The hall was empty.

  At least, it appeared that way.

  Torches burned low along the stone walls, casting long shadows across the chamber where the war council had met earlier that night.

  But a few figures remained.

  They stood gathered near the far end of the hall where the light did not reach as clearly.

  Lord Edric stood among them.

  Three other nobles faced him.

  Lord Harren.

  Lady Brynn.

  And Sir Calder.

  None of them looked comfortable.

  Harren folded his arms.

  “This is dangerous talk.”

  Edric gave a small smile.

  “So is placing the future of a kingdom in the hands of a twenty-year-old girl.”

  Lady Brynn lowered her voice.

  “She is the High Marshal now.”

  Edric’s expression hardened.

  “Yes.”

  “And how long before she decides that title is not enough?”

  Sir Calder shifted uneasily.

  “The king trusts her.”

  Edric stepped closer, his voice calm.

  “The king trusts many people.”

  He gestured toward the doors where Dagny had left earlier.

  “But the soldiers follow her.”

  No one spoke.

  Because that part was true.

  Lady Brynn frowned.

  “The crown still passes to Prince Rowan.”

  Edric let out a quiet breath.

  “Prince Rowan.”

  He glanced at the others.

  “How many of Ardenvale’s soldiers have seen him in the last four years?”

  The question lingered in the air.

  Sir Calder answered reluctantly.

  “He’s been away.”

  “Exactly,” Edric said.

  “Training abroad. Studying warfare. Diplomacy.”

  He spread his hands slightly.

  “Preparing to rule a kingdom he has not even seen in years.”

  Harren shook his head.

  “You’re twisting this.”

  Edric stepped closer to the group.

  “No.”

  “I’m acknowledging reality.”

  He looked toward the war table across the hall.

  “For four years the prince has been gone.”

  “And for four years she has been here.”

  Winning battles.

  Earning loyalty.

  Becoming a legend among the soldiers.

  Edric lowered his voice.

  “And when the prince finally returns…”

  Lady Brynn finished the thought quietly.

  “They will follow her instead.”

  Silence filled the chamber.

  Sir Calder rubbed his forehead.

  “You’re assuming the worst.”

  Edric smiled faintly.

  “I’m preparing for it.”

  Harren exhaled.

  “And what exactly are you proposing?”

  Edric folded his hands behind his back.

  “We remind the court who truly governs Ardenvale.”

  Lady Brynn’s eyes narrowed.

  “You mean undermine her.”

  Edric met her gaze.

  “I mean protect the crown.”

  He paused.

  “Before someone else claims it.”

  No one spoke for a long moment.

  Finally Harren sighed.

  “And if the king discovers this?”

  Edric’s smile returned.

  “Then we simply say we were protecting his son’s inheritance.”

  Days later:

  The coughing had grown worse.

  Haakon sat beside the window of his chamber, wrapped in a heavy cloak despite the fire burning nearby.

  Another violent cough shook his body.

  This one left blood on the cloth in his hand.

  He stared at it for a moment.

  Then quietly folded the cloth.

  A knock sounded at the door.

  “Enter.”

  The door opened.

  Dagny stepped inside.

  For a moment she simply looked at him.

  He looked older than he had just days before.

  Weaker.

  But when he saw her, he still managed a smile.

  “You’ve been busy.”

  Dagny closed the door behind her.

  “I heard you were worse.”

  Haakon waved a hand dismissively.

  “Your messengers exaggerate.”

  Dagny stepped closer.

  “You’re coughing blood.”

  Haakon sighed.

  “Word travels quickly.”

  Dagny sat beside him.

  For a moment neither of them spoke.

  Then she said quietly,

  “I’m leaving Ardenvale soon.”

  Haakon raised an eyebrow.

  “Already planning your next war?”

  “No.”

  Dagny shook her head.

  “I’m traveling.”

  “To Eldoria.”

  Her father studied her.

  “Your aunt.”

  “Yes.”

  Dagny hesitated.

  Then continued.

  “And beyond that.”

  Haakon frowned slightly.

  “Beyond that?”

  Dagny met his eyes.

  “I’m going to search for medicine.”

  The old king looked confused.

  “For what?”

  Dagny gestured toward the cloth in his hand.

  “For you.”

  Haakon chuckled softly.

  “Dagny…”

  “There are healers outside Ardenvale,” she said firmly.

  “In other kingdoms.”

  “Scholars.”

  “Herbalists.”

  “Someone must know something.”

  Haakon watched her carefully.

  “You’re leaving the kingdom to search for medicine.”

  Dagny nodded.

  “Yes.”

  The old king leaned back slowly in his chair.

  “You’re becoming very powerful.”

