CHAPTER 5 — The Wolf’s Oath

Ashara sat in the candlelit dark of her war council chambers, staring at the glowing interface only she could see. The three paths blinked with ghostly light in the air before her: [Death], [Tyrant], [Love].

The Wolf's Oath.

She hovered her fingers over that one. The edges of it pulsed like an unspoken promise. The only one that didn't end in madness or fire.

She didn't touch it. Not yet.

Instead, she pressed her palm flat against the ancient oak of the strategy table, grounding herself.

The room smelled of vellum, cold stone, and oil. Familiar. Comforting. The war maps were gone, for now, but the energy remained—the lingering charge of secrets spoken and blades drawn.

She needed allies.

Not just Ezekiel. Loyal as he was, one man could not change the tides. She needed wolves. And she knew where to find them.

The sun had barely crested the mountains when Ashara walked into the southern training grounds, flanked by two of her handmaidens dressed as guards. Her veil fluttered in the wind. No one bowed—not here. Not in the pit of the empire's fangs.

Rows of soldiers trained with blunted spears and dulled swords. Men and women alike, sweating in the cold. Towering above them all stood Captain Ysra of the Grey Shields, a woman carved from iron and battle scars.

Ashara stopped just outside the circle.

"Captain Ysra," she called.

Ysra looked up, sweat running down her neck. Her face was painted in blue ceremonial ink from the Border Wars.

"Your Majesty," she said with a slight nod. "Didn't expect you in the dirt this morning."

"I need blades that do not bend," Ashara said. "I'm told yours don't know how to kneel."

The soldiers behind Ysra murmured, unsure if it was an insult or praise. Ysra grinned.

"They kneel for no man, Empress. Only for honor."

"Good," Ashara said, stepping into the ring. "Because I'm not asking for fealty. I'm asking for teeth."

Ysra raised a brow. "You planning a war?"

Ashara met her eyes. "Not yet. But one is coming."

Later that evening, Ashara stood on a cliff balcony overlooking the city. Wind teased her hair free from its braid. The red spires of the palace glowed under the dying sun, and below, the streets throbbed with life.

Ezekiel joined her without a word.

"You spoke to Ysra," he said.

"I did."

"She'll follow?"

"She'll test me first."

He looked at her sidelong. "Are you ready for that?"

Ashara turned toward him. "I burned for three hours and never screamed. I think I'm ready."

Ezekiel's eyes flickered, something reverent in them.

"The wolves will come," he said. "But they will howl only for the truth."

Ashara smiled faintly. "Then I'll feed them the truth until they bite."

Midnight again. The System flickered awake in her mind.

"Node Unlocked: Loyalty Trial — The Wolf's Arena."

"Event Status: Active. Participants: 3. Outcome Paths: [Rejection] [Submission] [Bonding]."

Ashara's chamber door creaked open. Ysra entered with two of her lieutenants.

No bows. No courtesies.

"You wanted blades," Ysra said. "Then show us you're not just another gold-blooded corpse playing throne."

Ashara drew a training sword from the rack beside her desk.

"First blood," she said.

Ysra grinned. "You're mad."

"A little," Ashara said, stepping into the torchlit arena beneath the palace. "But I'm also the one with nothing to lose."

The fight was brutal. Honest.

Ashara ducked, dodged, rolled. The sword was heavy, her lungs burned, but she moved like someone who remembered dying and decided against it.

Ysra struck high. Ashara deflected. A twist, a slip, a strike—and Ysra's arm bled.

First blood.

The Grey Shield captain laughed, loud and free.

"Well," she said, panting. "Guess we'll be howling, then."

System Update: Loyalty Secured. Grey Shields Affiliation +40. Future Outcome Modified.

Ashara slumped against the wall, sweat streaking her face, hair tangled and wild. Ezekiel offered her water. She drank.

"You did it," he said.

Ashara looked toward the night sky, stars gleaming like scattered coin.

"No," she murmured. "I started it."

[SYSTEM BRANCH UPDATE]

Path: The Wolf's Oath

Unlocked Node: "Bond Forged in Flame"

Outcome Trajectory: [Potential Alliance: 64%] [Betrayal Risk: 22%] [Romance Thread: Activated]

New Choice Available:

Invite Ysra to the Inner Circle?

[Yes: Increase trust, unlock special battle events, possible romantic subplot.]

[No: Maintain distance, avoid entanglements, safeguard secrets.]