Sevidon perched on the edge of the table, as he gazed upon the gloomy clouds outside the windows, his fingers tapping out an irregular rhythm. The morning meeting with the main commanders was in full swing, but his thoughts had drifted far from the discussion. He glanced at Aderon, who was speaking, but the words seemed distant, muffled, as if heard through a thick fog.

“Sevidon!” Aderon’s sharp voice cut through the haze, snapping him back to attention.

All eyes turned to him. “Are you alright?” Kaira’s concerned voice broke through the fog in his mind, but he only managed a slow nod, as if emerging from a trance.

“What was it you were asking?” he asked, his voice slow and distant.

“Did you hear what I just said?” Aderon’s tone was stern, demanding his full attention.

“I’m sorry, my mind was elsewhere,” he admitted, trying to focus again.

“Is it a woman? Back home?” Aderon’s question caught him off guard. “Do you even have a woman? You seem to be not the type, though. Either way, I don’t care. You need to put your mind here,” Aderon insisted, punctuating his words with sharp gestures towards the table.

He struggled to find an answer, nodding silently as he tried to gather his thoughts.

“Leave him be, Aderon,” Glaivel interjected, coming to his defense. He exchanged a tense look with Aderon.

“Are Hawis like that, or only the Karinhawi ones?” Aderon pressed, but he remained silent, his gaze fixed on the paper in front of him.

“Enough, Aderon,” Glaivel’s voice cut through the tension, commanding attention. “Let’s move on to the next topic at hand, shall we?” He turned his gaze to the others. “I understand that Tamiron sent us a message?”

“That’s right. Let’s get this over with,” Aderon agreed, signaling to the Owl Handler to proceed. A projection of Tamiron appeared before them.

“As you may have been aware, I’ve been absent from the front lines. Now, I can tell you why.” Tamiron’s voice crackled through the projection, his tone steeped in urgency. “The Empire was recently attacked, presumably by a group of raiders or rebel forces. I’ve been recalled to deal with the situation.”

The news landed like a blow, hanging heavy in the air, casting a shadow over the gathered commanders. his mind raced, his thoughts consumed by the implications of the attack. If he recalled correctly, any signs of rebellion had been quashed in the first years of the Queen Empress’s young reign. The sudden resurgence of violence troubled him deeply.

Then, like a bolt of lightning, he remembered the attack on the Mystic Falcons. The pieces began to click together, forming a grim picture in his mind. The timing was too convenient, too synchronized to be mere coincidence.

“These attacks are widespread,” Aderon interjected, his brow furrowed in contemplation. “I’ve also received word that the Kra’ens were attacked. Graveloth informed me during our last conversation when he told me they are on their way.”

His breath caught in his throat. The news hit him like a physical blow. It couldn’t be a coincidence, not with the Empire and the Mystic Falcons both targeted, and now the Kra’ens too. Something sinister was happening behind the scenes.

As Aderon’s words sank in, he felt a chill run down his spine. The pieces were falling into place, forming a disturbing pattern that he couldn’t ignore. There was a calculated purpose behind these attacks, and it spelled trouble for them all.

“Should we expect similar attacks in our kingdoms?” Kaira’s voice held a note of concern.

“It might be wise to warn them,” Aderon suggested. “We can’t afford to have a second front open up.”

“I just don’t understand who would dare to launch such an attack,” Glaivel said, his confusion evident. “Why now? And why target our home kingdoms?”

“Sire, we are getting a second message from the Mystic King,” the Owl handler announced.

“Put him through,” Aderon ordered, and the projection immediately changed to Ravaen, who appeared visibly agitated.

“Ravaen, how’s everything on your side? Do you have an update for us?” Aderon inquired.

“Yes, I do. Is Everess there?” Ravaen’s voice was urgent.

“No, why?” Aderon replied, a note of concern creeping into his voice.

“I need you to promise me that none of what I’m about to tell you will reach her. Does everyone understand?” Ravaen’s tone was grave.

“What is going on? What are you talking about?” he asked, his attention fully captured.

“Everess, it was her!” Ravaen’s voice cracked with emotion. “She attacked us! I don’t know why, but I’m certain it was her!”

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“That is a serious accusation, Ravaen. Just because she angered you during our last meeting doesn’t mean she’s responsible for everything that’s happened,” Aderon interrupted, attempting to diffuse the tension.

But it was clear that Ravaen was not about to let the matter go unquestioned.

“Ravaen, why don’t you tell us what happened,” he urged, his tone gentle but firm.

“Ahktum Temple was attacked by an Orderian!” Ravaen’s voice cracked with emotion. “I found the same substance, that pinkish goo, all over the temple. Remember Everess admitting to wiping out that town? I saw the same goo there! My men saw it too! It was her!” His words hung in the air, shocking everyone in the room. “Do not trust her!”

“Ravaen, you can’t just make that kind of claim without any concrete proof,” Glaivel pointed out, his voice steady. “Plus, she’s been prepping her own forces to begin the siege of Oroz’Kram.”

“I am telling you now. Keep a close eye on her and on every Orderian Magister and troops. When I get back there, I will pull my own forces out.”

“Wait, you are overreacting—”

“My own people died!” Ravaen cut Aderon off, his voice rising with frustration. “In the hands of someone we trust! Now you are telling me I’m overreacting?” His laughter was bitter and mocking, and before anyone could respond, the projection disappeared.