  Dagny said nothing.

  He continued quietly.

  “And yet this is what you choose to do with that power.”

  His voice softened.

  “You were always stubborn.”

  Dagny looked away slightly.

  “I’m not ready to lose you.”

  Haakon was quiet for a moment.

  Then he placed a hand on her shoulder.

  “Dagny.”

  “When I die—”

  She cut him off immediately.

  “You’re not dying.”

  Haakon smiled faintly.

  “You sound like your mother.”

  Dagny’s jaw tightened.

  “Good.”

  The old king chuckled again.

  Then coughed.

  Harder this time.

  Dagny waited until it passed.

  Then she stood.

  “I’ll find something.”

  Haakon watched her walk toward the door.

  “Dagny.”

  She stopped.

  “You don’t need to save me.”

  She turned back toward him.

  “Yes I do.”

  Then she left the chamber.

  Haakon sat alone again.

  Staring at the folded cloth in his hand.

  And quietly wondering—

  if the girl he once raised was about to cross kingdoms…

  just to try to save his life.

  Dagny stepped out of the chamber and pulled the door closed behind her.

  The hallway outside was quiet.

  For a moment she stood there, gathering her thoughts.

  Then she noticed someone standing further down the corridor.

  King Alric.

  He had not announced himself.

  He simply stood there with his hands clasped behind his back.

  Dagny straightened slightly.

  “My king.”

  Alric studied her face.

  “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

  Dagny glanced back toward the door.

  “How long have you been standing there?”

  “Long enough.”

  His voice was calm.

  Dagny frowned slightly.

  “Then you heard.”

  Alric nodded once.

  “I heard enough.”

  For a moment neither of them spoke.

  The king looked past her toward Haakon’s chamber.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  “He’s getting worse.”

  Dagny didn’t deny it.

  “Yes.”

  Alric stepped closer.

  “And you plan to ride across kingdoms searching for medicine.”

  Dagny met his gaze.

  “Yes.”

  The king studied her for a long moment.

  “You realize you are the High Marshal of Ardenvale now.”

  “I know.”

  “And you are preparing to lead our first major campaign.”

  “I know.”

  Alric tilted his head slightly.

  “Yet you are willing to delay that… for him.”

  Dagny’s voice was steady.

  “He raised me when no one else would.”

  The king’s expression softened slightly.

  “He made you who you are.”

  Dagny nodded.

  “Yes.”

  Alric looked at her for another long moment.

  Then he gave a quiet breath.

  “You remind me of someone.”

  Dagny raised an eyebrow.

  “Who?”

  “Your father.”

  She blinked slightly.

  Alric continued.

  “He once crossed half a kingdom just to save one wounded soldier.”

  Dagny almost smiled.

  “That sounds like him.”

  “Yes.”

  The king folded his arms.

  “He was a stubborn man.”

  Dagny finally allowed a small smile.

  “He still is.”

  Alric chuckled quietly.

  Then his expression became serious again.

  “You will go to Eldoria.”

  Dagny looked slightly surprised.

  “You’re allowing it?”

  “I’m ordering it.”

  Dagny frowned.

  “That wasn’t my intention.”

  “I know.”

  The king gestured slightly down the hallway.

  “You want an alliance with your aunt.”

  “Yes.”

  “Then go secure it.”

  He paused.

  “And while you travel… search for your medicine.”

  Dagny studied him carefully.

  “You trust me with that much freedom?”

  Alric gave a quiet smile.

  “You’ve earned it.”

  He stepped closer and lowered his voice slightly.

  “But understand something.”

  Dagny waited.

  “There are people in this court who do not like the power you now hold.”

  Her expression hardened slightly.

  “I’m aware.”

  Alric nodded.

  “Good.”

  He turned to walk down the hallway.

  Then paused.

  “And Dagny…”

  She looked up.

  “If you find a way to save Haakon…”

  His voice softened slightly.

  “…bring it back.”

  Dagny nodded once.

  “I will.”

  The king walked away, disappearing down the torchlit corridor.

  Dagny stood there a moment longer.

  Then she turned and walked toward the stairs.

  There was much to prepare.

  A journey to Eldoria.

  An alliance to secure.

  A father to save.

  Dagny left Ardenvale at dawn.

  The gates of the capital opened slowly as her group rode out into the cold morning air.

  Leif rode at her left.

  Rolf rode at her right.

  Behind them rode twenty soldiers chosen personally by Dagny.

  Enough to travel safely.

  Not enough to draw attention.

  The road leading away from the capital stretched through fields and scattered villages before eventually turning toward the forests that separated Ardenvale from the surrounding lands.

  Rolf glanced toward Dagny.

  “So let me get this straight.”

