Chapter 12: The Plot Thickens

The days passed, and Arthur and his brothers continued their training, honing their skills and preparing for the games. But despite their progress, Arthur couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

It started with small things. Equipment would go missing, or strange noises could be heard in the night. At first, Arthur dismissed it as mere paranoia, but as the occurrences grew more frequent, he began to suspect that something more sinister was at play.

One night, as he was walking back to his quarters, Arthur caught a glimpse of a figure lurking in the shadows. He quickened his pace, but the figure kept pace with him, always staying just out of sight.

Arthur's heart was racing as he burst into his quarters, slamming the door shut behind him. He leaned against the door, trying to catch his breath, but his mind was racing with questions.

Who was the figure? And what did they want?

As he tried to calm himself down, Arthur heard a faint noise coming from the corner of the room. He turned to see a piece of parchment on the floor, with a message scrawled in red ink:

"Meet me in the old windmill on the outskirts of the castle at midnight. Come alone."

Arthur's heart skipped a beat as he read the message. Who could be behind this? And what did they want with him?

He looked around the room, wondering if anyone had seen the message, but his brothers were all asleep, oblivious to the intrigue.

Arthur knew that he had to go to the meeting. He had to know what was going on, and who was behind the sinister messages.

As the clock struck midnight, Arthur made his way to the old windmill, his heart pounding in his chest. The windmill loomed above him, its sails creaking in the wind.

Arthur pushed open the door, stepping inside into the darkness. A figure emerged from the shadows, its face obscured by a hood.

"Who are you?" Arthur demanded, trying to keep his voice steady.

The figure pushed back its hood, revealing a shocking sight. It was Harwin, the king's advisor.

"I'm here to warn you, Arthur," Harwin said, his voice low and urgent. "The king's plan is not what it seems. There is a traitor in our midst, someone who seeks to destroy the kingdom from within."

Arthur's mind reeled with questions. Who was the traitor? And what did they want?

Harwin's eyes locked onto Arthur's. "I don't have much time," he said. "But I had to warn you. You and your brothers are in grave danger."

And with that, Harwin turned and disappeared into the night, leaving Arthur with more questions than answers.

As he made his way back to the castle, Arthur couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. The traitor could be anyone, and Arthur knew that he had to be careful.

He crept back into his quarters, trying not to wake his brothers. But as he lay in bed, he couldn't shake the feeling that the plot was thickening, and that the games were about to take a deadly turn.