Moments later, Fedran stood silently behind Ralme.
One of the bound soldiers suddenly shouted desperately,"The bastard is behind you!"
Ralme spun around swiftly, startled—seeing Fedran standing there, a man he didn't recognize.
His eyes shifted quickly, landing on Arya.Relief and confusion mingled on his face.
Gently but firmly, he pushed Fedran aside,his gaze never leaving Arya.
He stepped toward her cautiously,yet something felt wrong.A subtle scent clung to her—one that didn't match his sister.
His ranger instincts screamed the truth:this wasn't Arya.Though the scent…was unsettlingly familiar.
Realization struck him sharply.
He stumbled back a step,dropping his torch into the mud.
In a swift motion, he drew his bow,and aimed an arrow squarely at her.
"Tell me one good fucking reason I shouldn't pierce a hole in your throat right now!"he shouted, his voice trembling with rage and fear."What have you done with my sister, Asepha?"
Asepha.King Halik's most trusted sorceress.
Long before Arya's abduction—before Fedran's blade glistened beneath the forest canopy,before Ralme's furious shout pierced the murky silence—Asepha had laid her planswith careful precision.
Within the stone halls of Mayfrost Castle,she had stood before King Halik,her voice calm, persuasive,and dangerously confident.
"Your Majesty," she began,choosing each word deliberately,"my daughter, Tiev, is talented.But Arya Verdar overshadows her.Tiev will never reach her potentialas long as Arya remains in her way."
King Halik, wary yet intrigued,narrowed his eyes.
"And your solution, Asepha?"
"Arya must be removed—but carefully," she explained."To kill her openly would inciteRalme Verdar into rebellion.No… Arya must vanish quietly.Secretly.
I propose capturing and imprisoning her—allowing me to assume her guisethrough sorcery."
The king's interest deepened.His fingers steepled beneath his chin.
"Continue."
"Ralme, desperate for his sister,will follow rumors directly to the southeastern forest,"Asepha continued."My daughter will guide him subtly,feeding him just enough information to keep him moving.He will believe he's rescuing Arya—but he'll only find me.
I'll ambush and eliminate him,then execute Arya from within the cryptwhere she'll be hidden.
There will be no witnesses.No war."
King Halik's gaze hardened,calculating every implication.
After a tense pause, he nodded once.
"Proceed."
Asepha bowed her head gracefully.
"It shall be done, Your Majesty."