  “You’re riding out of the kingdom…”

  He gestured vaguely ahead.

  “…to find some miracle healer that might save your father.”

  Dagny kept her eyes on the road.

  “Yes.”

  Rolf shrugged.

  “Well. I’ve seen stranger plans work.”

  Leif spoke calmly.

  “There are healers beyond Ardenvale. Scholars too.”

  Dagny nodded.

  “Exactly.”

  She tightened her grip on the reins.

  “I only need one of them to know something.”

  By nightfall the following day, they found one.

  A quiet village tucked between wooded hills.

  An elderly healer lived there.

  The man examined Haakon’s symptoms carefully as Dagny described them.

  He listened.

  Thought.

  Then he prepared a small bundle of herbs and ground medicine wrapped in cloth.

  “This may help his lungs,” the healer said.

  Dagny looked at the bundle.

  “May?”

  The old man nodded.

  “I cannot promise anything.”

  Dagny accepted it anyway.

  “Thank you.”

  The following morning they rode back toward Ardenvale.

  Dagny held the small wrapped medicine carefully inside her cloak.

  If it worked—

  maybe her father would live.

  The forest road was quiet.

  Too quiet.

  Leif noticed it first.

  “No birds.”

  Rolf glanced around.

  “Yeah.”

  Dagny slowed her horse slightly.

  Her eyes scanned the trees.

  Then—

  the first arrow flew.

  It struck one of the soldiers behind them.

  He fell from his horse instantly.

  “AMBUSH!” Rolf roared.

  Men burst from the trees on both sides of the road.

  Dozens of them.

  Dagny drew Aetheria instantly.

  Steel flashed as the first attacker reached her.

  The sword cut through him in a single strike.

  Leif was already fighting beside her.

  Precise.

  Controlled.

  Every movement efficient.

  Rolf crashed into the attackers like a battering ram.

  Axes swung wildly.

  Two men dropped before they even understood what hit them.

  Dagny’s soldiers formed a defensive line.

  But the attackers kept coming.

  More from the trees.

  More from the ridges above the road.

  They had chosen the terrain perfectly.

  Arrows rained down.

  Horses panicked.

  Dagny cut down another attacker.

  Then another.

  But she saw the truth quickly.

  “We’re surrounded!”

  Leif blocked a spear and stabbed the man holding it.

  “There are too many!”

  Rolf bellowed as he smashed another enemy to the ground.

  “Then we kill as many as we can!”

  The fight lasted longer than the attackers expected.

  Much longer.

  Dagny moved like a storm through them.

  Leif fought with surgical precision.

  Rolf was a wall of brute strength.

  But numbers eventually win.

  One of Dagny’s soldiers fell.

  Then another.

  An arrow struck Rolf’s shoulder.

  He kept fighting.

  A net dropped from the trees.

  Dagny cut through it—

  only for three more men to slam into her at once.

  She threw two off.

  But the third struck her helmet with a mace.

  Her vision blurred.

  Leif was dragged down by five men at once.

  Even he couldn’t break free from that.

  Rolf roared as chains wrapped around his arms.

  It took nearly ten men to bring him to the ground.

  One by one—

  they were subdued.

  Dagny struggled even as they forced her wrists into iron restraints.

  She glared at the man standing over her.

  “Who sent you?”

  The man hesitated.

  Then smirked.

  “You already know.”

  Dagny’s eyes narrowed.

  “Edric.”

  The man said nothing.

  But his silence confirmed it.

  Leif was forced to his knees beside her.

  Rolf sat nearby, breathing heavily, still trying to break the chains around his wrists.

  Dagny’s eyes burned with anger.

  “He’s still in Ardenvale.”

  The man nodded.

  “Exactly.”

  Dagny frowned slightly.

  “Then why do this?”

  The man leaned closer.

  “So the prince can return without competition.”

  Dagny’s stomach tightened.

  Prince Rowan.

  The man stood up.

  “Take them.”

  Dagny, Leif, and Rolf were forced onto horses.

  Bound.

  Disarmed.

  Outnumbered.

  And taken deep into the forest.

  ARDENVALE

  Trumpets echoed across the stone walls of the capital.

  The gates of Ardenvale stood open as riders entered the city under royal banners.

  Citizens gathered along the streets.

  Word spread quickly.

  “The prince has returned.”

  At the center of the courtyard, King Alric stood waiting.

  Beside him were several nobles of the court.

  And among them—

  Lord Edric.

  The king watched the approaching riders carefully.

  At their head rode a tall man clad in polished armor trimmed with dark silver.

  Prince Rowan.

  He guided his horse forward confidently as the escort stopped before the king.

  For a moment the courtyard was silent.

