Meanwhile, in another part of the world, night had fallen over a village in the heart of Vanadias. This was the domain of House Galadwin, bordering the territory of Castletown. Inside an inn, Theo lay flat on his back, naked on the bed, staring up at the wooden ceiling. He thought of his sisters, now separated from him. He couldn't help but wonder if following Gwendoline had been the right call, even though her visions had already been proven true by his younger sister, Casey.
"Uuh... uuuh... uh,"
Theo turned to see Gwen beside him. She was asleep and unclothed, groaning and clutching the blankets. He reached out and touched her forehead; she was drenched in sweat.
"What is it, Gwen?" he asked softly.
Gwen didn't answer. She continued to groan and suddenly rolled over, her hand gripping Theo's arm with desperate strength. Theo flinched; her hand was ice-cold. He immediately threw back the blankets and pulled Gwen's bare body against his own. He was baffled because her skin felt like ice. He held her tight, pulling her head to his chest.
"What is happening," Theo wondered in his head while staring down at the woman in his arms.
Suddenly, Gwen's arms wrapped around Theo's back, her nails digging into his skin. Despite the sharp pain, Theo didn't move. He kept her close as her breathing became ragged, and he could feel her tears soaking into his chest.
"Ouch... what do I do... should I wake her up... but... aah... I don't know," Theo said to himself, filled with worry and confusion.
Theo decided to keep holding her, trying to stay calm even as her nails dug into his flesh. After about twenty minutes, Gwen's grip finally began to loosen. Her breathing returned to a steady rhythm, and Theo felt a wave of relief. Still, he wondered what she had experienced in her dream. He was certain it wasn't just a normal dream. Suddenly, Gwen stirred in his arms.
"Th... Theo?" she asked against his chest.
"I'm here. What... what did you see?" Theo asked.
"We... we have to get to Castletown immediately. Tonight," Gwen answered.
"Huh? Tell me about your vision," Theo replied.
Gwen pushed Theo back slightly and looked at him, her eyes glassy with tears. Theo smiled gently and kissed her—a long, deep kiss. Once Gwen had finally regained her composure, she told him what she had seen. A massive rebellion was about to break out in Castletown. With the Council of Lords absent, a group of rebels led by Emperor Barrington's illegitimate son intended to seize the city.
"W... what? Emperor Barrington's bastard son? The Emperor has an heir?" Theo asked, shocked.
"Yes... and now I know what we have to do. Once Gerald Rochele is executed... the lords will be absent to manage their own territories... or more accurately, to deal with the north," Gwen answered.
Hearing that his father was going to be executed, Theo instinctively grabbed Gwen's shoulders with a crushing grip. His face twisted with rage, staring at her so intensely that Gwen flinched.
"T... Theo... you're hurting me," Gwen cried out.
"Ah... sorry... sorry, Gwen," Theo stammered, snapping back to his senses and letting go.
They both fell silent for a moment. Theo tried to collect himself, covering his face. Gwen knelt on the bed, pulled Theo's head to her chest, and held him. After a while, Theo calmed down. Gwen sat in front of him, taking both of his hands.
"Should I keep going?" Gwen asked.
"Yes... go on... what do we have to do in Castletown," Theo answered, his voice steady but heavy.
Gwen took a deep breath and continued. When the lords leave Castletown, the rebel forces led by Barrington's bastard will march into the city. But it's a trap. The lords already know the rebels will try to use their absence. In the end, the Emperor's son will be captured and executed. His head will be displayed over the city gates as a warning.
In the second vision, the King and two Queens will soon cross into the central continent with their forces, joined by mountain bandits from the west and armies from the Black Continent. So, Gwen and Theo's mission is to find Emperor Barrington's illegitimate son and stop him from starting the rebellion until the King and Queens arrive. The Emperor's son must not be killed.
"Is there no clue who he is? And when exactly is my father supposed to be executed?" Theo asked.
"There isn't... I'm sorry. I saw him, but I couldn't make out his face. He was wearing a helmet and... the image was a bit blurry. I also don't know exactly when your father will be killed. I only saw him being executed by a guillotine in the city square, right in front of the palace... that's why we have to leave now," Gwen answered.
"Alright. I trust your vision. We leave tonight," Theo replied, kissing Gwen's forehead.
"Thank you, Theo. Let's get ready," Gwen said with a smile.
They immediately climbed out of bed and dressed. They slipped out of the room, headed downstairs, and exited through the back door. They made a beeline for the stables, taking their horses and leading them out of the village unnoticed. By the next morning, Castletown was visible ahead. Theo looked at Gwen and nodded. "Hyah!" They spurred their horses forward.
Theo's heart hammered against his ribs the entire time he spurred his horse forward. His mind was a storm of worry for his father and his older sister, who had both been taken. But as he reached the city gate, he found the answer he dreaded. A wave of five conflicting emotions crashed over him: shock, disbelief, grief, rage, and finally, a violent surge of nausea. "hoeeek." Theo scrambled off his horse and doubled over, vomiting on the ground.
The reason was right there in front of him. Hanging directly above the gate were the heads of Gerald Rochele and Meredith Levent. The raw flesh at their necks was still a fresh, vivid red; though the blood had stopped dripping, it was clear they had been executed only a day or two ago.
Flocks of crows perched atop the battlements directly above the heads, waiting for the perfect moment to begin their grim feast. Gwen took in the sight and immediately clamped a hand over her mouth, her eyes widening in horror. She slid off her horse and rushed over to Theo, who was still doubled over and vomiting beside his mount.
"We... we're too late," Theo choked out.
"Hey! What are you two doing there?"
Theo and Gwen turned to see a guard approaching them, spear leveled.
"Theo, we have to get out of here," Gwen said.
"But... we're too late," Theo said.
"Enough, get a hold of yourself... don't worry about my vision anymore, let's go," Gwen said, pulling on his arm.
She shoved Theo onto his horse and leaped up behind him. Then, "hyah!" she slapped the horse's flank to send it into a gallop and turned her own horse around.
"Hey! Don't run!" the guard shouted.
Gwen spurred the horses toward the south, heading for the Valley of Death—the ruins of the Zenodia Kingdom from a thousand years ago. It was the border between the central region and Seriyan, the southern territory of Vanadias. It was a place avoided by travelers and merchants alike; they believed the spirits of the fallen kingdom still haunted the ruins, and no one who entered ever came out alive to tell the tale.
As Gwen urged her horse to a gallop, Theo sat limp in the saddle, his strength drained. He was still reeling from the sight of his father's head hanging above the gate; even though he had seen it with his own eyes and tasted the bile in his throat, the reality felt impossible. Yet, a small spark of relief flickered through his grief. Valentina had also been captured, but her head wasn't there. It meant there was a very real chance she was still alive.
It was further proof that Casey's vision had been right all along: Valentina was alive, destined to be married off to Oscar Barranger. Theo was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't realize Gwen was leading them straight into a treacherous wasteland, a place where no one ever dared to go.