Several members growled.
Ninzu remained calm.
"The stars tell me differently. You may doubt the prophecy if you wish. But I only say what I have been told."
Thornak leaned forward.
"So what do you suggest we do, seer?"
"I must journey to the Sacred Temple. There are answers hidden there. Answers the stars alone cannot reveal. The temple may reveal how to find the Moonguard."
Thornak gave a slow nod.
"How long will you be gone?"
"Two days, Sire."
"We will await your return."
Ninzu bowed her head before turning and leaving the chamber.
As the doors closed behind her, Maravelle broke the silence.
"Do you truly believe this... this absurd story?"
"I believe what Ninzu says. She has never been wrong."
Maravelle scoffed. "Moonguard? Prophecies? We are talking about rogues, Thornak. We hunt them down and destroy them. As for this sorcerer, we find his hiding place and crush him before he has the chance to become a greater threat."
Thornak remained calm.
"If it were that simple, we would have done it already."
"Then send more warriors."
"Warriors cannot hunt an enemy who can vanish without a trace."
Maravelle fell silent for a moment. At last, she gave a curt nod. "You do have a point there."
"What do you propose, we do in the meantime?" Edrion asked.
"We prepare for war. Ninzu's magic can hold the rogues off for a while, but in the meantime, we double the patrols. Recall our scouts and send word to every allied pack."
He looked around the council table.
"Until we know who our enemy is, we assume the worst."
The very next day, after Ninzu's powerful revelation...
The palace courtyard buzzed with activity.
Laughter and cheers filled the air as the sharp clang of steel echoed across the courtyard.
Several young nobles had gathered for a friendly sparring tournament... not in their lycan forms but in human form.
The tournament was fought in pairs.
Two nobles entered the ring at a time, and the winner advanced to the next round to face another victor. One by one, the competitors were eliminated until only the strongest remained.
The last person standing would claim the tournament's prize. A beautifully crafted dagger with a silver pommel resting on a crimson velvet cushion.
Around the ring, servants, guards, and nobles watched eagerly, placing quiet bets and cheering for their favorites.
A short distance away, Lara sat beside the palace pond beneath the shade of a flowering tree.
She watched the matches with quiet fascination.
A burst of cheers erupted as one of the young nobles knocked his opponent's sword from his hand.
The steel blade clattered across the stone courtyard.
Defeated, the young man raised both hands in surrender before accepting his opponent's hand and climbing to his feet.
The victorious noble lowered his sword and stepped back to the center of the ring.
Another pair of competitors entered the circle. They drew their swords, saluted one another, and waited.
"Begin!"
Steel rang against steel as the duel began.
Lara couldn't help but smile.
The graceful footwork, the speed of their strikes, it was so exciting to watch.
It reminded her of the harvest festivals in her village, where contests always drew a crowd. But this was on an entirely different level.
These were trained warriors... lycans actually.
She leaned forward, unable to look away as another exchange of blades sent bright sparks dancing through the air.
Then a voice rose above the cheers.
"Is there no one left who can give me a proper challenge?"
The victorious young noble rested his sword on one shoulder and scanned the spectators with a confident grin.
Laughter rippled through the crowd.
Then, to Lara's surprise, his eyes settled on her. The grin on his face widened.
He pointed his sword toward Lara.
"You."
The laughter around the ring died away.
Lara blinked and looked over her shoulder, certain he meant someone else.
There was no one behind her.
She pointed to herself.
"Me?"
"Yes, you," he said with a chuckle. "Come and test your luck."
A ripple of amused whispers spread through the crowd.
"The common girl?"
"She'll last three strikes."
"Perhaps less."
Lara's cheeks warmed.
She quickly shook her head. "I... I couldn't."
The noble laughed. "Afraid?"
Lara looked down at her hands. She knew exactly what her hands was capable of. The last thing she needed was to draw more attention to herself.
"It's all in good fun," another noble called out. "No one will think less of you if you lose."
Lara almost laughed.
If only they knew, she thought. She was wolfless, but powerful with a sword.
Before she could answer, another voice cut through the murmurs.
"If the lady says no, then no means no."
The crowd turned toward the speaker.
Kael stepped forward with an easy smile, his arms folded across his chest.
The young lord who had just won the competition lowered his practice sword, a faint, competitive smirk playing on his lips.
"Ah, Prince Kael. Didn't see you standing back there. Surely you aren't suggesting the lady is too fragile for a simple round of strategy?"
"Fragile?" Kael chuckled. "Not at all. I just prefer a challenger who actually wants to be in the ring. Saves us all from a boring fight."
He uncrossed his arms and casually gestured toward the rack of practice blades.
"Now, if you're looking for someone to test your sword against, I'm right here."
Even in a friendly spar, no one in their right mind wanted to cross swords with a Lycan prince.
Their strength, speed, and unnatural reflexes far surpassed those of ordinary lycans. What was a casual match for a prince could easily become a humiliating defeat for everyone else.
The young lord swallowed hard and forced a laugh.
"I... I wouldn't want to overextend myself, Your Highness," he said with a respectful bow. "I've already fought three bouts today."
A few chuckles rippled through the crowd. Everyone understood what he was really saying. He had no desire to be the next man knocked flat by Prince Kael.
The young lord raised his sword to the cheering crowd, savoring his victory.
Lara turned to the prince.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"Think nothing of it." His eyes flicked toward the ring before returning to her. "I was saving him from humiliating himself by sparing with you."