Chapter 75: The Storm will Come

There was just something off with that letter from the Dawn family-the ambiguity itself bothered her far more than she'd care to show, though she seemed so confident then. Her instincts yelled at her that something was afoot, something a whole lot worse. Kael had gone on to this supposed meeting, and Reika felt just that little bit guilty for being the one placing him into this danger. She highly trusted him, but things were high up and on a stake of sorts. The cunning of House Dawn was practically the stuff of legend, after all. A knock came from her door, and "Enter," she called, turning to see Daisy step inside, her face uncommonly somber. "Your Majesty, the guards at the western gate reported something peculiar, my Queen," Daisy began. Reika raised an eyebrow. "Unusual how? Daisy hesitated, wringing her hands. 'A group of travelers arrived claiming to be merchants, but their demeanor was… off. The guards detained them for questioning, but they seem oddly confident, as if they expected to be caught." Reika's eyes narrowed. 'Bring them to the throne room. I'll question them myself." Daisy nodded and scrambled out, leaving Reika to her thoughts. Her wolf growled low in her mind-a warning she couldn't disregard. --- Interrogation Save for one or two fluttering lights, the room was nearly dark into which the pretended merchants were led; disheveled, most of them being dressed in piebald garments, and their heads hung low beneath their cloaks, from all of which rough appearances an uncanny glittering of confidence shot like a light from their brilliant eyes. Reika was high on her throne then, the wolf in her bleeding through as she addressed them: "Who are you? What business do you have in my kingdom?" One of the men stepped forward, smirking. "Merchants, Your Majesty. We were merely passing through, but your guards seemed to think otherwise." Reika's eyes sank into him. "Merchants don't travel without goods. Where is your cargo? The man stuttered, warily looking around at his cohorts. "W-we lost it. Bandits stopped us along the way." "How opportune," Reika said icily. In an instant, the surge of her wolf was suddenly in her veins, bleeding into her tone. "Last chance, then: Who sent you?" His grin disappeared. In its place, seeped fear. "We are merely- "Lie not to me!" Reika roared. In her voice, the growl of her wolf boomed across the room. He fell onto his knees, shaking. "It was Lady Vivian! She sent us to gather information about your defenses. Please, we didn't mean any harm!" Reika's lips arced into a sneer. "You've made a grave mistake coming here. Guards, take them to the dungeons. I'll decide their fate later." A sense of vindication washed over Reika as the guards dragged them off-it was pride that would finally bring low the house of Dawn. --- Kael's Mission The more he and the élite warriors of his mission drew ever closer to neutral grounds, the more thickened with leaves the treetops above them grew-so that they did not seem to exist-even as the quietness emanating from those trees all around them took on such unnatural dimensions, loud just because so profoundly silent was their tone-just exactly the kind to hackle a shoulder blade on the back of his neck. "Stay awake," Kael whispered to his men, as they dismounted. There was the small clearing, and in it-a lone, battered stone. Kael looked carefully around the place, his right hand resting on the grip of his sword. Within a moment, a figure stepped from behind the shelter of trees. It was Lady Vivian herself-attired in a robe of flowing crimson too well-tooled for these wilds. "Commander Kael," she said, her voice honeyed though laced with malice. "I must admit, I expected your queen to come herself." Kael didn't bat an eyelash. "Her Majesty doesn't entertain deceitful games. State your purpose." Vivian laughed lightly. "So direct. Very well. I came to propose a truce. The House of Dawn has no desire for war but neither can we allow Reika to continue her tyrannical reign." Kael's jaw flexed. "Tyranny? You mean her refusal to bend to the corruption of your family?" Vivian's smile never wavered, though her eyes did seem to darken. "Careful, Commander. Words can be as dangerous as swords." Before he could utter another word, the rustling in the trees caught his attention, and his instincts flared. He pulled his sword clear as arrows started falling from above. "Ambush!" Kael roared, launching himself forward to shield his men. Pandemonium swept the meadow as some hidden attackers attacked. The squad of Kael fought valiantly, their training and discipline evident as they defended against the attack. Vivian stepped back to the edge of the clearing and watched with a satisfied smirk. "Consider this a taste of what's to come," she called out before turning and disappearing into the shadows. Kael gritted his teeth as he cut down another attacker. "Fall back!" he ordered, leading his men toward the safety of the forest. --- Reika's Dismay Meanwhile, at the palace, Reika was pacing around the war room as her anxiety mounted. The confession of the merchants plus the absence of Kael really bothered her. Daisy entered, glancing at Reika with concern. "Your Majesty, you should rest. You have been anxious all day. Reika shook her head. "I won't. Not until Kael returns." As if to answer, the doors exploded open, and Kael stumbled through them, bleeding but whole. "Kael!" Reika flew to him, easing him into a chair. "What happened?" "A trap," he wheezed between deep breaths. "Vivian ambushed us. We scarcely escaped." Reika's hand fisted in anger. "That woman is getting above herself by the day. She will live to pay for this. Kael met her gaze, his eyes avid despite the exhaustion that painted dark circles under his eyes. "She's just getting started, Reika. This was only the beginning." Reika's wolf growled full in agreement, its voice a constant cadence in her mind. The Dawn family must fall. ---The Cliffhanger Later in the night, Reika was out on her chamber balcony, bathed in the silver glow as the moon shone overhead. It was a busy night insofar as all of those details of today replayed themselves to the lady, building with every given piece of information an ever-broader scenario, more omnibus by the minute. Her wolf stirred. Its voice was low, insistent. War is coming, Reika. You must be ready. "I know," she whispered to herself, staring hard out into the distance. The next moment, a movement in the inner courtyard below stirred. Instantly, Reika's wolf senses were at full alert. "Who's there?" she yelled down, but it dissipated into the night just like that. Down her spine ran a shiver as one thought planted roots: the Dawn family didn't plan war but sat inside her walls already.