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Annamarie held back her shock. Exo was the name of a savage creature. Who hid in the shadows of Xascon. The beast was strong, but it looked disgusting.  

Why would king Theodore take away Elduin's name? But the rest was expected.

A weird sound escaped Anakin when he heard the king's sentence.

But the man was far from done. "A traitor like you doesn't deserve to wear the King's colors."

Theodore didn't wait long before he agreed with his high lord. "I was generous enough and allowed you to wear my colors, and now I strip it from you."

Anna Marie watched in agony as her husband sliced his tabard. These colors do not matter. What matter is the effect of this on you."

Anakin wanted to insult Exo more, but King Theodore spoke first. "Wise words Lord Vulen."

Annamarie gazed back at her husband with pure sorrow. How she hoped to save her friends fate. But she was grateful for she knew that there could've been a worse fate awaiting him. But all she could've done that moment was to pray to her god. How she wanted to sacrifice her life to see Theodore burning in hell.

Seconds later Theodore spoke again, "As for you Exo. You are sentenced to live in shame, and you won't live long. You shall live the rest of your days regretting this.

Annamarie gave her friend a side glance. She felt sorry for him. He would never have a home nor a kingdom. And his death wouldn't mean anything.

Theodore was far from done. "I banish you permanently to Xascon to spend the rest of your useless days serving me in the Royal army."

Annamarie gasped hearing the king's words. He planned this. That moment she was confident that the King intended this. Elduin was not banished because he only insulted Ivran, but because he refused to serve under the king's army. The king was a smart man, and this was the only way.

"And your dear Lady Annamarie shall remain here. Where you cannot protect her, that's is another shame for you to live with Exo."

Theodore threated Annamarie. It was clear as the day that if Elduin did not follow the King's order his lady's life would be on the line.

Annamarie gazed openly at the King. Her husband tried to stop her, but she did not fear the King's wrath.

"And I have great plans for you Exo. You shall be sent to the furthest point in Xascon. You'll be sent to the ancient forest. There everything would be up to you. You can decide to live or die. I dare you to make a decent life for you there."

Illyria turned to face her father the moment the door shut behind the Exolias and the prisoner. She whispered in fear. "My King, we spoke about this with the Archmage Elion. I thought that we agreed not to poke the beasts in Xascon! At least not now. We still don't hold control over Xascon."

Theodore hissed, "Don't question me! I know exactly what I need to do. All this need to be done now. Xascon is a savage land and won't be claimed with your hesitant and fear. I've been the king for almost five hundred years. I don't take anything lightly."

"Father, I'm worried about you! You don't -"

He shook his head. "I don't want to hear another word." His tone was made of pure anger. And Illyria understood his anger. Her father always had control over everything in his kingdom, and she felt that Xascon was getting out of his control. Or it wasn't ever under his command not even for a second. That land answered to no one. And honestly, they could never find it's most valuable treasure. It was as if the land was hiding everything from them.

"As for you Ivran," her father said, pulling her from her dark thoughts.
The lord bowed before her father. "I'm grateful, your majesty."

Illyria gazed back at Ivran but was not the one who caught her eyes. It was his father, Anakin. His eyes said all. He was wondering why the king spared that mans life. This man was too smart for his good. He could read people and manipulate them easily. He was nothing like his foolish son.

Anakin thrived on others fear, and attacked from a filled with rage and hatred. While her father was known for his wisdom and strength, Anakin was known for his temper and madness. There was no doubt that he was the destruction lord along with his useless son.

Illyria had a bad feeling running within her. Since Anakin was here, she was confident that everything would go down to hell. Anakin tends to have the ability to complicate everything and starts unpopular wars.

Illyria turned her attention back to Anakin arguing with her father. It did not matter how hard he tried to hide it, and she felt annoyed with him. It was clear that he wanted the man blood. He was so ignorant; he did not know that taking a man's name, achievement and hope were worse than death. And once again her father proved that he was the right man to reign to this day.

A flash of Anakin thoughts came to her mind. Anakin and Ivran were the same. After all, they were father and son. They greedy, lustful and thugs. Then there was Eva Windweaver. The woman who she couldn't place in all this, she tried to act like them but, she felt that Eva won't last long in Xascon and that's what Anakin and his son were counting on.
"Tell me, your majesty, haven't I serve you well-" Anakin started, but Theodore didn't allow him to finish. "I know who got the ancient king staff."

Illyria eyebrows lifted. Her father rarely lashed at a noble and not this openly. She was sure that moment that he was stressed. But she knew that the storm was about to start.

Theodore leaned forward; his voice growled in anger as he spoke to Ivran and his father. "By what right did your son started a scandal in my court and almost ruined an ancient alliance with them? As if your ignorance son act was not enough, you had to anger your King high Lord Anakin. What your son did could've caused us a lot.

Illyria gazed at them in amusement. Would Anakin understand what honestly the King just told him?

