"The chain reaction of evil. Hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation."

  Interlude 1.

  Archer Ilmarith Ysolaren.

  November 15th, 1845.

  Ten Months before the War of Reclamation.

  The bright sun shone down onto the lush green grass my eyes watched in awe at the beautiful green fields ahead of me, looking back toward Isyrelle. She took hesitant steps forward before grabbing my hand and pulling me along with her. We ran like children to a lake. I discarded my bow and quiver before jumping into the lake. Isyrelle giggled like a child, splashing water toward me.

  "Isyrelle! We mustn't stay here long! If we are to be caught, who knows what kind of punishment they'll give me!" I advised, but Isyrelle simply shook her head and let loose her hair her smile shined like stars as she swam toward me, wrapping her arms around my neck, she cooed.

  "Don't be so fearful Ilmarith it's simply water.. who would dare attack the empire now? Don't fret on such things just.. focus on me, won't you?"

  I swallowed and nodded, pressing my lips on hers, her damp hair clinging to my neck, her wet hands trailing up to cup my cheek before she pulled back her eyes gleaming with profound love.

  "But if you insist.. I assume we can continue our little patrol with the hopes of the sun drying our bearings." She whispered and curled her finger around my chin before letting go, grasping my hand. She swam to shore, dragging me with her.

  She climbed up and began to dry her beautiful golden hair, which had such radiance in the sun that it glowed. I grabbed my arrow and ran a hand through my damp hair before I froze. The undoubted sound of hooves of a horse echoed and stopped. I hesitantly looked to the source of the sound, my hands already trembling. Sir Alaric the Duke's Marshall was staring back at me, his eyes narrowed into slits before a smirk of amusement crept on his lips.

  "Archers." He stated simply

  Both me and Isyrelle scrambled to look somewhat formal before lining up in front of him. Yet a smile never fully left Isyrelle's lips.

  "My lord. Why have you come here for us?" I asked, my eyes darting to Alaric, then to Isyrelle before the Marshall's voice cut through the wind.

  "Don't be so nervous. I'm an elf as you are. I come with news from the queen herself that is to be delivered to the Duke. Unfortunately, it will not be to his liking. And I fear an argument between us may ensue if I deliver this letter. Fortunately, I have you." He opened a satchel on the horse and took out a letter stamped in the royal insignia with bright red wax. He held it out for me to take.

  My blood went cold, and I stared blankly at the letter before Isyrelle stomped on my foot. I snapped back into reality and dried my hands on my tunic, taking the letter before bowing.

  "An honor as always my Duke- I-i mean my Marshall." I stuttered and held my head low.

  I heard Alaric's low chuckle and then the sound of his horse passing by. I slowly lifted my head to see Isyrelle staring at me with a mix of amusement and concern.

  "You are very lucky the Marshall is a nice man..but can't you believe it!? Some forgotten Archers entrusted to deliver such a letter to the Duke himself! A letter sent from the very high queen!" Her bright emerald eyes looked into mine before she grabbed my hands and pecked my lips, dragging me over the bridge and onto the path toward the duchy.

  The sound of our boots clicking onto the dirt echoed as birds chirped around us, the wind flowing, making Isyrelle's hair flutter beautifully as she skipped around happily.

  "Make haste! The sun won't be here for long and I can't imagine walking in the cold!" She exclaimed, followed by a giggle.

  "Now imagine fighting in the cold," I stated simply and smirked at her annoyed expression flinching as she slapped my shoulder.

  "Don't be ridiculous. When will we fight a war in such cold? If we do go to war, it'll be over before the snow ever falls! Now.. see that tree?" She chirped, pointing toward a large tree easily the size of a giant.

  "I do," I said and watched her take a running stance.

  "Let's see who's faster!" She challenged and bolted forward. I shook my head and then chased after her.

  And then, after such a run and the long walk, the dirt streets turned into rock. The sun dimmed, and we entered the grand city of Eu.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  "Isn't it odd? We spent our whole lives practicing to protect a city we rarely see. My dream is that.. one day once this is all over, we'll have a steady nice home here it would be well, wouldn't it Ilmarith?" Isyrelle said, her eyes looking down at the ground as we walked through the large gate of the entrance.

  "Here? In a city? Isn't the city a hard place to live?" I asked and scanned the vast city. The large statues, the beautiful Gardens, and the astounding polished white homes.

  "Maybe it'll be easier. Can't you see how beautiful it is here?" She murmured

  "Perhaps," I whispered and strolled down the path toward the grand palace. We stopped right outside the gate. The Duke's royal guard stared at us with both amusement and disgust.

  "And who sent you here, Archers? Aren't you supposed to be patrolling some swamp?" The first guard inquired his smirk, only growing grander.

  Isyrelle's eyebrows furrowed her mouth opened to protest, but I soon cut her off with a soft nudge to her arm. I dug into my pouch and took out the royal letter.

  "Sir Alaric entrusted me to deliver this to the Duke himself." I held the letter up, ensuring the royal insignia would illuminate. The faces of the guards immediately dropped serious as they nodded and opened the gate without uttering a word.

  I nodded and smiled softly at Isyrelle, who grabbed my hand and squeezed it.

  The palace was something I've never seen before. The gardens were filled with different plants and flowers I've never seen so lush and colorful that any gardener would envy. The giant palace itself was pure white with not a speck of dust harming its image alongside large banners of the Lunaraith empire and the duchy of Eu with Duke Darkheart's personal flag.

  The doors were dark black, a stark contrast to such a stunning white, they were so big it could fit a dragon through them. The servants pushed the doors open, but a royal guard stopped us before we could enter.

  "To enter the duke's palace, you must clean your footwear first, Archer."

