacles. Finally, they reached the city gate, where they had arranged for horses to be waiting.
As they rode away from the kingdom, they could hear the sounds of pursuit behind them. But they didn't look back, knowing that their mission was finally complete.
The king of Kragnir was dead, and they had escaped with their lives.
The pursuits returned to the kingdom, empty-handed and defeated. They had been unable to catch up to the four traitors, and they returned to the king's castle with heavy hearts.
Prince Kael was devastated when he heard the news. He had been fond of Ryker, and he couldn't believe that she had betrayed him. He felt a mix of emotions - anger, sadness, and confusion.
"How could he do this to me?" he asked his advisors, his voice shaking with emotion. "I thought he was loyal."
The advisors bowed their heads, unable to answer. They knew that the prince was hurting, and they didn't want to make things worse.
The Kragnirs were in shock and mourning. They had never experienced a betrayal of this magnitude before, and they didn't know how to react. They gathered in the streets, talking in hushed tones and wondering how this could have happened.
The king's death was a tragedy, and the Kragnirs mourned his loss. They held a grand funeral, with processions and ceremonies to honor his memory.
But amidst the mourning, there was also a sense of determination. The Kragnirs knew that they had to find out who had done this, and they vowed to seek revenge.
"We will find the kingdom that sent these traitors," Prince Kael declared, his voice firm and resolute. "And we will make them pay for what they have done."
The Kragnirs grieved the loss of their king, but their hearts were filled with determination. They knew that it wouldn't be easy, but they were ready to face whatever lay ahead.
And so, they began their search, scouring the land for any clues that might lead them to the traitors' kingdom. They sent out spies and scouts, and they gathered intelligence from all corners of the land.
It was a long and difficult journey, but the Kragnirs were determined to see it through. They would find the traitors, and they would make them pay for their betrayal.
Finally, after running for 2 days, the Eridorians returned to the land of Eridoria, they were greeted with open arms by their fellow citizens. The villagers had heard of their bravery and skill in killing the king of Kragnir, and they were eager to welcome them home.
Ryker, Erian, Arin, and Thorne were met at the border by a procession of villagers, who cheered and chanted their names. The four friends were taken aback by the warm reception, and they smiled and waved at the crowd.
As they made their way through the village, they were stopped by Kaelin Darkhaven, a wise and respected Sanian. "Welcome, heroes," he said, his eyes shining with warmth. "I have been ordained to perform a ritual to honor your bravery and skill. Please, come with me."
The four friends followed Kaelin to the village square, where a large crowd had gathered. Kaelin began to chant and perform a ritual, calling upon the gods to bless the four friends and grant them wisdom and strength in their new positions.
As the ritual progressed, the villagers began to cheer and clap, their faces filled with joy. Ryker, Erian, Arin, and Thorne were overcome with emotion, feeling a sense of pride and gratitude towards their people.
When the ritual was complete, Kaelin turned to the four friends and said, "By the power vested in me, I ordain you as leaders of our people. Erian, you shall be a king to rule our people with courage and compassion, Maya Ryker, you shall lead the Kaleekis, train them and as we await the prophecy, we depend on your guidance, Thorne Blackforged, a brave general you shall be, lead us to battle and win wars from now on, and Arin the sage, as you join the king's royal cabinet members, you will have wisdom to understand and handle matters. Oh heavens, may you guide us with wisdom and courage."
The villagers erupted in cheers, and the four friends were lifted onto the shoulders of the crowd. They were carried around the village, basking in the adoration of their people.
As they passed by the village homes, the villagers came out to greet them, offering food and drink and congratulations. The four friends were overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support, and they knew that they had made a difference in the lives of their people.
Finally, they were set down in the village square, where a grand feast was laid out before them. The villagers sat down to eat and drink, and the four friends were hailed as heroes.
Ryker stood up, her voice ringing out across the square. "We did this for our people," she said. "We did this for Eridoria. And we will continue to fight for our freedom and our way of life."
The villagers cheered, their faces filled with joy and hope. And the four friends knew that they had found their true calling, as leaders and protectors of their people.