Amara and Rhys dismounted the horse, their movements hurried and tense. The castle gates had closed behind them when a shout rang out from the shadows.
"Rhys!"
The voice was unmistakable. It was the prince, his steps echoing across the stone courtyard as he stormed toward them. His face was flushed with ominous energy, his eyes wide with panic and frustration.
Without warning, he grabbed Rhys by the collar, shaking him. "This is your fault!" he spat, his voice cracking with fury. "You brought that beast here, and now look at what is happening."
Rhys almost laughed, he was standing still, unflinching beneath the prince's grip. He didn't react to the violent shaking, only gave the prince a cold, dismissive look, as though he wasn't worth his time. He scoffed instead, shaking his head in disbelief. "You think I brought this upon us?" Rhys muttered, his voice laced with sarcasm. "You're not fit to lead, Edward. I did what I was told."
Ignoring the prince's outburst, Rhys turned to Amara, his eyes softening for a moment as he looked at her, his concern shifting to the people inside the castle. He had saved people and moved them to accommodate within the castle e walls. Many were commoners, refugees from the streets where they can hide for while when still looking for the solution to save their kingdom.
The prince, however, wasn't done. His face twisted with rage as he lunged forward again, determined to make Rhys feel the weight of his anger. "You think this is a joke, soldier?" he snarled, advancing toward him.
Amara's heart pounded in her chest, her hands clenching into fists. She couldn't stand to see Rhys endure this any longer, especially not when Rhys had done everything in his power to protect them. Before the prince could reach him, Amara stepped forward, her voice firm and unwavering.
"Edward, stop!" she called out, her words cutting through the chaos. The prince halted, his eyes snapping to her, but she didn't back down. "You're the reason we're in this mess. If you had listened to reason and sent the beast away when it was first captured, we wouldn't be here."
The prince's face paled as the weight of Amara's accusation settled over him. The soldiers, the courtiers who had been standing around, all shifted uncomfortably, glancing at one another in the silence that followed.
For a moment, it seemed as though the prince might lash out, but instead, his shoulders slumped. The humiliation was written all over him. His pride, already shattered by his failure to protect his kingdom, now crumbled beneath the weight of Amara's words.
Before anything else could be said, a commanding voice rang out from the entrance to the courtyard.
"Enough."
It was the king.
His presence was enough to silence everyone. The king, tall and stern as always, stepped into the courtyard, his gaze sharp as he took in the scene before him. His eyes flickered between the prince and Rhys before landing to Amara.
"Edward," the king said, his voice like thunder. "Your tantrums will not solve this. We are beyond that now. What matters is how we move forward."
The prince opened his mouth, but the king's gaze silenced him before he could speak. "You are not a child anymore, Edward. Stop playing the blame game. It's time to be the leader this kingdom needs."
The prince clenched his fists, his jaw tight with suppressed anger, but he didn't speak. He only looked away, unable to meet his father's gaze. His father's words were harsh but they had truth.
The king turned to Rhys then, his expression hardened.
"Rhys," the king summoned him. "I need you to prepare.The people you saved today need to be secured. You know what you should do."
Rhys nodded sharply, his focus now completely on the task at hand. He straightened, his eyes no longer burdened by the weight of the prince's accusations. "Of course, Your Majesty."
Amara stood beside Rhys, her heart still pounding, but her mind racing with thoughts of what they could do next.
The king turned his gaze back to the prince, his eyes cold. "Edward, I've given you every chance to prove yourself. Now, you will help us, or you will stay out of the way. Make your choice."
The prince's eyes darted between his father and Rhys, his pride bruised. Slowly, he straightened, though his voice was reluctant. "What do you need me to do?"
The king gave him a hard look, then nodded. "Gather the best of our soldiers. Prepare for the worst. We will fortify the castle and ensure the people are safe. The fire beasts will not be allowed to breach our walls."
And with that, the king turned away, walking briskly toward the war room, where plans would be made and decisions would be set in motion.
Prince with sullen face, followed his father behind. His mind still question his worthy.
Amara and Rhys stood together, watching as the court scrambled to prepare.
Rhys turned to Amara, his expression darkening. "It's going to get worse before it gets better," he murmured.
Amara nodded quietly, the weight of his words sinking deep into her heart. "We have to do what it takes" she whispered, her voice filled with determination.
