Lorian led his people toward a massive, ruined stone archway hidden deep inside the thickest part of the woods. The stones were covered in thick green moss and wild vines. At a glance, it looked just like any other ancient pile of rubble scattered across the seven cities.
He jumped down from his horse and walked up to a specific part of the solid stone wall under the arch. He pressed his hand against a carved stone pattern near the base. With a heavy, grinding sound, a section of the wall slid backward and then to the side, revealing a wide, dark tunnel that appeared to go down into the earth.
"Blindfold the horses," Lorian ordered quietly.
The six Throne Guards and Zara quickly pulled out light black cloths and tied them over their horses' eyes without question. They knew that horses would panic in a pitch-black, tight underground space. By blocking their sight and leading them firmly by the reins, the animals would stay calm. Zara carefully adjusted Nid'r's limp, unconscious body in front of her saddle, keeping the female half-orc steady as she gripped the reins.
Once everyone was ready, Lorian walked his horse inside, and the others followed him closely in a single file line. The moment the last guard entered, Lorian pulled a small lever inside the tunnel wall. The heavy stone door slid shut with a loud thud, sealing them inside. The forest sounds was now vanished, and was replaced by an eerie, heavy silence.
Lorian lit a torch which was on the wall. The yellow light revealed giant, vaulted stone walls. This was not a small dirt tunnel; it was an ancient, grand highway which was built by the old empire centuries ago. It was wide enough for three horses to ride side by side, and the ceiling was so high that their heads were nowhere near the top.
But it was not a simple, straight path. It was a deadly maze, and only the royal family knew the real path.
As they walked deeper, the main road split into three identical stone tunnels. The guards looked uneasy. They knew the stories- the old empire, which ruled the land long before the Seven Cities existed, had filled these false paths with terrible, hidden traps to stop invaders. If someone took a wrong turn, the floor would flip over and drop them into a deep pit of spikes, or hidden plates in the ground would fire giant iron bolts from the walls to crush their bones.
The guards did not know the way, but Lorian did. He looked up at the stone archways. Above each tunnel entrance was a carved face of an old emperor. Lorian looked at the eyes of the statues. His father had taught him the secret rule: Always follow the path where the emperor's left eye is carved slightly wider than the right.
Without stopping, Lorian confidently turned his horse into the middle tunnel.
They moved at a steady, cautious pace. The only sounds were the hollow echoes of the horses' hooves on the ancient stone floor. In the dark corners of the false tunnels they passed, they could see the rusted armor and old bones of thieves who had tried to guess the way years ago and failed.
Zara kept a tight grip on Nid'r. The half-orc's breathing was shallow, and the heavy crossbow bolt was still sticking out of her back. "Forgive me, Lord, but we need to hurry," Zara whispered, as her voice echoed in the tunnel, "She is losing too much blood."
Lorian nodded, his face was grim in the torchlight, "We are almost through the maze. Hold her steady."
At the next three forks in the road, Lorian did not hesitate. He used the secret signs of the statues to guide them safely past the deadly traps. Finally, the maze opened up into a straight, long tunnel that began to slope upward.
At the very end of the tunnel stood a massive iron door. Lorian rode up to it and knocked on the metal in a specific, rhythmic pattern.
A small viewing slit in the iron door slid open. A pair of nervous eyes looked out, illuminated by a torch from the other side. Seeing Lorian's face, the guard inside gasped.
"It's the Lord himself! Open the gate, quickly!"
With the sound of heavy iron chains turning and deadbolts unlocking, the massive door slowly swung open. Lorian, Zara, and the six guards led their horses out of the dark and stepped into the cool, safe air of the castle's lowest cellar. They had bypassed the burning gates and the chaos of the city completely.
Lorian immediately turned to the guards waiting in the cellar. "Take the half-orc to the Restoration Wing and arrange the best healer available for her," he commanded, "We have a life to save."
Lorian then looked back at Zara, "You go with them and get treated too. It's an order. Leave!"
