As Arphaxad and the others approached the ruins of the White Castle, they were confronted with a scene of chaos and confusion. The soldiers of the duchy, clearly disoriented and frightened by the divine light explosion emanated by Kal, were hastily abandoning their post, fearing the ancient building could collapse at any moment under the immense power of that mana manifestation.

Realizing the opportunity, Arphaxad decided to act. He instructed Eron and the girls to remain safely outside the ruins while he himself would enter to look for Kal. The soldiers' rout strengthened his suspicion that Kal could be inside, possibly left to die or gravely injured after the confrontation that had triggered such a phenomenon.

Moving with caution but determination, Arphaxad penetrated the castle ruins. The location was silent, the echoes of the fugitive soldiers' steps still resonating through the ancient walls. As he advanced, the warrior kept his senses alert, looking not only for Kal but also attentive to possible remaining dangers that could be lurking in the shadows of the partially destroyed castle.

In the grand throne room in Volkaron, the tension was palpable. Queen Regent Alexandria, ruling the kingdom in the absence of her husband King Vermillion whose health had been gravely compromised after a battle against Morfrey, now faced a crisis that threatened the stability of her reign.

The assembled nobles, some of the most powerful in the kingdom, murmured among themselves, surprised and unsettled by the queen's revelations. The accusation that Princess Elanor, Alexandria's own daughter, had conspired against the crown was explosive information, especially considering Elanor counted on the support of influential lords Anari and Flowers.

"How did you come to this conclusion, my queen?" questioned one of the nobles, his voice reflecting the disbelief and shock permeating the room. The possibility of treason within the royal family and among the closest allies was something that shook the foundations of the kingdom.

Alexandria, with the serenity of a ruler accustomed to power games, raised a small papyrus. "Luck, the Bloody Blade, was my spy and watched my daughter closely. Before being killed by Elanor and her friends from Nannu, he sent me this letter explaining everything," she revealed, holding the papyrus in a way that all could see but not enough to read.

The mention of Luck, known among the nobles as an efficient spy and assassin, only added credibility to her claim. His death at Elanor's hands, if proven, would be a clear sign of a deep and dangerous plot against the crown.

The nobles, now facing the reality of a possible civil war or coup, began to stir. Political alliances and loyalties were being tested in real time. Some may have been pondering their own safety and position within a kingdom on the brink of chaos, while others may have been considering how they could use this crisis to their advantage.

Queen Alexandria, despite the turmoil, remained steadfast. "We must act, and fast. We cannot allow our family and our kingdom to be torn apart by unchecked ambitions. I ask for all of your support to bring Elanor to justice and restore peace and order in Volkaron," she concluded, with a gaze sweeping the room, challenging each noble to declare their position.

At this critical juncture, the decisions made in that room would determine the kingdom's future, with potential repercussions that could change the fate of many both within and outside Volkaron's walls.

The throne room was filled with tension and suspicions as the nobles examined the papyrus delivered by Queen Alexandria. The veracity of the handwriting, recognized by many as belonging to Luck, "The Bloody Blade", began to weigh on the doubts that initially permeated the meeting. The accusation of a conspiracy to usurp the throne was taking shape, making the atmosphere even heavier.

However, among those present, the handmaiden, whose heart secretly held unrequited feelings for Luck, felt torn. She knew another side of Luck, a passionate and loyal man, and had difficulty reconciling the image of the traitor spy with the man she knew could love Princess Elanor deeply. To her, the idea that Luck could have acted against Elanor under the queen's orders seemed incompatible with the love he felt for the princess.

The handmaiden pondered in silence about the complexity of human feelings and the palace intrigues involving people she knew and admired. She decided that as soon as the meeting ended, she would seek out Princess Elanor to tell her everything she had heard, hoping perhaps there was some misunderstanding or explanation that could clarify the accusations.

Meanwhile, the nobles continued debating the implications of the queen's revelations. "As you could read in this letter, the lords conspired with the princess to take the throne and so we must decide what to do about this treason!" declared Alexandria, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

"I still cannot believe it, Princess Elanor has always been an exemplary person, my daughters adore her!" protested one of the nobles, expressing his difficulty accepting the idea that someone so esteemed and respected could be involved in such a conspiracy.

"I think this may be true, since she was an only child for a long time, believing she would inherit her father's throne, but after the birth of Prince Flamarion, she was sidelined. This could have bred a feeling of revenge and rebellion in the princess!" argued another noble, trying to understand the motivations behind Elanor's alleged acts.

The meeting was becoming a cauldron of theories and speculation, each noble trying to align the new information with their own experiences and loyalties. The decision on how to proceed would require not just wisdom and discernment but also a careful assessment of loyalties and the balance of power within the Kingdom of Volkaron.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

As the crisis deepened in the Kingdom of Volkaron, the situation was becoming increasingly delicate. Queen Alexandria's summoning of an emergency meeting reflected the gravity of the moment, an encounter that could definitively alter the course of the kingdom's future. Each noble departed with the awareness of the weight of the decisions that would soon be made.

That same night, moved by a sense of justice and concern, the handmaiden decided to act. She made her way to Princess Elanor's chambers to reveal the accusations that had been raised during the meeting. Upon hearing the handmaiden's words, the princess was visibly disturbed. The idea that her own mother might be plotting against her with such grave accusations was frightening and cast a shadow over everything Elanor thought she knew about her family and governance of her kingdom.

