The group stopped beside a stream.
The Great Tree rose in the distance, immense and golden against the morning sky. Varkas led the horse toward the water. Kára sat on a rock, inspecting her runes. Elias unfolded the map.
Darian remained standing.
Something felt wrong.
He sensed it before he saw it.
A scent.
A presence.
Nox growled inside his mind.
—There he is.
Perched atop a rock a few meters from the stream sat the dark elf.
No hood.
No daggers.
His hands rested calmly on his knees.
He had been waiting for them.
Darian drew Lumine.
—Relax —the elf said—. If I wanted to attack you, I already would have. Again.
—Last time we almost killed each other.
—Last time you didn't let me speak.
Varkas stepped in front of Darian. Kára raised her hammer. Elias adjusted his glasses.
—Who are you? —he asked.
The elf stood. He straightened his robe and gave a slight bow.
—Allow me to introduce myself. I am Zareth Nightfallen, fifth prince of the Dark Elf Kingdom. Aria Valen's betrothed. And I've come to offer you a deal.
Silence hit like a blow.
Varkas crossed his arms, yellow eyes locked onto Zareth. Kára dropped the vial of essence she had been holding. Glass clinked against stone.
Darian took a step back, his hand still gripping Lumine's hilt.
Elias went pale.
He removed his glasses. Cleaned them against his sleeve. Put them back on.
—My daughter? Betrothed? To you?
—Yes.
—That's impossible.
—It isn't. And if you don't listen to me, it will be the last thing that happens before everything falls apart.
—Talk —Elias said. His voice stayed steady, but his hands trembled.
---
Zareth spoke.
He told them everything he knew.
Lord Aelthas never wanted peace.
He never had.
The marriage wasn't an alliance.
It was a trap.
An excuse to invade the Dark Elf Kingdom once their guard was lowered. He would use Aria as proof that the dark elves accepted the union. And while everyone celebrated—
He would strike.
But that wasn't all.
—My father believes I came here in peace. That this engagement is a gesture of goodwill. But when I arrived in Eldoria, my spies uncovered the truth. Aelthas doesn't only want our kingdom. He has plans for other territories as well. The beastmen. The dwarves. He won't stop.
—Then why not warn your father to prepare for war? —Elias asked.
—Because that's exactly what Aelthas wants. An excuse. If my father mobilizes the army, Aelthas attacks first. And even if we defend ourselves, war only brings death. Soldiers. Civilians. Innocent people. It happened once before. I won't allow it to happen again.
—So how do you plan to stop him? —Darian asked.
His tone had changed.
No longer hostile.
Still cautious, but his hand moved away from his sword. Slowly, he sheathed Lumine.
Zareth noticed.
—With a plan. And with your help.
---
—The tunnels are being watched. Aelthas reinforced them weeks ago. If you enter through there, they'll be waiting for you. But there's another way.
Zareth looked toward the capital in the distance.
—You enter with me. As part of my retinue.
—As your prisoners? —Varkas asked.
—As my escorts. Aelthas doesn't know your faces. He knows Aria arrived with a group, but he doesn't know who you are. If you enter with me, dressed in robes and hoods, no one will question it.
—And Aria? —Darian asked.
—She'll be in the audience chamber. It's part of the ceremony. The engagement must be presented before her.
—And then?
—Then my subordinates attack.
He gestured toward the trees.
Two figures emerged from the shadows.
A dark elf woman, agile, with twin daggers at her waist. Her gaze was cold, but not hostile.
Beside her stood a broad-shouldered man with a massive sword strapped to his back.
Neither spoke.
—Lyra and Draven —Zareth said—. They'll enter with us. Two others will strike from outside. Smoke screens. Chaos. The guards won't know what's happening.
—Meanwhile —he continued—, the three of you extract Aria. There are secondary tunnels Aelthas doesn't know about. You escape through there. We regroup at the extraction point.
—And Aelthas? —Kára asked.
—I'll deal with Aelthas.
—By killing him?
—If necessary.
—And if we can't get in? —Darian asked. —If we're discovered?
Zareth met his gaze directly.
—If we're discovered, there is no backup plan. Fight or die.
---
Elias stepped forward.
—I can't go inside. Aelthas knows me. If he sees me, everything ends before it begins.
—What will you do then? —Kára asked.
—Watch from outside. The owl can see what we can't. If something goes wrong, I'll warn you.
—And if you can't?
Elias placed a hand on Darian's shoulder.
—Then trust your instincts.
There is no lie in his words.
Lumine's voice came softly, like a whisper in darkness.
Are you sure? Darian asked.
The thread does not lie. It can be stretched. Hidden. But not broken without consequence. He isn't lying.
For now.
For now.
Darian nodded.
—We'll do it.
---
Zareth approached Darian while the others prepared.
—One more thing.
—What?
—Inside that castle, you follow the plan. No improvising. No attacking too early. And no letting your swords make decisions for you.
—My swords don't decide for me.
—The other night, you almost killed me because one of them wanted blood.
Darian clenched his fists.
—That won't happen again.
—It better not. Because if you lose control, you won't be the only one who dies. Everyone will.
—You don't need to remind me what's at stake.
—Yes, I do. Because you're impulsive. Because you let yourself be provoked. Because you almost ruined everything before it even started.
—And why do you care?
—Because Aria deserves to leave that place. Not for me. Not for you. For her.
Darian stared at him.
There was something in the way Zareth had said it.
— I don't trust you —Darian said.
—I don't need your trust. I need you to follow the plan.
—I will.
—Then we're ready.
---
The gates of the capital loomed before them.
White.
Towering.
Carved with images of trees and stars.
Behind the walls stood the Great Tree, golden and eternal. Elven guards lined the entrance.
Zareth stepped to the front. Lyra and Draven flanked him.
Behind them walked Darian, Varkas, and Kára beneath dark robes and lowered hoods.
—Remember —Zareth said—. The moment chaos begins, you move. Not one second before. Not one second after.
—I know —Darian answered.
—Are you sure? Last time you didn't listen to me.
—Last time you didn't have a plan.
—And now I do. Follow it.
The gates opened.
Zareth walked forward.
The others followed.
Hidden among the rocks in the distance, Elias lifted his gaze. The white owl circled high above the castle.
The plan was already in motion.