CHAPTER 2:THE GATHERING STORM

The Great Hall of Vaeloria, once filled with laughter and music, now stood in stunned silence. Kael Draven's warning lingered like a ghost in the air, its weight pressing against every noble heart in the room.

Princess Seraphina Everaine remained frozen on the dais, her mind reeling. Kael—after all these years—had returned. Not as the reckless warrior she once knew, but as a harbinger of war.

Her father, King Aldric, rose from his throne, his face dark with displeasure. "Enough of this disruption," he declared, his voice sharp as a blade. "Let the feast continue."

But the spell had already broken. Lords and ladies exchanged nervous glances, murmuring in hushed voices. The musicians hesitated before resuming their melody, but the song now felt hollow.

Seraphina clenched her fists. She needed answers.

A Princess's Defiance

The moment the feast ended, Seraphina hurried through the torchlit corridors of the palace, her silver gown trailing behind her. Elena, her handmaiden, rushed to keep up.

"My lady, slow down!" Elena whispered urgently. "If your father catches you—"

"I must speak to Kael," Seraphina cut in. "Before my father does something reckless."

They rounded a corner, stopping before a pair of guards stationed at the side entrance.

"The warrior who came earlier," Seraphina demanded, her voice composed but firm. "Where is he?"

The guards hesitated. One of them finally answered, "Escorted beyond the gates, Your Highness. By the king's orders."

Seraphina's breath caught. He had been cast out already?

"Then prepare my horse," she ordered.

Elena gasped. "Seraphina, you cannot! You are betrothed—"

"Not yet," Seraphina snapped, her heart hammering. "And I will not sit idly by while war marches upon us."

With one last glance at Elena, she turned and strode toward the stables, her decision made.

The Exiled Warrior

The winds howled beyond Vaeloria's gates, carrying the scent of rain and distant smoke. Seraphina's cloak billowed as she rode into the darkened woods, following the road toward the old outpost where she suspected Kael would linger.

When she finally found him, he was alone by a small campfire, his back turned to her. He had removed his cloak, revealing armor that bore the scars of past battles. His sword rested beside him, within arm's reach.

"Kael," Seraphina called softly, dismounting.

He did not turn immediately. When he did, his storm-gray eyes locked onto hers, unreadable. "You shouldn't be here."

Seraphina stepped closer. "Neither should you, if what you said is true."

Kael exhaled sharply, running a hand through his dark hair. "It is." He reached into his satchel and pulled out a parchment, unfolding it before her. The royal seal of Zephirion gleamed under the firelight.

Seraphina's blood ran cold as she read the words.

"By decree of Emperor Darius, the armies of Zephirion shall march upon Vaeloria should the betrothal not be fulfilled. The princess is to be surrendered, or the kingdom shall fall to fire and steel."

Seraphina's hands trembled. "So this was never a peace offering. It was an ultimatum."

Kael nodded. "Your father is blind if he thinks this marriage will save your kingdom. Darius does not wed to unite. He weds to conquer."

Seraphina felt a chill deeper than the night air.

"Then what do we do?" she whispered.

Kael hesitated. "You know what must be done."

She met his gaze. "You want me to run."

"You don't belong to him, Seraphina." His voice was rough, almost desperate. "I swore to protect you once. Let me do it again."

Seraphina swallowed hard. A part of her longed to say yes—to take Kael's hand and flee, just as they had dreamed long ago. But she was not just a woman in love anymore. She was a princess.

A ruler-to-be.

"No," she said at last.

Kael's jaw clenched. "Seraphina—"

"If I run, Darius will still march. My people will suffer for my absence." She lifted her chin. "If war is coming, I will not abandon Vaeloria."

A tense silence stretched between them. Then, Kael's expression softened, resignation settling in his eyes.

"You are braver than I remember," he murmured.

"And you are just as stubborn." A sad smile touched her lips.

For a long moment, they simply stood there—two souls bound by the past, uncertain of the future.

Then, distant hoofbeats shattered the moment.

Seraphina turned sharply. Torches flickered between the trees. Soldiers.

"Damn it," Kael swore. "We've been followed."

Seraphina's stomach twisted. "If they find us together—"

Kael was already moving. "Go. Now."

But it was too late.

The soldiers burst into the clearing, swords drawn. Leading them was none other than Lord Cedric Valerius, his lips curling into a smirk as he took in the scene before him.

"How interesting," Cedric drawled. "The princess, alone in the woods with an exile." His gaze darkened. "Your father will not be pleased."

Seraphina forced herself to stand tall. "I came to seek the truth. And I have found it."

Cedric scoffed. "The only truth here is treason." He gestured to the guards. "Seize them both."

Kael grabbed his sword in a flash, positioning himself between Seraphina and the advancing soldiers. "Over my dead body."

Cedric's smirk widened. "Gladly."

And then, chaos erupted.

Kael moved like a tempest, parrying the first soldier's strike with ease. His blade danced through the night, meeting steel with deadly precision. Seraphina barely had time to react before she was pulled back by rough hands.

"Let go of me!" she struggled, but Cedric only sneered.

"You belong to the empire now, Your Highness."

Kael saw Seraphina being dragged away, fury igniting in his veins. He fought harder, cutting through another soldier, but there were too many.

"Seraphina!" he shouted.

Their eyes met one last time before a soldier struck Kael from behind, sending him to his knees. Blood dripped from his temple.

"No!" Seraphina screamed, thrashing against her captors.

But it was over.

Kael fell, and darkness swallowed him whole.

To Be Continued…