By the end of two weeks, she'd gathered all the information the Erglis needed. Andarin brought her a new list of assignments and Miryanna set to work again.

She was surprised by how much more there was to the kingdom than she originally thought. Before, she'd thought that it was just the king telling people what to do, asking for advice sometimes, and trading with other countries. Now, she saw that it was much more than just that. While the king was still in charge, she knew now that the council members were there for more than just a piece of advice every now and again. She learned about more of their laws and how they came to be and how trade worked and what Terrinia's relationship was with other realms.

Hey pssst i don't know anything about governing a country but this sounds like stuff you would do

She gave all the information to Andarin, piece by piece, since it was easier for him to go all the way to the base. Later, however, she learned that the information went from her to Andarin to Roric to the leaders. But, one day, she did have a reason to go back to the base. The leaders wanted to see her.

They wanted to see her because they had reason to believe that there was going to be an attempt on the queen's life this time, and if that also failed, an attempt on the princess'. Miryanna was shocked at this news. They'd just tried to kill the king. Why would they strike again so soon?

The leader who initiated her, a man name Alarick, sighed and shook his head. "It's the way of the Vanags. Do you know who the Vanags are?" He asked.

She shook her head, "Aren't they the ones who left that note in my room?"

"Yes. You've probably heard them mentioned several times, but not told. I wasn't the time, because you had just been initiated and we didn't want you to become a target."

She cocked her head, puzzled, "Why would I become a target just for knowing who they are?"

also how would they know you know??

"Well, they're a vicious group of people. They don't like anyone to know who they are, unless it's one whom they're about to kill. And they don't; kill anyone unless it'll benefit them. That's another thing about them. They're cool and calculating, but bloodthirsty."

Hmm, that sounds like ergli propaganda

Miryanna shivered slightly. "And they're your--our--enemies?" She asked almost rhetorically, correcting herself.

He nodded, "They're enemies of us and the whole kingdom. Their purpose is to take it over, but their methods are unusual while most would want to set up an army and take it by force, this organization works in secret, allying with people from other realms who also would like to see a different ruler in the throne. They're leader is an unnatural man that goes by the name of Karayan Batal. It's likely that he was he one that tried to kill the king."

an unnatural man

"But why would he go for the king himself? Doesn't he have other assassins to do his dirty work?" Miryanna interjected.

Alarick went on, unfazed by the interruption, "He does, but the thing about him is that he enjoys killing especially his enemies, so he wanted this chance to kill, or at least maim, his enemy. But there's another thing. We also suspect that his attempt to kill also failed on purpose, because the only thing he likes better than killing is hurting. It would give him pleasure to know that the king is in pain by his hand, and the kingdom is now distracted by keeping the king alive to see that there are other forces at work here. He'll take this opportunity to plant more spies and get more information. That's why it's important that we get all the information we can so that even if he knows it too, at least he's not the only one. And mayhap we'll know it first." Alarick finished.

ah shoot i fell into the "villain that's obsessed with pain" trope.

Miryanna was quite blown away by the information dump.

"So, he has glowing red eyes?" Miryanna asked after a moment of silence to digest all that she had just been told.

Alarick looked a bit startled, "How did you know?"

dude weren't you discussing that while she was there? even if she wasn't, she's the  niece of the queen aka the witness it shouldn't be surprising that she knows. Man, i was grasping for any little thing to make the narrative and dialogue interesting

"Um, after the king was wounded, the queen testified before the council members since she was the only witness, and she said that the assassin had glowing red eyes." She explained.

Yeah, see?

Alarick was silent for a few seconds, "Yes, he does. We don't know why, but for some reason his eyes are a bright gemstone red. They glow when he's angry or excited." Alarick replied.

Miryanna shivered again. This, Karayan Batal was a frightening image indeed! "Is he always masked?"

Alarick shrugged, "None of our members have seen him unmasked, but not many of our members have even seen him. He's a mysterious fellow, but mysterious in a sinister way."

Miryanna nodded, "Sounds that way to me."

"You should probably get back. Wouldn't want your father, or anyone else, to know that you're missing." Alarick said and stood from his desk where he was sitting.

Miryanna also rose from the chair across from him and eh escorted her back to the surface where Andarin awaited her.

Once she had bid goodbye and thank you to Alarick and she and Andarin were in the wagon on the way home, Andarin voiced his question.

"So, what did leader Alarick want to talk about?"

Miryanna hesitated only a moment before answering, "He told me that there might be another attempt, this time on the queen's life." She said. Alarick hadn't told her not to tell anyone, and besides, Andarin was pretty much a consultant of sorts to her.

Andarin's brows furrowed at the news. "I don't think there's really anything we can do except keep a watchful eye out. It's not like we can warn them."

"Why not?" Miryanna inquired.

