Meanwhile, far from the quiet tension of hidden forests and whispered meetings, Iron Valley burned with a different kind of silence.
A heavy one.
The kind that settles before something breaks. Four men sat around a wide stone table, its surface covered in maps of Astarous. Lines, markings, borders, every kingdom reduced to ink and strategy.
Robert Rendell stood. He didn't sit like the others. There was too much energy in him, too much impatience. His fingers pressed against the map as though he could already feel the lands beneath them bending.
"If we attack them suddenly," he said, his voice cutting through the room, "they will have no time to call upon allies."
His finger dragged across the map, slow, deliberate. "And once they fall," he continued, "their allies will have no choice but to bend the knee."
No one spoke immediately. The idea hung there.
Tempting, and dangerous.
Edmond Wood leaned back slightly, his gaze fixed on the map but not entirely on it. His expression didn't shift much, but when he finally spoke, his voice carried weight.
"If you are hoping to end this war at once," he said, "then you must strike both the King's City and Dragon City at the same time."
Robert's eyes flicked to him. Edmond continued, calm but firm. "That way, none of them will have the chance to regroup."
A pause followed.
Then Lord Dumbell Machinson nodded slowly, his large frame shifting in agreement. "I agree with Lord Edmond," he said. "Our army is vast enough for such a move."
Murmurs followed.bLow, and gradual.
Agreement spreading like quiet fire..Robert exhaled through his nose, then leaned forward again, tapping the map.
"Then it is settled." His tone hardened.
"The armies of Iron Valley and Westmoor will storm the capital without warning.".His finger pressed down firmly on the marked city.
Then he turned toward Edmond. "And the Northern forces." he said, his lips curving slightly, "are large enough to clean Dragon City once the dragons are dead."
That earned a reaction. A small one. Edmond smiled. A controlled smile.
"They rely on the air," he said. "Take that away and their ground troops will not last an hour."
A few chuckles slipped out. Then laughter. Not loud, but enough.
Enough to fill the room with something premature. Something dangerous. But not everyone joined.
Kelly Ezion sat still. Too still. His eyes remained on the map, but his brows were drawn together.
Thinking, and calculating. "What would be my part in all of this?" he asked finally.
The laughter faded.
"I did not hear you mention Green City."
Robert looked at him. Then stepped closer, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Firm, and reassuring.
"Green City will lie in wait," Robert said. "You will watch for any surprise reinforcements."
A beat.
"And crush them before they can become a problem."
Kelly held his gaze for a moment longer. Then nodded slowly.
"When will the dragons be poisoned?" Edmond asked. That question shifted the air slightly.
Robert smiled. Not broadly. But enough. "We have already begun," he said.
Silence followed.
Thick, and heavy.
"In three days," Robert added, his voice low now, "we will strike both cities."
No one spoke. No one needed to. The meaning was clear. They leaned back. Some folded their arms. Some allowed themselves to breathe a little easier.
Then, they embraced. Short, and firm. Like men who believed the outcome was already written. As though the war had already been won.
The forest slowly gave way to dawn. For hours, nothing existed beyond them.
No war. No kingdoms. No bloodlines or consequences waiting in the distance.
Just breath against skin. Hands that refused to let go. The quiet, desperate way they held onto each other like time itself was slipping.
By the time the first light crept through the trees, pale and fragile, Maria finally stirred. Reality returned gently, then all at once.
She pulled away from Drexo, her fingers lingering on him for just a second longer than necessary. "I must go now," she said, her voice softer than before. "I do not want anyone to see us together."
Drexo sat up slowly, running a hand through his hair as if trying to gather himself. He exhaled sharply. That small moment of peace was already fading.
"Maybe." he started, then paused, thinking it through. "Maybe I should return the dragon and sneak into the city myself.".He looked at her now, more focused. "That way, you will spend more time with me."
Maria didn't hesitate. She nodded. "That will be nice," she said. "No one will know you are in the city, or with me."
