Episode 8
913 Words
The Chamber of the Forgotten Queen
The underground chamber fell into absolute silence.
More than twenty masked assassins emerged from the darkness, surrounding the emperor and his companions in a perfect circle.
Each carried a curved sword.
Each wore the same black robes embroidered with a silver crescent.
Captain Hamza stepped protectively in front of Arzoo.
"Stay behind me."
Arzoo's heartbeat pounded in her ears, but she refused to retreat.
Emperor Zayan slowly unsheathed his sword.
The sound of polished steel echoed through the ancient chamber.
His silver eyes never left the masked leader.
"So..."
"You've been following us."
The leader chuckled.
"No, Your Majesty."
"We've been waiting here for twenty years."
Dust floated through the air as the leader removed one glove.
An old scar crossed the back of his hand.
"The Falcon Chamber was sealed by blood."
"It could only be opened by the true heir."
He looked directly at Arzoo.
"Thank you for opening it for us."
Captain Hamza tightened his grip on his sword.
"You'll never leave this chamber alive."
The assassins laughed.
One by one...
They drew their weapons.
Steel glimmered beneath the torchlight.
The emperor calmly spoke.
"Protect Arzoo."
Hamza nodded.
"And you?"
"I'll deal with the rest."
Without another word—
The assassins attacked.
Steel clashed against steel.
The first attacker lunged toward the emperor.
Zayan moved with terrifying precision.
One strike.
The assassin's sword shattered.
A second strike.
The man collapsed unconscious.
The emperor didn't waste movements.
Every swing was clean.
Efficient.
Deadly.
Captain Hamza fought beside him, holding back three attackers at once.
Arzoo searched desperately for something she could use.
She wasn't a trained warrior.
But she refused to stand helplessly.
Her eyes landed on an ancient ceremonial spear hanging from the wall.
She grabbed it.
One assassin rushed toward her.
She sidestepped just in time.
The spear struck his wrist.
His sword clattered across the stone floor.
Captain Hamza quickly finished the fight.
"Nicely done!"
Arzoo barely had time to breathe.
More enemies appeared.
Meanwhile...
The masked leader never moved.
He simply watched.
His attention remained fixed on Arzoo.
"Interesting."
"So the stories were true."
"The Falcon blood remembers."
The emperor heard those words.
"What do you mean?"
The leader smiled.
"You still don't understand, do you?"
"The Falcon Queen didn't merely leave behind an heir."
"She left behind..."
"...the Key."
The emperor's expression darkened.
"What key?"
The leader only laughed.
"You'll find out soon enough."
He suddenly threw a small black sphere onto the ground.
Boom!
A cloud of thick gray smoke exploded through the chamber.
Visibility vanished.
Captain Hamza shouted,
"Protect His Majesty!"
"Protect Lady Arzoo!"
The chamber descended into chaos.
Through the smoke...
A shadow rushed straight toward Arzoo.
She instinctively stepped back.
A sword flashed before her eyes.
Before it could reach her—
Another blade blocked it.
Clang!
The emperor stood between Arzoo and the assassin.
Their swords locked.
The assassin sneered.
"You would risk your life..."
"...for the Falcon heir?"
The emperor's voice remained calm.
"I protect every innocent person under my rule."
The assassin laughed.
"Keep telling yourself that."
With a powerful kick, he leaped backward into the smoke and disappeared.
Moments later...
The smoke slowly cleared.
The chamber was empty.
Every assassin had escaped.
Captain Hamza searched the exits.
"They vanished."
"There are more tunnels."
The emperor looked toward the open bronze door.
"No."
"They knew this place better than we do."
Arzoo slowly approached the wooden box.
This time...
No one stopped her.
She carefully lifted the lid.
Inside lay a folded piece of royal silk.
A tiny jeweled crown.
A silver bracelet.
And...
A sealed letter.
The wax seal bore the Falcon emblem.
Across the front were written the words:
"To my beloved daughter..."
Arzoo's hands trembled.
She looked toward the emperor.
"Should I open it?"
He nodded once.
"You deserve the truth."
She carefully broke the seal.
The letter was written in elegant Persian script.
Her voice trembled as she began reading aloud.
"If these words have reached you... then I have already left this world."
Tears filled her eyes.
"Forgive me for hiding your name... but it was the only way to keep you alive."
Captain Hamza quietly lowered his head.
The emperor remained motionless.
Arzoo continued.
"Trust no one who wears the Silver Crescent..."
She stopped.
The ink beyond that sentence had faded.
Several lines were impossible to read.
Only the final sentence remained clear.
"When the stars align above the Falcon Throne... seek the Crown of Light, for only it can reveal the true enemy."
Silence settled over the chamber.
Captain Hamza frowned.
"The Crown of Light?"
"I've never heard of it."
The emperor slowly folded the letter.
"I have."
Both of them turned toward him.
He stared at the faded words for a long moment before speaking.
"It isn't a crown."
"What is it?" Arzoo asked.
His answer was barely above a whisper.
"It's a legend..."
"...that even emperors were forbidden to search for."
Before anyone could say another word—
A deep rumbling shook the entire chamber.
Dust rained from the ceiling.
Captain Hamza looked up in alarm.
"The tunnel is collapsing!"
Cracks spread across the ancient walls.
Massive stones began crashing to the ground.
The emperor grabbed Arzoo's hand.
"Run!"
As they raced toward the staircase, a gigantic slab of stone crashed behind them...
...sealing the only exit.
The three of them stood frozen.
Trapped inside the forgotten chamber.
— End of Chapter 8 —
- Writer
