"Prince Zane should never have left the palace. I warned of the risks," Lord Halen, Zane's maternal uncle, expressed his frustration vehemently. The palace was in turmoil following Commander Titus's death and Prince Zane's disappearance. However, a glimmer of hope sparked with a letter from the Prince, only to be extinguished when General Idris returned alone, without Zane.

Upon tracking Zane to the Marshal outpost, General Idris discovered a grim scene: the lifeless bodies of Marshals scattered throughout. Despite extensive searches by both General Idris and the palace's Myrathian reinforcements, Prince Zane remained elusive. The General Idris's report of a Thrayan assault nudged the kingdom to the verge of conflict.

Lord Cairn interjected, emphasizing on upcoming danger. "Prince Zane's security is paramount, yet we must also brace for the possibility of his capture by Thrayan forces."

Master Dhruva advocated for aggressive measures: "The Thrayans must be taught a lesson. Their survival is solely due to King Vrihat's peace decree. Reverting to our former might will ensure the Eastern Lands' submission."

King Vrihat, seated at the council's heart, grappled with the unfolding crisis, striving for equilibrium amidst the storm of counsel.

Lady Elara, tried to be the voice of reason, suggested a pause for reflection: "Consideration is crucial. War benefits none. Should the Thrayans possess the prince, they'd have already used him to resurrect Taraka. A more exhaustive search might lead us to Prince Zane before our enemies do."

Lord Cairn voiced concerns over timing: "any delay could prove catastrophic for the Eastern Lands."

Lord Halen, exasperated, questioned the council's priorities: "Does Prince Zane's well-being hold no value here?"

"We are concerned," Lord Cairn assured, "but the fate of the entire Eastern Lands hangs in the balance."

Commander Arcantheus and General Idris, stationed near the council table, observed the heated debate silently.

General Idris, her voice steady but firm, raised a concern, "Launching an assault on the Temple of Sands would be tantamount to declaring war. It's a stronghold of Thrayan military might, and many across the Eastern Lands still harbor deep-seated resentment towards us."

Master Dhruva, with a dismissive chuckle, questioned her hesitation, "Is the prospect of conflict daunting, Idris? Do you fear the outcomes of war?" His tone dripped with underlying skepticism of her leadership based on gender biases.

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Commander Arcantheus, seasoned and solemn, countered, "Fear has no place in a Myrathian's heart, war, however, exacts a heavy toll - a reality known all too well by those of us who've lost comrades in battle. It's a cost measured in lives, not courage. You would know if you had fought any."

Lord Cairn, pondering the dilemma, sought a different approach, "Is there a way to seize control of the Temple of Sands without plunging the Eastern Lands into full-scale war?"

Lady Elara outlined a cunning plan, "The Temple of Sands, currently under the watch of Thraya's passive king, is also a point of contention among factions within Thraya itself. If we could discreetly support one of these extreme factions, making it appear as an internal power struggle, we might secure the temple without casting Myrathia as the aggressor, thus steering clear of an outright war. "

Lord Cairn, intrigued, asked, "Which faction? And how do we approach them?"

Continuing, Lady Elara explained, "I know a man, Jatasur. As the temple priest's exiled son, he's well-connected internally. His extreme faction, notorious for its radical aims and rumored to have sacrificed many for Taraka's cause, could be our entry point."

"Which extreme faction? How do we reach them?" Lord Cairn was curious.

Lady Elara continued, "I know just the man, his name is Jatasur. He is the son of the Temple priest and knows people inside. He had been thrown out by the Thrayan King years ago. If we get support of covert Myrathian soldiers, he can take the Temple for us."

"Are you serious?" Lord Halen was shocked to hear about supporting Jatasur to take over the Temple of Sands. "He is the worst amongst them all, his sole focus is bringing back Taraka. There is a rumor that his madness to revive Taraka had led to the sacrifice of many innocent Myrathians. How does the Temple of Sands under his control in any way stop Taraka's resurrection?"

Lady Elara elegantly agreed, "Yes, he is the worst, and that is the reason only he can take the Temple of Sands from the Thrayan army."

Lord Cairn, building on this strategy, proposed a subsequent phase: "Following this covert operation, we could then position the Myrathian army to reclaim control from these factions under the pretense of restoring peace. This would allow us to legitimize our presence and actions in the eyes of the Eastern Lands."

Lady Elara shook her head in agreement, "Exactly, we use Jatasur only to show our attack on the Temple of Sands as genuine."

"Is this mission within your capabilities, Commander?" King Vrihat queried.

Arcantheus considered, "Perhaps, with our new recruits, who haven't been officially inducted into the Myrathian Elite Army yet."

General Idris countered, "They're too inexperienced for such a complex infiltration."

Arcantheus replied, "Anyone else would be easily traced back to us."

King Vrihat made a decisive statement, "You have three days to prepare the recruits for this mission."

Thus, in the small room, a dubious plan was set in place a covert gambit: to support the extremists of the Thrayan kingdom to take over the Temple of Sands and then send official Myrathian soldiers to take back the Temple under the pretext of maintaining peace.