Exactly that night, while the palace slept under a hush of moonlight, Maria rose from beside Drexo without waking him. For a moment she stood over him, her hand hovering over his face as if she wanted to touch him one last time. But she pulled back. If she touched him, she might stay.
She moved to the writing table and lit a small candle. Its flame trembled as much as her fingers. She wrote quickly, but not carelessly. Every word seemed to wound her. When she was done, she folded the note and placed it where Drexo would find it at dawn.
Then she wrapped herself in a servant's cloak and slipped out. The corridors felt endless. Each footstep sounded louder than it was.
A guard passed her near the lower stair. His torch lifted. His eyes skimmed over her face, then away. Just another maid on some late errand.
Maria lowered her head and kept moving. At the gate, no one stopped her. No one noticed their queen was walking away from the castle in the middle of the night.
The sea breeze met her first. Then the shore. A small boat waited in darkness, rocking gently. Two servants sat with paddles in hand. Neither asked questions. They only bowed when she stepped in.
The boat pushed away from shore. Water split in quiet ripples. Maria looked back only once. The Warden's Castle stood high above the cliffs, cold and proud beneath the moon.
Somewhere inside, Drexo slept. Unaware his wife was already vanishing into the sea.
Maria turned her face forward. The servants rowed harder, and Cliffland disappeared into darkness.
Meanwhile, Lord William reached Kings' City before dawn. He did not stop at his chambers. He did not change from travel clothes. Dust still clung to his cloak as he strode into the throne room and bowed before King Robert.
"Your Grace," he said, breath still carrying the road. "The alliance is thrown."
Robert leaned forward. William lifted his head. "The Kenwools accepted your proposal.".A smile crept over Robert's face. William continued. "Lord Fabio has sworn Ashford to your cause."
Robert stood at once. His chair scraped against the stone. A part of him had never believed it was possible.
"Then we should not delay." His voice rang through the chamber. "We strike Cliffland immediately and grind the enemies to dust." He turned sharply toward a guard. "Summon me, the army commander."
The guard was about to run when William stepped forward. "Your Grace… if I may speak."
Robert stopped. The room quieted. Few interrupted a king in the middle of war talk.
Robert studied him. "Speak."
William bowed. "Thank you, Your Grace.".He lifted his eyes carefully. "Your Grace, we did not lose the last war because we were fewer in number."
Silence settled.
Robert's smile faded. William went on. "We lost because Maria could predict you and Edmond."
Robert's jaw tightened. William moved closer. "She knows how you think." His voice lowered. "She knows how you react."
Another step.
"She knows you are honorable. And if you continue like that, she will win." The word landed strangely. Almost like an accusation.
Robert's face darkened. "What are you driving at?"
William did not flinch. "Do not attack Cliffland." The chamber stirred. Robert stared, but William pressed on. "She would be expecting it."
His eyes sharpened. "She must already be planning defenses."
Robert's fingers curled. His mind was racing now. He hated that William made sense. At last he asked, "What then do you advise?"
William smiled. A dangerous smile. "Think differently." He stepped even closer. "Be ruthless."
A pause.
"Be dishonorable in your thinking." The words hung in the chamber like smoke. No one moved.
Robert rose from his throne, and turned away for a moment, pacing, and thinking. The kind of thinking that changes wars. Then he stopped, and slowly nodded. "I will hold the attack."
He looked back. Something colder had entered his face. "I will think ruthlessly, I will not allow Maria to quench my attack again."
William bowed, satisfaction hidden behind humility. "Thank you, Your Grace."
Robert returned to his throne, but he no longer looked like the same king who had risen moments ago eager for open war. Now he looked like a man considering darker roads.
And far away, across black waters, Maria sailed into the unknown.
Snowland breathed cold that night. The wind dragged across the ice towers with a mournful sound, like old spirits whispering through stone. Torches hissed along the corridors of the palace, fighting drafts that crept through ancient cracks.
Edmond Woodland had just retired from the Ice Throne. Another day of judgment. Another day of hearing lords quarrel over borders, grain, soldiers, oaths. His shoulders ached beneath the weight of fur and iron.