  I looked down at my boots and rubbed them on the shoe rug before stepping in. The palace inside was filled with various golden-laced artifacts and portraits. The carpet was lush red, and the large window gave way for the last of the sun's glow to shine.

  "Follow me." The guard stated and began a march toward the Duke's quarters. Right outside the door, the guard stopped his eyes, reflecting genuine concern as he whispered.

  "I am to warn you.. the Duke has refused to accept the loss of his daughter.. he hasn't been in the best of state. Watch your words." The guard leaned back and knocked on the door before pushing it open.

  I took a hesitant soft step in. The room was dark and dim with no light except for a sole torch that illuminated the Duke a map was laid out on the table below him he lounged in his seat his hair ruffled a half-empty bottle dangling from his fingers. His officers hovered like vultures around him rigid like statues, but their gaze toward me felt like an impending death sentence. These were not the cheerful and merciful men like Alaric. These officers were ruthless known to hang their own for simple offenses.

  Then the Duke's gruff voice echoed in the quarters.

  "Archers. I was told Alaric has sent you. A smart man, he is to send sheep into the fray." He lifted his head and pushed the seat around to face us. His face looked like he had aged a hundred years in just a few months.

  "Speak." He commanded.

  I hesitated, and my words came out as stuttered gasps and a mismatch of words. Isyrelle grabbed my hand and said gently.

  "Sir Alaric has entrusted us to deliver this letter coming from the high queen herself, your highness." She said her confidence radiated in the dark room, yet her fingers trembled in between mines.

  The Duke's eyes narrowed as his gaze dropped to our joined hands before back to the letter in my other hand.

  "Read." He ordered.

  I carefully pulled the seal off and took out the letter. I cleared my throat and spread out the large paper before saying.

  "From. Her radiance of the Lunaraith Empire's high queen Astria the first. To. Duke Darkheart.

  We have seen and heard of your plans to mobilize. We see you've taken our maps and our best historians. You will cease all mobilization now. You will properly mourn the loss of your daughter and her death, which was caused by the sea. There are no humans to the north. There is no secret monster. You will obey the crown, or you will receive no support from her majesty and face possible exile." I lowered the paper and watched the Duke take a large swig of his bottle before throwing the now-empty bottle to the ground.

  "It isn't a halt to mobilization. You understand that, don't you?" The Duke said one eyebrow slightly raised as he stared into my soul.

  "Sir?" I stated simply.

  "They tell me that I must end the rise of my army or face POSSIBLE exile and the loss of their support. It's all just to wash their hands. To make me look the maniac!" He said, his voice rising in anger before he fixed his posture and grabbed some paper, slamming it on the table.

  "Boy. Can you write?" He asked.

  "I can," I said and shuffled toward the table, my hands trembling around the quill.

  "You will tell her majesty that I will continue my war with or without her support. I will find the truth of the north that they so desperately hide, and I will avenge my daughter. If they wish to rinse their hands of any involvement, so be it, but I shall be remembered as the one who broke the barrier to the north. While I understand her highness' concerns and appreciate them, I do not need to be halted like a child. Exile me if you must army or not I will sail north." The Duke said, rubbing his chin while staring at the ceiling.

  One of his officers came right behind me, his breath trailing down my neck as he watched every word written down. I put the quill in its place and glanced toward the Duke.

  "It is done, sir." I stepped back and watched him snatch the paper before folding it, sliding it into an envelope. The wax was already melted by one of his officers. He took out a stamp, dipping it into the wax and stamping down onto the envelope.

  The long minutes of silence that followed as the wax cooled were dreadful. My stomach twisted with anxiety as the officers stared me down. Then the duke held up the letter. The wax is now dry with the insignia of the Duke.

  "Give it to a courier and let it be delivered to the queen. Tell the courier to take a long route and as much time as needed to get to the capital." He ordered, and then his gaze dropped onto Isyrelle.

  "Your wife?" He asked simply.

  "Soon to be, sir," I responded and bowed my head.

  He nodded and tucked his lips before muttering.

  "Enjoy her. It can all disappear so..so. quick." He said and then snapped his finger to one of the officers who brought him a new bottle of wine.

  Me and Isyrelle stepped out of the quarters and closed the door behind us, letting out a deep sigh of relief as the weight of the empire was finally dropped off our shoulders.

  "I told you we would do it! Now let's find that courier!" Isyrelle exclaimed and pulled me into a hug, then grabbed my hand as she dragged me outside. To our luck, the courier was right at the entrance handing letters to the royal guard. We rushed toward him, interrupting their conversation as I held the letter toward him.

  "The Duke sends it to the high queen. He demands you take the longest route and whatever time you need to get there." I said and watched as the courier took the letter and slid it into his horse's satchel.

  "I see. Very well if that's what he asks." The courier said and nodded before continuing the conversation with the guard. Me and Isyrelle then stepped out of the palace.

  Silence followed until we made it out of the palace. The cold breeze greeted us. Isyrelle let out a shuddered breath and wrapped her arms around herself, yet her smile never faded.

  Once we made it to the Inn, we bought our room once inside. Isyrelle wrapped her hands around my neck, her eyes looking into mine with the same emerald love that defined her.

  "I've come to the conclusion that I'd rather not live in a capital city.. too many politics." She whispered and placed a gentle kiss on my chin. My hands slid to her waist as I rested my head on her forehead.

  "I told you. The Duke speaks of humans north. Do you believe it to be true?" I asked.

  "Humans? North? Please. Next, you'll ask me if unicorns truly desecrate rainbows." She said with a giggle.

  I chuckled softly, closing my eyes as our foreheads touched.

  The uncertainty slowly faded.

  Whatever came next.

  We would face it together.

  And I believed it would be a beautiful adventure.