———————————
Inside the castle's lower chambers, the air was thick with tension and fear. Women and children huddled together, their faces pale, their eyes wide with terror as they listened to the sounds of the battle above. The thunderous roar of the soldiers' commands echoed through the stone walls, followed by the harsh clatter of armor and the distant shouts of men forming ranks to protect the castle. Outside, the gates were being fortified, and the soldiers prepared for the impending assault, but down here, in the cold, dimly lit rooms, it felt as though the world outside had been swallowed by chaos.
Amara paced restlessly, her thoughts a whirlwind. After Rhys helped them to hide down here, she couldn't help but imagine what was happening outside. The fire beasts closing in, every moment felt like a countdown. But amidst the growing despair, she found herself in the heart of the castle, doing what little she could to help.
The queen, though anxious, was composed. She moved through the chambers with a quiet dignity, comforting the women and children, speaking words of reassurance, though her eyes betrayed the fear she too was trying to suppress.
But amidst the growing despair, she found herself in the heart of the castle doing what little she could to help.
Just then, Rhys appeared at the entrance, his figure looming in the doorway. He pushed through a set of heavy carts filled with bread, fruit, water, and simple sustenance. His eyes scanned the room quickly, noting the frightened faces of the women and children. He nodded to the queen as he stepped forward.
"Food and water, Your Majesty," Rhys said, his voice steady despite the tension. He moved to place the carts down, ensuring everything was ready. "There's not much, but it will have to do for now. We need to keep them strong."
The queen, though clearly grateful, still wore a mask of concern. "Thank you, Rhys," she said, her tone warm but strained. "You've done more than enough. We can only hope the walls hold."
Amara moved forward to help, her heart heavy with the burden of uncertainty. She worked alongside the queen, distributing food and water to the women, offering quiet words of comfort. As she passed a cup of water to a trembling mother holding a small child, the woman's eyes met hers with a look of desperation.
"Will we survive this, my lady?" the woman whispered, her voice breaking.
Amara hesitated, her gaze flickering to the walls above where she knew the soldiers were preparing. "We'll do everything we can," she said softly. "Hold on. The castle is strong. The king and his men will protect us."
The woman nodded weakly, her eyes brimming with tears, but she didn't speak further. Amara's words felt hollow in the face of such fear, but she couldn't bring herself to say anything else. She had to believe, just as they all had to believe, that they would survive after everything.
As she handed out more food, her eyes briefly met Rhys's across the room. There was something unspoken between them, a shared understanding.She knew that Rhys, like everyone else, was willing to protect these people, but the weight of responsibility was heavy on his shoulders.
The queen moved closer to Amara, helping distribute the last of the bread and water. She caught Amara's eye and smiled softly. "You've been a great help, young lady." she said quietly. "You are that scholar, along with Rhys capturing the beast right?!. I appreciate your boldness and help."
Amara's lips curled into a small smile in return, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Yes, Your majesty. My name's Amara and I'm just doing what I can," she replied. "We all have to do what we can."
The queen looked at her thoughtfully, then glanced over her shoulder toward the castle's heavy doors. "I wonder how long we can hold out," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "The fire beasts... they are unlike anything we've ever faced. Do you think we can stop them?"
Amara didn't answer immediately. The question lingered in the air, heavy with the weight of all that was at stake. She thought about the stories she had heard from her family, the ancient texts, the mysterious warnings. And she thought about the strange feeling she had when she first encountered the fire beast and the connection she had sensed, the way it had reacted to her presence.
"I don't know," she said finally. "But I think we have to try."
Her voice was resolute, but doubt still gnawed at her. The queen seemed to sense this, and placed a reassuring hand on Amara's shoulder.
"We will protect these people, no matter the cost." she exclaimed.
As the last of the carts were emptied, Amara moved toward the far corner of the room, her thoughts far from the castle. What did the fire beasts want? Why had they come? And what did the pendant around her neck truly mean?!
She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. There was no time for questions. Only action.
Her gaze fell on Rhys again, who was helping to arrange the last bits of supplies. She had to find a chance to sneak past him into the dungeon. Amara felt she had to find answers once again, answers she was always searching for , she couldn't ignore the feeling that something was calling her to respond.