Meeting again

The night was quiet and still, the kind of silence that cloaked the world just before a storm. Moon Castle stood atop the city like a watchful sentinel, its spires glinting faintly in the moonlight. Aiden moved silently through the castle's corridors, cloaked in shadows, his thoughts focused on the moment he'd been preparing for since the day he'd made that promise to her.

He had fought tooth and nail for this night. The ten major cities, each with its unique rivalries and ambitions, now rested under his control—a feat no one else had accomplished in recent memory. Yet here he was, about to deliver on the commitment he'd made to Princess Lirael. A grin spread across his face as he anticipated her reaction. Moon City, once isolated, was no longer standing alone. They had allies, influence, and power—everything they needed to reshape the kingdom.