Kade sat slumped in the war chamber chair, his eyes fixed on the map that lay spread across the table. The glowing red points pulsed steadily, as if mocking him with their ominous significance. He traced a finger along one of the jagged lines connecting the locations.
"So, divide and conquer, huh? Sure, easy. Except I don't know what I'm dividing, or how, or why. Perfect."
The quiet creak of the door interrupted his internal monologue. He sat up straighter as the pale man entered, his crimson eyes gleaming in the dim light. Kade quickly adjusted his expression, trying to look as commanding as possible.
'My lord,'
the man said, bowing deeply.
'Your presence is requested in the great hall. The troops have gathered to hear your words.'
Kade froze.
'My words?'
he asked, his voice rising slightly.
The pale man nodded.
'Yes, my lord. A speech to inspire the troops and remind them of your unparalleled power and wisdom.'
Kade's stomach sank. A speech? In front of an army? This was not part of the deal.
"Unparalleled power and wisdom? Oh, buddy, you're about to be real disappointed."
He forced a nod, rising from his chair with what he hoped looked like calm confidence.
'Very well,'
he said.
'Lead the way.'
The pale man bowed again and turned, his long robes trailing behind him as he exited the chamber. Kade followed, his heart pounding harder with every step. The corridors seemed longer than usual, each flickering torch casting sinister shadows that felt like they were closing in on him.
"This is it. This is how I get exposed. They're all going to realize I'm just a guy who once forgot his lines in a toothpaste commercial."
The sound of distant voices grew louder as they approached the great hall. The heavy doors loomed ahead, their intricate carvings glinting in the crimson light. Two guards stood at attention, their dark armor gleaming as they pulled the doors open with synchronized precision.
Kade stepped inside and immediately froze.
The hall was packed. Hundreds of soldiers stood in perfect rows, their eyes fixed on him as he entered. The air was thick with tension, their anticipation almost palpable. Banners hung from the walls, bearing the crest of Kaedus — a jagged black crown wreathed in red flames.
"Great. The Evil Overlord aesthetic is really going all in."
The pale man gestured toward a raised platform at the far end of the hall. A lectern stood there, flanked by flickering torches. Kade's feet felt like lead as he made his way up the steps, every eye in the room following his every move.
He reached the lectern and gripped its edges tightly, his palms sweating. The sea of faces before him was silent, waiting. Expectant.
"Alright, Kade. You've got this. Just say… something. Anything. Make it sound ominous and inspiring. How hard can that be?"
He cleared his throat, the sound echoing through the vast hall.
'My loyal soldiers,'
he began, his voice trembling slightly.
'Today, we stand on the brink of a great… opportunity.'
The crowd remained silent, their expressions unreadable.
'Our enemies have dared to breach our sanctum, to challenge our might. But they underestimate us. They underestimate… me.'
He paused, scanning the room. Still no reaction.
"We're killing it, Kade. Really knocking their socks off with this one."
He straightened his back, trying to channel every evil overlord he had ever seen in a movie.
'We will show them the price of their arrogance. We will strike with precision, with power, and with… overwhelming darkness.'
A few murmurs rippled through the crowd, and Kade latched onto the momentum.
'Our enemies think they know us, but they have no idea what we are capable of. Together, we will ensure that their foolishness becomes their downfall.'
This time, the murmurs turned into scattered cheers. Kade's confidence grew, and he leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering to a dramatic tone.
'Prepare yourselves, for the day of reckoning is upon us. Let them tremble in fear when they hear the name Kaedus.'
The cheers swelled, and Kade had to resist the urge to collapse in relief. He raised a hand, hoping it looked commanding, and the hall erupted into a thunderous roar of approval. Soldiers banged their weapons against their shields, their voices echoing through the room.
"Okay, not bad. They bought it. Maybe I'm better at this than I thought."
He stepped back from the lectern as the pale man approached, bowing deeply.
'An inspiring speech, my lord,'
he said.
'The troops are invigorated by your words.'
Kade nodded, trying to hide the fact that his knees felt like jelly.
'Good,'
he said.
'Make sure they're ready. We'll strike when the time is right.'
The pale man bowed again and turned to address the commanders. Kade took the opportunity to slip off the platform and head toward the nearest exit. He needed to get out of there before someone asked him for details about this supposed plan.
As he walked through the corridors, his heart still racing, he allowed himself a small smile.
"Alright, that wasn't a complete disaster. Maybe I can actually pull this off."
The thought lingered for a moment before reality set in.
"Except I still have no idea what I'm doing. Great job, Kade. King of winging it."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair.
At least for now, he had bought himself a little more time. Time to figure out what the hell he was going to do next.