The woman sat there for a moment before her expression soured.
"You will become a servant of mine, and you will obey every command I give. I have become the sole queen of this land the ruler of the dark beasts and rotting flesh. Hear my warning and flee."
Adam relaxed his body. It was still tense, even in his dreams. It was not pleasant whatsoever. He slowly walked up to her.
"Why are you giving me a warning?"
The dream slowly faded as she began to speak, but nothing more could be heard.
He awoke feeling slightly better than the night before, able to raise his arms and legs and slowly lift himself off the ground.
Sophia was at the door, speaking to two men in armor.
Adam sat and listened to the conversation for a little while, hoping to hear more about this place and what exactly was going on.
The guards spoke low to her; he was only able to make out a few words:
"You and your friend have a troublesome mission. The lady on the throne, I wish you the best on this task."
He could hear nothing more from them. Slowly, he rose, his body still aching but far less than before. This was something he would refrain from doing in the future.
"Sophia, who were those men?"
She turned around and spoke softly.
"You're finally awake. You looked stiff as a board the whole time you rested. Those men were guards of the inner city that remains strong. They came to check in on the previous watch. I reported that he had fallen or gone missing, and they began to update us on events going on. The city is being attacked by a woman who holds mastery over the dead. Her horrible servants abound and seek to eliminate everyone in this city."
Adam stood up slowly.
"So what's our plan?"
She looked back up the stairs and sat down on a chair across the room.
"The plan is to make our way back out there and find her. First, however, we should arm ourselves. The royals of this kingdom will hopefully want to see us about our mission to assist and will be willing to help us."
Adam got up and slowly looked out the window slit that peered down at the empty and ghostly districts. The streets were empty, and the houses looked bare, yet he knew that people still remained inside.
The horrendous creatures stalked just out of the corner of the eye and turned in his direction when Adam looked at one.
A chill ran down his spine.
"Do we wait here, or do we move further into the city?"
She started getting ready, taking whatever seemed useful in the room, candles, torches, a spare dagger.
"We go further in. We should meet them at the gates rather than having them come all the way back here to fetch us from this guard outpost.
Plus, we can get a better look at what's going on in the inner walls and among the people around the area."
Sophia nodded in agreement and began picking up her newfound items while moving out the doorway.
Adam watched as she collected the items but chose not to say a word; she seemed more relaxed the more weaponry she had on hand.
They walked up the cobbled steps that spiraled out onto the walls of the city. The inner city was beautiful; it had lush vegetation that grew around great manors and cobbled streets made of a dark, smooth brick. The city in the inner ring had much more beauty it was pristine, and yet strangely, it was just as empty as the place they came from. There were little to no citizens seeking refuge within the inner wall.
"Where is everyone?"
Adam looked to Sophia, hoping she might have an answer.
She turned back and shrugged.
They continued walking and found two guards posted near the stairwell leading down. The guards both nodded and continued to keep watch.
On the opposite side, there were a great deal of men gathered, defending it.
They found themselves on smooth dark slabs that appeared to hold something within them. A strange vibration and a soft chiming sound followed as they walked.
"This place is strange, Sophia. It feels off for some reason."
She didn't say anything but eyed the surrounding area. The further they moved in, the quieter the world became until they reached the gates, where only a brief wind accompanied them.
"Let's wait here, Adam. I'm hoping that all will be well. If not, never feel bad about being prepared for the worst. That is true for me no matter how I look at the moment."
The castle itself loomed over the entire city, and turning back, you could see every level of it from this hilltop. Its towers, draped with beautiful red-golden banners, rested along the stone, and stained glass filled the larger windows.
Two guards came down now from the castle; they wore red plate armor and helmets with golden plumes.
They both stopped just before the gate on the other side and spoke curtly.
"On the order of King Rewan, Knight Sophia of Bant will be permitted audience. The holder shall remain in one of the waiting rooms till the hearing is adjourned."
Adam looked to Sophia and whispered to her.
"This all seems much too orderly for a city under siege and hundreds of people dying, don't you think?"
She looked at Adam, the same mixed anxious emotion spreading across her face, but she remained steadfast.
"I hope here on out we'll learn more about what is to come."
The gates opened, and the guards remained silent as they walked them into the grand doors that opened into a massive banquet hall.
A dozen people were inside, gorging themselves on food and smiling whimsically as they entered the castle.
They said no words but happily waved and smiled, an assortment of meat, bread, and many other dishes laid bare on the table they seemed to once have food, now remnants of scraps remained.
"This place feels wrong, Sophia."
"That may be far more obvious than you think, Adam."
They walked down a beautiful hallway decorated in armaments and portraits of people in strange, flashy garb. It felt as if the people in each portrait watched as they went by.
The sounds of screaming could be heard off in the distance of the castle.
A woman screaming, not out of fear but purely from anger.
Sophia spoke up.
"Sir knight, what is that screaming?"
The knight stopped for a moment.
"The prince is being educated on governing policies and the conduct of nobility. Knight of Bant, surely your nobility goes through something similar, I presume?"
She said nothing more.
The knights led them directly to a large room with several beautiful chairs and tables laid out on a gorgeous rug that depicted some sort of battle. Bookshelves lined the walls, and a massive chandelier with an open fire atop it hung from the ceiling.
"Here is your room to wait, holder."
Adam went in without a moment of hesitation. He turned around and smiled to Sophia.
"Good luck."