Fated To The Fae King

Chapter 20

▪️A L A R I C▪️

The next day dawned with a sense of urgency.

Given what had happened the last time Golnar and I had patrolled the city, I made sure to have a contingent of guards accompany Golnar, Cedric, and myself as we ventured out to survey the aftermath of the recent attack on the eastern wall.

As we made our way through the rubble-filled streets, the outskirts of the city stretched out before us, merging seamlessly with the dense forests and murky marshes beyond. The landscape was cloaked in a shroud of mist, adding to the eerie atmosphere that hung over us like an ominous veil.

"We need to get things under control quickly," I remarked while surveying the desolate scene around us.

Golnar nodded in agreement, her brows creasing, "Indeed, the longer we wait, the greater the risk to our people and our kingdom."

Cedric chimed in with a note of determination as he suggested, "We'll need to mobilize our forces and fortify our defences even more. "His eyes scanned the area for any signs of movement while we continued to walk.

I acknowledged the wisdom in his words. "Agreed. We must act swiftly and decisively to ensure the safety of our realm," I affirmed, my voice ringing with resolve.

But even as we spoke, I could not shake the sense of unease that gnawed at the edges of my mind. The meeting with King Baldur loomed on the horizon, and with tensions already running high, the stakes had never been higher.

"We'll need to proceed with caution," I stated, casting a meaningful glance at Golnar and Cedric. "The outcome of our meeting with the orcs could determine the fate of the Fae Kingdom."

As we continued to walk the desolate streets, my senses remained on high alert, attuned to any sign of danger that lurked in the shadows. Suddenly, a flicker of movement caught my eye, a fleeting blur of motion that sent a chill racing down my spine.

Instinctively, I tensed, my hand automatically reaching for the hilt of my sword as I scanned the surroundings for any sign of the threat. Beside me, Golnar and Cedric mirrored my reaction, their expressions a mix of vigilance and apprehension.

"What was that?" Golnar whispered.

I shook my head, my gaze sweeping the area in search of the elusive figure that had caught my attention. "I'm not sure," I replied, my tone laced with unease. "But we should proceed with caution."

My hand remained on my hilt as we pressed forward through the desolate streets of the city, each step echoing off the silent buildings that loomed like immobile sentinels on either side. The once bustling thoroughfare now lay deserted, abandoned in the wake of the most recent calamity.

Every rustle of leaves, every whisper of wind, seemed to carry with it the potential for danger, heightening our senses to the eerie atmosphere that pervaded the air. The streets stretched out before us like a maze, their winding paths leading us further into the heart of uncertainty.

The recent breach in security had left us all on edge, our nerves frayed by the constant threat of attack. Shadows danced along the cracked pavement, their movements casting strange shapes against the walls of the surrounding buildings, adding to the sense of foreboding that hung heavy in the air.

Then, from the depths of the undergrowth, emerged the Thornfiends.

"Shit!" Golnar cursed.

Grotesque amalgamations of vines and thorns emerged from the shadows, their sinuous forms undulating with unnatural agility as they slithered forth with an eerie grace. Each step they took seemed to be guided by an otherworldly intelligence, their movements calculated and precise. Their twisted bodies were adorned with razor-sharp tendrils that writhed and thrashed, ready to strike with deadly accuracy at a moment's notice. The thorns that adorned their forms gleamed menacingly in the dim light, a stark contrast to the lush greenery that surrounded them.