As they rode away, Elena couldn't help the tears falling on her cheeks. Ren could see the shaking of her shoulders from behind.
"B-because of me . . . because I got careless . . . she would definitely use it as an excuse to wage war with my realm."
Ren never saw her vulnerable like this before. He thought the princes didn't know how to be weak. But he guessed that worry had gripped her heart to the point that she couldn't contain them anymore.
"Don't worry. We will find out who she is and put a stop to her."
"She knew . . . she knew that I was here. But how?" Elena asked no one. "It's like it was planned, and I fell into it, and now they would use it as an excuse to march into our borders."
". . . Why the Elven Realm? Why do they want it?" Ren asked instead.
Elena was silent for a moment before she answered, "It's because we're the ones guarding the portal to the mortal plane. If we are gone, nothing could stop the feys from wreaking havoc in the world outside."
". . ." So that's the reason. Ren thought. "Do you know who Russet is? I mean the real creature behind her."
". . . I have a hunch."
"Then can we go to the summer court and report this to Queen Titania? She's the most powerful Archfey, right?"
Elena took a deep breath before speaking. "Reporting this to the Summer Court is not that simple, Ren. Queen Floraia was not love, true, but she's still a Queen. And right now, Russet holds her throne. If we go to the Summer Court with these accusations without any solid evidence, it could start a war between the courts. And right now, we can't trust anymore. Not even the summer court. We need to be careful about how we proceed."
Ren nodded in understanding. "So what do you suggest we do?"
Elena thought for a moment before replying. "We need to gather evidence and find out what Russet's true form and motives are. And we need to do it discreetly, without arousing suspicion."
"So we're finally going to the Autumn Palace, then?" That was there original goal in the beginning.
Elena nodded. "That's the only place that we could gather evidence. I'm afraid that even the real Queen Russet is no longer there."
Elena looked at Ren with a grave expression. "The journey to the Autumn Palace is perilous, and it won't be an easy task. Plus, the Autumn Palace is no longer our ally, and Russet will definitely send her forces after us."
Ren frowned. "Then . . . she must have known that we're going after her in her territory. The routes there will be littered with her soldiers."
Elena nodded. "We have to be careful and take every precaution. We need to avoid being seen by Russet's forces and gather as much evidence as we can on the way. And the best way to avoid her is by going to another route. One that she wouldn't expect us to venture into."
Ren rubbed his chin, lost in thought. "And where is this?"
Elena's grimaced. "The White Queen's territory."
"The White . . . Queen . . ." Ren didn't like the sound of that. This scene was definitely not in the annals of his knowledge about the quest. This was getting out of his hands, and he was both thrilled and worried at the same time.
Maybe if he hadn't had a huge debt to pay, he would welcome the unknown, but since Evie's freedom was on the line here, he felt uneasy.
If Ren's memory served right. He only got to know the White Queen after the Fey Realm had been opened to all.
A campaign involving the White Queen should be one of games and puzzles. The White Queen would best serve as a light antagonist or a powerful ally who first wishes to test the players. The biggest emphasis should be on strategy within games and overcoming these challenges.
The White Queen would rather the characters face the challenge fairly and overcome it through traditional or non-conventional means than outright cheat the system. Any conflict surrounding the White Queen should either be one of her own design or a middle point between the Summer and Winter Courts.
"The White Queen stands apart from the fey of the Summer and Winter Courts," Elena started to explain. "While these courts may be the predominant powers of the fey, the White Queen is resolute in the power she controls. She is the embodiment of games, serving as an arbiter among the wilier fey."
"What does this mean exactly?"
"The mirrored, duplicitous nature of the fey left little trust among the races. This dichotomy created the storm of law versus chaos, good versus evil, and what remained amid the crash of the cosmic waves was the neutrality of the White Queen.
"She has since served as a mediator of the Winter and Summer Courts, though her primary function has been a spot of respite within the chaotic fey. The White Queen spends much of her time traveling the planes, seeking out new puzzles to master, and challenging others to all manner of games. Her lack of duplicity has made her somewhat of a pariah among the other fey, though the unrivaled power over her domain has granted her freedom in this autonomy.
"The White Queen takes notice of those who overcome the many puzzles and challenges put before them. After we solve several puzzles, the White Queen will surely offer a great reward should we triumph over her challenges. She would surely grant us audience and hear our plea."
"It would be good if we convince her to our side if not that Russet or whoever she is already had her first."
"That's the plan. And I doubt it. The White Queen is a very powerful Fey. Even the summer and winter court would think twice of antagonizing her. If she willed it, she could have the whole Fey Realm in the palm of her hands. Only she was born neutral and would forever remain that way.
"And what made you think that she would help us?"
"She won't. She would definitely stand at the center and wouldn't take any side."
"Then . . ."
"But she would grant our whish if we successfully overcome her challenges."
"And what if we fail?"
Elena didn't answer right away. Her face darkened, and her grip on Tiki's leash tightened.
"Those who fail to overcome her challenges find themselves indebted to a powerful entity whose favor may not always be benevolent. She is a powerful adversary and a master of tactics. A battle against the White Queen is likely to be less deadly than a powerful dragon or master of magic, but the consequences of failure in a challenge against her may mean a lifetime of servitude."
". . . That's definitely sound worse."
