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"The Strongest Warrior in the Kingdom Failed — Then a Barefoot Boy Touched the Sword and Changed Everything " / Chapter 4 / 15

Chapter 4 - The Whispers in the Dark

The sun had barely begun to crest over the towering battlements of Pendragon Castle when Queen Morgana sat alone in her dimly lit chambers, her fingers tracing the intricate carvings of an obsidian mirror. The events of the courtyard still haunted her mind like a fever dream. The beggar boy—Arthur—had pulled the legendary Caliburn from its stone, a feat that defied generations of royal bloodlines and ancient laws.

A soft knock interrupted her brooding. "Enter," she commanded, her voice cold and devoid of warmth.

Her personal handmaiden, a pale woman named Kara who moved like a shadow, slipped into the room and closed the heavy oak door. "The council is in disarray, Your Grace. Sir Gawain has doubled the guard around the royal treasury and the granaries. The common people are praising the new king as if he were a god come down to earth."

Morgana’s eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. "Let them praise him. A crown forged by magic and stolen from tradition is heavy, Kara. And the boy is young. Youth is plagued by arrogance and a desperate need to prove oneself." She stood up, her emerald robes sweeping the stone floor. "Did you find out anything about his origins?"

"Scouts from the lower slums say he was raised by a blacksmith who died two winters ago," Kara replied, stepping closer. "No royal lineage to speak of. No noble blood. Yet... the mark on his forehead matches the ancient texts of the First Dynasty. The texts we thought were lost."

"Lost to history, perhaps, but not to memory," Morgana whispered, her hand gently brushing against the hidden dagger at her waist. "If the prophecy speaks true, he is the true heir. But prophecies are written by men, and men can be broken. If Arthur leaves the safety of these walls, he will not return."

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"Lord Malaphar is already preparing a trap in the northern passes," Kara warned.

A thin, cruel smile touched Morgana’s lips. "Then we shall let the wolf test the lion. But we must ensure the boy does not suspect us. Play the dutiful subject, Kara. For now."

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Chapter 5 - The King’s Council
Chapter 6 - The Road North
Chapter 7 - The Messenger in the Woods
Chapter 8 - The Ascent of Shadows
Chapter 9 - The Siege of Frosthold
Chapter 10 - The Reckoning of Malaphar

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