He wanted silence, nothing more..He dismissed the guards outside his chamber and pushed open the door.
Then stopped so abruptly his hand remained frozen on the handle. Someone sat on his bed.
A woman, yet still. Watching him.
Edmond recoiled a step..His breath caught. For one absurd moment he thought exhaustion had begun to conjure ghosts.
He rubbed both hands over his face, and looked again. She was still there.
Maria.
Maria Woodland, his younger sister.
The traitor.
The wound he had never managed to bury. She sat as though she belonged there. As though war had not passed between them. As though blood had not been spilled.
Edmond did not move. He couldn't. Even his breathing seemed suspended.
Then she spoke. "Hello, Edmond." She tried to smile.
A fragile smile, almost guilty.
The spell broke. Steel flashed. Edmond's sword was out so fast the sound cut the room. "How did you get into this place?" His voice growled low, almost feral.
Maria did not flinch. Not even with the blade pointed at her. "This is my home." She looked around the room. "Remember?"
His eyes darkened. "Not anymore." He took a slow step closer. Sword unwavering. Studying her face as though looking for deception, or weakness. Maybe betrayal.
Then he said it: quiet, and sharp. "You know I can kill you right on the spot."
Maria did not answer. She changed the battle. "I am pregnant.".The words landed strangely. Too softly for something so enormous.
Edmond froze. Something unexpected crossed his face.
A flicker. A smile almost formed..Brief, but instinctive. Then it suddenly died.
His face hardened at once. "You carry the child of my enemy." His grip tightened. "I have no business with it."
Maria rose from the bed, and moved toward him.
Careful, and measured. Like approaching a wounded animal. "I came because I want us on the same side."
A dry laugh escaped him. Empty of humor. "You are too late." He shook his head. "Robert will never forgive you."
Maria frowned. "I am not speaking of Robert's side." She stepped closer. "I am speaking of Drexo's."
This time Edmond laughed openly. It was cruel. The sound made the room colder. "I used to think you were clever." He tilted his head. "But perhaps I was wrong."
He paused, and allowed those words to land. "You do not think."
Maria let the insult pass. No pride in her tonight, only desperation. "The Kenwools withdrew their army." Her voice sharpened. "Robert will strike soon." She moved closer. "And we do not have enough soldiers."
Edmond smiled. A smile with no warmth. "That sounds like good news."
Maria stared.
Then he drove the blade deeper with his words. "I may join Robert and help destroy Cliffland till no soul is left standing."
She actually flinched, not physical, but something in her eyes did. She had expected anger, not this kind of cruelty.
"You know what happens if he attacks." Her voice dropped. "My unborn child dies." She touched her stomach. "And I die."
For one dangerous second he felt it. It showed. A flicker. Then he strangled it. "I should not be troubled when enemies die."
The words sounded rehearsed. As if he needed them more than she did.
Maria stepped into his space. Close enough now to feel his breath. "We need you." She held his gaze. "We need the Northern army." His temper snapped. "I pledged my sword to Robert!"
The room rang. His chest rose sharply. "He is my king."
His eyes burned. "Not Drexo."
"Not anyone else." Maria's own restraint broke. "And what of blood?"
The question cut. "What of me?" She moved even closer. Forcing memory into the room. "For Robert…"
Her voice cracked. "…would you forsake your sister?" She took his free hand. Pressed it against her stomach. Against the child. "We are the only blood you have."
Her other hand touched his chest softly. "Please, Edmond."
And that nearly undid him.
She felt it. His breathing changed. His sword lowered a fraction. His eyes lost some iron. For a heartbeat he looked not like a lord.
But a brother.
Maria saw surrender beginning. Thought she had reached him. Then it turned.
Violently.
His hand shot upward. Caught her throat.
Hard.
Maria gasped.
The sound tore out of her. He drove her into the wall. Stone struck her back. Her eyes widened. The sword clattered and was forgotten.
His face was inches from hers. Twisted with fury. Or pain, or both. "You dare come here."
His voice shook.
"asking me to betray my king?" His fingers tightened. Maria clawed weakly at his wrist.
Trying to breathe.