The Goldcrests still maintained enough power in Yano to be above accusations without substantial proof. The director couldn't act openly against them; it would just hasten Yino's invasion and unleash a conflict for which Yano wasn't prepared.
The city's best hope remained waiting for the King's return, while noble families continued their secret conversations, seeking a solution that wouldn't trigger open warfare.
But from Kassian's doubts, Yino would also think they weren't prepared...
♢♢♢♢
Yino's dark council had always been a place where shadows seed to have a life of their own. The purplish light from abyssal crystals barely illuminated the faces of those present, creating an unsettling chiaroscuro effect that blurred expressions and concealed reactions.
The King occupied the central seat, his eyes reflecting the violet glow as he reread the encrypted ssage for the third ti. His fingers traced the symbols with deliberate slowness, as if trying to extract aning beyond the words themselves.
"Read it again," he ordered, his voice resonating in the black obsidian chamber like distant thunder.
Lord Ravenspire cleared his throat and translated the code, his voice asured and precise.
"Urgent ssage from our ally in Yano," he began. "Request for confirmation on operative Harold's status. He hasn't reported according to established protocols. Suspects fatal compromise during release incident. Preliminary information suggests ancestral seed opening and agent's death. Third ring possibly in Yano's hands. Increased surveillance prevented quick and detailed communication. Requests instructions."
The silence that followed was dense, charged with implications no one dared to express openly. The council mbers exchanged glances, each gauging the others' reactions without betraying their own thoughts.
"So Harold has failed," the King finally broke the silence. "Just when we were so close."
"We can't be certain," Lord Venmont cautiously intervened, shifting in his seat. "He could still be hiding, seeking a safe route for the ring to..."
"If he had the ring, he would have found a way to notify us... Harold was trained to prioritize the mission over his own safety. Such prolonged silence can only an one thing."
The King raised a hand, stopping the debate. "If the ring is in Yano's hands, we must reconsider our strategy."
He rose and began circling the table, the shadows at his feet seeming to follow his movents like extensions of his will.
"The irony," he comnted bitterly, "just when we thought the triples would leave us prepared for open conflict, this happens..."
"But Yano remains vulnerable," Lord Bloodwyn pointed out. "Without their King, their army lacks unified direction. The noble families are divided. With the Goldcrests on our side..."
"We would have a significant advantage, yes," the King interrupted. "But not decisively enough. The Goldcrests would betray us."
Young Selthia, seated silently until that mont, leaned forward, her pale face eager in the dim light.
"Aren't the triples enough even then?" she asked, her childlike voice contrasting with the gravity of the topic.
The King returned to his seat, interlacing his fingers while considering the options, the gemstone in his ring catching and fracturing the purple light.
"The problem is that the Goldcrests' situation would be precarious," he observed. "If they openly declare in our favor before we attack first, they'll be almost completely eliminated... It would be very useful to us, but they'll never accept that."
"They'll only summon the courage when we attack Yano," Lord Ravenspire added. "As opportunistic traitors, not as declared allies."
"That's right," the King nodded. "The ideal battle for them is one that allows the Goldcrests to attack from behind when we're winning from the front."
A ssenger entered silently, delivering a new sealed scroll to Lord Ravenspire. The noble read it quickly, his expression subtly changing, the muscles around his eyes tightening.
"More information from Kassian," he announced. "He has investigated with his infiltrators at the academy. Apparently, the ancestral seed was indeed opened a little ahead of ti. There are rumors about the artifact being lost, though details are confusing. Surveillance has intensified significantly, making communication with his informants difficult."
"So the ring is lost?" the King asked directly, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
"There's no confirmation about its location," Lord Ravenspire responded. "But Kassian suspects it's a trap and it's really in the hands of Yano's authorities already."
"However... At least Yano's King hasn't yet returned with the last ring," Ravenspire continued. "They won't be able to open the main artery without all three of them."
The King remained silent for a long mont, his mind calculating scenarios and possibilities.
"Our plans must adapt," he finally declared. "If we've lost the opportunity to take the ring from them, we must compensate for that loss with other advantages."
"Will we finally use the triples?" Selthia asked again, her voice barely containing her excitent, her small hands clenching in anticipation.
"And more," the King nodded. "Lord Bloodwyn, intensify attempts to acquire ground elent abyssal beasts. Lord Venmont, prepare our defenses for a possible counterattack. If Yano has all 3 rings and opens its artery, they'll eventually try to use whatever they have found."
He turned to Lord Ravenspire. "Respond to Kassian. Tell him I understand the situation and that he'll receive help soon. A new advantage that will help him discover what really happened."
"What kind of advantage, my lord?" Lord Ravenspire asked, his quill poised over fresh parchnt.
The King smiled, a gesture rarely seen on his severe face, transforming it into sothing even more unsettling. "Sothing our enemies cannot anticipate. Sothing that will change the rules of the ga before the king returns to play."
He looked toward Selthia, who straightened with sudden understanding, her eyes widening.
"A triple tar," she murmured, her eyes gleaming with anticipation, a flush of excitent coloring her pale cheeks.
"Not one," the King responded, his voice dropping to a near-whisper that sohow filled the entire chamber.
He turned to Lord Bloodwyn. "Is the special project ready?"
"The third subject has completed integration," Bloodwyn confird. "Tests show exceptional results."
"Then prepare the remaining two for deploynt," the King ordered.
The King rose, concluding the eting. As the lords withdrew, he stopped Lord Ravenspire with a gesture.
"In your ssage to Kassian," he added in a low voice, "remind him that tolerance for failure is limited. He has lost Harold, he cannot afford to lose these new resources."
"It will be communicated clearly, my lord," Lord Ravenspire nodded gravely.
When the chamber was empty except for the King and his children, the crown prince allowed himself to express his concern.
"Are you sure about sending the special project so soon? It hasn't been fully tested in all conditions."
"Necessity dictates our actions now," the King responded, the shadows around him deepening. "Harold was valuable, but replaceable. The ring is not."
"And if it's already too late?" the prince asked. "If Yano has already opened the white chamber with the rings?"
"Then," the King smiled again, and this ti the gesture was charged with cold determination, "we will have to tear that knowledge from them before they manage to understand it."
The shadows in the chamber seed to pulse in response, as if even the darkness of Yino shared its ruler's resolution.
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