6 months had passed since the Quest of the Worthy had begun and yet, the streets and markets of the Bloodburn Kingdom were still buzzing with anticipation and excitement.
Everywhere, from taverns to tailors, people gathered in small groups to discuss the upcoming results of the Quest of the Worthy.
Betting booths had been set up, and they were filled with eager citizens placing bets on their favorite contenders. There were a lot of life crystals to win, and it was too tempting for even the wealthy nobles to ignore.
Conversations flowed, filled with speculations and excitement, "I think the Young Lord Silvan will win the Deviar!" one declared. Another countered, "No way! Young Lady Sabina has shown her prowess. She's going to take it!"
"You all dare to not even consider the royal consort?? May you die a thousand deaths!" Another one shouted fervently as others momentarily hid their faces in the crowd while some others joined him.
There were also bets on who would make it back alive or not.
Amidst all the commotion, an old bard strummed his lute, singing tales of the Quest from past years, with eager listeners surrounding him, hoping to catch hints about the outcome even if they knew each time the quest was different.
In stark contrast to the lively streets, the throne room in Demonstone Castle was silent and filled with tension.
Massive black marble pillars supported the vast ceiling adorned with chandeliers made of glowing crystals, casting an eerie illumination over the room.
Rowena, dressed in a magnificent black gown, her crimson eyes glinting with a cold, dignified light, sat regally on the throne, her every demeanor suggesting that she was in complete control.
A row of courtiers and ministers stood aligned, awaiting their turn to deliver reports. The throne room echoed the soft shuffling of parchments and the occasional clearing of throats.
One minister, a tall, gaunt man with spectacles perched on his nose, read aloud the updates from the realm. He spoke about trade agreements, infrastructural developments, and updates about their allies and enemies.
However, with each passing report, Rowena noticed the growing unease in his demeanor.
Finally, taking a deep breath, he said, "Your Highness, I have one last piece of news, but…I must warn you, it's rather unsettling."
Rowena's piercing eyes narrowed, the chilling atmosphere in the throne room intensifying, "Out with it, Minister Hale," she commanded in a voice dripping with coldness.
Minister Hale adjusted his spectacles and coughed lightly, "The recent friendly spar that was hosted by the Draconis Kingdom as per the Devourer's Pact...ended in a disaster, Your Highness." He paused, glancing around nervously as if expecting a violent reaction from his queen.
Rowena's eyes fixed sharply on him as a frown began to form on her face, "Go on," she prodded with a menacing calm.
He swallowed, "Our representative, Lord Verin, somehow ended up killing one of the Draconis princes during the spar. As you are aware, such a spar is meant for show and to demonstrate the prowess of each kingdom. The rules clearly state that there should be no fatalities."
The air in the room grew thicker, the weight of the revelation bearing down on everyone present. The courtiers exchanged anxious glances, while a few senior members of the council were wiping the sweat off their brows.
It was common knowledge that the Draconis Kingdom was the strongest kingdom in the entire realm. Their Bloodburn Kingdom would barely come close to half of their strength.
"A grave violation of the Devourer's Pact from our side? What does the Draconis King demand?" Rowena's voice held a deadly edge as her fingers curled in.
Minister Hale hesitated for a moment, "The Draconis King is outraged, as expected. He demands compensation for the life of his son. His proposition is for one of his remaining princes to spar with our royal consort. And this time, it won't be for show but a true test of strength."
A deep frown formed on Rowena's face as she parted her lips, "I see..." she murmured, her eyes glinting with hidden fury. The already chilling room seemed to grow colder, and the courtiers felt an icy grip around their hearts. They could barely imagine the tempest brewing within their queen, even though she didn't say much.
It was quite obvious the royal consort would die if the queen agrees, but can she afford to not agree?
This was definitely a move to punish the Bloodburn Kingdom no matter what she decided on, though they couldn't understand why the Draconis Kingdom would suddenly act now.
Rowena's eyes were hard and cold as she knew the Draconis King had an abundance of heirs. A hundred sons, at least.
She knew he purposefly sacrificed one of his sons to frame them. This was definitely a setup!
And so Rowena continued with a icy gaze, "Lord Verin may be many things, but foolish? Certainly not. He knows the importance and tradition of the Devourer's Pact. Something seems wrong and we can't simply sit still."