“What happened?” Aderon turned to the Owl Handler, seeking answers.

“I don’t know, Sire. The Mystic King must’ve ended it,” the Owl Handler said, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Aderon took a deep breath, as he doesn’t know how to react.

For him however, his mind already racing. They were already stretched thin, and now this. He had been contemplating the movements and formations for their upcoming siege, but now everything seemed even more precarious. They were stretched too thin, and he felt the weight of it all pressing down on all of them.

“These attacks cannot be the work of rebels. They wouldn’t be foolish enough to drag neighboring kingdoms into their problems,” Glaivel reasoned. “Should we listen to Ravaen’s warning about the Orderians?”

“We can’t afford to act on that right now. Let us keep this information to ourselves. We’re already occupied at the eastern fronts,” Aderon said wearily, rubbing his forehead. The stress was palpable.

“I suggest all of you fortify your temples or other places that hold importance within your realms. Anything that might be useful to an enemy, no matter how absurd, should be secured. They might come for us next. I’ll give you all time to relay this message to your respective kingdoms,” Aderon declared, rising from his seat, signaling the end of the meeting.

“Wait, Aderon,” Kaira called out as he was about to leave, desperation evident in her voice. “May I take leave as well? I need to inform the Mistrell of this personally.”

Aderon paused, then gently held her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Kaira, but you and your army, along with your Arad-Assassins, are too important here in the camp. Without you, we won’t have the necessary intel or results,” he explained, giving her shoulder a reassuring pat. “Communicate with them using the owls. It’s the best option for everyone.”

“Aderon, please, let me go,” Kaira pleaded, her voice tinged with urgency.

“I said no, Kaira. I can’t have everyone suddenly going home, especially after the recent insubordination I just got. I can’t let you do this, and that is final,” Aderon said sternly, watching as Kaira left the room.

The tension in all of them was evident, and it was clear that the recent attacks were weighing heavily on everyone’s minds. He glanced at Aderon, who seemed deep in thought, grappling with the best course of action.

“Aderon, I suggest you speak with Tamiron about Shadows. It may be of use to you,” he suggested, breaking the heavy silence.

Aderon nodded. “I will, thank you.”

He then quickly followed Kaira, finding her as she paced away, clearly upset with Aderon’s decision.

“Are you alright?” he asked as he caught up with her.

“I’m just worried about home, that’s all,” Kaira said, her voice tinged with frustration.

“We don’t have a choice. We can’t afford to let anyone leave right now. We are preparing for a big siege, so I kind of agree with Aderon on this one,” Sevidon said, trying to reassure her.

“I’ll just go back to my camp. I need to inform Mother about the situation,” Kaira said, then she left as well.

“Yeah, go ahead,” he replied, his voice heavy with concern.

“Do you have no temple back in your kingdom that needs the same thing?” Kaira suddenly asked him.

He felt a knot form in his stomach. He didn’t know how to react. All he could do was swallow hard and give Kaira a reassuring pat on the arm before leaving the room.

As he walked along the keep, soldiers bustled around him, busy with their own preparations. He tried to silence the nagging thought of Kaira’s question, but it lingered in his mind like a shadow.

Then he remembered what day it was—today. The thought echoed in his mind, clouding it with memories of the past. It was always this day that haunted him, filled with things long gone but never forgotten.

He leaned his arms on the table, taking deep breaths, trying to clear his mind of self-doubt.

“Why are you alone here?” Glaivel suddenly asked, appearing beside him. Sevidon hadn’t noticed him there, and his irritation grew as he heard his voice.

Sevidon looked at him, and it was evident that anger was all he felt towards him that day.

“Are you thinking about that?” he asked, catching Sevidon’s attention. Sevidon’s expression turned dark, and he scratched his head nervously. “I was right then,” he continued. “It’s always this day, huh? The day that you are not yourself.”

“Stop it,” Sevidon snapped, looking away.

“How long has it been? I honestly can’t remember—”

“I said stop it!” Sevidon suddenly shouted, Everyone there was shocked, surprised to the point that stopped where they stood. No one knows how to react as he saw everyone around them.

“Forgive me,” he said as Sevidon tried to calm down.

“Do you honestly think that you will be forgiven?” Sevidon’s voice was filled with bitterness. He felt ashamed for letting Sevidon talk.

“Do you honestly think that what you said and will say right now, what you have been saying to me all these years, will change anything?” Sevidon walked towards him, his anger palpable.

“I know what I did, and I am so sorry. But I had no choice. I wanted to protect you,” he tried to explain, but Sevidon wouldn’t listen, not now, not ever.

“I will not hear the same excuse over and over again, Glaivel. Because of you, I was banished! Because of you, I lost my home!” Sevidon grabbed him by the collar, his grip tight, his eyes filled with rage. “Because of you, I lost her. You betrayed us, you betrayed me. And for that, I died too that day, and I will never forget that.” With that, Sevidon threw him to the ground and stormed out of the room.

Some of the soldiers finally intervened and tried to break them off, but he waved them off. Sevidon finally lets him go and proceeded to leave.

He took a deep breath and sighed heavily, reflecting on the encounter. After all these years, everything was still the same for Sevidon. He could never forget that day.

Today was Uareagar — the day he killed Sevidon, his brother, and his race of men lover with an arrow plunged into her back.

End of Chapter XVIII