The grand council chamber buzzed with murmurs as nobles and elders filed in, their faces etched with curiosity and unease. The queen sat at the head of the table, flanked by Anya, Margaret, Celia, and Leila. The tension was palpable, the air heavy with the weight of unspoken fears.
The queen raised a hand, and silence fell. "Thank you all for gathering on such short notice. Recent events have forced us to reassess the safety of the kingdom."
Elder Radomir, an imposing figure with sharp features and an even sharper tongue, leaned forward. "Your Majesty, with all due respect, we've heard whispers—disturbing ones. Vanishing princesses, secret artifacts… The court demands answers."
Anya straightened in her seat, her voice calm but firm. "What you've heard is true. We left the palace to retrieve an artifact—one that is crucial to the survival of this kingdom."
The room erupted in murmurs. Some nobles exchanged uneasy glances, while others outright scoffed.
Leila stepped forward, her voice clear. "The artifact we retrieved is the Shadowstone. It's not just a relic—it's a weapon against the forces threatening us."
A sharp laugh rang out from the other end of the table. Lord Harwin, a stout noble with a perpetual sneer, sneered. "Lady Leila, forgive me, but you overstep. You are not of royal blood. What place do you have in these discussions?"
Leila froze, the color draining from her face.
Margaret's eyes flashed with anger. "Lord Harwin, watch your tone. Leila has risked her life for this kingdom. She has every right to speak here."
Harwin smirked. "Risked her life? A convenient excuse to involve herself in matters she doesn't understand."
Before anyone else could respond, Anya stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the marble floor. "Enough! This isn't about bloodlines or titles. Leila is here because she has proven her loyalty time and again. If anyone has doubts about her place, you can address them to me."
The room fell silent, the weight of Anya's words sinking in. Leila glanced at her cousin, gratitude and determination flickering in her eyes.
---
As the meeting continued, the Shadowstone sat in its ornate box on the table, untouched but not unnoticed. The room seemed colder, the light dimmer.
Elder Radomir's voice quivered as he spoke. "This stone… I can feel its presence. It's not just a weapon, is it? It carries a darkness with it."
The queen nodded gravely. "The Shadowstone is both a blessing and a curse. It can protect us, but it also draws the attention of the shadow itself."
Celia, who had been silent for most of the meeting, finally spoke. "Since we retrieved it, strange things have been happening. Whispers in the night, shadows that move when they shouldn't…"
A nervous murmur rippled through the council.
Leila added, "We've seen it firsthand. The shadow isn't just watching—it's waiting. If we're not united, it will exploit every weakness."
Lord Harwin scoffed again. "And what do you propose? That we rally behind a stone and hope for the best? This is madness."
Margaret's voice cut through the noise. "This is survival. If we don't act now, there won't be a kingdom left to argue over."
The queen's gaze swept across the room, her tone final. "Enough. The Shadowstone is here, and so is the danger. We must prepare, not bicker. I expect all of you to put the kingdom's safety above your pride."
---
As the council dispersed, the tension lingered. Anya, Margaret, Celia, and Leila lingered in the chamber, their exhaustion evident.
Leila sighed, leaning against the table. "I don't know how you deal with them. Harwin is insufferable."
Anya smirked. "You handled him well. Don't let him get to you."
Margaret placed a hand on Leila's shoulder. "You belong here as much as any of us. Don't ever doubt that."
Celia, surprisingly, offered a rare smile. "Besides, Harwin's just bitter because he's never accomplished anything worthwhile."
They shared a laugh, but the weight of their task loomed over them. The Shadowstone pulsed faintly in its box, a reminder of the growing threat.