50 Marcus and Zuna
Stahl's throne room was meant to be sealed shut in Henry's absence, yet at this moment, two groups of four stood at an impasse, their gazes locked in a deadly standoff. The flickering torches cast a dim light on their faces, revealing the clear animosity between them as their weapons glinted in the low light.
Marcus, the messenger of Aritreia, was a tall, imposing figure with golden hair that gleamed in the torchlight. His face was angular and sharp, with a thin nose and piercing blue eyes that seemed to take in everything around him. He wore a fur-trimmed cloak and a leather tunic, both of which looked expensive and well-crafted. Marcus held himself with an air of superiority, as if he was used to getting what he wanted.
"It's been a while, Zuna" – Marcus greeted with a disdainful sneer, looking down at Luak's representative. – "It seems like you are still as barbaric as ever. Did you forget to bring a decent change of clothes?"
Contrary to Marcus' ostentatious appearance, Zuna, the messenger of Luak, was dressed in a simple woolen cloak and a tunic made of rough fabric, both of which showed signs of wear and tear. Yet her hair was a dazzling cascade of blue, falling down her back like a shimmering curtain of silk, drawing all the attention to it.
"It seems like your tongue got too big for your mouth, Marcus." – Zuna coldly said, her hands threateningly resting on top of her dagger. – "Do you need some help fixing that?"
At her sudden gesture, the three soldiers behind them rapidly stepped forwards, ready to draw their weapons to defend their lords. The air was thick with tension, as neither group seemed willing to back down from their stance.
Marcus smiled cynically as he lightly patted his scouts' shoulders, gesturing for them to stand down. His gaze shifted to Zuna as he spoke, the words dripping with veiled threat. "We're not here to seek a war between Aritreia and Luak, at least not for the time being, right?"
Aritreia and Luak were neighboring kingdoms with a long history of conflict, their rivalry fueled by the harsh climate and limited resources of the surrounding forests. Because of that, the hunting grounds were often a point of conflict between the two countries, with each side seeking control of the scarce preys that roamed the forests. However, they preferred to fight amongst themselves than to face the Frozen Forest.
Fortunately, there were few conflicts between these two kingdoms and Stahl, as it was in their best interest to keep Henry's kingdom existence, serving as a line of defense against the mysterious threats of the Frozen Forest. However, Stahl's civil war and the downgrade of their forcers created a golden opportunity, a great temptation to seize the Cold Iron Mines, which could be used to expand their armies and to conquer this small part of the North.
This objective was a gamble, with high stakes and even higher returns. Although there was a great chance that Stahl might not be able to shield them from the Frozen Forest's threats in the future, they believed that with a sufficient amount of iron, they could gain enough power to protect themselves.
Marcus' words drew a cold smile from Zuna, who met his blue eyes with a piercing stare. "I look forward to the day I rip those disgusting eyes out of your head." - she said – "They will make a good ornament."
Despite Zuna's threatening words, Marcus' smile remained unflinching, but it now bore a cruel edge that hadn't been there before – "Oh, how I long for that day. And the sooner, the better. I will use that hair as a memoir of your beauty."
Despite the heated exchange, the hostility between the two sides seemed to be gradually easing. However, a palpable sense of caution hung in the air as both parties remained watchful and ready to draw their weapons against their long-standing enemies. Marcus and Zuna's attention shifted towards the room's door, their expressions now tinged with frustration and annoyance.
"Where is that incompetent fool?"- Marcus seethed, clenching his teeth – "He doesn't even seem to care about his kingdom's future. He dares to make me wait."
"It seems we finally agree on something."- Zuna said, her anger directed towards the door. They had been waiting for an hour, and Henry, the King of Stahl, had yet to show up.
They had been traveling across Stahl for almost two weeks, taking the White Merchant Road to avoid bandits and other dangers. As they passed through each city, they had hoped to see troops being allocated and trained, but instead, they only saw the infrastructure being rebuilt from the ground up. It seemed more like an act to boost the ego of an imbecile king than a genuine effort to protect his people.
At the sight of this foolish acts, their plan of taking over the Cold Iron Mines seemed like a piece of cake. The only real problem they anticipated was Luther, the man who they believed that had retaken the kingdom and ended the civil war. But even he couldn't hold off the might of Aritreia and Luak with a severely weakened army. The mines were theirs.
The door creaked open as a known old figure and a young man in his early twenties entered the room. His black hair reached his shoulders and his gray eyes fixed on his throne as he marched forward. He wore a black coat with red lines and a fully black robe, and his heavy boots echoed loudly on the floor with each step. He seemed to exude a sense of power and confidence, and the air in the room grew tense as he approached.
The old man behind the young man gave off an immense pressure, forcing the confident and arrogant groups bow down in respect. Marcus and Zuna, the most powerful ones, tried to resist, but Luther's aura was too much for them. The ground beneath their feet cracked, but they still bowed down.
Henry passed through these insolent people and sat on his throne as Luther respectfully stood behind him.
"Now…we can begin."
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