Hesta who was earlier glad with the news he heard from Kaelin grit his teeth in anger as he saw the news that was broadcast to not just him but the rest of Reuthar. The source was from Redfall, and it's contents spoke of Atherion who was demanded to hand over Diana with vague repercussions at the failure.
'Is this because he's lost interest in Kaelin or something far deeper?' He couldn't help but wonder, hoping that his wife wasn't the cause of this. 'If Nysa is behind this, then you've just traded and entire kingdom for one person.' It wasn't that he didn't care about his own biological daughter but rather, it seemed rather selfish in his perspective.
'I hope that you might forgive me King Atherion.' And with that he switched back to the papers at hand. Kaelin was already logged into the game, Nysa however was the hardest to come to terms with however a four hour debate brought all three on the same agreement about her and Jarren.
'I hope that you didn't do anything to provoke him darling.' A thin sweat ran down his cheek as he cleared his throat.
...
Kaelin who woke up from the game was shocked with the news, she knew that Jarren had gone back to Redfall however she wasn't sure that he would make such a bold statement. She had heard of the monstrosity he had done to Diana way back then which shifted her perception of him. 'It would seem that I was too naive to think that he would be clean.'
She clicked her tongue laughing at her foolishness. 'However it would seem that he harbors no ill will towards me.' Recalling about this, her mind went to Lyssara and Seryn, both of which had hinted at the monster that Jarren was beneath his disarming smile and friendly gestures and gifts.
'I wonder whether Atherion will bend the knee or take Reuthar down this path.' Her eyes focused on the screen as she took a bite of her morning cereal. "How have you been darling?" Nysa asked from behind which took her by surprise. "I'm fine, the game is hard though. How does he expect me to beat it?" Her remarks met with a dismissive chuckle.
"I'm sure that you're doing well." Kaelin's gaze focused on her mother's face, she could tell that something bothered her beneath the surface. "What's the matter mom? Is this about Diana and the deal Redfall put out?" A lump stuck at her throat as she quizzed. "It's that it's way too much of a coincidence for this. He heads back and then this?"
Nysa gestured at the television, the face of an unfamiliar face shown to all. "Whether it was our fault or not, this would have happened regardless. It would have seemed even from way back then that they had set their eyes on Diana to begin with. So calm down." Nysa sat next to her daughter, the thought of what had been done to Diana resurfacing in her mind.
"What was I thinking?! I was thinking straight! Your father was right!" Nysa covered her face in distraught, Kaelin let out a sigh as she placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Well we can't change it now, it now rests in the hands of Atherion." Sure she wasn't as fearful with the current war but the threat of death at the hands of an abomination never left her body.
'Even with all of this, I can't get complacent.' She knew that getting comfortable would make her overlook small details, those of which would spell her death if she wasn't careful. She knew that Jarren was powerful but over death to her was nothing more than a speculation. Kaelin's and her mother's moment was shattered by the screen.
Atherion came onto the spotlight, his face heavy as dark circles were sighted his eyes. "I'm sure that all of you have seen the broadcast from Redfall." His tone heavy as he cleared his throat. It was clear that he of all were deeply disturbed with the news. The humiliation from Jarren and Clomere was still fresh in his mind and know here he was, forced into giving his daughter to the people who had not only humiliated but also spat at the face of Reuthar royalty so brazenly.
"And I'm here to inform you that I won't be blackmailed with such individuals. As for the ongoing war, it won't stop till one side has emerged victorious, their promise of delaying is nothing more than a lie they peddle to you, aware of your fear and plan to use it to turn against each other. I urge you all that you open your eyes and see the common threat that we all face."
And with that the feed came to an end, Kaelin sure that such words would stir unrest with the people. 'People in dire situations will clutch onto anything for survival, be that a means to delay the inevitable.' It was now more clear than ever what side Jarren stood on, and a part of her wondered whether she had chosen wrong.
'Should I sever my ties with him?' She muttered to herself, however with a bit more thought she saw it pointless. 'I've already interacted with him and should the world know of our connection, then my family won't be safe. I can only get stronger using the game.' Aware of the cards she was dealt with, she could only play the game orchestrated for her.
...
That night in the kingdom of Reuthar, towns were lit ablaze, thousands of people marching to the capital of Reuthar to demand Atherion to bend the knee. "Sir, a huge crowd has formed around the castle. Should we ward them off or-" Atherion spoke up, his tone suggesting his weariness and worry. "No! They are the citizens of Reuthar, we can't kill them so casually!"
His words making Dame Isolde blink in stupor before taking a long glance at Atherion. The spark behind his eyes long gone, she saw him as nothing more than a father who wanted to keep his daughter safe. A feat she found reasonable. "Those bastards at Redfall know how desperate these people are therefore they use them against us."
