Chapter 5 - The Web of Treason
Over the next forty-eight hours, Rowena moved through the castle like a silent shadow, leveraging her background as a servant to gather crucial intelligence. While the noble ladies ignored her during her daily errands, the castle maids, cooks, and stable hands welcomed her with open arms, recognizing her as one of their own who had miraculously survived the dungeon beast.
From the head laundress, Rowena learned that Regent Reginald had been receiving secret visits late at night from men dressed in crimson robes—the signature attire of the Blood Warlocks from the forbidden Eastern Wastes. From the master of horse, she discovered that large shipments of rare silver ore were being secretly brought into the castle basements under the guard of Reginald's personal mercenaries.
"He's forging weapons designed specifically to kill wolf-shifters," Rowena explained to Kaelen late that night in her tower rooms, unrolling a crude map of the castle basements she had drawn on parchment. "He's stockpiling silver blades and dark magic charms in the lower vaults beneath the grand ballroom."
Kaelen leaned over the table, examining the map. "He plans to eliminate the wolf-shifter high lords during the masquerade," he realized, his voice cold and sharp. "He will trap them in the ballroom, disarm them, and force them to swear absolute fealty or be executed on the spot."
"It's a trap," Rowena whispered in horror. "He's using the masquerade to turn Aldoria into an absolute dictatorship."
"Not if we spring the trap first," Kaelen said, a dark smile playing on his lips. "I have established contact with General Vance, my former second-in-command who was exiled by Reginald. Vance has gathered two hundred loyal shadow-guards outside the city gates. On the night of the ball, they will infiltrate the keep through the subterranean passages you mapped."
Suddenly, a sharp knock echoed at the heavy wooden door of Rowena's chamber.
Kaelen melted into the shadows near the balcony in a split second, disappearing from sight completely. Rowena smoothed down her dress, took a deep breath, and opened the door.
Standing in the hallway was her half-sister, Isabel, dressed in an extravagant blue silk gown, flanked by two armed royal guards. Her eyes were filled with smug contempt.
"Rowena," Isabel sneered, stepping into the room uninvited and looking around with disgust. "Living in dirty stone quarters suits a maid like you, doesn't it?"
"What do you want, Isabel?" Rowena asked calmly, standing her ground.
"The Lord Regent has issued an order," Isabel announced, pulling a sealed scroll from her sleeve. "Since you are the 'blessed' Keeper of the Beast, you are required to attend the Grand Masquerade Ball tomorrow night. You will present the creature to the foreign dignitaries as a demonstration of the keep's absolute power over wild monsters."
Rowena’s stomach dropped. "Present the beast? In the grand ballroom?"
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"Precisely," Isabel smirked coldly. "Reginald wants everyone to see the monster in chains, brought low by his authority. And if the beast happens to lose control and tear a dirty bastard girl apart in front of the entire court... well, it will simply prove why Lord Reginald’s absolute rule is necessary."
Isabel threw the scroll onto the wooden table and stepped back toward the door. "Wear something presentable, sister. It will be the last night of your pathetic life."