Rowena knew the Devourer's Pact was a pact created by the Devourer's grandson to form a bridge of peace between the Bloodburn Kingdom and the Draconis Kingdom.
One of the rules of the pact involved holding a friendly spar between the two kingdoms every ten years. And this tradition has been going on for thousands of years. This pact was one of the main reasons, at least in the eyes of the public, that they hadn't gone to war yet.
This was the reason why Rowena wondered why the Draconis King would suddenly use foul play even though she knew what kind of a man he was.
His forefathers, some as rotten as him, had never dared to sully the pact.
A few members of the council nodded in agreement, murmuring their support for their queen's suspicions. Still, this news had thrown the entire court into chaos as they could guess how ugly things could get because of this.
Minister Hale continued in a tense tone, "The Draconis King also added that he will give us time until the Quest of the Worthy is over. If our royal consort doesn't agree to the spar after he returns, then there will be severe consequences. That is how he worded it."
Rowena's hand clenched around the armrest of her throne, "Minister Hale, send a message to the Draconis King. Inform him that we will consider his proposal, but not before an investigation is conducted on our end. I will not have our kingdom's reputation tarnished based on baseless accusations. Then, I will decide whether to consider his compensation request."
She then rose gracefully from her throne, her long flowing gown trailing behind her as her piercing crimson eyes surveyed the room one last time, "That will be all for today," she announced curtly, her voice echoing through the vast throne room.
The courtiers, ministers, and various members of the council bowed deeply, their heads almost touching the floor.
As they did so, furtive glances were exchanged amongst them. The weight of the situation, combined with the Draconis King's audacious demand, left a palpable tension in the air. They all knew the stakes involved.
However, they had to commend the strength of their queen to still stand strong despite facing such a grave and troublesome storm. Anyone else in her shoes would have succumbed to the threat and pressure. It was not as if nobody knew the infamy and the power of the Draconis Kingdom.
Rowena exited the throne room, her footsteps echoing in the silent hallway.
Soon, the large ornate doors of her private study stood before her. Pushing them open, she stepped inside, letting them close softly behind her. The atmosphere in her study was vastly different from the grandiosity of the throne room. This was a space she had always considered her sanctuary.
She let out a soft sigh, her shoulders slumping ever so slightly. Alone in the privacy of her study, she was able to finally relax a bit as she slowly walked over to her desk, her fingers grazing the back of a chair.
She knew with her investigation she had bought some time but also knew that the Draconis King was a snake who wouldn't let an investigation stop him.
All she could do was pray Asher returned before it was too late since this was a decision she couldn't make alone. His fate and the fate of the entire kingdom were hanging in the balance.
However, her heart weighed heavily with the knowledge of what caused things to end up like this.
Her love for Asher, once her most guarded secret, was now an open book for their enemies. She knew people now knew about her feelings for Asher and not just merely speculating and gossiping.
The memory of that moment played in her mind: The court, the people, their whispers... and the undeniable pull that led her to kiss Asher in public, unable to hide her feelings for him.
His sudden distance and the strange way he was acting before departing had made her act recklessly.
She regretted not having good control of her emotions at that time. It was the only time she lost control after spending her entire life learning how to keep her emotions in check and watch herself in the presence of others since every action or word that comes from her can change things.
Her gaze was then drawn to the painting that occupied a prominent place on the wall.
It was the gift he had given her, an enchanting depiction of the two of them, forever immortalized in a moment of shared happiness. With a subtle, melancholic gaze, she approached it, her fingers gently touching Asher's painted face.
"Ash…" she murmured, her eyes shimmering with a hint of yearning in her eyes, "I hope you are doing alright..." The void of his absence gnawed at her soul as she wished she could see him just for a fleeting moment, to make sure he was safe.
Every night, she had tried to find solace in sleep but found none. The thought of him out there, facing dangers without her protective shadow, was unbearable.
Ever since her father brought him home, she was beside him, watching over him, and now, for the first time, he wasn't beside her. Each day of these past 6 months felt like an eternity, waiting for him while the uneasiness in her heart showed no signs of going away.
She placed her hand on the painting, closing her eyes, praying to whatever deities might be listening, hoping he was safe.
However, suddenly, her eyes opened wide, upon getting a message in her mind. Her eyes glowed as she learned that the High Seer was ready to see her after being in seclusion for months.
She narrowed her eyes and immediately left after waiting for this meeting for a long time.
