The journey back to Delyra was a blur of pain and silence. Each hoofbeat echoed the loss of my men, each gust of wind whispered their names. The forest, once a haven, now felt like a graveyard.
As the palace walls came into view, a cold dread settled over me. The once-majestic towers seemed to loom with a sinister air, their shadows stretching like claws. The gates, usually bustling with activity, stood eerily still.
I dismounted, my legs trembling from exhaustion and grief. The guards at the entrance exchanged uneasy glances but said nothing. Their silence spoke volumes.
Inside, the corridors were deserted. The usual hum of court life was absent. I moved through the halls like a ghost, my footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. The air was heavy, laden with an oppressive stillness.
I reached my mother's chambers, the door ajar. A faint scent of lavender lingered—a cruel reminder of her presence. Inside, the room was dimly lit, the curtains drawn. My heart pounded as I approached her bed.
She lay there, pale and still, her hands folded over her chest. A single tear traced down her cheek, now dry. I fell to my knees, a choked sob escaping my lips.
"Mother..."
The healers had tried to preserve her dignity, but the signs were clear. Her death was not natural. A vial on the bedside table caught my eye—her medicine. I picked it up, the liquid inside a shade darker than usual.
Poison.
Rage surged through me, burning away the numbness. I clenched the vial until it shattered, shards cutting into my palm. Blood dripped onto the floor, mingling with the remnants of betrayal.
I stood, my vision blurred by tears and fury. I needed answers.
I stormed through the palace, seeking my father. The throne room was empty, the council chambers deserted. Finally, I found him in the war room, surrounded by advisors who fell silent at my approach.
He looked up, his expression unreadable.
"Delbeyrah," he began, but I cut him off.
"She's dead. Murdered. While I was away on your mission."
He sighed, a weariness in his eyes. "I did what I thought was best."
"By sending me away? By leaving her unprotected?"
"It was a calculated risk. I believed the threat was external."
"And you were wrong."
Silence hung between us, heavy and suffocating.
I turned on my heel, leaving the room before my grief consumed me.
Back in my quarters, I found a letter slipped under the door. It bore no seal, only my name scrawled in a familiar hand.
Delbeyrah,
They came in the night. We fought, but they were too many. I managed to escape, but the others… I'm sorry .
Keal.
A map was enclosed, marking a rendezvous point outside the city.
Hope flickered within me. Keal was alive. Perhaps others had survived as well.
I gathered my weapons, donned my armor, and slipped out of the palace under the cover of darkness.
The city streets were quiet, the usual nightlife subdued. I moved swiftly, avoiding patrols and keeping to the shadows.
At the rendezvous point, a secluded grove beyond the city walls, I found Keal waiting. He looked haggard, his arm in a makeshift sling.
"Commander," he greeted, his voice hoarse.
"Keal," I breathed, embracing him briefly.
He led me to a hidden camp where a handful of my spies had gathered. Their numbers were few, their faces etched with sorrow and determination.
"We'll rebuild," I vowed. "We'll find those responsible and make them pay."
They nodded, a silent oath passing between us.
As dawn broke, casting golden light over the grove, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. The path ahead would be treacherous, but I would not falter.
For my mother.
For my fallen comrades.
For Delyra.