Cassie adjusted the leather-bound ledger in her grip, her knuckles stiff and aching from hours of work. Dietrich’s words lingered in her mind like a thorn embedded too deep to remove. No one is invincible. The phrase was a warning, but more than that, it felt like a test—a statement that dared her to prove him wrong.

The palace was alive with the commotion of preparation. She weaved through the crowded halls, deftly dodging squires with bundles of spears and servants hauling banners adorned with house sigils.

“Careful with that!” a voice barked, followed by a loud clang as a stack of shields toppled near the western corridor. The chaos stretched in all directions, but the noise barely registered in Cassie’s mind. Her focus was already on the armory and the task ahead—ensuring the Crown Prince’s equipment was flawless. There was no room for mistakes, especially now.

The door to the Crown Prince’s private armory swung shut behind her with a low creak. The sudden quiet pressed against her ears, a sharp contrast to the bustling halls outside. Cassie exhaled, taking a moment to steady herself before approaching the table at the center of the room.

A quiver of arrows lay open before her, the fletching neat and uniform under the warm light of the sconces. She set the ledger down carefully and reached for the first arrow.

Start small. Work systematically.

The advice, a memory from an old instructor’s gruff voice, surfaced unbidden. Cassie had followed it countless times in battle and training. It calmed her hands now as she turned the arrow over, inspecting its length with deliberate care.

The second arrow caught her attention.

Her brow furrowed as she traced the faint scratch along its shaft, almost imperceptible against the smooth wood. She rolled it between her fingers, testing its balance. The flaw was subtle but unmistakable, a weakness that could prove disastrous mid-flight.

Her stomach clenched. This isn’t accidental.

She moved quickly, setting aside the damaged arrows. By the time she examined the fourth, the pattern was clear. Whoever had tampered with the quiver had known exactly what they were doing.

“Too clever to be sloppy,” she muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible in the stillness of the room.

Her fingers brushed the fresh arrows stored in the rack beside her. She pulled out replacements, checking each one carefully before sliding them into the quiver. Her movements were swift, efficient. There was no time to dwell on the implications—not yet.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

As she worked, her thoughts began to unravel the possibilities.

This wasn’t random.

The sabotage was precise, calculated. Was it an attempt to discredit Theodoric during the competition? Or something more dangerous—a bid to weaken him in a moment where power was on full display?

Cassie’s jaw tightened. Whoever was behind this, they had assumed no one would notice.

She placed the quiver back on the table, her hand lingering for a moment on the polished wood.

“I noticed,” she whispered, her voice steady.

She left the armory without a backward glance, but the tension coiled in her chest didn’t ease. The palace was a battlefield, and she had just found the first mine waiting to explode.

By late afternoon, the palace’s largest courtyard had transformed into a makeshift arena. Rows of nobles lined the edges, their chatter rising and falling as they admired the grand displays of weapons and beasts.

Cassie stood at the periphery, close enough to observe but far enough to remain unobtrusive. Her hands rested lightly behind her back, her posture straight as she scanned the crowd. The Crown Prince stood near the center, his black and gold attire cutting a stark figure against the vibrant banners overhead.

The courtyard’s attention turned to a new arrival. Dietrich stepped forward, his every movement calculated to command focus. Behind him, handlers led an enormous beast into the courtyard, its armored hide glinting in the sunlight. The creature’s head swiveled, its glowing eyes scanning the crowd with unsettling intelligence.

“This,” Dietrich began, his voice carrying easily over the crowd, “is the culmination of years of breeding and training. Strength, speed, and ferocity—all in perfect harmony.”

The beast snarled on cue, revealing a maw full of serrated teeth. The audience murmured their approval, a few even clapping.

Cassie’s gaze remained fixed on Dietrich. He smiled as he addressed the crowd, but his eyes were on Theodoric, his unspoken challenge clear.

The crowd shifted slightly as Dietrich approached the Crown Prince, his steps slow and deliberate. The tension between them was palpable, the air growing heavier with each passing moment.

“You’re quiet today, Theodoric,” Dietrich said, his tone light but needling. “One might think you were nervous.”

Theodoric turned to face him, his expression as cold and impassive as ever. “Nervousness,” he said evenly, “is for those unprepared.”

Dietrich chuckled softly, his gaze flicking toward the handlers still struggling to contain the beast. “A fair point. Preparation is key. Though I wonder... have you done enough?”

The words carried a veiled threat, one that drew the attention of the nearby nobles. Cassie watched the exchange carefully, her own tension mirroring that of the crowd.

Dietrich’s smile widened as his gaze landed on her. “Your servant seems as disciplined as ever,” he said, his tone sharp with mockery. “Tell me, Theodoric, is she your secret weapon?”

Theodoric’s eyes didn’t move, but his tone was biting when he replied. “I find loyalty and competence far more valuable than theatrics.”

Dietrich raised his eyebrows, his smirk deepening. “Well said, brother. But in the end, words won’t be what decide this competition.”

As the demonstration concluded, Theodoric turned away from his brother, his gaze sweeping briefly toward Cassie. He didn’t speak, but his eyes held a silent command, one she understood immediately.

Cassie inclined her head, a small gesture of acknowledgment.

The crowd began to disperse, nobles murmuring their predictions for the competition. Cassie remained in place for a moment longer, her focus narrowing. Whatever games were being played here, she would be ready.