356: Spur-of-the-moment decisions

Spur-of-the-moment decisions

The early morning light brought an unusual serenity to a day that was expected to be filled with heated exchanges within the Archduchess's estate. The de Lanark family had made meticulous preparations with Arkin the day before, well aware that, unlike his biological parents, the Baron and Baroness would not be easily swayed.2

Adela couldn't shake the anxiety that had gripped her since the previous night. What was the cause of this unexpected delay?

As she rode her mare alongside the Crown Prince of Emoria on his powerful black war stallion, Viscount Mathew and an apprehensive Sir Arkin trailed behind. The procession included knights from both the Crown Prince's platoon and the Archduchess's entourage, and their presence eased some of her concerns. These men were the finest among the ranks.

She silently urged her heart to calm down.

The departure from their original plans had become necessary because the Baron and Baroness had failed to arrive from their fief despite the Baron's assurances the day before. Therefore, while the King and Queen of Emoria waited at the Archduchess's estate, Adela took it upon herself to investigate the situation, accompanied by the Crown Prince who insisted on joining her.

Despite her promise to treat him as a young man rather than a child, she was consumed with worry for him.

Does he intend to keep a closer watch on me while his father remains nearby? Either way, she welcomed the extra time with her son.

These thoughts solidified as they passed by the von Conradie estate and she noticed the frown on her son's usually composed face. His vigilant scanning of their surroundings and the tension that emanated from him mirrored the increasingly tense atmosphere around them.

Suddenly, blaring trumpets shattered the silence signaling a warlock attack. All the faces around Adela hardened as they tried to discern the origin of the threat.

"The border side," Noctavian was the first to speak, his eyes fixed on Adela. "The falcons," he added with a grim tone.

"Protect Her Excellency and His Highness! Take cover within the defensive shield!" Viscount Mathew's orders echoed through the ranks.

In adherence to the Viscount's command, everyone steered their horses toward the narrow space between the outer routes and the inner estate pathways, seeking refuge within the fortified von Conradie estate. This was the established protocol for responding to an attack, but the Crown Prince's frustration was bubbling over.

"Your Excellency! I will head to the border and protect the falcons!" Noctavian declared vehemently.

"You shall do no such thing!" Adela protested.

As the tension-filled exchange played out, Arkin's keen eyes caught a change in the sky above them which had taken on a sickly yellow hue.

"Adela, above you!" Arkin shouted.

Initially, it appeared as if a sandstorm was rapidly approaching, poised to engulf Lanark's sky. But the unnatural brown mist that took over the spring morning revealed the sinister truth behind the sky's transformation.

"More warlocks, and not just any warlocks, these are high-level ones," Noctavian identified them by their distinctive auras before anybody else was able to see.

A sense of panic rippled through the knights, though their disciplined formations remained unbroken as two warlocks with lizard-like brown eyes, devoid of humanity, infiltrated the skies.

"The falcon attack was a diversion," Adela whispered inaudibly, a revelation heard only by her son. Her heart pounded painfully as she realized that the warlocks' true target must be Sasha, concealed within the confines of the von Conradie estate.

"Quick!" she cried, "Any knight who is not assigned to protect me and His Highness should fall back to my estate and reinforce the defenses around the Emorian monarchs!"

Despite her racing heart, she felt a secret sense of relief knowing that Andreas was likely nearby, and Larissa was safely within the estate. Andreas would protect both her sister and her parents.

"I want every archer nearby ready for my command; we need to take down those two warlocks!" Her voice resounded, urgently searching for the most effective weapon against the impending threat. "What's taking them so long!" she shouted, a tinge of desperation evident in her tone.

"They likely withdrew to the Latora borders when the trumpets sounded," Viscount Mathew responded solemnly amidst the chaotic scene.

To amplify the gravity of her predicament, the sky above Adela's head rumbled as the two warlocks joined forces to breach the protective shield. In theory, it was an impossible task, but with no prior testing, Adela couldn't help but lose her composure at the worst possible moment. A paralyzing fear overcame her, driven by her maternal instincts for her son's safety.

She was on the verge of removing her gloves and shielding Noctavian when the Crown Prince's fury ignited as he confronted the audacious intruders. He turned to his mother, his voice resolute.

"I refuse to endure this blatant insult, Mother! I'm leaving the shield this instant! I will confront those vile creatures with my men!"

Arkin intervened before Adela could voice her refusal. "We will protect the Crown Prince at all costs, Your Excellency."

Adela stood torn, her heart splitting between maternal instinct and her duty as a ruler. She looked into Noctavian's big brown eyes and saw a brave light she couldn't ignore. Denying him this opportunity, even if it meant risking harm, would be worse than allowing him to confront the threat.

"Your Highness…"

Just as she was on the verge of granting her approval, a sharp whistle resonated through the air, emanating from the rooftop of the von Conradie manor.

All eyes converged on Egon von Conradie, who stood like a statue chiseled from bronze marble, bow drawn and aimed at the heart of the foreboding, rumbling shield above them.

A collective gasp caught in the throats of the knights.

Should Egon release that arrow, the carefully constructed shield encompassing both estates would be compromised, rendering Adela's decision to relocate the falcons meaningless.

"My Lord!" Two words escaped her lips as a futile objection.

Egon's infuriated gaze swept over Adela, his eyes resembling two fiery pits of hell, before he shifted his focus back to the brown misty sky. With a single, deliberate motion of his long fingers, he released the ebony arrow that streaked through the air and pierced the heart of the shield.

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