The Imperial Domain, the heart of the forest, the heart of the Emerald Kingdom, where Irvanon is built, the seat of power of the Broken Empire.

Situated deep in the Kingdom, the Imperial Domain lies between the province of Farborgn to the north, Ilahi to the east, the mountains of the Rides Dorsales to the south, and the rest of the Kingdom to the west. The Domain is split in two, from its capital Irvanon in the North to Sar Lake by the Veracity mountain range.

The city was built where Zarune touched the world, using the pride of Eldarion, it gave birth to the Tree of Pride, where the Palace of the Empire sits. The city was built on high ground, using the huge trees as structures, the wood and roots of which serve as roads. Here sits the ruling house of Eldar, the same one that gave the name to our people, ruling over them since the day Karrus first opened his eyes.

With their hands, they hold together the fragments of the Broken Empire, so that although broken, it still stands. With their voice, they remind the Eldars of what they were, what they are and what they will be. With their wise eyes, they observe, judge, and love. Here is the heart of the Eldar, and none is more powerful than they.

Book, The Emerald Kingdom, Prerogative of the Houses.

The interior of the building was enormous. Unlike the Eldars dwellings Leila was used to, the interior was devoid of any furnishings other than utilitarian ones. No decorations, statues, sculptures, tapestries, flowers, trees or sofas. Just stone and wood for purely functional purposes. She imagined it was a form of beauty all her own. Simplicity.

Their group had separated again, leaving only the prince's and princess's principal officers to follow them.

f their interior was empty, the building was a real labyrinth, Leila could see corridors that ended in cul-de-sacs, with holes in the walls, like what she could see in castles. She couldn't remember the names of these things. In any case, the Eldars apparently did not trust the giant walls of the fortress enough, as they had turned the buildings that made it up into death traps. Conquering the walls would only be the first step in conquering the fortress, and then it would be necessary to attack miniature fortresses and conquer them one by one. Miniature compared to the Jengai fortress as a whole. In reality, each building looked like a castle in itself.

All this to say that their journey through the corridors was still going on, again. The Eldars liked to walk their guests. Contrary to what Leila thought, the command centre of the fortress was not high up, but deep underground.

Finally, they arrived and the welcome was everything the Eldars were used to her. Again, Leila was not surprised. She glanced lazily at the officers present, the soldiers and the estafettes waiting, ignoring their hostile looks. She recognised the Prince Consort at a glance. Such red hair was hard to forget.

Contrary to what she thought, it was not he who spoke when they arrived.

- Good, you're here. Come closer, we have little time.

The Eldar in question didn't even glance at them, preferring to remain focused on the huge table in the centre of the room where a map of the region was placed. The man was huge, with powerful muscles, but apart from that, he was the banalest Eldar Leila had ever met, with short cut brown hair, and dull brown eyes. A face, still with that same sharp-edged Eldar charm, but one that was commonplace for an Eldar. He looked like a dock worker, yet everyone was paying attention to him. He was obviously in charge.

Brenin approached the table with a worried expression and said.

- Has something new happened?

The Gaelic general pointed a thick finger at the centre of the map.

- A Minotaur warlord has managed to unite some of the rebellious tribes a hundred kilometres south of the fortress. We must stop the rise of his army before he blocks our full access to the south and the central tower.

Brenin and Zarune exchanged worried glances before turning to the map, and Jonah did the same. Leila stood behind Zarune, with Aurora, crossing her arms in anticipation. Mustapha and Marie stood behind Jonah. Mat backed up to one of the walls where he leaned back and could observe everyone in the command room. The fairy was hidden somewhere, apparently not enjoying the presence of so many people.

Only then did Gaelic glance at them, when Leila met his gaze he nodded respectfully, but without changing his expression. Hesitantly, Leila did the same.

- Brenin, you will go east with your company here, you will have six companies of lancers, two of archers and two of horsemen. Go and prepare your command centre, you will leave in the evening, your troops will not rest until the next day. Eliminate any tribes you come across if you can. You must arrive at your position in less than ten days.

Brenin nodded to his first officer, who saluted before leaving to prepare his order.

- No Master Weaver?

- No, only Weavers. Once you get there, wait for further instruction.

Gaelic, gesturing, an estafette approached and handed a letter to Brenin.

- If you don't hear from us within two days, follow the plan in the letter. And anything else you deem necessary.

Meeting the humans' eyes again, he added.

- Two of the humans will accompany you until you arrive, then they will have to continue alone to the East Tower. I'll leave you to deal with this matter.

Brenin met Zarune and Jonah's eyes. Leila frowned, they had made plans without telling them, hadn't they? Leila kicked Jonah, he jumped, startling the Eldars, who looked at him with a confused look, mean to some. The young man blushed with embarrassment. Well done to him.

