The meeting place chosen for the Viscine delegation stood at the exact midpoint between Eldoria's fractured eastern boundary and what had once been disputed territory during the Northern Conflict. A pavilion had been hastily erected on a rise overlooking both kingdoms—Eldoria's shattered crystalline spires to the west, and Castle Viscine's dark silhouette to the east.
Shane arrived with a small honor guard, his formal military attire replaced with the dignified robes of Eldoria's High General. Captain Lidia had insisted on twice the usual number of royal guards, her distrust of Princess Denise evident in every aspect of her preparations. The soldiers formed a protective perimeter around the pavilion, their crystalline armor catching the midday sun in brilliant flashes.
"They approach," Lidia announced, her posture stiffening as she gazed eastward.