Lady Amber stood by the window; her gaze fixed on the charming fishing village of Ranwith that stretched out before her. The village exuded a rustic charm, with its quaint cottages nestled around the shore, with the soothing sound of waves crashing against the nearby docks. It was a perfect hideaway where she’d sought solace in the past and has welcomed her once again.
But now, the passage of time had left its mark on Ranwith. The once-idyllic beauty seemed tainted, as the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Workers hurried about their tasks, their focus solely on their duties, oblivious to Lady Amber's presence.
With the current state of the world, it seemed that even the beauty of this place had been overshadowed by the demands of the world outside. Though Ranwith may no longer be the perfect refuge it once was, Lady Amber resolved to find strength within herself.
With a sigh, Lady Amber turned away from the window, her gaze still lingering on the village. She knew her role. Despite being overlooked and underestimated, she possessed a burning determination to set things right. It was this passion she shared with her husband.
"They seem to be approaching from Kroth, Lady Amber," Coffin, the loyal messenger whom her husband had trusted since boyhood, reported. His voice quivered as he relayed the message.
As Coffin delivered the news, Lady Amber couldn't help but feel a sharp pang of sorrow. The look in Coffin's eyes when he uttered those words felt like a splinter piercing her heart. Her husband, once a loyal General, had turned his back on the tyrannical King when he learned of the madness that he was about to be unleashed upon their own kingdom. He had been on the brink of staging a revolution, hoping to avert disaster. However, fate had a cruel twist in store for him.
The very thing her husband had fought against became his own prison. The King, fearing the power and influence of her husband had within the city, ordered his spies to taint the encampments' water supply with the insidious Nahm tonic. The once-loyal soldiers had been transformed into mindless slaves, completely under the King's control. Her heart sunk when she heard that her husband too was lost, permanently enslaved by the tonic.
Yet not all his men’s minds were gone.
Soon whispers spread to the King’s ears. Some of the General's men had sought refuge with his wife. So, the King grew paranoid and issued a chilling command. Ordering the General to march against Lady Amber and his family.
Lady Amber's hands trembled, her mind racing to find a solution in the face of imminent danger. She knew that time was running out, and the lives of everyone around her hung in the balance.
Yet in the pit of darkness, she found herself in. There was a ray of light.
Little Cody, a bundle of energy with his blonde hair in desperate need of a cut, was engrossed in a game with her own daughter. The innocence and joy radiated from their laughter as they chased each other. Lady Amber couldn't help but smile at the sight, cherishing this fleeting moment of happiness amidst the uncertainty.
A steely resolve settled in Lady Amber's eyes as she locked gazes with Coffin, the loyal messenger her husband had trusted since boyhood. Time was of the essence, and she needed answers.
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"When's Fredrickson due to arrive?" she asked.
Coffin's response was swift and confident. "Scouts say he's on the move, milady. He'll be here within the hour."
Lady Amber's mind raced. "And the ship? Is it ready to launch?"
Coffin's nod was both assured and respectful. "Yes, milady. Your men are either guarding the ship or tirelessly cleaning it to ensure a smooth departure."
Lady Amber acknowledged Coffin's efforts with a curt nod. She had chosen her trusted allies well, and their dedication to the cause didn’t go unnoticed. A strange mix of pride and apprehension swelled within her as she realised the extent of her command and the responsibility she carried.
Her inner resolve solidified, and she issued orders to the servants, directing them to swiftly gather all the willing people to board onto the ship. Every moment counted, and she couldn't afford any delays.
As the townspeople of Ranwith bid their farewells and the last man was secured on the ship, Lady Amber felt a sense of finality wash over her. The decision to embark on this perilous voyage seemed to seal her fate.
Just as the ship was prepared to set sail, Fredrickson finally arrived. Lady Amber's gaze met his, a mixture of relief and determination emanating from them both. There was no turning back now.
As Fredrickson stepped onto the ship, the weight of grave news hung heavy in the air. Lady Amber and the others anxiously awaited his report, their eyes filled with apprehension and fear.
"The King has unleashed the tonic upon the city," Fredrickson announced, his voice spiked with a mix of sorrow and anger. The shocking revelation sent a wave of gasps and murmurs rippling through the ship. As the gravity of the situation sank in, the reality of their rapidly deteriorating world becoming all too clear.
"But there's something else," Fredrickson continued. Lady Amber leaned forward; her eyes fixed on him. She needed any glimmer of hope, no matter how faint.
"I heard a peculiar tale before the tonic was released," Fredrickson revealed, pausing for a moment before continuing. "A man in the western lands killed a slaver, and somehow, the power of the tonic dissolved."
Lady Amber's eyes widened. "Is such a thing even possible?"
Fredrickson nodded, gesturing towards the two children who still leaned over the ship's side, oblivious to the weight of the conversation.
"Perhaps Cody is the only proof we have," he replied.
Excitement on the children's faces sparked a flicker of possibility within Lady Amber's heart.
Lost in her thoughts, Lady Amber mumbled to herself, her words barely audible.
She turned up once more with steel in her gaze. "And the King? What about him?"
Fredrickson chuckled softly, his eyes filled with a knowing glint. "As it turns out, the King is making his way to Branside," he revealed.
Lady Amber couldn't contain her surprise at the unexpected turn of events.
"He believes the rumours of the slaver killer, claiming that he is none other than a dragon," Fredrickson said, clearly amused.
Lady Amber scrunched up her face in disbelief. "A dragon? That's hard to believe.”
Fredrickson shrugged, his expression revealing his own doubts. "Whether it's true or not, it's what the King believes, and that's what matters.”
Lady Amber's mind raced with the implications. "And what does that mean for us?"
"The King intends to confront the man personally in the area," Fredrickson replied, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "This might be our only chance."
A gasp escaped Lady Amber's lips. "And my husband?" she asked, her voice trembling with worry.
Fredrickson's gaze softened. "He’ll be here within a few hours. Scouts have left him some parting gifts to hinder his progress, but it won't delay him for long."
Lady Amber nodded, a mix of determination and fear settling in her heart. Time was running out, but there was a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos. They had to seize this opportunity, even if it meant facing unimaginable challenges and uncertainties that lay ahead.
The crew stood at the ready, their expressions mirroring the gravity of the situation. With a resolute nod, Lady Amber took her place on the ship with the two children, knowing that they were sailing into battle.
As the anchor was lifted and the ship began its slow departure, Lady Amber cast a final glance at the fading silhouette of the quaint fishing village of Ranwith.