The King wasn't done yet, "you went to far this time, Ivran."

It was Anakin who answered. "Your majesty, he's young and foolish-"

Theodore ignores Anakin words, "you have offended the throne. Made a fool out of yourself. Created an unwanted crisis and relationships needs to be mended. For this, I'm sending you away."

"Where are you sending me, your majesty?" Ivran whispered.

"Go North. To the cursed icy mountain."

Ivran and Anakin gazed at the King shocked. Although few men climbed the cursed mountain, searching for riches and fame, none ever returned. The cursed mountain had its secrets and tales, yet no one returned to share anything. The mountain was high with sharp peaks. On its very top, a large evergreen ancient tree stood proudly. Some said that the mountain wasn't covered in hard ice. But that was long ago. On the other side of the mountain, there was a lake called. The shadowy guardians.

Theodore spoke again. "Bring me something from the mountain's peak... Something powerful, like the ancient King's crown. Impress me." There was so many hidden meaning behind her father's words. Not only you need to climb that mountain, but you need to survive it and to bring the ancient King's crown to be fit to return to my court.

"Your Majesty," Anakin argued. "First my daughter, and now Ivran? I can't bear another-"

Theodore exact disgusting color started to show as he cut him off sharply. "This is my punishment for any high lord who acts disrespectfully toward one of my knights. And since you lost a daughter I spared you Anakin," the king laughed mockingly.

For the very first time, Anakin stood thunderstruck and speechless. Although Illyria managed to control her reaction better than Anakin. Illyria was shocked.

What madness was her father planning now? She knew perfectly that her father wouldn't send Ivran to death so lightly. Anakin and his son weren't like Illyria and Theodore they are high ranked elves in their community and won't die quickly but whatever her father was planning was deadly."

Theodore had taken so many reckless actions last minute this was unlike him. In normal conditions, he would've been thinking about his decisions. But that wasn't what made Illyria blood run cold; she felt that her father was far from over this night.

She was wondering were Nania's words moving him? Was the vision blinding his judgment? But she understood her fathers fear. How can Theodore fight a nameless old soul who will appear only when he wishes.

Eva was devastated every moment the King was gone. It was so close. She could still feel the weight of the old warden keys in her hand. Then she gazed lightly at the enchanted golden sword.

After a while, Theodore returned to his throne, accompanied by princess Illyria.

"Where were we?" Theodore said clearly. "Yes, A general for Xascon."

Eva took a deep breath as the King continued.
"I appoint high lord Anakin to be the general of the colony in Xascon."

What on god green earth is happening here? Was this some sick joke? High lord Anakin looked shocked, and silence echoed in every corner of the throne room.

"Come forward, Anakin," Theodore ordered. Anakin reaches for Eva in silence snatching the keys out of her hands.

Theodore lowered his voice so only a few people in his court would hear him. "We sent a prisoner long ago there. I gave an order not to allow him to see the daylight. Do you remember?"

"Yes, your majesty." Answered Anakin. High lord Marvik gave Archmage Elion a side glance.

"Make sure that that man remains there."

"As you wish, your majesty."

Rage was building within Eva. What was the King's plan? Why did he give her this sword? Why did he make her believe that the title was her? The King spoke of it. He announced her general then he took it back.

"Eva Windweaver," Theodore said formally. "You are to be high lord/ general Anakin first advisor."

Eva couldn't believe it. The first advisor? The freaking bitch of the high lord? The one who does all the hard jobs, but never get anything in return? Did she work hard to end up Anakin lapdog?

"Eva!" The King hissed.

Theodore gave a lot of orders, but Eva wasn't listening as her gaze lifted to Illyria. If she were late for a second none of this would've happened. She would've been Xascon's general.

How Eva hated Illyria for this. All she thought of was her blood. That snake of a princess.

Illyria saw the way Eva was gazing openly at her and threw her a murderous look, reminding Eva that she's lucky to be in King Theodore presence, not hers alone.

Eva wasn't pleased for losing control as she was aware that she made a fool of herself. And the last thing she wanted now was for the King to hate her.

Eva to face the court, with heavy emotions in her eyes. Disgust. Eva, she could see it clearly in her mother's eyes.

It was high lord Marvik who made his way to Eva for a private word, which wasn't impossible to achieve since no member of the court would speak to her. "First advisor, you will do your best to protect Xascon." Said Marvik but the last couple of words he said the in a low voice.

Eva gazed openly at him, "Your Highness?"

"Don't relax and remain vigilant. Fight for that land and fight hard, daughter of the light." He whispered gently.

"But your highness, I don't understand. Shouldn't we fight for King Theodore?" She argued quietly.

"I know what you saw the day Nania died. You have no idea how important you are. Try to stay alive my dear." And without any other glance, Marvik walked away, leaving a thunderstruck Eva behind him.
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