ECLIPSED

CHAPTER 19

The sun hung high in the sky, baking the dry earth at the border. The elves and humans made camp cautiously, their tents pitched just a few paces apart, but neither side letting down their guard. Suspicion still simmered under the surface despite the peaceful facade, and even the wind felt heavy with unspoken tensions.

Inside the Tent

King Eldrin sat across from Prince Edward, their faces lined with exhaustion. A brazier crackled between them, casting flickering shadows along the walls of the tent. Azrath stood silently near the entrance, his piercing gaze locked onto the prince. His hand rested on the pommel of his dagger, hidden beneath his cloak, a silent reminder that things could still go wrong. Trusting humans was never wise. But now, as the prince spoke, the pieces of the puzzle began to shift, revealing a more dangerous truth.

Prince Edward's voice was quiet but steady. "I believe the council has been working against my father for some time, poisoning him slowly, so that it wouldn't look suspicious when he finally died."

King Eldrin's eyes darkened. "Do you have proof?"

Edward hesitated, brushing a hand over his brow. "Not yet. But I found enough to raise doubts. My father's decline wasn't natural. I had a healer investigate in secret, and she found traces of a rare poison used by assassins....one that's hard to detect." He clenched his fists. "I believe they knew my father would never willingly wage war with the elves. The council has been pushing for conflict for years, and they saw his death as an opportunity."

Azrath narrowed his eyes, digesting this new information. So it wasn't King William who sought war. Someone within his circle wanted to ignite the flames.

Prince Edward's gaze didn't waver. "They used the deaths of one of our men near the border as an excuse, blaming the elves. But I've looked into that too...those men were deserters, not soldiers. Their deaths were likely the result of bandits or wild beasts, not your people."

Azrath clenched his jaw. The revelation hit him hard. All this time... we thought it was the humans provoking us. Now he saw that the real enemy wasn't standing across the border but lurking in the shadows, pulling strings from behind the scenes.

King Eldrin exhaled deeply, the weight of the situation settling on his shoulders. "If what you say is true, then peace may still be within our reach."

Azrath folded his arms, his sharp gaze fixed on Edward. "But without proof, none of this will matter. The council will do everything in their power to fan the flames of war. They won't let this end peacefully."

Edward met Azrath's glare, unflinching. "That's why I need your help. If we can expose them, if we can prove their guilt....then we might prevent war before it begins."

While the conversation inside the tent unfolded, Lea stood outside, her heart racing. Now's my chance. For the first time since arriving in this strange land, she was free of Azrath's constant presence. The guards were too preoccupied with protecting the royals, their attention fully diverted inside the tent.

Her satchel felt heavy at her side, the small vial Faelar gave her tucked safely inside. If I don't act now, I might never get another chance. Taking a deep breath, Lea crouched beside the tent, her fingers working quickly to open the satchel. She pulled out the vial, her heart pounding against her ribs as she formulated her escape. If I could just slip away quietly

But then, without warning, Theron appeared beside her, his silent presence making her jump. Shit. Lea cursed inwardly, her hands freezing mid-motion as she glanced toward him.