Pax Carta: Quest for the Lost Queens.

Chapter 1: The Gathering at Masked Haven

One month had passed since the queens of Pax Carta were taken, and the realm had not been the same since. The kings, their trusted advisors, and the most loyal warriors had gathered at the Masked Haven, the castle of the Neutrality Kingdom. Within its walls, a room known as the War Room had become the center of their operations. Maps, documents, and artifacts adorned the walls and tables, detailing every piece of information they had about the queens' whereabouts, the four mysterious artifacts, and the enigmatic Order led by Malakar.

The atmosphere in the War Room was tense. King Truffle of the Red Hearts was pacing back and forth, his frustration palpable. "We need to act now! Every day we delay, our queens are in more danger!"

King Jasper of the Red Diamonds countered, his voice calm but firm. "Rushing in without a solid plan could be disastrous. We must be strategic."

King Rowan of the Black Clovers added, "Our priority should be finding the artifacts. They hold the key to locating our queens."

King Lance of the Black Spades shook his head, his impatience clear. "We've been gathering information for weeks. It's time we took action."

The argument grew more heated, voices overlapping in a cacophony of frustration and desperation. Suddenly, Jaxen, one of the Joker brothers, who had been silent until now, slammed his fist on the table. "Enough!" he yelled, his eyes blazing. "There is no point in yelling at each other."

The room fell silent, the kings turning to face Jaxen. In the back, Spinel, the crafty Jack of the Red Diamonds Kingdom, had been observing quietly, her mind racing through the fragments of information they had collected. She stepped forward, her voice steady and confident. "I believe I know where one of the artifacts is," she announced.

All eyes turned to her, a mix of hope and skepticism in their gazes. "I've been analyzing the clues and cross-referencing them with old maps and legends. There's a location that fits the description of where the Golden Pocket Watch might have ended up. If we can find it, it might lead us to the other artifacts and provide us with a clue on how to get our queens back."

King Jasper, her liege, looked at her with renewed hope. "Where is it, Spinel?"

She pointed to a spot on the map spread out on the table. "Here, in the ancient ruins of the Whispering Woods. It's a treacherous place, but I believe it's where the watch was taken."

The kings nodded, determination replacing their earlier frustration. Jaxen spoke again, his tone resolute. "Then we set out at first light. This is the first step in our journey to bring our queens back. We must be ready for anything."

As the group began to make their preparations, a sense of unity and purpose filled the room. The road ahead would be long and perilous, but they were ready to face whatever challenges lay in their path to reunite Pax Carta and rescue their beloved queens.