Plans and Trials

The palace erupted in chaos after the princess ran to the king. As the guards swept through the damp, echoing tunnels beneath the palace, a baron’s spy cursed under his breath. The plan to smuggle weapons and attack had unraveled, and if they were caught, everything would collapse like a house of cards. Heart racing, to erase every connection to them, he hid the bodies of the merchant and his accomplice, now concealed behind a crumbling wall, swallowed by the shadows. How did the young princess discover them? And who defeated the others? He wiped away the bloodstains and slipped deeper into the darkness, where every sound echoed—the distant scuff of boots and the hushed murmurs of guards hunting for clues. The spy slipped away and went to report to Baron Merrick.

Meanwhile, Princess Elara, still shaken, recounted her harrowing encounter to her father. “Father, I was saved by Lyraeth. She helped me and she got injured—she was bleeding.” Her voice trembled, the gravity of the situation settling in like a stone in her stomach. Fear gripped her as she thought of the mysterious woman’s fate.

The king’s face hardened into a mask of determination. “We will find her, Elara. Don't worry! And we’ll dismantle the baron’s network. Search every inch of the palace and the tunnels—leave no stone unturned.” His voice was a sharp command, echoing in the air thick with tension. As the guards combed the area, the princess’s heart pounded. What if the baron found her? All they found were faint traces of blood—a mysterious trail that seemed to vanish as if its source had disappeared into thin air.

Further from the palace, Baron Merrick sat in his opulent study, the firelight casting long shadows across the polished wood and tapestries lining the walls. The spy stood before him, head bowed, as he delivered the grim report.

Merrick’s knuckles whitened as he gripped the armrests of his chair. “Five years of planning—thwarted twice,” he muttered, his voice low and venomous. The memory of his failed attempt to eliminate the general burned in his mind like an old wound. Now, the plan to cripple the palace from within lay in shambles.

He exhaled slowly, his expression sharpening into one of icy control. Losing his composure would accomplish nothing. "No one in that palace can prove anything. The king won't act against me based on a frightened child's words alone. Not even his youngest daughter’s tears hold that much sway. But we have to lay low for a while."

The spy shifted uneasily. “But, my lord, the men… whoever helped her…”

“Someone interfered,” Merrick cut in, his gaze piercing. “A ghost in the tunnels, a shadow that slipped through our fingers. Whoever they are, they must be found.” He rose from his chair, towering over the spy. “Send word. Double the search. Find out who killed our men.”

The spy nodded, but Merrick wasn’t finished. “And keep watch on Princess Elara. She’s a child, yes, but even children can be dangerous when they start whispering the wrong things to the right people. Wait for the palace to grow complacent, for their guard to lower. Then… remove her from the board.”

The spy hesitated, a flicker of doubt crossing his face. “My lord, you mean—”

Merrick’s expression darkened. “Exactly. I’ve worked too long and sacrificed too much to let a naive girl ruin everything. Be discreet, but make no mistake—she is a threat, and threats must be eliminated.”

The spy bowed low and retreated into the shadows. Merrick returned to his chair, his mind already crafting contingencies. The king thought himself invincible, but Merrick had spent years learning to strike from the darkness. Let them celebrate their temporary victory; he would tighten the noose around their necks soon enough.

Days passed since that fateful encounter, and Lyraeth stirred awake in a secluded cabin. The scent of pine and damp earth filled her senses, grounding her in the present. Beside her, her husband sat like a vigilant guardian, his eyes reflecting relief and love.

“Darling! Am I still alive?” she murmured, blinking against the dim light, her gaze locking onto his anxious expression.

“Yes, you’re very much alive,” he replied, enveloping her in a warm embrace, pressing gentle kisses on her forehead. “I was so worried about you.”

“Where are we? What happened?” She struggled to sit up, fatigue pressing her like a heavy blanket.

“We’re in a cabin in the woods near the city. We had to leave Eldoria before someone blamed the attack on us. You’ve been asleep for three days,” he explained, brushing a strand of hair from her face, his touch both tender and protective. The comforting scent of woodsmoke filled the air, a stark contrast to the chaos they had fled.

“What happened to you? Where were you?” Her voice trembled as the memories rushed back. “I was terrified when I arrived and I couldn't find you. I feared the worst. No one believed me when I said you were my husband. Baron Lucius Merrick was behind the portal incident. He wanted to have you killed; you were his target.”

His brow furrowed with concern. “The baron?”

“Yes. But you weren’t hurt, were you?” She searched his face for reassurance, anxiety twisting in her stomach.