  Then Rowan dismounted.

  He approached his father and knelt.

  “My king.”

  Alric studied him carefully before placing a hand on his shoulder.

  “You’ve been gone a long time.”

  Rowan stood.

  “Learning.”

  The prince’s eyes moved across the courtyard.

  Studying the soldiers.

  The nobles.

  The banners.

  Everything.

  Like a man measuring what belonged to him.

  Alric spoke again.

  “You returned sooner than expected.”

  Rowan shrugged slightly.

  “The world beyond Ardenvale grows… interesting.”

  Lord Edric stepped forward with a polite bow.

  “Your Highness.”

  Rowan looked at him.

  Recognition flickered across his face.

  “Lord Edric.”

  “It is good to see Ardenvale’s future king return safely.”

  Rowan smiled faintly.

  “Future king.”

  He glanced briefly at his father.

  “An encouraging title.”

  Alric ignored the comment.

  “You’ll want to rest.”

  Rowan shook his head.

  “I’d rather hear what I’ve missed.”

  The king sighed slightly.

  “You’ve missed quite a bit.”

  Rowan’s eyes sharpened.

  “Oh?”

  Alric gestured toward the palace.

  “We’ll discuss it inside.”

  But Edric spoke first.

  “There is one matter you should hear immediately, Your Highness.”

  The king glanced at him.

  “Edric—”

  But Rowan raised a hand.

  “Let him speak.”

  Edric bowed slightly.

  “The High Marshal left the capital yesterday.”

  Rowan frowned.

  “The High Marshal?”

  Alric answered.

  “Dagny.”

  Recognition appeared instantly.

  “The girl from Vestfold.”

  “Yes.”

  Rowan tilted his head slightly.

  “And she commands the army now?”

  Edric nodded.

  “With great influence.”

  Rowan smiled faintly.

  “Interesting.”

  But Alric’s voice carried a warning.

  “She earned it.”

  Rowan looked back at his father.

  “I’m sure she did.”

  But the prince’s eyes had already grown thoughtful.

  SOMEWHERE IN THE FOREST:

  Dagny slowly regained consciousness.

  Her head throbbed.

  Her wrists were bound.

  Cold stone pressed against her back.

  She opened her eyes.

  They were inside some kind of ruined structure.

  Old stone walls.

  Broken beams.

  A roof partially collapsed.

  Sunlight filtered through the gaps.

  Leif sat nearby, also bound.

  He looked up as she stirred.

  “Welcome back.”

  Dagny groaned slightly.

  “How long?”

  “An hour.”

  Rolf’s voice came from the other side of the room.

  “I tried breaking the chains.”

  Dagny turned her head.

  Rolf sat against the wall with iron restraints wrapped around his arms.

  “I almost did.”

  Leif smirked slightly.

  “You definitely didn’t.”

  Dagny looked around carefully.

  Guards stood near the doorway.

  More outside.

  Too many.

  “They planned this,” she said quietly.

  Leif nodded.

  “Yes.”

  Rolf spat on the floor.

  “Edric.”

  Dagny’s eyes hardened.

  “Yes.”

  Leif leaned slightly closer.

  “The man who spoke to you mentioned Prince Rowan.”

  Dagny nodded slowly.

  “He said the prince needed to return without competition.”

  Rolf frowned.

  “That doesn’t make sense.”

  Leif’s expression darkened slightly.

  “It does if Rowan wants power.”

  Dagny looked toward the doorway.

  “Then Edric just handed him the kingdom.”

  Ardenvale — Later

  Prince Rowan stood inside the great hall of the palace.

  The throne of Ardenvale stood at the far end of the chamber.

  His father’s throne.

  Rowan studied it quietly.

  Lord Edric approached him.

  “Your Highness.”

  Rowan didn’t turn.

  “You arranged this well.”

  Edric lowered his voice.

  “Dagny will not be returning anytime soon.”

  Rowan finally looked at him.

  “And if she does?”

  Edric smiled slightly.

  “Then we deal with her.”

  Rowan studied him for a moment.

  Then he chuckled softly.

  “You’re ambitious, Lord Edric.”

  Edric bowed slightly.

  “I serve the crown.”

  Rowan walked slowly toward the throne.

  His fingers brushed the armrest of the seat.

  One day…

  He sat down.

  Just for a moment.

  Testing it.

  Then he looked back at Edric.

  “Tell me something.”

  “Yes, Your Highness?”

  Rowan’s smile returned.

  “Is she as dangerous as they say?”

  Edric didn’t hesitate.

  “Yes.”

  Rowan leaned back slightly.

  “Good.”

  His eyes gleamed with interest.

  “I look forward to meeting her.”