the weight of shadows

The path ahead was uncertain, but I had no choice but to keep moving. Every step forward carried the weight of the past and the whispers of the throne spirit clawing at the edges of my mind. Kael and I traveled with Malrik now, but I still didn't trust him—not fully.

Neither did Kael. His hand never strayed far from his sword whenever Malrik was near.

The tension between them crackled like a storm waiting to break.

Malrik, of course, seemed to enjoy it. He walked at a lazy pace, twirling a dagger between his fingers, eyes always watchful.

"You never talk much, do you?" Malrik drawled, breaking the silence. "Most royals I've met love to hear themselves speak."

I didn't answer.

He smirked. "But you... You carry silence like a weapon. Makes me wonder what you're hiding, princess."

Kael stiffened beside me, his glare sharp enough to cut through steel. "Watch your tongue."

Malrik let out a low chuckle. "Relax, old man. I'm just trying to know our dear princess better. We are allies now, aren't we?"

"I didn't choose this alliance," I said coldly.

"Yet here we are," Malrik mused. "Fate works in strange ways."

I met his gaze, searching for his angle. He was testing me—pushing, probing. I had no doubt he was dangerous, but I wouldn't let him unnerve me.

"If you're hoping for secrets," I said, voice steady, "you'll be disappointed."

Malrik sighed dramatically. "Shame. I was hoping for at least a little scandal. Maybe a forbidden love? A betrayal?" His smirk turned sharp. "Oh wait… you've already had that, haven't you?"

My body went rigid.

Kael moved before I could react, grabbing Malrik by the collar and shoving him back against a tree. "Say another word, and I'll cut that tongue from your mouth."

Malrik only grinned, unfazed. "Hit a nerve, did I?"

I took a steady breath. "Let him go, Kael."

Kael hesitated, then released him with a shove. Malrik adjusted his collar, still grinning. "I like you two. So much fire."

I turned away. "Keep up or get left behind."

He chuckled but followed.

---

The Rebel's Judgment

The whispers of the throne grew stronger as we approached the ruins of an old outpost deep in the forest. It was a place I remembered from childhood, where my father once met with the Shadow Claws—our most skilled warriors.

Now, it was barely standing.

We stepped into the clearing, and shadows moved. Dozens of warriors emerged from the darkness, weapons drawn.

Kael cursed. Malrik only raised an eyebrow.

A woman stepped forward, her arms crisscrossed with scars, her dark eyes burning with something close to hatred.

"You should not have come here, daughter of the fallen king," she spat.

Her voice sent a chill down my spine.

"You served my father," I said.

She tilted her head. "And look where that got us."

"Enough." Another voice rang out—a familiar one.

Roran.

The man who had once stood at my father's side.

The man who had betrayed him.

He stepped into the torchlight, his expression unreadable. "If she's come for our help, let her prove she's worth it."

The scarred woman sneered. "You want our warriors, princess? Fight for them. Prove you deserve it."

I lifted my chin. "And if I refuse?"

She smirked. "Then you leave in pieces."

---

The Trial

The rebels formed a ring, torches lighting the clearing in a flickering dance of fire and shadow. My opponent stepped forward—a brute of a man, towering and built like a beast.

"Last chance to run, princess," he sneered.

I didn't move.

He struck first.

His fist crashed against my ribs, knocking the breath from my lungs. Pain exploded through me, but I refused to fall.

I dodged his next attack, rolling to the side, but he was fast. His knee slammed into my stomach, and I hit the ground hard.

Laughter echoed around me.

I gritted my teeth. Get up.

The whispers of the throne slithered through my mind. You are more than this.

The warrior grabbed my collar, yanking me up, his fist already drawn back.

Not yet…

I waited until the last second—then twisted, using his momentum against him. My elbow slammed into his throat.

He staggered, but didn't fall.

A dagger flashed in his hand.

I barely dodged, the blade slicing across my arm. Pain flared, but I couldn't stop.

You are more than this, Elaris.

The throne spirit's voice wrapped around me. The whispers became a roar.

I am not weak.

My vision sharpened. I could feel his next move before he made it. When he lunged again, I was ready.

I spun, kicking his legs out from under him. He hit the ground, and I was on him in an instant. My blade pressed against his throat.

Silence.

Then—the rebels roared.

I turned to Roran, breathing hard. "Is that proof enough?"

He studied me, then nodded.

"The Shadow Claws will hear your plan."

I had won.

But as I looked at Roran, at the warriors who had once served my father, I couldn't shake the feeling that winning their loyalty was only the beginning.

And the throne…

It was still watching.

---

The Weight of Leadership

The battle had been won, but the war for their trust was far from over.

As the warriors murmured among themselves, I could feel their lingering doubt. They had seen me fight, but that didn't mean they would follow me.

Roran studied me with sharp eyes before turning to the scarred woman. "She has proven herself in battle."

She crossed her arms, unimpressed. "That does not mean she can lead us."

"I fought for my right to be here," I said. "Isn't that enough?"

She stepped closer, her face inches from mine. "A king commands with strength. A queen commands with loyalty. We don't follow you just because you can fight."

I met her glare. "Then what do you need?"

She smirked. "You tell me, princess."

The throne's whispers stirred again. Do they not see? You are meant to rule. Take what is yours.

I clenched my jaw, pushing the voice aside.

"We need a plan," Roran interrupted. "The king's forces won't stop hunting her."

Kael stepped forward. "We shouldn't stay here long. We need a secure location."

Malrik, who had been silent for too long, finally spoke. "I know a place."

All eyes turned to him.

"A fortress deep in the southern mountains," he continued. "Well hidden, hard to attack. It's been abandoned for years."

"Why would we trust you?" Kael snapped.

Malrik smirked. "You don't. But I want the king dead as much as you do."

The scarred woman eyed him warily. "And why is that?"

Malrik's smirk faded for the first time that night. "Because he destroys everything he touches."

A heavy silence followed his words.

Roran exhaled sharply. "We move at dawn. If you're lying, Malrik, you won't live to see the sunrise."

Malrik only grinned. "Noted."

As the warriors began to disperse, Kael turned to me. "You should rest."

I nodded, though I knew sleep wouldn't come.

Not when the throne's whispers still lingered.

Not when the war was only just beginning.