The road to the Imperial Capital stretched on beneath a waning moon, each mile marked by the steady rhythm of hooves and wheels over packed earth. The night air was cool and sharp, carrying the faint scents of pine and distant river mist, but it did little to ease the tension clinging to the royal party like a second skin.
Anna lay nestled in a cocoon of blankets, her feverish breaths uneven, sometimes breaking into soft, incoherent murmurs that stirred both fear and wonder in those who heard them. Aeloria sat nearby, her hands glowing faintly as she whispered ancient incantations under her breath. Each word was precise, deliberate—a spell not only to soothe Anna's body but to keep her turbulent magic contained.
Selene's gaze never wavered from her daughter. Her hand remained clasped around Anna's, thumb tracing slow, steady circles against her clammy skin. Though her shoulders ached from hours of holding her, Selene refused to let go, as if her very touch could anchor Anna to safety. Every so often, she glanced through the narrow carriage window, eyes narrowing at the dark treeline and the faint glow of torchlight flickering beyond.
Outside, the royal guards rode in a tight formation around the carriage. Their armor glinted dully in the moonlight, swords sheathed but ready, shields strapped to their arms. The earlier attack had hardened their vigilance—every snapping twig and rustling branch drew their attention, every shadow was a potential threat. The captain rode at the front, his posture rigid, his voice low as he issued quiet commands to maintain pace and formation.
The forest gradually thinned, giving way to open fields and rolling hills. In the distance, the faint outline of stone walls rose against the horizon—the outer defenses of the capital. The sight stirred a muted ripple of relief among the guards, though no one dared to relax just yet.
Within the carriage, Talia and Elara stirred from their uneasy doze. Talia rubbed her eyes, leaning into Elara for comfort, while Elara peered out the window, her young face pale but alert. "We're close," she whispered, though whether to her sister or herself, it wasn't clear.
The road began to slope upward, and as the carriage crested the final rise, the capital revealed itself in full. Astoria's heart lay sprawling and magnificent beneath the starlit sky—a city of towering spires, gleaming domes, and ancient stone walls etched with glowing runes of protection. The Imperial Palace dominated the skyline, its highest tower crowned with a great banner bearing the royal crest, fluttering in the night wind.
Selene exhaled slowly, her shoulders trembling as relief mingled with dread. "We're home," she murmured, though the word felt heavier than ever. She tightened her hold on Anna, as if bracing for the storm that awaited them beyond the city gates.
The royal guards shifted formation, their torches now held high as a signal to the watchmen on the walls. From the distance came the low, echoing call of horns, announcing the royal family's return.
The moment the watchmen's horns sounded, the city stirred.
Massive gates swung open with a thunderous groan, their runed surface glowing faintly as ancient wards recognized the royal seal carried by the captain. The royal guard surged forward, their formation tightening, torches blazing like fiery stars against the darkened streets.
"Clear the road! Clear the road for the Crown!" the captain bellowed, his voice booming through the narrow avenues.
"Make way! Make way for the royal family!" another guard shouted, spurring his horse ahead to warn the citizens.
The late-night streets of Astoria erupted into frantic motion. Merchants hauling their wares from late markets froze in place before scrambling out of the path of the oncoming escort. Townsfolk pressed against walls and ducked into doorways, clutching children close as the pounding of hooves and the clatter of armored boots thundered past. Startled dogs barked and scattered, while carts were hastily dragged aside, their wheels scraping against the cobblestones.
The carriage jolted and swayed as the driver urged the horses to their fastest pace, the animals' breath steaming in the cold night air. Selene clung tightly to Anna, shielding her small body from the rough motion with her own, while Talia and Elara gripped the seats to keep from being thrown.
Inside, the air was thick with tension. Aeloria kept her focus sharp, continuing to murmur her ancient spells, her golden light casting a warm glow over Anna's fevered face. Selene's heart hammered in her chest as she peered out the small window, catching glimpses of the city blurring past—stone streets, flickering lanterns, and the wide-eyed faces of citizens bowing low as they caught sight of the royal crest.
"Faster!" Aeloria commanded sharply, raising her voice over the chaos outside. "She doesn't have long before the fever takes hold completely!"
The captain glanced back, his expression grim. "Drive like the wind!" he roared to the driver. "The princess's life depends on it!"
