The Alliance

Chapter 2: The Sapphire Flame.

The fogs of dusk engulfs Eldermere, The northern kingdom ruled by King Maises and his Eldermen. A land so rich and evergreen, the likes of scavengers and invaders drew near.

King Maises, a man of abundance and great devotion. His golden crown, adorned with rare gems, a reflection of his prosperous kingdom, but his true treasure lay in his family. Blessed with five daughters; Aurora, Astrid, Bianca, Calista and Amira —each as radiant as the sun, he rules with wisdom and compassion, always placing their happiness above all else. It is for this reason he must marry them off to greater kingdoms, to safeguard their future.

Despite his grandeur, Maises’s heart belongs entirely to his queen, Elenna, the love of his life. She is the calm to his storm, the muse behind his every decision, and the source of his unwavering strength. To his people, he is a mighty king; to his family, he is a doting father and an adoring husband who cherishes the laughter and warmth that fills his castle.

***

The grand hall dims as the king dismisses the final envoy, his voice heavy with both authority and fatigue. Draped in a robe of deep crimson, he ascends the winding staircase of the castle, his wife by his side, her delicate hand resting lightly on his arm. The torches lining the stone corridor flickers, casting warm, dancing shadows on the walls as they enter the royal chambers.

A fire crackle softly in the hearth, illuminating the richly adorned room with a gentle glow. The queen pours wine into two silver goblets, her eyes soft with concern as she hands one to her husband. He sinks into a high-backed chair, the weight of the crown momentarily lifted as he recounts the day’s trials—a challenging council meeting, a dispute among the nobles, and a heartening encounter with a farmer who brought news of a bountiful harvest.

She listens intently, her hand resting on his shoulder, occasionally offering words of comfort or quiet laughter. Together, they savor the peace of the moment, a quiet reprieve from the demands of their kingdom, before retiring to their canopied bed, the world outside their chamber door fading into the stillness of night.

Not too long after Queen Elenna totally retires to bed, the King stands by his window to admire the sky and its daughters; the moon and the stars.

The moon hangs high, a silver of light cutting through the dense shadows of the royal palace. While the stars shimmers like fragments of crushed diamonds scattered across the vast, black canvas of the night. Some burn fiercely, their light steady and bold while others twinkle faintly, as if whispering secrets to the heavens.

Within the castle walls lies Arden, a notorious smuggler, popularly known for his schemes and conniving ways, crouches low in the cold damp hidden vaults underneath the castle.

His fingers grazes the intricate carvings on a hidden compartment embedded in the stone walls. It is dark, the air is thick with the scent of mildew and something metallic— gold and silver, perhaps.

Suddenly a sharp metal grazes his kneecap “arrgh I need a torch” Arden hisses. “But a torch will draw the king’s guards attention towards me, no! I think not” Arden continues to skulk.

“Almost there” Arden whispers to himself, a sly grin creeping across his face. His heart races, not from fear but from exhilaration of the heist. He had spent months gathering intel, bribing servants, and memorizing guard patrols. This was it—the Sapphire flame, a jewel said to burn the light of a thousand stars, lay just beyond his reach.

The faint echo of footsteps above makes him freeze. The guards are shifting positions. Arden’s fingers works faster, picking the lock with deft precision. A satisfying click echoes in the stillness, and the hidden compartment slides open.

Inside, nestled on a velvet cushion, is the Sapphire Flame. It glows faintly, its light dancing on the rough stone walls.

“Got you” he mutters, slipping the gem into a small leather pouch tied to his belt as he turns to make his escape. But as he turns to make an escape, the loud clink of his boots on a big golden jug, falls to the ground, betraying him.

“What was that noise?” A guard asks another. It came from below” Barks the other guard, “go! Gather the rest, we must search the vaults and undercroft, and seize whoever has invaded the castle”

Arden, with the assistance of a bribed servant hides in a crooked wall as he watches the guards scour every nook and cranny of the castle. But he knows he cannot hide within the castle for long so he takes to his heels as soon as he notices the passage is clear but to his demise, the shadow of his fleeting sight is noticed by a determined guard causing the army of castle patrols to run after him.

The c**k crows in awakening and soon the market square comes alive with activity, even under the pale light of dawn. Merchants bark their wares, and the aroma of fresh bread and roasted meats mingles with the occasional whiff of livestock. Arden darts through the crowd, sweat dripping down his brows as the shouts of the royal guards grew louder behind him.

“Stop him! Thief!”

“He’s got the Sapphire Flame!”

Another guard bellows.

Arden curses under his breath, weaving through a cluster of fishmongers. His eyes darts to the nearest alley, but before he can slip away, a burly guard tackles him to the ground.

“Let me go!” Arden snarls, struggling under the weight of the armor-clad man.

The guard sneers, pinning him with ease.”Caught you red-handed you rat! No more running, you won’t escape the guillotine this time!”

The crowd of masses forms a loose circle, whispers rippling through the air like the breeze.

“What’s going on?” A woman murmurs to her neighbor.

“That’s Arden the smuggler. They say he broke into the palace,” comes the husband reply.

Two more guards approached, one clutching the leather pouch torn from Arden’s belt. He opens it and holds the Sapphire Flame high, its glow silencing the murmurs.

“ You will regret this, Arden hisses, his voice low and dangerous. “ The palace keeps treasures it doesn’t deserve. That gem doesn’t belong to the King. It belongs to the River Landers!”

“ Tell that to His Majesty yourself,” the lead guard growls, yanking Arden to his feet.

The crowd parts as the guards drag Arden away, leaving behind the hum of market life. But in the eyes of a few onlookers, there is something more— a flicker of admiration for the thief who dares challenge the King.