Two broad mahogany doors carved from top to bottom with intricate designs creaked open to reveal the Mintfeldian nighttime throne room, compact in size but not lacking in majesty. Strategically placed candlesticks cast a flickering warmth all about, lighting all but the very edges of the chamber. A velvet carpet of vibrant green hue stretched from the doorway to the back of the room, where the bearded monarch lounged atop his throne. 

Craning his neck, Tom peered around his fellow travelers from where he walked in the back. The Mintfeldian king grinned upon sighting Alice, and after descending the two steps from his throne, he began closing the distance between them. Guistan stepped aside to allow the king to greet her. 

After bowing his head slightly, the man graciously took her two hands, placed the palms together, and then kissed the backs of each of Alice's hands in succession. Then he touched his forehead to hers and stepped back. Tom raised an eyebrow at the series of gestures, but neither Alice or Alden appeared confused in the slightest. 

"Greetings, Senator Delquez," the king said in a deep, lilting voice, "it is a pleasure to behold you." 

From where Tom stood, only the senator's nod remained visible, with the blonde strands of her hair bouncing up and down. 

"Likewise," she replied, "I have anticipated our meeting for some time now." 

"I would certainly hope so." the monarch said with a chuckle, "The evening meal draws near, where the mind finds little to fix itself on but the belly's fullness, so I suppose we should waste no time in attending to our business here." 

"Of course. Where should you wish to begin?" 

A moment of silence preceded the king's words. "Why, I suppose my first inquiry would be, what exactly does Mintfeld stand to gain from this potential membership in the Alcontean Republic? For completeness' sake do I ask this, I assure you, not skepticism in the slightest." 

Alice's head bobbed up and down again. "I understand perfectly! And to answer you, I suppose the first benefit of note would be trade advantages. Not only would the resources of Alconte and its current member states be the more readily available to you, but the leverage and influence our name carries would render even your foreign trade of greater profit." 

"Elaborate on that latter point, if you will." 

"Of course. For example, our relations with Monterayne and Antapeño are excellent, with decreased tariffs between us, and accommodative bankers closing the currency gap admirably." 

The king ran a finger through his beard. "It sounds as if you are implying we would be required to switch our current currency over to the Alcontean table." 

"Preferably so, yes. For all parties involved, that is the best option. Of course, accommodations can be made, and no push will be made to force adoption to be immediate." 

The two continued discussing the details of Mintfeld's potential admission into the Republic, often touching on topics Tom possessed no familiarity in. He found his mind drifting as their dialogue continued, and his eyes scanned the paintings fastened to the floor on either side of the central carpet, carved frames as artful as the pictures inside their borders. 

Then Tom found himself unable to view the paintings. The welcoming candlelight disappeared. A blanket of darkness instantly descended over the throne room, drawing a gasp to his lips and a quintet of lines to his brow. His fingers crept to the pommel of his sword. 

Tom's eyes darted about fruitlessly in the darkness. Standing taut as a bowstring to perceive the slightest movement, he strained his ears. He heard the click of the Mintfeldian king's boot stepping back. The monarch called out for a renewal of the lights. Only a flurry of harsh words in the Innutukian language flew back at him. Tom gasped. 

The darkened chamber erupted into the sounds of scrambling, with metal boots thudding on the floor, flowing garments rustling about their wearers, and heavy breaths forcing themselves through nostrils. Tom cried out when one of Alice's armored protectors knocked him aside with a hard shoulder. 

Tumbling to the ground, Tom panicked at the twang of bowstrings above, accompanied by the whizz of arrows raining down. One of the projectiles clattered to the ground beside him. His heart leapt in his chest. 

Tom scuttled along through the darkness, headed to where he swore he remembered spotting a pillar when the candles still shone. He prayed he was right. Behind the panicked knight, swords rang. A man grunted. Liquid splashed to the ground, accompanied by a moan soon silenced. 

Tom leaned against the pillar when he found it and compacted himself like a frightened child, knees folded up toward his chest and arms wrapped around that. Any courage in his breast had been driven out by the uncertainty of darkness. His boiling blood ran cold when an air-piercing scream behind him begged one simple question: Who? 

Praying it wasn't Alden who had been stabbed or worse, he struggled to control his shuddering breath and retain silence. His resolve nearly shattered when an arrow smacked into the pillar behind him and rattled to the floor. With as quiet an exhalation as he could manage, Tom hurried over to where he hoped he remembered seeing a second pillar closer to the double doors. 

An arrow whistled by Tom's ear. He threw himself at his destination, finding a semblance of relief when he felt the cold stone pillar. Setting himself down on his hindquarters, he scooted back until his spine rested against the support, and then he set his hand down. 

Tom jumped when his palm met something small, warm, and rounded. The object recoiled at his touch, accompanied by a puff of wind. He heard a scoot on the floor, moving away from him. 

His brow furrowed. "Is someone there?" he whispered. 

"Yes." Alice's feminine voice whispered back. 

"Thank heavens it's only you." 

For a few moments, she didn't reply. But then Tom's heart-rate doubled when a puff of warm air brushed across his ear. 

"Stay close to me, please." Alice whispered, her quiet voice quivering with a terror Tom shared. 

Tom gulped. "I can manage that. What should we do?" 

A loud thud snatched the young knight's attention from her response. The distinct ring of a sword dropping to the floor hit his ears, followed by a guttural laugh. Only a moment later, a moist squish, succeeded by a grunt cut unnaturally short and a similar thud. 

"Did you hear me?" Alice hissed. 

Tom's eyebrows leapt up as he turned his head back her direction. "Pardon me, I didn't. What?" 

"I said I will entrust you with my safety, as I can only be assured of your welfare at the moment. I pray you fail me not." 

"I'm many things, my lady, but a failure I am not." 

Alice sighed. "So, what's your judgement?" 

"I think we should make a run for it. No sense endangering ourselves in the dark unnecessarily." 

"If you think that wise...lead the way." 

Tom pursed his lips together as he pushed himself to his feet. After unsheathing his sword as quietly as possible, he held the weapon in his right hand while taking Alice's delicate digits in his left. He sucked in a mouthful of air and dashed toward the double doors. He could only hope he didn't run into anything along the way or lead Alice astray. 

Behind Tom, a vile curse, one of the few Innutukian words he knew, spewed from a man's mouth. Alden grunted, but it sounded more like a noise of exertion than a noise of pain. Another thud followed, along with a few more profanities in various languages. 

Tom found the knob of one of the throne room doors when his longsword's blade dinged against it. He released Alice for only a moment to swing it aside. His heart expanded in anticipation of an influx of light through the open door. 

But the young knight found himself sorely disappointed. A veil of darkness concealed the hallways beyond, and despair settled itself inside him at the clang of still more swords meeting repeatedly. Innutukian words flew through the air, unknown to him in meaning, but decidedly taunting in tone. 

He closed his eyes for a quick moment, struggling to remember which of three passageways led back to the entrance. A war of contradictory memories raged in his mind for a few seconds before one ravaged the others. Tightening his grip on Alice's hand, Tom dashed to the right. His blade jutted out before him, ready to slice down any who would oppose his escape.

**** 

A/N: If this chapter isn't unnerving, then I don't know what is. The only thing I can think of that would compare is if you didn't leave a vote and some comments. 😜 

But for real, what're your thoughts on these insistent Innutukians? Any theories on what they're after? 

I'll end this note here so I can get on posting the next chapter. Have a great day if this is the last you're reading today, and I hope to see you sooner or later in the next! 😁