The driver lashed the reins, and the carriage surged forward with a jolt of speed. The royal guard rode alongside like a living wall of steel, shouting commands as they cleared the way.
"Move aside! By decree of the Crown, make way!"
They tore through the Grand Market Square, scattering startled vendors and toppling a few unattended stalls. Wooden crates crashed open, spilling fruit and cloth into the street, but no one dared protest. The sight of the imperial banner and the urgency in the guards' voices told them this was no ordinary procession—this was life and death.
At last, the towering gates of the Imperial Palace loomed ahead, their black iron latticework shimmering faintly with protective wards. Above them, the great banner of Astoria snapped in the night wind, illuminated by enchanted lanterns.
Selene's throat tightened as the palace came into view. It was both a sanctuary and a crucible, a place where Anna might be saved—or where the weight of what had happened tonight would come crashing down upon them all.
The captain raised his sword high, signaling their approach. "Open the gates! The royal family returns!"
With a deep, resonant clang, the gates swung wide. The moment they were clear, the carriage and its escort thundered into the courtyard, the guards dismounting in perfect unison to form a protective barrier as the royal family prepared to disembark.
Selene rose with Anna in her arms, her cloak wrapped tight around her daughter, her jaw set with determination. Aeloria followed, her golden light flaring brighter now, ready to act the moment Anna faltered.
"Quickly!" Aeloria barked, turning to the attendants rushing forward. "Prepare the healing chambers at once! And send for the Imperial Healer and the Magisters—now!"
The courtyard erupted into controlled chaos as servants and soldiers scattered to obey. The night was far from over, and the true reckoning had only just begun.
The massive doors of the Imperial Palace slammed open with a deafening boom, the sound echoing through the courtyard like a war drum. Emperor Valerius stormed through the threshold, his crimson cloak billowing behind him like a trail of fire. The lamplight glinted off the polished gold trim of his ceremonial armor, but his expression was far from regal calm. Fury and fear burned in his dark eyes, his jaw set in a grim line as his fists clenched at his sides.
"Where is my family?!" His voice cut through the night like a blade, sharp and commanding.
Guards and attendants scattered before him, dropping to their knees or bowing low, but Valerius didn't slow his stride.
"Selene! Aeloria! My daughters—bring them to me at once!" Selene, cradling Anna protectively in her arms, froze for a heartbeat at the sight of him. Relief flickered across her face, but it was quickly drowned by the urgency of the moment. Aeloria stepped to her side, her own expression tense but composed.
"Valerius," Selene began, her voice low and tight, "she needs a healer immediately. There is no time—"
The emperor's eyes fell upon Anna's small, fever-ridden form, and for a moment, his breath hitched. His hands trembled slightly before he balled them into fists, masking his fear with anger. He turned sharply toward the captain of the guard, who had just dismounted and now stood at rigid attention.
"Speak!" Valerius barked. "What happened out there? Who dares lay hands on the blood of Astoria?" The captain dropped to one knee, head bowed low, his armor still streaked with dirt and blood. His voice was steady, though beneath it lay a current of rage.
"Your Majesty, we found the royal carriage under heavy assault deep within the southern forest. The attackers were masked and well-coordinated—more than mere bandits. Their leader declared his intent loudly before the attack:
"Death to the False King, death to his bloodline."
A ripple of shock and anger swept through the assembled guards and attendants, but Valerius only grew colder. His hands curled into claws at his sides. "They dared to speak such treason…" he hissed through gritted teeth.
"And yet they live?" The captain shook his head. "No, Your Majesty. They were… annihilated." He hesitated, his gaze flickering toward the carriage where Anna lay. "When we arrived, the clearing was… unnatural. The forest itself seemed to have risen against them. Vines like living serpents, roots tearing through the ground. The attackers were bound, crushed, or driven mad. Only a few escaped into the night."
Valerius's eyes narrowed, his brow furrowing. "The forest did this? Impossible. No spell of that magnitude exists within my armies."
The captain's jaw tightened as the emperor's piercing gaze bore into him. For the briefest moment, his eyes flicked toward Anna, still trembling in Selene's arms, her fevered face pale beneath the torchlight.
Selene met his glance. Her expression was desperate, pleading—a silent command. Say nothing. Protect her.
