In the cold, imposing halls of the Northern Palace, Thalvorian, the Ice King, sat at a grand obsidian table, his eyes piercing as he studied the map of Alderyn spread out before him. The room was quiet, the chill in the air a constant reminder of the power he wielded in the frozen kingdom. Elara stood by the window, her figure silhouetted against the pale light filtering through the frost-covered glass.
"Maltherion's reign is growing more fragile by the day," Thalvorian said, his voice low, almost a whisper, yet carrying a dangerous edge. "He believes he's safe, surrounded by his walls, but they are crumbling."
Elara turned slowly, her gaze locking onto his. "And Alderyn's strength lies in its king, doesn't it?" she said, her tone dripping with disdain. "But he's too distracted. He's letting his emotions cloud his judgment. He has Xandria to worry about, and now, a new threat in the form of Zendriya."
Thalvorian's lips curled into a slight, bitter smile. "Yes, Xandria. She's the key, isn't she? He's obsessed with her, and it's clouding his every move. But the witch—Zendriya—she's a different matter. We have a window, Elara. A brief one, before he fully realizes the danger."
Elara stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. "We need to move quickly, then. The longer we wait, the more powerful they become. What of Anaya? She's hiding in the palace, isn't she?"
Thalvorian's expression darkened. "Anaya is a pawn, a small piece in this game. But her role is crucial. She knows the history of the King's Grand Gias. She understands the true bond between Maltherion and Xandria, more than he realizes. But she's been playing her own game, hiding under their noses."
"You think she'll betray them?" Elara asked, her voice sharp.
"Perhaps," Thalvorian replied, his tone distant. "Or perhaps she's waiting for the right moment to strike. Either way, her loyalty is fragile. I don't trust her, but she can be used."
"Then we act," Elara said, her voice fierce. "We strike now, while their guards are down. We break them—Maltherion, Xandria, and their fragile alliance with the people. We sow distrust. We plant the seeds of chaos."
Thalvorian leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with cold calculation. "Yes. We will weaken them from within. First, we isolate Xandria. Make her question her own powers, her connection to the King. And then, when the time is right, we strike at Maltherion. His power has always been rooted in his connection to his people, but that connection is unstable. If we can sever it—"
"Everything will crumble," Elara finished for him, a dark smile playing on her lips. "Alderyn will fall."
They exchanged a silent look, an understanding passing between them, both knowing that this plan was only the beginning. There were more steps to take, more pieces to move, but the foundation was set.
Thalvorian stood up, his icy presence dominating the room. "We will move swiftly, Elara. The longer we wait, the more powerful they become. We cannot afford to let them have the advantage."
Elara nodded, her expression hard. "I've already prepared everything we need. It's time to make our move."
As the Ice King turned toward the door, Elara's gaze lingered on him, a mix of admiration and calculation in her eyes. She knew that working with him would not be without its risks, but in the end, they both wanted the same thing: the downfall of Maltherion, and the kingdom that stood in their way.
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Meanwhile, in the heart of Alderyn's grand palace, Xandria and Maltherion walked through the familiar, yet ever-haunted, halls. The truth about Anaya—now revealed to be Zendriya, the witch who had been hiding in plain sight—loomed over them like a dark cloud. They were no longer uncertain about her identity. What was still unclear was her ultimate goal.
"I can't believe she's been hiding here all this time," Xandria murmured as they made their way down a hallway, her voice filled with disbelief. She glanced around, as though expecting Anaya to suddenly appear from the shadows.
Maltherion's face remained grim, his brow furrowed. "She's been under our noses, yes. But that doesn't mean she's finished. We know who she is now, but knowing her secret doesn't make her less dangerous. She's playing a long game, Xandria."
Xandria nodded, but her thoughts seemed far away. "She's hiding, still watching us. But now that we know, what do we do?"
Maltherion stopped, turning to face her. His gaze was intense. "We wait. We let her think we don't know what she's planning. She's dangerous, but if she believes we're unaware of her movements, she'll make a mistake."
"But how long do we wait?" Xandria asked, her voice almost pleading for an answer. "She's been here all this time. We can't keep waiting for something to happen."
"We move when we're ready," Maltherion said firmly, his tone unwavering. "But we don't act out of fear or haste. If we wait, we gain the advantage. And right now, knowing what we do, she's the one who's at a disadvantage."
Xandria's gaze dropped to the pendant around her neck, her fingers tracing its smooth surface. She had learned much from the ancient texts in the library, but the more she uncovered, the more questions arose.
"And the others?" she asked quietly, her voice barely a whisper. "Elara. We don't know where she is, but I feel like she is still out there."
Maltherion's eyes narrowed. "We don't know where they are yet, but we will. Who ever is hiding Elara must be powerful,. And that makes him our enemy too"
"Then we'll be ready," Xandria said with a quiet resolve, though doubt lingered in the back of her mind. Something felt wrong—like there was a storm brewing just out of sight.
Maltherion's grip on her hand tightened. "Yes, we will. But until then, we stay vigilant. We'll keep our focus on Zendriya, but we won't let our guard down against anyone."
As they stood there, in the quiet corridor, both knew that the war for Alderyn was far from over. They had won the battle with Anaya, but the true threat—whoever it was hiding in the shadows—remained a mystery.
And so, they waited. For the right moment to act. To strike.