Chapter 4 4

Night refused to relent its grip on the fortress, and Lyra could feel the weight of its secrets pressing against her chest. Her fingers trembled slightly as she closed the heavy wooden door to her chamber, leaning against it as if it could shield her from the growing storm around her. Sleep wouldn't come tonight-not with everything she had just learned.

The cryptic man from the hidden chamber haunted her thoughts. His warning about the poison's corruptive nature clawed at her resolve. She needed answers, but the trail was buried beneath layers of guarded truths and veiled threats. Aldric was hiding something, and Lyra's instincts told her the answers lay with him.

The sound of distant footsteps stirred her from her thoughts. This time, they weren't fading away. They were coming closer, steady and deliberate. Lyra's breath hitched as the sound stopped just outside her door. She barely had time to move before a firm knock echoed through the room.

"Open the door," Aldric's voice commanded, low and cold.

Lyra hesitated, her pulse quickening. The tone of his voice was unmistakable-this wasn't a social visit. She pulled the door open, her expression neutral despite the tension knotting her stomach.

Aldric stood there, his imposing frame filling the doorway. His golden eyes burned with intensity, his jaw tight. Behind him stood two of his guards, their faces obscured by the flickering torchlight.

"We need to talk," Aldric said, stepping into the room without waiting for an invitation.

Lyra closed the door behind him, acutely aware of the guards waiting just outside. "Is something wrong?" she asked, keeping her voice calm.

"You've been asking questions," Aldric said, turning to face her. "Questions that have reached ears they shouldn't have."

"I'm trying to do my job," Lyra replied, meeting his gaze. "If that involves asking uncomfortable questions, so be it."

Aldric's eyes narrowed. "Your job is to save my brother, not meddle in matters that don't concern you."

"This poison concerns me," she shot back. "You brought me here to find a cure, and that's exactly what I'm trying to do. If there's more to this than you've told me, withholding information could cost Darien his life."

For a moment, Aldric said nothing, his expression unreadable. The silence stretched between them like a taut wire, ready to snap. Then he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"You're persistent," he muttered, almost to himself.

"It's what keeps people alive," Lyra replied, her tone firm.

A flicker of something passed through Aldric's eyes-respect, perhaps, or frustration. He gestured for her to sit, his demeanor shifting slightly.

"There are things you don't understand about this kingdom," he said, his voice quieter now. "Things I can't afford to share with an outsider."

"Then help me understand," Lyra pressed. "I can't fight an enemy I can't see."

Aldric leaned against the edge of the table, his golden eyes piercing hers. "The poison isn't just a weapon. It's a message-a declaration of war from the witches of the eastern territories. They've been waiting for an opportunity to strike, and Darien's attack was the first move."

Lyra's mind raced, piecing together the fragments of information she'd gathered. "You think they're planning an invasion?"

"They're testing our defenses," Aldric replied grimly. "And if they succeed, they'll tear this kingdom apart."

Her stomach twisted at the weight of his words. "Then why not tell your people? They have a right to know what they're facing."

Aldric's expression darkened. "Fear weakens a kingdom more than any enemy. If word of this spreads, it could spark panic-and that's exactly what the witches want."

His logic was cold, but Lyra couldn't deny its truth. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more he wasn't telling her.

Before she could press him further, a knock interrupted their conversation. Aldric straightened, his commanding presence returning in an instant.

"Enter," he barked.

One of the guards stepped inside, his face pale. "Your Majesty, there's been an incident near the southern gate. A patrol found tracks-large ones. They think it's one of the shadow beasts."

Aldric's jaw tightened, his expression hardening. "Double the patrols and secure the gate. I'll deal with this myself."

The guard nodded and left, leaving Lyra alone with Aldric once more.

"Shadow beasts?" she asked, her voice laced with unease.

"Creatures of darkness," Aldric explained. "They've been spotted near the borders before, but never this close to the fortress. If they're here, it means the witches are escalating."

Lyra stood, determination hardening her resolve. "Then let me help. If these creatures are tied to the poison, I need to see them for myself."

Aldric hesitated, clearly torn. "It's dangerous."

"So is sitting in a room while the kingdom falls apart," Lyra countered. "You brought me here to save lives. Let me do my job."

The tension between them crackled like a live wire. Finally, Aldric nodded. "Stay close to me, and don't do anything reckless."

The southern gate was a flurry of activity when they arrived. Soldiers moved with precision, their weapons gleaming in the moonlight. The tension in the air was palpable, the scent of fear mingling with the cool night breeze.

Aldric took command immediately, barking orders that sent soldiers scattering to their posts. Lyra followed him to the edge of the gate, where the tracks the guard had mentioned were clearly visible.

The prints were massive, clawed, and unlike anything Lyra had ever seen. A faint, dark residue clung to the edges of the tracks, pulsing with an unnatural energy.

"This isn't an ordinary creature," Lyra said, crouching to examine the residue more closely.

Aldric stood behind her, his gaze scanning the darkness beyond the gate. "That's why they're so dangerous. They're born of magic-dark, twisted magic."

The air seemed to grow colder, the shadows pressing closer. Lyra's heart pounded as a low, guttural growl echoed from the trees. The soldiers tensed, their weapons drawn.

From the darkness emerged a creature unlike anything Lyra had ever imagined. Its form was shrouded in shadow, its eyes glowing with an unnatural light. It moved with a predator's grace, its claws slicing through the air as it advanced.

Aldric stepped forward, his sword gleaming in the moonlight. "Stay back," he ordered, his voice steady despite the danger.