The flickering light of the lantern cast long shadows across my desk as I stared at the map spread before me. Zendaria... our nation's lifelong rival.
Our new friends said that the Demon King's army has advanced into their lands. Good for us if that were true. Demons were way more straightforward and violent with their methods so the Dominion won't ignore us anymore. The refugees may pose a problem with our resources, but more people meant more able bodies to work the land.
But then again, this was all just positive thinking. Deep in my heart, I knew there was a lie here somewhere. I just needed to find out where it was.
Celine hadn't returned since yesterday either. Sometimes, I worried about her, but then I was reminded of that spine-shivering moment when I met her for the first time.
She'll be alright.
Meanwhile, Garth had spent hours in the dungeon and gotten nowhere with the Zendarians. And Lyra? Still no word. But her information always came through so I had faith.
"I guess tonight's gonna be one of those nights when I wait for something to click in place," I said as my fingers tapped against the wood in a steady rhythm, the only sound in the otherwise quiet office.
As I lamented a lord's occupational hazards, the door creaked open. I didn't bother looking up since only one person would come in uninvited like this.
"You look like hell," Garth said, strolling in like he owned the place. He dropped into the chair across from me and propped his boots on the edge of my desk. "Still brooding over our guests?"
I leaned back and folded my arms. "Not brooding. Thinking. Big difference."
"Uh-huh." He smirked. "Well, I'll save you the trouble—nothing's changed. I've asked every question I can think of, and they just keep spitting out the same answers. No hesitation, no cracks. It's like they rehearsed the damn script together."
"They probably did," I muttered.
"Right?" He threw up his hands. "It's insulting. They're treating us like we're idiots. If it were up to me—"
"You'd kill them right?" I cut in with a chuckle. "There's plenty of that in the future. For now, let's wait for Lyra's report."
Garth sighed dramatically. "Oh, Lyra. I'm glad you recruited her, Lord Adrian. If we're going to beat Zendaria, we need cunning women like her."
"Truly. Now if only my head knight would stop proposing marriage towards her and making her uncomfortable, then she'd actually be around more often to report to me," I said with a sigh of my own. "When are you gonna give up, Garth? I'm sure there are other fair maidens for you to woo."
Garth raised an eyebrow as if I said something stupid. "Never," he replied.
Before I could retort, the faint flutter of wings caught my attention. A pigeon perched on the windowsill, a small tube strapped to its leg. I grabbed the letter and tore it open, scanning the contents. My smile widened with every word.
"What is it?" Garth asked, sitting up straighter.
"A letter from Lyra," I replied. "Get up, we got work to do."
Garth blinked. "What—"
"Now," I pressed, already heading for the door.
He scrambled after me. "Mind filling me in?"
"Why should I ruin the surprise? Just know that it's gonna be something you'll love," I said, moving quickly down the hall. "Where's Serena?"
"In the square, organizing some event to boost morale," he replied, his usual levity gone.
"Good. If this went sideways, the people would be protected."
We descended into the dungeons, the air growing colder and heavier with each step. The faint drip of water echoed off the stone walls, mingling with the subtle scent of damp decay. The Zendarians sat in their cell, unnervingly composed, as if this were all part of their plan.
Sylas, the human, leaned casually against the wall. Tovak, the hulking Beastfolk, sat cross-legged on the floor, his massive frame almost too large for the confined space. He looked bored, but his twitching ears betrayed a readiness just beneath the surface. Jarel, the Beastfolk mage, perched on a stool near the bars, his restless fidgeting the only crack in their otherwise calm facade.
"Gentlemen," I greeted, letting a touch of mock delight lace my tone. My voice cut through the stillness like the scrape of steel on stone.
Sylas raised a brow, his smirk widening. "Ah, Lord Adrian. To what do we owe the pleasure? Do you finally believe us?"
Ignoring his feigned politeness, I held up a folded letter, shaking it lightly as if it were a plaything. "You've been quite convincing," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "If I were a fool of a lord, I might've fallen for your little story. Like a boar stumbling straight into a pit trap."
Tovak's ears twitched, and Jarel froze mid-fidget. Sylas, however, remained maddeningly unbothered.
I stepped closer to the iron bars, meeting each of their gazes in turn. "This letter," I began, unfolding it with deliberate slowness, "comes from my spy in Zendaria. It confirms everything you've so graciously told me: the invasion, the refugees, the Emperor's plea for aid." My voice dropped, cold and sharp. "But then, it gets interesting."
I tapped the letter against the bars, a mocking smile creeping across my face. "Hidden within this oh-so-tragic plea for help are coded warnings. Warnings only I would recognize. I'd wager my spy didn't pen this letter willingly. No, I'd say you captured her and forced her hand. But," I leaned closer, letting my smile widen, "she still managed to outwit you."
The silence that followed was damning.
"It says you're here to destroy The Fortress," I said, my tone now devoid of mockery, steady as a drawn blade.
At my side, Garth's hand went to his sword, his knuckles white with anger. "Zendarian bastards!" he snarled, his blade half-drawn.
Sylas's smirk shifted, sharpening into something more dangerous, more real. He clapped his hands once, the sound echoing in the stone chamber. "Well," he said, his voice laced with faux amusement, "I suppose the game's up."
Tovak stretched lazily, the motion slow and deliberate, his bulk shifting like a predator waking from slumber. "I told you this charade wouldn't last," he muttered, his voice a low, menacing rumble.
Sylas waved a hand dismissively, his smirk returning. "Relax, Tovak. It served its purpose. Mostly."
His casual words hung in the cold air like a challenge, daring me to make the next move.
"It seems we're being underestimated," I said, my voice steady and cold.
"Underestimated?" Sylas chuckled, shaking his head like I'd just told the funniest joke. "Oh, Lord Adrian, we know exactly who we're up against. A backwater noble clinging to relevance thanks to some dusty artifact. And because you're so pathetic, you're just bursting with empathy—so much that you'd even let your enemies waltz right in."
Before I could respond, Jarel moved. His hands wove intricate patterns in the air, and the space around him shimmered, rippling like water disturbed by an unseen force. The air grew heavy, humming with power.
"Time to have some fun," Jarel said, practically salivating as his spell reached its climax.
In an instant, the three of them—Sylas, Jarel, and Garth—vanished.
"Well, that's stupid," I muttered, drawing my sword with a slow, deliberate motion. The blade caught the dim light, glinting as if eager for what came next. "Why go out of your way to kidnap Garth of all people?"
My gaze shifted to Tovak. The Beastfolk warrior hadn't moved a muscle, but something about him had changed. The very air around him crackled with energy, magic radiating from his massive frame like the charged air before a thunderstorm.
His grin widened, baring too many teeth. "You'll tell us where The Fortress is. Or your loyal knight—and every single soul in this city—will die."
I let out a dry laugh. "If that was your grand plan, you should've gone after someone less capable than Garth. A random villager, maybe."
Tovak's expression darkened, his tone dripping with venom. "Feigning bravado, are we? Pathetic until the bitter end, you failure of Lysvalen. Do you really believe your 'loyal knight' can take on two of Zendaria's best mages? What a joke."
I tilted my head, a faint smile tugging at my lips. "Honestly, I've stopped trying to figure it out myself. But Garth? He's one of the strongest people I've ever known. Strong enough that even your little dream team should be worried."