A faint smile touched her lips. "I am in the fourth chambers of the Lord's Inn."
Drexo smiled back. It wasn't just happiness. It was relief. Like he had found something he thought he lost.
He stood, then turned toward Dreka. With one smooth motion, he climbed onto her back. Even as he settled, his eyes remained on Maria.
He didn't look away. Not even as Dreka spread her wings. Not even as the wind began to rise again. Maria stood still, watching him.
The dragon leapt into the air..Higher, and further.
Until they became smaller against the morning sky, then disappeared completely. Only then did Maria move.
She pulled her cloak around herself and made her way back toward the city.
Quiet, and careful.
Measured steps through streets that were only just beginning to wake. She slipped into the inn the same way she left it.
Unnoticed.
Or so she thought.
From the shadows across the corridor, a pair of eyes followed her. Sharp, and Still.
Helen.
Her assistant didn't step forward. Didn't speak. She simply watched Maria disappear into her chambers. Her brows slowly drew together. "Where is the commander coming from?" she murmured under her breath.
The thought lingered. Uncomfortable. "Could she have brought us here for a personal reason, other than training?"
She didn't have an answer. Not yet.
By midday, the hills of Hills Ford echoed with movement. Steel clashed. Boots struck against earth. Commands rang out across the open space.
Maria stood among her warriors. Focused, and precise. Every motion controlled. Every instruction clear.
To them, this was the mission. Training, preparation, and discipline. Nothing more.
And she played the part well. Too well. If anyone watched closely, they might have noticed the way her attention drifted sometimes. The way her eyes flicked toward the horizon, or toward the path leading back to the city.
But no one said anything. The warriors trained. They sweated. They pushed. And Maria remained their commander.
Evening came slowly. The sky dimmed. The air cooled. By the time darkness settled, Maria was already back in her room.
Alone.
She stood by the window, looking out over the city. Waiting. Every sound caught her attention. Every shadow shifting in the streets made her heart react just a little faster.
But nothing happened. No sign of him. No quiet knock. No presence. Time stretched. The night deepened. Still nothing.
Maria let out a slow breath and leaned back slightly. "Maybe he couldn't make it today," she whispered. The words didn't fully convince her.
"He will be here tomorrow." She turned away from the window, exhaustion beginning to settle into her body.
The bed waited. Sleep felt close. She took a step forward, and froze.
Someone was already there. Sitting on the bed. Watching her. Smiling at her.
Her breath caught sharply as she stepped back. "You scared me!"
Drexo stood, the grin still on his face. "That was the plan." For a second, she just stared at him.
Then, whe moved. Fast.
She closed the distance between them and threw herself into him, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck.
No hesitation this time. No restraint. Their lips met again.
Familiar, and hungry. Like neither of them had learned anything from the night before.
Like they didn't care to. Words didn't matter anymore.
Not here, and not now. To them, it was just another stolen night. Another moment pulled away from everything waiting to tear them apart.
Far away, beyond their fragile world, something darker had already begun. In Dragon City, the feeding grounds stirred quietly.
A man moved between the massive creatures, his steps steady, practiced. He carried the feed without hesitation.
No fear. No doubt. One by one, the dragons lowered their heads.
They ate. Including Dreka. She didn't resist. She didn't notice. She didn't question.
And beyond the city walls, movement began. Lines of soldiers cutting through the land. Edmond marched at the front, his expression set, his pace unwavering.
The Northern warriors followed. Silent, and disciplined. Heading straight toward Dragon City.
At the same time, across the waters, ships cut through the waves. Robert stood at the front of one.
Beside him, Dumbell and Ezion. Their fleets stretched behind them. Their course set. Kings' City. No hesitation. No turning back.
Their purpose was clear. Wipe out the Dragarians. Completely.
And in Hills Ford, Maria and Drexo held onto each other like nothing else existed.
Unaware that somewhere beneath it all, the storm was already moving. And it was coming fast.