"Seventy casualties. Three towns completely levelled and rendered uninhabitable. Twelve soldiers captured. Two fields of crops destroyed. Am I missing anything?"

The king of Merelia questioned the court messenger; anger rolled off him in waves, though it was not directed towards the bringer of bad news. Weary lines were etched into his wise face, the scars of the lack of sleep he had been unable to obtain for many years ever-present.

The messenger shook his head hastily, also exhausted from his long journey across the war-torn plains.

King Arius glanced over at his wife, a reluctant determination still shining there. As he opened his mouth to speak, to no doubt issue a new order to double the patrols and keep the armourer and weapon forgers working overtime, the great double doors of the palace halls burst open. A guard rushed forward and fell at Arius' feet, clutching something in his hands.

It was a small piece of parchment, no larger than a standard playing card.

Arius read it with a blank expression, before handing it to his wife, Queen Evelyn, who sat beside him.

"Who?" He questioned. There was fire in his eyes but it was unclear to whom it was aimed at and why it was present.

"N...nobody my lord, it... simply appeared," the guard's eyes were wide and his body trembled like a flame exposed to the wind.

Arius believed him. He dismissed everyone from the throne room, his voice echoing off the walls. The public cleared out, chattering quietly about what the contents of the paper could be that had brought about such a hasty end to the day's court.

"Aila," the king spoke, a resigned voice that was only reserved for his family making an appearance.

From the shadows, a young girl stepped out confidently, curiosity shining in her bright green eyes. She fell at her father's feet at his cue, and rose when he told her to do so.

Her father handed her the scrap of paper, and her hands shook from wonder as she reached out to grasp it. Her eyes raced over the words and her heart pounded as she reached the last line, at what she perceived to be a challenge calling her name.

The Chalice of Flames is your only hope to win this war. Anyone who drinks from this object will become invincible in battle.
The Dragon Temple.
Three trials.
With only the eyes can one see clearly.

Send the heir.

Aila couldn't tear her eyes away from the writing. Adrenaline pumped through her at the prospect of gaining the opportunity to prove herself, to venture not just beyond the palace's lands, but beyond the kingdom's borders. It was something she had been forbidden to do since she was born, due to the ceaseless war raging between Merelia and Perador.

"Arius, you cannot seriously be considering this," Evelyn interjected, a motherly concern overtaking her delicate features.

"We don't have a choice Ev," Arius looked more resigned than the two women had ever seen him. "Merelia will know about the letter. There are people risking their lives by fighting for us. If  we don't show them that we're willing to do the same, that we're willing to put an end to this war when we have the opportunity right here..."

"We'll lose the support of the public," Aila finished her father's statement. Her mind began to reel, attempting to calculate the consequences of both paths before her: stay in the castle, or seek a potential solution.

As her mind finally reached a conclusion, she declared: "I will go and retrieve the chalice. For Merelia."

"No," Evelyn's eyes widened as she shook her head. "We don't know if it's real. We don't know... we can't risk you."

"If the letter appeared, magic must have been used, which means Perador didn't plant it there. It's likely that they  received the same letter," Aila turned her attention over to her mother, speaking calmly and composedly, as if it were a mundane conversation about the weather and not something upon which  the fate of her life rested. "If they take up the challenge and go in search of the weapon and if their quest is successful, our kingdom is doomed, ma. We won't stand a chance, and my life will still be on the line then. As well as yours, pa's, and everyone in our lands that we've sworn to protect."

Aila inhaled, preparing to continue but she paused as her mother spoke.

"We cannot risk you," Evelyn repeated. "You are not to go. We shall send a guard in the morning."

Both Aila and Arius began to protest, attempting to make the queen see reason.

"I will not risk my daughter," Evelyn stated firmly. "Aila, go to your chambers."

"But-"

Evelyn held up a hand. "Go."

Aila huffed and strode out of the throne room.

Night had fallen, creating shadows that danced in front of her curtains as Aila tiptoed around her quarters.

She stepped back and observed her work. The rucksack she had packed was filled with all the necessities she believed she'd need. A rope was tied to the post by the window, ready for her to make a quick exit.

The sudden sound of a footstep behind her met her ears.

She whirled like a tornado, unsheathing the dagger at her thigh in a quick motion and holding it against the newcomer's throat. She advanced  rapidly, cornering them against the wall. Shadows fell across his face, but she registered his familiar grin and released a relieved sigh.

"What are you doing here, Cas?"

"I heard about what happened," he whispered. "I figured what you were planning to do."

Aila watched as his gaze flicked to the rope, amusement alighting in his eyes.

"So did you come to say goodbye?" she raised a teasing eyebrow. "Did you come to tell me how much you're going to miss me?"

"No," Castor replied.

He unshouldered a rucksack of his own and dropped it at her feet with a wicked smile.

"I came to tell you that I'm coming with you."

And so it begins!

~ MaddyWilson 💙