“I’m fine. I arrived safely with all your gear intact. The only thing damaged was your ring—the one I gave you,” he said, his voice heavy with regret. “The king believes it was cursed—someone wanted me to fail, and by giving it to you, I put you in danger.”

Her eyes widened a mix of fear and understanding washing over her. “It’s not your fault, Edric,” she said, her voice steady despite the lingering tension in her chest. She reached for his hand, her touch gentle. “You couldn’t have known. You gave me that ring out of love, not malice. We’ll uncover who’s behind this together.”

But Edric’s gaze dropped to the floor, guilt etched across his features. “If anything had happened to you because of me…” he whispered, his voice faltering as the weight of his words hung in the air.

She tightened her grip on his hand, her resolve strengthening. “I’m still here because of you. Don’t let this break you. Whoever cursed that ring didn’t win.”

“I was terrified. When I found your letter, I was happy and relieved that you were here and alive. I rushed there, only to find you…” His voice faltered, the weight of their trials heavy in the air.

“Everything will be fine now,” she said, her eyelids growing heavy.

As she drifted back to sleep, Edric quietly slipped out to gather medicine and food. When he returned, dread washed over him—his wife was gone, save for a note that sent panic surging through him. She had woken while he was away and, in his absence, gone to meet her master for her test, as she already promised. She sneaked out, fearing he wouldn’t let her go.

Determined, he jumped on his horse, standing nearby, and set off in pursuit of her. The king was seeking the culprits behind the baron’s plots, the baron was looking for the person who killed his spies and Edric wouldn’t let anyone else find her first.

Meanwhile, Lyraeth, tired and weak arrived at her master’s secluded location, trying to hide her injuries but knowing she could not mask them completely. He’ll see through me.

“Are you ready?” Master Kazu asked, his keen eyes studying her closely. He said nothing of her condition, letting her believe she could do it.

“Yes,” she replied, steeling herself against the pain.

Master Kazu stepped back, gesturing toward the open courtyard. The moonlight bathed the area in a silvery glow, illuminating an intricate pattern drawn on the ground. At the center stood a tall wooden pillar adorned with hanging targets and shifting mechanisms, designed to test agility, precision, and endurance.

“For your test, you must dismantle the traps and strike every target in sequence, all while evading the countermeasures. Precision, timing, and adaptability are key,” he instructed, his voice calm but firm.

Lyraeth nodded, her body tensing as she stepped into the circle. The moment her foot crossed the threshold, the pattern on the ground glowed up and the mechanisms sprang to life. Wooden arms spun unpredictably, while small projectiles shot toward her.

She ducked low, her sharp reflexes allowing her to avoid the first strike. Ignoring the ache in her limbs, she twisted gracefully, leaping onto the pillar to evade a sweeping arm. In one fluid motion, she struck a hanging target with a well-placed kick. Her healing wounds started to throb, but she wouldn't let that stop her.

The next challenge came fast—a hidden blade darted toward her, forcing her to spin fast to deflect it with the edge of her dagger. She immediately moved to disable a trap, her fingers working deftly to disarm its mechanism.

Her breathing grew heavier, her movements slower as the test wore on. Sweat beaded on her brow, but she refused to falter. With a final surge of energy, she vaulted over the spinning arms, striking the last target with pinpoint accuracy.

The wooden mechanisms stilled, silence settled over the courtyard, and the pattern stopped glowing. Lyraeth stood in the center, her chest heaving, but her eyes gleaming with triumph.

“Congratulations! I told you you could do it. You’re exceptionally talented,” Master Kazu praised, a wide smile breaking across his face as he stepped forward.

“Thank you, Master,” she said, her heart swelling with pride, relief flooding through her as the weight of the test lifted.

“I’m glad to have taught you. I hope we meet again in the future,” he said, his tone both proud and bittersweet, a quiet admiration lingering in his gaze.

“Definitely.” She turned to head back to her husband, moving slowly as exhaustion weighed heavily on her. Navigating the forest, she noticed the baron’s men searching for someone—for her.

She pressed herself against the trees, hiding, heart pounding in her chest. Suddenly, her husband appeared on horseback, an exasperated look on his face. “You’re giving me a fright, you know,” he said, a mix of relief and annoyance in his voice.

“Please forgive me! I was scared you wouldn’t let me go,” she replied, her voice a breathless whisper.

“And you were right to be concerned. How are you? Did it go well?” He scanned her face, searching for any signs of pain.

“I passed. But we need to hurry; the baron’s men are looking for me.” Without another word, he helped her mount the horse behind him, and they sped away, hearts racing, adrenaline surging.

The weight of their trials lingered, but for now, they were together, and that was enough.

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