Chapter 13 - The Midnight Raid
Two nights before the Harvest Eclipse, a dense, unnatural fog rolled in from the northern mountains, blanketing the palace in thick gray gloom.
Mara was in her study, reviewing the kingdom’s agricultural reports with Captain Vance, when the palace alarm bells suddenly shattered the silence of the night.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
"Invasion!" a guard screamed from the courtyard below. "The Iron Spire has fallen! Malakor has been freed!"
Before Vance could draw his sword, the heavy wooden doors of the study exploded inward in a shower of splinters. Masked mercenaries clad in black iron armor poured into the room, led by none other than Lord Malakor himself. His chains were gone, replaced by dark steel armor, and his eyes gleamed with insane fury.
"Hello, sweet niece," Malakor spat, drawing a jagged black blade.
Vance immediately stepped in front of Mara, his longsword flashing as he engaged three mercenaries at once. Steel clashed violently in the small room, sparks flying against the stone walls. Vance fought with terrifying speed and skill, parrying strikes and felling two attackers within seconds.
"Get her out of here, Vance!" King Alistair roared, bursting into the room with his personal guard. The aged King wielded his broadsword with surprising vigor, cutting down a mercenary who lunged at his daughter.
"Father, no! I won't leave you!" Mara cried.
"You must!" Alistair commanded, blocking a fierce blow from Malakor. "They want your blood for the Eclipse! If they take you, the kingdom falls! Go with Vance!"
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Vance grabbed Mara’s hand, pulling her toward the secret passage behind the bookcase. "Mara, we have to move! Now!"
With a heavy heart, Mara allowed Vance to pull her into the dark stone tunnel just as the heavy oak doors were sealed shut behind them. As they fled down the spiral stairs beneath the castle, the sounds of brutal battle echoed from above.