A muscle in the captain's cheek twitched. His oath to the crown was absolute, but in that instant, he understood there was more at stake than even the throne itself. Taking a slow, steadying breath, he lowered his head further, choosing his words with care.
"Your Majesty," he said, voice heavy with practiced conviction, "I believe… the forest itself rose in defense of the royal family."
Valerius's brow furrowed deeper, suspicion sharpening his features. "The forest?" he repeated, his tone flat and dangerous. "Explain yourself."
The captain forced his voice to remain calm, measured, even as his heart pounded. "There are old tales, sire—whispers from hunters and woodsmen who dare not tread too far into the southern wilds. They speak of an ancient spirit that watches over Astoria's bloodline. A guardian bound to the throne itself. I did not believe such stories… until tonight."
He paused, glancing again at Selene. She gave the faintest nod, urging him to continue.
"When we reached the clearing," he said, letting awe color his words, "the earth was already moving. Trees tore themselves free from the ground, their roots lashing out like whips. Vines ensnared the attackers, dragging them screaming into the dark. It was as if the very land declared war upon those who dared strike at the royal line."
Murmurs rippled through the assembled guards and attendants. Some crossed themselves in warding gestures, while others exchanged fearful glances.
Valerius's eyes were like burning coals. "You expect me to believe that a… spirit of the forest saved my family?" His tone was skeptical, but beneath it lay a thread of unease.
The captain bowed his head even lower. "I saw it with my own eyes, sire. If not for its intervention, I fear we would be mourning more than fallen guards this night."
The emperor paced a few steps, his boots striking the marble with sharp, echoing cracks. His hands flexed at his sides, grappling with the impossible.
A sudden, soft voice cut through the tense silence.
"It's true, Father."
Valerius froze mid-step, his head snapping toward the source. Elara stood at the foot of the carriage, her nightgown torn and smeared with dirt, her face pale but resolute. Talia hovered just behind her, clutching her sister's hand tightly.
"We… we saw it," Elara continued, her voice trembling at first, then growing steadier. "The forest came alive. The roots and vines—they moved like living things. They fought for us."
Talia nodded quickly, her wide eyes glistening with unshed tears. "It was like the stories Grandmother used to tell us. The trees… they protected us. If not for them, we… we would have been lost."
Selene's breath caught, and she tightened her hold on Anna, casting her older daughters a fleeting, grateful glance. Aeloria's sharp eyes flicked between the girls and Valerius, silently acknowledging their bravery in adding their voices to the lie.
Valerius's gaze bore into Elara, so intense it nearly broke her resolve. "You saw this?" he asked, his voice low, dangerous, almost a growl.
"Yes," Elara said firmly, her chin lifting in defiance. "With my own eyes. It wasn't a spell, Father. It wasn't a trick. The forest itself… saved us."
Talia swallowed hard and added in a whisper, "The trees moved like soldiers, like they were alive."
A heavy silence followed, broken only by the distant cries of the city beyond the palace gates. The tension in the courtyard was suffocating, every guard and attendant waiting to see if the emperor would believe his daughters—or punish them for what he might see as childish fantasy.
Valerius finally turned his glare away from them, exhaling slowly through his nose. "Ancient spirits and living forests…" he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "Astoria is a land of order and steel, not wild superstition." His tone was dismissive, yet there was a flicker of doubt in his eyes.
Selene seized the moment, stepping forward with Anna cradled against her chest. "Whether you believe in the spirit or not, Valerius, the result is the same: our daughters live because something intervened." Her voice softened, urgent but not pleading. "Right now, the only thing that matters is saving Anna."
Valerius's jaw clenched as he turned toward Selene and the feverish child in her arms. For a heartbeat, the emperor's mask of power cracked, and raw fear flashed across his face.
"Get her to the royal healers," he ordered, his voice rough. Then, to the guards, he barked, "Triple the patrols! Seal the southern roads! I want the names of every traitor and conspirator who dared this outrage!"
The soldiers roared in unison, "By steel and shadow, we stand!" and rushed to obey.
As chaos erupted around them, Valerius paused, his gaze lingering on his two older daughters. "You swear, on your lives and your honor, that what you saw was true?"
Elara and Talia exchanged a quick glance before answering together, "We swear it, Father."
Their voices rang clear and strong, sealing Anna's secret beneath a web of loyalty and love.
A Silent Pact…