He dismissed the six Throne Guards as well, ordering them to go home and secure their families and friends. Lorian himself rushed to the Auric Spire. The spire was buzzing like a beehive; the guards were rushing around like angry bees. As soon as they noticed Lorian, they shouted, "The Lord is here! The Lord has arrived! Inform the Council, inform the Queen Mother!"
Lorian did not go inside. Instead, he headed straight toward the balcony to get a view of Veridia- his Veridia.
And it was in flames. The sea-facing western side was charred, and so were many ships on the coast. It looked like a giant cremation ground with funeral pyres on the water. Lorian clenched his jaw. Was I wrong to leave Veridia unguarded? Is it a punishment for going to secure Valoria while leaving Veridia unprotected? Lorian gritted his teeth so hard it felt like they would break.
Suddenly, he felt a hand on his head, ruffling his hair gently. A familiar, warm fragrance filled the air.
"I know what is going on in your mind, my child," Lady Seraphina spoke, "You did not go on a vacation, and you did not leave the city unguarded. Instead, you risked your own security to ensure the Veridia you leave behind stays safe." Seraphina pulled his head onto her shoulder and patted his back, "Don't always blame yourself, my child. You are no God, but a human. Cut yourself some slack!"
She stretched her hand toward the sea, pointing at a fleet of twelve Carracks fighting off a fleet of around thirty-nine Caravels and holding its ground. "You see there, my son?" she pointed to the flagship Goldstar leading the Veridian Carracks, "Goldstar has been fighting nonstop for the past two days. And do you know who has been running that ship since yesterday?"
"Admiral Vorlag Vane, of course!" Lorian replied, "Goldstar has always been his!"
"No, my child," Seraphina's voice darkened for a moment, then lit up with hope again, "The one leading the ship and the remnant of the Veridian Navy is none other than Vespera Thal, the gem you chose!"
Lorian's eyes widened with surprise. He could not understand how a newcomer, let alone a woman and that too an elf, could skip the entire hierarchy of this world to be directly appointed to lead an entire navy. But he quickly recalled that Veridia was never big on tradition. It was a republic in name, but literally a hereditary autocracy fueled by wealth and run by merit. Still, this was a massive jump, even by his old world's standards. Lorian murmured, "But… how…?"
Seraphina grabbed his shoulders to gently turn him around, "Why don't you ask the man himself?"
Lorian turned to see the Admiral standing behind them, his head hung low in shame, bandaged like a mummy. Even part of his face was covered in cloth.
"Thank God you are okay!" Lorian showed genuine happiness.
"Please, my Lord, do not shame me further. A general leaving his dying comrades behind to get treated in safety- there can be no greater shame than that for a general!" Vorlag said, his voice was heavy with shame and regret.
Lorian smiled and approached the Admiral. He tried to put his hand on Vorlag's shoulder, but stopped halfway since it looked a bit ridiculous to put his hand on a man so much taller and bigger than him.
"A general leaving his men behind is indeed a coward, Vorlag. But a general who throws his life away when his city needs him most? Obviously, a fool," Lorian said, raising his voice in suppressed agitation, "You think you would be saving your honor by dying out there, Vorlag? Your comrades didn't die so they could watch their Admiral bleed out on a cellar floor. They died trusting that you would live to avenge them. They gave their lives because they believed that as long as you lived, their families would stay safe."
Lorian paused to see the Admiral's reaction. The look of shame on Vane's face had gone down significantly. Lorian also noticed that the rest of the High Council had gathered behind the Admiral. They didn't interfere; they were just listening to their Lord's speech.
Lorian took a deep breath and resumed, "I do not have time to mourn a foolish admiral today. Vespera is holding the line at sea, and you are going back to the Restoration Wing so you can stand by my side when we launch the counter-strike. Do not argue with me. Save your breath to stay alive."
The Admiral nodded in agreement.
"Speaking of Vespera," Lorian commanded, "tell me why you suddenly put her in your place, skipping the hierarchy completely. What actually happened over the last few days? Tell me everything."