The sun shone on the rugged lands as it shines each day on such altitudes. Even so, today was different. It had a warmth in its radiance that the hills rarely confront. The warmth of the mjolk made the trees look greener and the sky brighter. As if trying to outshine the dark that swept the lands yesterday.

But such depth of darkness can not be forgotten. It can only be forced to a corner of mind to not be ventured again.

The servants milled around the palace since before sunrise, priming for the last of preparations of mjolk. I glanced at a group of gossiping servants through the window as they made garlands out of the wildflowers they must have picked before the sun rose. The petite brunette said something, winking at the group, making them laugh with abandon.

I tried to remember how it felt to be that carefree again. It had been five years now that I hadn't felt like that .

I smiled for a moment, recalling how one mjolk, Kaden, and I snuck out of the palace to wander into the forest collecting fiordalisos, fireweed harwell, and other wildflowers for mother and father. When we returned-barely in time for the ceremony-our clothes were wrinkled and muddy. Mother had squeezed our cheeks and scolded us while father laughed heartily, putting the crooked crown of flowers around his head proudly wearing our craftsmanship.

We had made a crown for Quintus, too.

I turned away from the window and ambled to the closet. Ignoring the other almirahs, I moved to the last one. I slid the clothes aside and entered the wardrobe. My hands found the loose plank on the floor as I pulled it out. I took the key out from the inner pocket of my gown and pushed it inside the hidden keyhole. A sharp sound arose as I turned the key. After I closed the almirah, I opened the third one, entering the dark tunnels.

........

The guild was grieving.

Even as we discussed the fates of the rescued, we were grieving.

"How many of you did they take away?" I asked the girls, who looked better now. Their cheeks were still hollow, they still looked sickly, but the terror was gone from their eyes.

"Four. Aradhana, Fiorda, Elsie and Maeve." spoke the girl with the largest bruise on the face confirming my speculation.

"Do you know where they were taken?" She only shook her head, but I was not looking at her. My focus had shifted to the girl sitting on charpai with another girl who couldn't stand yet for long periods. I hadn't seen her face clearly before when Sharon was treating her, but now I could see the resemblance in her blonde hair and tanned skin with a similar structure of face.

"Is Elsie your sister?" I asked, startling her.

" No, she is my cousin. Do you know where she is?" hope filled her eyes as she looked at me.

"She is safe. I will send her to meet you tomorrow." Her shoulders sagged with relief. Before she could say much more, the door to the sanctum opened, revealing a tired-looking Sharif.

A weight I hadn't realised was weighing on me, lifted at the sight of him. He looked exhausted with his hunched spine and red eyes. But not broken.

Grief cloaked him, but his eyes burned with a hunger for vengeance.

He nodded at me, meeting.

For the rest of the meeting, we questioned the girls about their homeland. It appeared the smugglers picked girls from each part of the continent. Some had homes to go back to while some didn't. We planned to send the ones with homes back after mjolk. The problem was with the ones who didn't have a warm place waiting for them back in their lands. We couldn't house them all. Our funds were already drying up. Some agreed to work for us in exchange for a place to live, food and clothes. But before agreeing to it, I had to talk to Elsie about why she was made to work in the palace.

After their part was done, we sent the girls back to the chambers, while we worked further on the tribes.

"Tribe of vanvasan have reported back with affirmations but they demand for weapons. Their efficient weapons were raided by a verenian troop." Nadia reported. She passed me a list of the current weaponries present with the tribe. Which was not a lot.

"We can make them some new swords enough to give us an advantage in the-"

"No," Shareef broke luk off. "The troops in their next visit might identify verenian metal. " He mirrored my thoughts.

"We can arrange metal from some other kingdom."

"It's not necessary, " I said, studying the map carefully. The area the vanvasan tribe resided in was beautiful. The lands were dotted with enchanting flowers of moonshade. The flowers that glow at night and release a sweet scent. But like every other thing of beauty, they hid a deadly secret.

"Tell the leader to prepare bows and arrows from the pine in the south." I command.

" But wooden arrows might not be effective enough"

"Moonshade will work its magic." this earned a smirk from Nadia

I pointed towards the Dinizia tree canopy. "We need more archers to surprise the enemy. Vantage point from Dinizia is perfect. Inform them to start training to climb Dinizia and to be steady and stealthy."

Luk widened his eyes as he gaped at me. "Only the deranged will dare climb Dinizia !"

I looked at Sharif and found a smirk residing on his lips as he looked at me.

I smiled at luk and said "Then tell them to become unhinged "

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(KENNA) 

So that's it for the chapter . Things are little bland and slow right now but i promise it will pick up . 

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Thankyou !<3