She cursed, her mind recalling of Callista as her face darkened. "I should have killed her back then when I had the chance." She muttered beneath her breathe, inaudible to Atherion who rose to his feet. He glanced at the window, swarms of people with torches and forks demanding that he hand her daughter to the monsters of Redfall.
Diana however on the other hand had already been long sent out of the palace at a remote safe location. Before he could give his orders to Isolde, another figure barged in. "I'm sorry for intruding like so however we have a situation with Diana." Toren Durne, the minister of security who had been tasked with ensuring Diana's safety made his presence known to the pair.
"What is it?" Atherion immediately asked, his mind already dreading the worst. "It's Diana, she's no longer with us. Apparently some of our men had already been bought off with those bastards at Redfall, she's no longer in Reuthar as we speak. I suspect that they used the broken west border of the kingdom."
His words akin to thunder to Atherion who crashed back into his seat, his face in pure disbelief. Isolde and Toren watched the so called king of Reuthar, the royal air around him gone now replaced with a father who still clung to the power of the old world of Arcania. "My king, I'm sure that we can get her back."
Isolde's words met with a gaze of skeptism from Toren. "What? Are you going to walk into Redfall and ask them for Diana? I'm sure that they'll happily hand her over and guide you back here." Toren said sarcastically, even though his words sharp, he knew that it would be childish to ignore reality. "As much as it pains me to say this my king, we'll have to put your daughter's search on hold and focus on the war."
His mind already recalling on the numerous towns they'd already lost to Redfall. And with more to add to the tally, he was sure that they wouldn't get to see the end of the month. "Toren! Can you watch your words when in the face of the king?!" Atherion however seemed lost in his mind, his palm covering his face as his crown rolled to the floor.
"There's no kingdom here. Nothing more than a dying man clutching to what's already lost." His words filled with bitter acceptance which made the room fall into a mind numbing silence. "I could have some carriages arranged for your departure my king. There are some routes still open to Calledra or Caerthalas should you wish."
Isolde as much as she wanted to intercept knew that it was hopeless to keep on defending Reuthar. "What about the people? Are we going to just leave them here? For them to be assimilated into the mold of Redfall?" Her question met with a chilling silence that seemed to answer her question in affirmation.
She raised her hands helplessly, Toren picking up the crown and placing back on Atherion's head. "Come on my king, we could make it by dawn should we head over to Calledra." Atherion remained stubborn on his throne as he took off his crown and haphazardly let it fall to the floor once more. "You can leave should you want but I'll stay here."
The two wanted to protest however seeing his face, they hesitated. His tone already suggesting that he wasn't open to an argument. "My king..." Toren stated before the rowdy crowd below jolted all of them back to the scene. Toren who grit his teeth didn't bother as he took his leave, Isolde watched his departing figure before making her way to the window.
"It's a shame that it had to end this way." The knights warding off the horde with guns strapped, aimed with warning show rippling through the cold night air. "You can leave me here Isolde, you've served your purpose well." Atherion stated as he rose to his feet and without warning fired a ball of malcore at the window which forced Isolde to dodge to the side.
"Wait! King Atherion!" As much as she wanted to chase after Atherion, his aura had her pinned to the floor. "Don't bother, you've done what you can." His smile one of resignation before his figure tilted out the window. Rising to her feet, Isolde witnessed as his figure went crashing to the roofs below, parts of his body splattering all over.
"King Atherion..." All that left her lips was faint whisper that dissolved into the night. "Ah! Oh my goodness!" Exclamations could be heard from the crowd below as they witnessed the scene with horror. Isolde took her leave, now the crowd grew more rowdy. "If Atherion's dead then what is the point of these knights protecting the palace?!"
A voice hidden in the darkness stirred the crowd, now with new vigour bothered to breach the wall put up with the knights who seemed hesitant. "Stop you advancements!" Isolde's voice could be heard behind the line of knights which brought the heated atmosphere into silence. "Yes, as you have all seen Atherion is no more and all of you have no reason to be here in Reuthar."
Before the crowd could erupt in outrage, she went on. "However if you want to keep on pressing then those who dare will be met with extreme force." She faced scowls from the crowd however she remained determined with her stance.
*Bang*
It began with a shot at one of citizens, before the matter could be explained, a cascade of shots filled the night sky. The scene turned into a bloodbath, Isolde forced to watch the scene unfold before it fell silent. 'It would have been better regardless.' Before she could leave, one of the screens replayed the scene of Atherion jumping off the window and claiming his life.
"Redfall..." Her gut warned her as she demanded the video to be put down. "Have it gone!" But she knew that the damage had already been done, Reuthar would collapse from within before Redfall conquered it.