“We have a problem on our hands.”
She put the book down in her lap, giving me her full attention.
“Elara’s missing.”
“Missing?” she said a little too loud, looking to the open door and then back at me. “What do you mean missing?” she asked, in a softer tone this time.
“She’s gone to find the key that will unlock the diary of the old Evernean king.”
Gwen looked away with an expression of surprise. “And no one knows where she is?”
“We have some idea. Rhen and I are going to look for her. But we cannot let anyone know she’s gone.”
“Definitely not,” Gwen agreed, her eyes lingering on me while the room was silent for a few moments. “I’m sure she’s fine.” She tried to reassure me. “She’s not an easy person to take down.”
I wanted to believe her, but my stomach turned with thoughts of the wood and all its dangers. Even if Elara did manage to make it out of the misty woods, there were so many other things that could befall her.
“We have to stay hopeful,” Gwen continued, taking in my expression of dread.
A figure entered the drawing room and I turned to look, with the hope it was Rhen and that our search party was ready to leave. Somewhat surprisingly, it was Alastor who stood in front of me. “Your Majesty.” He gave a bow, still dressed in his riding attire, as if he’d arrived at the palace and come straight to look for me.
“You’ve returned quickly.” I stood up, awaiting any good news at this point.
“I’ve been in contact with the nobles of Norrandale. Many of them said that once you have a firm foot to stand on in the kingdom, they would be willing to go to battle with you. This, ofcourse, includes any men they might be able to provide.” That was entirely fair of them. I couldn’t very well expect them to fight for me while I hid out in Everness. Our army needed a base. We needed a foothold.
“Something like taking back Mistwood Palace most likely.”
“It would seem so, Your Majesty.”
“Taking back the palace?” Gwen chirped, still seated on her chair. “Have you gone mad? That place is crawling with Argonian guards who would kill you without question.”
“Naturally we wouldn’t just walk in the front door,” I argued before turning back to Alastor.
“This is something.” I crossed my arms. “At the very least we can start devising some plans.”
“There’s more, Your Majesty.”
“Oh?” Based on his tone, I couldn’t tell if it would be good or bad.
“Though this is something we would probably need to discuss with Queen Elara. But on my way back here, I came across our old friends in the forest.”
Old friends? Does he mean the bandits of Fairfrith?
“Olwin’s men initially tried to attack me but when I informed them I knew their leader, they agreed to take me to him.”
Olwin, of the Baruk clan. He was Elara’s uncle’s enemy and had turned on him during the rebellion.
“What happened?”
“I told him about matters in Norrandale and Everness, about the possibility of war. He said he would be open to some negotiations if the Queen wanted him and his men to fight in her army.” Olwin’s men were fierce and ruthless, a relentless clan of bandits with no concept of mercy. Having someone like him fight on our side could be very beneficial but there was no telling as to his loyalty or what he might want from Elara in return.
“Thank you for all your efforts, Alastor, I greatly appreciate it.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
Things were looking a little less dire than before. If we could raise an army and manage to find all three Myrgonite objects, we might stand a fighting chance against Argon.
Chapter 20
