Enter Erevayn!

“We’ve been walking and walking and walking,” I groaned, kicking a rock that was in our way. “My legs are practically screaming at this point.”

“I can carry you if you’d like,” Jaeger called out from behind me. “It’d be pretty easy for me.”

“On second thought, I think walking is just fine.”

Faelar and Amber chuckled to themselves as the four of us traversed a much more frequented trail, trees looming over us as the afternoon sun seeped in through the snow-covered leaves.

“We’ll be arriving near Erevayn soon enough,” Amber said. “We just need to find a tavern and I’ll write a letter to Nayda.”

“Who’s Nayda?” I swatted away a hanging branch in my way.

“She was my caretaker back in the castle; she’s the only one who still knows I’m alive.”

“Does she still work in the castle?” Faelar asked Amber.

“She does. We’ve written to each other over the years.”

“That’s a bit risky, don’t you think?” I sped up to match Amber and Faelar who led the group at the front. “What if your letters ever got intercepted?”

“That’s why I always spoke to her in code,” Amber rolled her eyes at me. “I’m not that stupid, you know.”

Before I could make a sarcastic remark, Faelar held up his hand, instructing everyone to stop, his ears twitching.

“What is it?” my voice hushed as Faelar continued to have his hand raised, looking from one side to another, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword.

In the blink of an eye, his sword slashed a whirling arrow that was headed in his direction.

Sure enough, right in front of us, were lightly armored archers, perched in the branches of the trees, their faces covered with black veils.

Faelar raised his sword, challenging them in a way, but before they could fire another arrow, Amber stepped ahead of Faelar.

She raised a single hand and produced a phoenix four times her size made of nothing but flame, its heat melting away the snow around it.

“Soldiers of the crown!” she yelled, her voice firm. “Cease at once.”

The soldiers and the rest of us watched in surprise as the large bird proceeded to spit fire into the air.

One of the archers leaped from the treetops and landed gracefully onto the trail in front of us, walking up to us as he raised an arm, commanding the rest of the archers in the trees to stop.

A scar ran down his right eye, his brows gray, but his movements showed no signs of aging.

As he walked up to us, he immediately proceeded to kneel on one knee, his hand balled into a fist placed on his chest. “My sincerest apologies, my lady,” his voice deep and jagged. “We were not aware you were from the house of Ashvale.”

The rest of the archers in the trees started murmuring, chatting amongst themselves, an occasional voice cutting through the silence. “An Ashvale? I thought they were dead.”

“Forgive my men for their insolence,” the old man practically screamed, his eyes shooting toward the treeline. “But it has been years since someone of royal blood has ever appeared before us,” he added solemnly.

He stood up, casting glances at the rest of us before turning back toward Amber to speak. “M’lady, if you would be so kind as to reveal who you are and where you're headed. We have instructions to prevent anyone from passing beyond this point.”

“Are these instructions from Alaric?” She proceeded to turn the phoenix into a cloud of smoke and disappear with a wave of her hand.

“They are.”

“Then it’s best you do not pry into the matters of me or my companions,” Amber stated, then turned her back on him, signaling for the rest of us to follow.

We walked past the man, leaving him standing in the middle of the path, but his voice immediately cut through the silence.

“Ambrose Ashvale,” he called out, the sound ringing sharply from behind us. “Alaric may have the crown, but he does not command my loyalty.”

Hushed murmurs began to grow from the surrounding treelines. The man slowly reached up and took the veil from his face. A bearded man with a deep tan and a salt-and-pepper beard stood before us. He dropped to one knee, lowering his head.

“I, Lucius Van Moore, swore an oath to Arthur Ashvale,” he declared, his voice firm and unwavering, “and I will honor it as long as my heart beats. And so will the scouts under me.”

He flung an arm wide and yelled, “Scouts of Erevayn! Kneel!”

The cry was so sudden and loud it sent birds scattering from the treetops. Archers descended in a blur of movement, stepping out from the woods and lining up behind Lucius. One by one, they dropped to their knees until the snow-covered path was filled with nearly sixty archers, all kneeling in silent salute.

Amber walked up to him, her steps slow and steady. “You…knew my father?”

“I served under him during the fight for Erevayn,” he replied. “He saved the lives of countless people from Aldric’s forces during the war…and I was one of them.”

“H-how did you know who I was?” the desperation in her voice grew, her fists clenched.

“I have been waiting, your majesty…waiting for years. Your father’s last wish was for you and your mother to get to safety,” his voice croaked as he spoke, “and I tried as best as I could.”

“Yes, I remember now, scouts traveling with my mother and I all the way to the passageway,” Amber smiled, her head hung low. “You were amongst them, weren’t you?”

“I was.”

“Your loyalty means more than you know, Lucius,” Amber placed a hand to her chest. “Thank you.”

“Commander Lucius,” I spoke up from behind the both of them, “we must skip the reminiscing for now and head to Erevayn as soon as possible. A war approaches, and we must find a way to thwart Fredreich’s plans.”

“What do you mean?” he raised an eyebrow, his dark eyes curious for answers.

“Fredreich wishes to overthrow the king and claim Ur for himself,” I shook my head, recounting my experience with the mad king. “And we wish to seek an audience with Alaric to try and thwart his plans.”

He cast a glance back at his men before proceeding to walk closer to us. He whispered, “The royal court is in shambles, Alaric’s rule may not last for much longer, and now there’s a war?”

“Yes,” Faelar chimed in. “I’m a man that served as the commander of the royal guard; I can attest to what he says.”

Lucius’s brow tightened, his voice slightly louder. “And what are you doing here?”

“Repaying a debt,” Faelar snarked, “not that it concerns you.”

Sensing the tension, I was about to clear any misconception, but Amber spoke before I could. “Lucius, please, take us to Everayn for now. We’ll discuss all of this later.”

“Very well,” he sighed, his gaze softening as he stepped back. “We’ll lead you to a safehouse in Erevayn for you to rest.”

Amber nodded, her gaze fixed on the ground beneath her. “Thank you,” she said. “Please, lead the way.”