"Because if we did, they'd no doubt ask where we'd gotten that news, ands we can't tell anyone that we're a part of the Erglis."

"Can't we just tell them that we were told by a reliable source?"

Andarin shook his head, "They'd question the reliability of the info, or keep questioning where we'd got it from, and as I said, we can't tell them that it was from the Erglis."

but weren't you guys all gung-ho on the note leaving?

Miryanna sighed, "I still feel like I should do something to warn them."

"Roric can plant another note. They got one before and didn't heed it and look what happened? If they get another one I'm sure they'll pay more attention to it."

yeah, they're back on that

Miryanna nodded, "I guess you're right,"

They got back to the castle with no further adieu *ado and Miryanna set in with her assignment.

A few days later, catastrophe struck.

Miryanna was working on the tapestry with the queen and Nynesi, when a black feathered arrow flew through the window and into the queen! She gasped and cried out with pain as she fell to the ground, blood seeping onto the ground.

TOO SUDDEN

"No!" Nynesi cried as she fell to the ground beside her mother.

Miryanna sat petrified, unable to move. She slowly leaned forward to touch the queen's pale face. Nynesi clutched her mother in her arms and sobbed bitterly.

Two figures burst through the door. It was lord Dominic and a guard, with the king following close behind.

"Oh, no no no," The king breathed when he saw the sight. His wife and daughter on the floor, an arrow sticking out of the queen's back. He stumbled over to his family and knelt beside them, also weeping.

The queen was dead.

okay that's accidentally really sad. she never got any development, barely any dialogue and we don't even really know what kind of relationships she has with the other characters. her death should have been compelling, but it was just another thing happening. and the death scene was ridiculous. she got shot and people were sad. that's it. Pathetic.

Lord Dominic and the guard backed away, letting the royals have their moment.

Miryanna still sat dumbly. It was then that she noticed there was a piece of cloth on the arrow. She gently reached for the arrow and the cloth came right off. It unfolded to reveal the growling lion and the sneering serpent. Never Fall Asunder was clearly written above it.

She gasped, horrified. The leaders had to see this.

Oh, just figured out one of the things that needs to chan*ahem* develop about Miryanna. she's too trusting. the way she just defaults to trusting the authority figures in her life. I don't think I ever even realized that before, much less did anything about it. not purposefully at least

"Miry, what's that?" Dominic asked, coming closer.

She hesitated, but showed him.

He frowned. "The same symbol as on the note left right before the king's attempted murder," He exclaimed, "Whoever this organization is, they clearly think they can push us around, but they're wrong." Her father said vehemently.

of course, immediately assume the worst about them. i mean, i guess he's not doin' so hot right now, but of course he has to jump right to the wrong conclusion

The king and Nynesi looked up? "What?"

Dominic knelt down and showed him the cloth with the symbol, "Isn't this the insignia that was found on the note left in your room before you were attacked?"

The king gasped, "Yes, yes it is. The people who own this insignia are the ones who murdered my wife.

again with the jumping to conclusions

Miryanna wanted to say something, anything in favor of the Erglis, but though she opened her mouth, no sound would come out. Her father noticed, however and prompted her on, "What is it, Miry?"

She swallowed and said weakly, "Could it be that the symbol was put on there by other people who want to make it look like the ones who have that symbol are guilty?"

Her father and the king both looked at each other, and her father spoke, "That's a possibility, but we'll consider this another time. how is her idea any less valid than what you two were saying? We should see to the queen right now." He got up and helped the king, who was still weak from his injury, up and also offered a hand to Nynesi, who kissed her mother's forehead before accepting her uncle's hand.

Miryanna also rose on shaky legs and while passing her father on the way out, he whispered to her, "Nynesi is going to need you more that ever right now. Do your best to be as nice to her as you can and offer plenty of support."

She nodded numbly and went straight to her room. She sat down on her bed and let the tears flow. She loved her aunt, and now she was gone. One moment she was offering some advice about how to choose the right colors in a tapestry and the next she was on the ground, dead. Miryanna shook her head, trying to rid such thoughts from her head.

She lost track of how long she sat there, contemplating life, when a soft knock came at the door. She looked up, startled from her reverie, and called out, "Who is it?"

"Miry? It's Andarin. Can I come in?"

She got up from the bed slowly, and made her way to the door and opened it to let him in. "Oh, Andarin," She cried as soon as she saw his concerned face. She pulled him inside and hugged him tightly, sobbing into to his shoulder. He hugged her also, gently rubbing and patting her back while she cried.

"What will this mean?" Her tears had subsided and now they just stood in each other's embrace.

"I guess..." He trailed off. "We should get this news to the leaders as soon as possible."\

yeah, always bring it right to the leaders. that's not redundant at all. we don't even see the leaders that much

She nodded, not caring to speak.