Elanor, confused by her mother's apparent hatred of the royal family of Nannu, especially considering her own family ties to that kingdom, felt betrayed and isolated. The situation required quick and decisive action. Without wasting time, the princess sent letters to the reliable Lords Anari and Flowers, her allies who had fought by her side in the battle of Alnuum against Morfrey's forces. It was crucial to mobilize support, not only for her defense but to ensure balance and stability in Volkaron.

With the political pieces moving quickly, Elanor began devising a strategy to thwart her mother's plans and ensure the nobles did not hand Volkaron's power over to Alexandria without considering all consequences. The princess knew the next actions she chose could define not just her fate but that of the entire kingdom. She needed to act with intelligence and caution, balancing diplomacy with readiness for conflict, prepared to rival her own mother in a dangerous game of power and influence.

In Bercuranon, after some time searching the cells without finding Kal, he returned to where Eron and the girls were waiting outside. There, visibly frustrated, Arphaxad remembered the promise he had made to Suzannah to watch over Kal and began to despair. Eron, who normally focused his attention on his board games, remembered a history book he had read about Tenai. He recalled that chapter 17 spoke about the White Castle. "The book said the old kings had created underground passages and secret halls in the castle sublevels. With the castle's fall, some passages were concealed and others revealed - we just need to mentally retrace Kal's steps," said Eron.

Regaining hope of finding Kal, Arphaxad praised Eron's intelligence, "You're quite the nerd, boy!". "Since Kal didn't want to reveal himself, he probably took another path avoiding the main entrance to the cells," Eron continued pensively. "He likely sought a passage that would let him enter unnoticed... Perhaps over there!" Eron concluded, pointing to a small moss-covered passage that led to a crevice in the rocks where Eron was able to feel the breeze on his face.

As they approached, Eron felt a fresh breeze hitting his face, a clear sign that there was an open space beyond that narrow entrance. With the help of torches, they cautiously entered the passageway. The air inside was damp and cold, a striking contrast to the outer environment. The walls were irregular, indicating the path may have been formed both by natural erosion and human intervention at some point in history.

As they advanced, the way became narrower and more complex, revealing the underground passages were more than mere service corridors; they were an elaborate network of routes that could have served multiple purposes, from secret escapes to transport routes during times of siege or conflict.

Arphaxad, still anxious but with renewed hope, remained attentive to any sign that could indicate which way Kal had gone. Eron, with his historical knowledge, tried to deduce the logic behind the passages' construction, hoping to predict where they might lead.

"Besides feeling the breeze, I also smell blood, likely Kal's. We should follow the scent and we're sure to find him!" Eron concluded, prompting Arphaxad to take the lead and continue following.

Guided by the smell of blood and determination to find Kal, Arphaxad and Eron advanced through the narrow passage they discovered was the same one where Kal had fallen. Carefully, they tied a rope and descended to the entrance of the mausoleum, prepared for anything they might find inside.

Upon arriving, Eron, who had shown knowledge of the ancient language, approached the large sealed door with enigmatic inscriptions. Remembering the words he had read, he murmured: "At varmu obania ga ur irech". To everyone's surprise, the door obeyed the command and slowly opened, revealing Kal lying unconscious and visibly mutilated inside the mausoleum.

The scene was desolate, and Arphaxad, driven by the urgency of the situation, quickly picked up Kal in his arms. He knew they had to act fast to save his friend's life. Despite Eron's quick analysis, noting Kal had stopped bleeding and his condition, while grave, seemed strangely stable, Arphaxad insisted they needed immediate medical care.

"He may not be bleeding, but we can't risk it. He needs proper attention," argued Arphaxad, deciding the best course of action was to take Kal to a safe place where he could be properly treated. Eron agreed, understanding his friend's concern.

But Eron, still pensive, said, "You know the whole city is likely full of the Duchy's soldiers - going back there would be risky for all of us.". Arphaxad, realizing Eron was right, started thinking of a way to find help for Kal. "Going back to Nannu would be out of the question, it would take days and Kal may not last!" he thought when he remembered Hadon, the man Kal was going to visit, was probably the closest and safest place from there.

With the decision made to take Kal to Hadon's house, Arphaxad, Eron, Draka and the other little girl prepared for an almost two day journey on horseback to the western extreme of the Duchy of Saladon. The urgency of the situation demanded speed, and Eron suggested they go to his village, known for its swift horses and adequate resources for a long trip.

Reaching the village at dawn, Eron used his local contacts to acquire not only the horses but also the provisions needed to sustain the group during the journey. Despite fatigue and worry, Eron's efficiency in organizing the departure provided temporary relief, giving everyone a sense of purpose and direction.

Draka and the other little girl, both affected by past traumas involving the Duchy's soldiers, felt particularly vulnerable. However, the presence of Arphaxad and Eron offered a sense of security even amidst the imminence of a long trip through potentially dangerous territories.

With preparations complete, the group set off toward Hadon's lands. The journey promised to be challenging, crossing varied and potentially hostile landscapes. The western route crossed plains, forests and small streams, a mosaic of terrain that would test the endurance of both horses and travelers.

During the journey, the group maintained a steady pace, alternating periods of trotting with brief stops to rest and feed the horses. Conversations were generally light, focused on immediate plans and discussions about what they expected to find at Hadon's house. Eron, with his knowledge of the area and navigation skills along with his intelligence, led the way, while Arphaxad remained alert for any sign of danger, especially protecting the children in the group.

As they approached Hadon's lands, the scenery began to change, becoming more rugged and less inhabited. Hadon lived in isolation, preferring the solitude of the borderlands, a place where few ventured without good reason.