Zarune looked at her with an embarrassed smile and cautious eyes before whispering.

- I tried to talk to you about it yesterday, remember? You just told me you didn't care.

Leila's eyes light up, yes, she might have said that, but she didn't know she was talking about that. She should have been a little more insistent. Leila glared at him.

Brenin was puzzled by Jonah's reaction.

- Leila and Aurora will go with me to the East Tower.

Leila met Brenin's gaze, the man's gaze softening a bit at this exchange. Leila pursed her lips, before looking at Aurora who was smiling at her. Of course, she too was aware of the decision.

Gaelic, who had been watching them the whole time, turned to the prince.

- You will not accompany them all the way, Brenin, you will provide an armed escort and then command your army.

Leila saw the prince hesitate, as if in conflict, he glanced in their direction again, before reluctantly accepting.

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Resuming, the general pointed to a place in the west on the map.

- I have arranged for a group of skilled men to take two humans with escorts to the Western Tower.

Zarune spoke up.

- I will go with Marie and Mat to the west.

There was a lot of reaction to these words, the young woman's father gave her a cold look, before giving the general another look. The latter ignored his commander before looking deeply at the princess. Leila could see Mat from his corner of the room move slightly, clearly surprised. Maire only nodded, a small smile on his face.

Gaelic spoke in a tone that demanded obedience.

- No. You've barely finished your classes. You have barely finished your classes. You will remain with the main army with the rest of your unit while you finish your training in the field.

The princess took a stubborn look before saying coldly.

- If we can send humans there, I can do that too. I've dealt with the danger of the forest before, I know my capabilities.

The general continued in a colder tone.

- Rhogar are not like the creatures of the forest. You will obey, Princess.

- I will not.

Daelmar intervened.

- Zarune, stop acting like a child. This is not Irvanon, you have responsibilities.

The young woman glanced coldly at the assembly, meeting the eyes of her father and the general, all the other Eldar present looked away, obviously uncomfortable. In a harsh tone, she said.

- I know where my responsibilities lie. I will go west.

As the Prince Consort was about to reply, visibly angry. A gesture from the general stopped him. The man obeyed, surprising himself. He glared at the general.

Gaelic ignored him again. He had kept his gaze on the princess, and after watching her for a long time, his gaze became thoughtful.

- All right, then. You will be with a hundred men, some of the best we have, with a Master Extern Weaver as your captain. You will obey these orders.

The princess nodded in confirmation, her face still expressionless. Leila glanced thoughtfully at her friend.

The Prince Consort was not happy with the decision, but he said nothing.

Gaelic glanced again at the humans.

- The last of you will leave with me and the rest of the main army. We'll have to get through this Minotaur warlord's army to reach the Central Tower.

Jonah nodded towards the Eldar. Gesturing to his friend next to him, he said.

- It will be Mustapha and me.

Gaelic watched them both for a long time, focusing for a moment on the Svärdstav that Jonah never left.

- It will be dangerous, for all the roads taken, but much more so with us. But I'll do everything I can so that you don't have to go through the fighting. That is a promise.

Jonah only nodded indifferently. Leila thought that the Eldars had managed to influence his behaviour a lot, he often reacted with the same detached coldness now. She imagined that perhaps it was the case for all of them.

- Well, go and get ready. Brenin leaves tonight, the rest of the army tomorrow morning.

Gesturing again to one of the estafettes presents, he added.

- Princess, Sterenn will take you to your unit with Mat and Marie. You also leave tonight. The pass to Green-Land, and the land ahead was clear of any Rhogars incursions, so you should be able to make the journey safely for a day's march.

With a second gesture, a scout picked up a tray before approaching each human in turn.

- Here we have prepared for each of you, two rune objects. The first is engraved with the rune Tempus, which will tell you when it is time for you to activate the Towers. They must be activated at the same time. We will know when you have all arrived. It is only one of you, to activate a Tower.

He didn't explain how they would know, but Leila and the rest of the humans knew now, it was through their prism that they would know where they were. Once she had completed this mission, Leila intended to activate the technique Zarune had taught them.

- The second one is engraved with the rune Clavis, it will allow you to open access to the Tower, which is protected. We know that the Rhogars tried to enter it, they failed and you will also fail if you don't use the Clavis rune. To activate both of them, you will just have to circulate your prism so that it fills the rune. Do you understand?

Each of the humans took the two runic objects. They were each the size of Leila's palm, they were round, and the rune engraved in their centre was visible. Some of Leila's companions nodded in confirmation, while she observed the runes.

The general looked around before saying in a commanding tone.

