Mystral

6 0 0
                                    

Queen Isolde, flanked by her council, descended into the dungeon to where Mano was kept. The group carried themselves with a fierce, battle-hardened pride, each member wearing scars from past wars like badges of honor. They had gathered not out of any loyalty to King Rinar but to discuss how this alliance might serve their interests. For them, any war was an opportunity to expand their influence, to seize more land, and, perhaps, to subjugate more creatures under their rule.

Mano was chained at the far end of the dimly lit chamber, his massive form casting a dark, intimidating shadow that made some of the council members hesitate at the threshold. Sparks of electricity flared around him, a sign of his anger at being kept in chains. His eyes burned with fury, yet Queen Isolde alone strode forward, utterly unafraid. She relished the thrill of command, and the fact that even the fierce Mano was bound to her will.

"Let's keep this brief," Isolde announced, her voice carrying the kind of authority that left no room for defiance. "King Rinar's proposal is straightforward: join his alliance, crush the awakened creatures who threaten his kingdom, and in return... well, he expects us to serve under his banner, of course."

One of the council members scoffed, folding his arms over his chest. "Serve? Under him? I could crush that pretender with one hand," he growled. "Rinar is weak, barely fit to lead his own kingdom, let alone ours. We're not here to serve. If anything, we should be the ones leading this war."

"Agreed," another chimed in. "This alliance is an opportunity, but not to prop up Rinar. Let him think we're allies, let him think we're here to support his cause, but once the awakened are dealt with, we'll be the ones claiming the land—and the creatures that roam it."

Isolde grinned approvingly, her muscular arms folded across her chest. "Precisely. This isn't about loyalty to Rinar; it's about expanding our power, about seizing what he cannot hold. He's merely a pawn in this game, and one that's useful for now."

One councilwoman stepped forward, eyes gleaming with ambition. "So, we'll fight, but only to secure what's ours. And when the time is right, Rinar will be nothing more than a casualty of our rise. As for the awakened creatures... I say we bring them to their knees, tame them if possible. Imagine the power we could wield with such creatures under our control."

At that, a low, rumbling growl erupted from Mano's throat, and a wave of sparks surged down his enormous wings. He narrowed his eyes at the council, his disdain for their words clear. Though he remained chained, the intensity of his presence was enough to make some of the council members step back.

"You all think yourselves powerful, but none of you understand true strength," he spat, his voice thunderous. "The awakened are not mere beasts to be conquered or controlled. They are ancient, forces beyond human comprehension. You dare speak of taming them?"

The council members exchanged uneasy glances, some bristling at his defiance but others cowed by his imposing presence. Isolde only smirked, relishing the anger in his eyes. She knew he held a fierce loyalty to his kind, a bond she had never cared to respect. For her, power was power, and it didn't matter if she had to force it out of him.

"Quiet, Mano," she commanded, stepping closer to him. "Remember your place. You may fear for your precious awakened, but that's of no concern to us. We'll fight this war on our terms. If the awakened creatures stand in our way, they will fall. And if they can be controlled, they'll serve our kingdom as we see fit."

Mano's growl deepened, but he bit back his retort, glaring at her with a hatred that practically burned. She continued, addressing the council again.

"We'll send word to Rinar that we accept, but we do this our way. When the time comes, we won't hesitate to take what's ours. And as for Mano..." she turned back to him, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous, calculating light, "he'll have his role. Whether he likes it or not."

The World of RecaWhere stories live. Discover now