Chapter 149: The Poisoned Chalice

The citadel was eerily quiet as Jay walked through the dimly lit corridors. The preparations had been made; traps were set, guards were stationed at every possible entry point, and key areas were heavily fortified. Yet, despite all the precautions, Jay couldn't shake the feeling that they were still vulnerable. The enemy had been planning this for far longer than he had been aware, and that realization gnawed at him.

As he neared the grand hall, he noticed a figure standing in the shadows by one of the pillars. Jay's hand instinctively went to his sword, but he relaxed slightly when he recognized Mira's silhouette.

"Couldn't sleep?" she asked, stepping into the light, her face softening as she saw the tension etched in Jay's features.

"Sleep is a luxury I can't afford right now," Jay replied, his voice low. "Every time I close my eyes, I see all the things that could go wrong. This entire situation feels like a game of chess, and I'm not sure I know all the pieces on the board."

Mira nodded in understanding. "The enemy wants us on edge. They thrive on fear and uncertainty. But we can't let them win. We've prepared for every eventuality. All we can do now is wait."

Jay sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Waiting has never been my strong suit."

Before Mira could respond, a servant appeared at the end of the corridor, hurrying toward them. The young woman's face was pale, and she seemed out of breath as she bowed deeply before Jay.

"Your Majesty," she said, her voice trembling slightly, "Lord Serus requests your presence in the council chamber. He says it's urgent."

Jay's brow furrowed. Serus was not one to summon him without good reason. "Did he say what it was about?"

The servant shook her head. "No, Your Majesty. Only that it concerns the preparations for the full moon."

Jay exchanged a glance with Mira, who gave a slight nod. "I'll come with you," she said.

They followed the servant through the winding corridors until they reached the council chamber. The large wooden doors were slightly ajar, and a faint light flickered within. Jay pushed the doors open, revealing the room where Serus stood alone, leaning over a map spread out on the table.

"Serus," Jay called, closing the doors behind him. "What's so urgent that it couldn't wait until morning?"

Serus looked up, his expression grim. "I apologize for the late hour, Your Majesty, but I've uncovered something troubling." He gestured to the map on the table. "I've been reviewing the defenses around the citadel, and I believe I've found a vulnerability—a weak point that could be exploited by the enemy."

Jay and Mira stepped closer, peering at the map. Serus pointed to a section of the outer wall, near a small, lesser-known gate that was rarely used.

"This gate here," Serus continued, "is old, and the mechanisms have not been properly maintained. If the enemy were to concentrate their forces here, they could breach the wall and enter the citadel before we even knew what happened."

Jay frowned. "Why hasn't this been brought to my attention before?"

Serus hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "The gate has always been considered insignificant, given its size and location. But in light of recent events, I decided to double-check everything. It seems the enemy may have known about this weakness for some time."

Mira's eyes narrowed as she studied Serus. "How did you come across this information?"

Serus met her gaze evenly. "I've been reviewing the reports from the engineers and architects who were involved in the original construction of the citadel. The records are old, but they indicate that this gate was intended as an emergency exit, not as a defensive structure. Over the years, it's been neglected."

Jay considered this, his mind racing. If Serus was right, this could be the very opening the enemy was counting on. "We need to reinforce this gate immediately. Send a contingent of soldiers to secure the area and make the necessary repairs."

Serus nodded. "I've already dispatched a team to assess the situation. They should be there by now."

Just as Jay was about to respond, there was a knock at the door. A guard entered, bowing quickly before addressing Jay. "Your Majesty, there's a disturbance in the lower courtyard. A group of soldiers found something… unusual."

Jay's instincts went on high alert. "What kind of unusual?"

The guard hesitated. "It's a… body, Your Majesty. One of the servants. It appears they were poisoned."

Mira's eyes widened in shock. "Poisoned? How?"

"We're not sure," the guard replied, his voice tense. "But it was found near the kitchens. There was a goblet nearby, and traces of a strange liquid inside."

Jay's blood ran cold. The enemy was making their move, testing their defenses. "Show me."

They hurried to the lower courtyard, where a small group of soldiers had gathered around the lifeless body of a servant. The sight of the young man, his face twisted in agony, sent a wave of anger through Jay. The poison had acted quickly, leaving no time for the victim to cry out for help.

Mira knelt beside the body, inspecting the goblet. "This was deliberate," she said, her voice tight with fury. "Someone wanted to send a message. This was meant for us to find."

Jay clenched his fists. "And they wanted us to know they can strike within our own walls, no matter how well we think we're protected."

Mira stood, her expression hardening. "We need to find out who did this. Every servant, every guard, everyone with access to the kitchens—they all need to be questioned."

Jay nodded. "And we need to be more vigilant than ever. If the enemy is resorting to poison, they're growing desperate. But this also means they're close, and we can still stop them."

As they left the courtyard, Jay couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. The enemy was probing their defenses, looking for weaknesses. The full moon was only a day away, and Jay knew that the real attack would come soon.

The kingdom was on the brink of chaos, and Jay was determined to do whatever it took to protect it.