- Dismissed, we have much to do.

Leila and her group walked together towards the exit. Before Zarune could leave in the direction of the corridor taken by the courier whose name Leila had forgotten, she took her friend's hand and pulled her to the side. Aurora, intrigued, followed them. The rest of the group stopped, and from the dark look she gave them, they knew they had to give them some space.

- What's this about you demanding to go west?

Before Zarune could answer, Aurora intervened.

- If you hadn't been wandering around yesterday you'd know...

Leila gave her friend an unkind look, but she did not care and gave her an innocent smile. Zarune, who had been observing their usual teasing, said in a quiet tone, but not very loudly so that the group waiting for them at the end of the corridor could not hear them.

- The east is probably the most dangerous path, we had planned for Jonah and Mustapha to go there, but given what we have learned, our plans have changed. Be careful there, there is a greater risk that you will encounter tribes on the prowl, or going east. There's no point in fighting them, just avoid them.

Faced with her serious and worried look, Leila nodded reluctantly. Aurora moved her head closer, murmuring.

- Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on Leila, so she won't do anything stupid.

Once again Aurora ignored her glare. Leila decided to ignore the annoying assumption that Jonah and Mustapha were capable of taking the more dangerous road than she was and said.

- But putting Marie with Mat. I don't know, it doesn't seem like a good idea.

Zarune frowned.

- West will probably be the least dangerous direction of the Towers. Although it will still be very dangerous. Marie's not a fighter, unlike the rest of you, which is why we decided she'd go west. As for Mat... That's why I would go there too.

Leila nodded, understanding.

- You're going to monitor the situation.

- Yes, but I think it won't be as uncertain as we thought. The Human may be a fool sometimes, but he has good survival instincts.

- Hmm... I have my doubts about that.

Zarune took Aurora and Leila's hands.

- You are my friends, even if I trust the other Eldars I will not let you go down this path without me being a part of it. Be careful, and we'll meet here together when it's over.

Finally, the three friends joined the rest of the group, who gave them puzzled and curious looks.

Leila approached Brenin, before saying innocently.

- So you want to accompany us to the Tower?

Brenin looked at her with a smile.

- Unfortunately, I can only accompany you part of the way. I'll take you as far as the Trent River tributary, from there...

Leila patted the Prince's arm nonchalantly.

- Don't worry, we'll manage.

The Prince gave her a worried look.

- It will be dangerous, Leila.

- Let's get to that river Trent, then we'll see.

Brenin glanced at the back of their group.

- Dereur has offered to accompany you all the way.

Leila glanced at the Eldar in question. He nodded in her direction, Leila did the same.

- I trust him. But I'm not defenceless either, don't forget that Brenin.

Zarune's brother glanced hesitantly at Dereur, before looking back at Leila with intensity.

- I wouldn't even dare.

- Well, besides, I'll be with Aurora, and if she wanted to, she could fry you with lightning before you could even react.

The prince laughed his easily communicated laugh.

- It's true, and what's more, I'd leave some of my best men with you. The Rhogars will learn to fear you.

Finally, they came to a crossroads in the fortress where Leila had to separate from the rest of her group. Jonah came up to her and pulled her into a smothering embrace. He whispered to her.

- Be careful.

- You too, and agree to back you up on Mustapha if you find yourself in trouble. Promise me that.

Jonah hesitated for a second before saying.

- I promise.

The hug exchange continued, with Mustapha and Marie also hugging her. Leila exchanged an indifferent look with Mat, then Zarune hugged her too before repeating.

- Be careful. And lean on Dereur if you find yourself in trouble.

- Yes, and you too. Be careful with Mat.

- Don't worry, he won't take me by surprise again. I'll take care of him.

Reassured by her friend's slightly threatening tone, Leila broke away from her, before joining Brenin and the rest of her group.

Once outside the large stone building, Leila mounted her horse, Aurora at her side. Following Brenin to the front, with Dereur behind, they eventually reached a large square where an army was waiting at attention.

As the Prince approached, one of the officers shouted.

- For the Prince!

- FOR THE PRINCE!

A roar rang out, the noise shaking the air around Leila. The well-trained horses did not react to the noise.

The prince, majestic on his horse, covered with his armour, his eyes proud and hard, said in a sovereign tone that echoed throughout the square.

- Onward. For the Eldars.

- FOR THE ELDARS!

The roar resounded again. And as the great southern gates of the fortress opened in silence, the earth shook at the sound of their footsteps. They went to war.

Leila looked up at the darkening sky. In front of her, there were no tall trees to hide the horizon, the sky was visible. It wasn't just the approaching night that made the sky so dark. In the distance a storm was brewing.