Chapter 2: The Dagger and Pendant

When Queen Namia was halfway to safety, the thought of leaving her son behind became unbearable. As the carriage rumbled away from the burning castle, she gripped the edge of the seat, her mind racing. The memory of her son's sweet smile and his determined eyes refused to leave her thoughts. She suddenly shouted, "Stop the carriage!"

The guard pulled the reins, bringing the horses to a sharp halt. "Your Majesty, we must keep moving," he protested, his voice laced with fear.

"No," Queen Namia said, her voice trembling but resolute. "Turn back. I cannot leave Belin behind."

"But the danger—"

"I said turn back!" Her tone brooked no argument.

Liria clung to her mother, sobbing. "Please, Mother, don't go! Stay with us. We need you!"

Queen Namia knelt, her hands trembling as she cupped her daughter's face. "Stay here, I will come back with your brother, I promise. Belin needs me now. You must trust me."

Ignoring the guard's protests and her own rising fear, the queen climbed down from the carriage and began her perilous return to the castle on horseback, the sounds of chaos growing louder with every step.

She had just reached the corridor outside Prince Belin's chambers when he and his guard appeared, running toward them. Relief washed over Queen Namia as she pulled her son into a tight embrace, her arms trembling with the force of her emotions. Belin, sensing the urgency of the moment, hugged her back briefly before stepping away.

"We have no time to lose," Belin said, his voice steady despite the fear in his eyes.

The queen nodded, her heart heavy. "We must leave the castle at once. Follow me."

As they descended the grand staircase, the weight of the attack became undeniable. The air was thick with smoke and the metallic scent of blood. At the base of the stairs, three guards were locked in a fierce battle against two intruders cloaked in black. The assassins moved like wraiths, their strikes swift and unrelenting.

One of the guards fell, a blade driving through his chest. He crumpled to the ground, blood pooling beneath him. The sight made Belin's jaw tighten. He drew his sword and stepped forward, his resolve hardening.

"Belin, no!" The queen said sharply, throwing out an arm to block him. "Your duty is not to fight here. You must survive."

"Survive?" Belin retorted, his voice rising. "While they die protecting us? How can I live with myself if I do nothing?"

"They are doing their duty," Queen Namia insisted, her voice trembling. "Your life is the priority. You are the heir to Eastanzarth. The future of our kingdom depends on you."

Belin's eyes flashed with anger. "Heir to the throne?" he spat. "I never wanted this. I never asked for this burden, even father knows it."

"You'll hear the full truth when the time comes," The Queen said, her voice softening. "But now is not that time. Please, my son, trust me."

But Belin was done listening. With a swift motion, he pushed past his mother and joined the fight.

"Belin! Stop!" the queen screamed, her voice cracking as tears streamed down her face.

Ignoring her pleas, Belin plunged into the battle, his sword flashing in the dim torchlight. His movements were fluid and calculated, a testament to the years of training he'd undergone. He parried an assassin's blow aimed at one of the guards and struck back with precision, disarming his opponent in a matter of seconds. The assassin dropped to the ground; his hands severed at the wrists.

"You'll regret coming here," Belin spat, his voice cold. But instead of delivering a quick death, he left the assassin to bleed out, turning his attention to the second intruder.

Queen Namia clutched her chest, her heart pounding as she watched her son in combat, her palms wet with sweat. The remaining assassin was far more skilled, dodging every attack with ease. He moved like a shadow, his strikes unrelenting. Even injured, he fought with a ferocity that left the guards struggling to keep up.

Belin, however, was undeterred. Seizing an opening, he swept the assassin's legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the floor. The guard nearest to him attempted to deliver a finishing blow, but the assassin deflected it with his arm, even as the blade pierced through his flesh. The assassin retaliated, driving his own sword into the guard's chest.

Belin acted quickly, taking advantage of the distraction. He drove his blade into the assassin's chest with a single, decisive thrust. "Your time is over," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos around him.

Breathing heavily, Belin wiped the sweat from his brow. The young prince stood amidst the carnage, his chest heaving. Around him lay the bodies of the fallen, a grim testament to the night's horrors.

"Belin!" Namia descended the stairs, her voice a mixture of relief and anger. "We must leave now. The castle is not a safe place anymore."

At last, they reached the hidden gate where a carriage awaited them. Two horses, their eyes wide with nervous energy, were hitched to the vehicle, ready to carry them to safety. They go to the place where the queen left her daughter earlier, thankfully they were still there, unharmed.

Liria climbed down the carriage as soon as she saw her mother and brother, she ran to them and threw herself at them. "I was afraid that you won't come back, Mother." She turned to Belin, her brother, "I am really glad you are unharmed."

The Queen urged her children to climb inside the carriage, but Belin refused, he shook his head. "I'll ride alongside the carriage," he said, mounting a black stallion. "I can't protect you and Liria if I'm confined inside."

The queen hesitated but ultimately nodded. "Tia, stay with Liria and keep her safe," she instructed the servant.

Liria reached out a hand to her mother, tears in her eyes, her voice trembling with fear. "Come with us, Mother. Please."

Queen Namia shook her head, her expression resolute. "I cannot leave without your father, Queen Celeste, and your stepsister and stepbrother. I must make sure they're safe." She removed a pendant from around her neck and placed it on Liria. "Keep this with you. It was your grandmother's and holds power beyond what you know. It will protect you."

The queen cupped Liria's face, kissing her forehead, nose, and cheeks. "Stay strong, my dear. I will find you."

Turning to Belin, she handed him a small, ornate dagger. "This dagger is a symbol of the king's heir. Your father entrusted it to me, and now I pass it to you. Keep it safe, Belin. You are the future of Eastanzarth."

Belin looked at his mother, his heart heavy with unspoken words. "But Mother—"

"We don't have time for arguments," she interrupted. "Go now! Protect your sister and stay alive."

As the carriage began to move, Liria leaned out, her voice cracking with desperation. "Promise me you'll find us, Mother! Promise!"

Queen Namia raised her hand in a half-wave, her lips trembling. "I promise," she said, though her heart clenched with fear. She knew it was a promise she might not be able to keep.

The queen stood at the gate, watching as her children disappeared into the darkness. Behind her, the castle was ablaze with chaos, and the night was far from over.

A sudden sound broke through the stillness—a blade unsheathing, a shadow moving closer. Queen Namia turned, her breath hitching as a figure emerged from the darkness, cloaked and armed.

"Going somewhere, Your Majesty?" the figure said, his voice smooth and menacing.

Queen Namia reached for her knife, but the figure was faster. Before she could react, cold steel touched her throat.

The promise she had made to her children echoed in her mind as the night swallowed her whole.