~~~
Ryker's escape was swift, a coward's retreat into the shadows of his crumbling kingdom.
Before the gates could seal, he vanished into the night like a serpent, his soldiers left to face the consequences of his failed siege.
The battlefield, once alive with the sound of clashing steel and cries of war, was now silent, save for the groans of the wounded and the rustling of wind through broken banners. Felicia's hands still trembled as she stared at Viktor's lifeless body sprawled at her feet.
The blade she held, slick with his blood, seemed heavier now than when she had first picked it up. Guilt gnawed at her, despite Nelson's attempts to console her.
Viktor had sacrificed himself for a cause Felicia no longer believed in, yet his final moments haunted her. His eyes, full of loyalty to a king who had abandoned him, were imprinted in her mind. Nelson's grip on Felicia tightened.
He could feel her inner turmoil as if it were his own, and he hated seeing her like this. His once bitter, guarded heart had opened to her in ways he had never expected.
Gone were the days when he viewed her as just a piece in the political game they played; she had become his strength, his equal, his queen.
And though they had started off as reluctant partners in an arranged marriage, the battle had revealed something deeper between them-a bond forged not just by duty, but by love, respect, and shared determination. Felicia's breath was shaky as she finally tore her gaze from Viktor.
"I didn't mean for him to die... not like this." Her voice was small, raw with emotion. Nelson's voice was firm, yet soft, as he responded, "You did what you had to do. He chose his fate. You fought for our people, for what is right. Don't let his death break you."
He turned her toward him, their foreheads almost touching. "We still have a battle to win, Felicia. Ryker is not gone. He will return. And when he does, we must be ready." Eira stepped forward, her face a mask of conflict.
Viktor had been more than just a soldier; he was like family to her, the man she had grown up with before the kingdom's politics had torn their family apart. She had known him as both ally and enemy, and his death-though inevitable-still weighed on her.
Her hand rested on Felicia's shoulder, her voice low. "Viktor... was loyal to the wrong cause. But don't blame yourself, Felicia. He made his choice." The three of them stood in the quiet aftermath of battle, their unity stronger than ever, but Ryker's escape gnawed at Nelson.
The man had been his rival for years, a thorn in his side that refused to be plucked. And now, Ryker had slipped through their fingers once again. "Search every corner of the kingdom," Nelson barked to his commanders. "Find him, dead or alive. We will not rest until Ryker is brought to justice." His warriors moved swiftly, spreading out across the battlefield and into the forests beyond, but deep down, Nelson knew Ryker was too clever to be caught so easily. The man had a way of slipping through cracks, of surviving when others would fall. It was what made him so dangerous.
Felicia wiped her tears and steadied her grip on the sword. Her transformation from the quiet, hesitant queen to a fierce warrior had been nothing short of remarkable. She had proven not only to herself but to the entire kingdom that she was more than just a pawn in a man's world. She was a force to be reckoned with, and
Nelson's admiration for her grew even stronger. "We can't let him get away again," Felicia said, her voice firmer now. "Ryker needs to be stopped, not just for us, but for Evaria. He won't stop until everything we've built is ashes." Nelson nodded. "He's desperate now, and desperate men make mistakes. But we have to be smarter, more strategic."
Eira, ever the tactician, stepped closer. "Ryker will regroup. He always does. But this time, he's running out of options. His army is broken, his resources depleted. He'll try to find a new ally, someone who can give him the strength to challenge us again."
Nelson's brow furrowed as he considered Eira's words. "You're right. He's on the move. We need to anticipate his next step." Felicia looked between them, her mind racing. "What about the southern kingdoms? They've been neutral in our conflict, but they have the resources Ryker needs. If he can convince them to join him..."
Nelson's expression darkened. "Then we'll have a war on a scale we can't afford. We need to send emissaries to the south, secure alliances before Ryker gets the chance." Eira nodded in agreement. "I'll go. I know the southern lords. They trust me." Felicia stepped forward. "No. I'll go with you. We need to show them a united front.
The queen and the king's sister-both standing together. It will send a stronger message." Nelson's gaze met Felicia's, a mixture of concern and pride swelling in his chest. He wanted to keep her close, to shield her from the dangers that still loomed, but he knew she was right.
They couldn't afford to be divided. "Very well," Nelson said. "But be careful. Ryker's spies are everywhere. If he knows you're heading south, he may try to intercept you." Eira smirked, her confidence unshaken. "Let him try. We'll be ready."
As the night fell, the castle's once-crumbling walls were reinforced, and the kingdom's soldiers prepared for whatever came next. Nelson watched from the battlements as Felicia and Eira mounted their horses, ready to ride south under the cover of darkness.
Felicia glanced back at Nelson one last time, their eyes locking in a moment of unspoken understanding. "I'll be back," she whispered.
Nelson's heart tightened. "I know. And I'll be waiting." As they disappeared into the night, Nelson's gaze shifted back to the horizon, his mind already calculating the next move.
Ryker was still out there, somewhere, plotting his return. The battle wasn't over-it had only just begun.
But for now, there was only one certainty: Felicia had emerged from the shadows of doubt, and together, they would face whatever darkness still lay ahead. And somewhere, in the distance, Ryker was already planning his next strike.....