A dark figure crept silently on the cobblestone path with only the pale moonlight to guide him. A distance away, torches illuminated a large stone archway with a large steel gate barring entrance through it. Two guards that were keeping watch tensed visibly upon sight of the approaching figure. They both raised their broadswords and air currents immediately encircled around the blade rapidly.

"Who goes there?" one of the guards growled. He had a scar across one of his eyes, a memento from his past battles.

The other guard remained silent. He held a blowing horn which was slung over his shoulder and brought it close to his lips. It was a warning horn, to alert the rest of the guards in the city of Iridia.

The figure remained silent, and continued taking steps towards the gate.

"Last warning," warned the guard with the scar across his eye. "Identify yourself or else..." his threat trailed off as the dark figure ignored his words and continued walking on, with his white cloak trailing behind him.

Without warning, the second guard released a burst of air current which swirled and sped towards the dark figure. The figure paused but did not attempt to avoid the incoming attack. The swirling air current found its target, hitting the figure on the chest.

The guards widened their eyes in fear as the attack glanced harmlessly off the figure's body and was deflected to the left. There was snap as a large trunk of the tree split cleanly into half. The top half of the tree bowed down and collapsed onto the ground with a crash. With a shaking hand, the second guard immediately pressed his lips on the mouthpiece of the blowing horn.

The figure made a come hither gesture with his hand and the blowing horn was snatched from his grasp, only to be flung away into the distance. The guard with the scar over his eye gripped his sword firmly in his hand and stood his ground, while the other let his sword drop to the cobblestone floor with a clang. He whimpered and got on his knees in surrender.

The figure continued walking forwards and slowly pulled his white hood back, revealing a head of neat long blonde hair. Lines formed on his harsh face as he frowned and glared at the two guards. Under the flickering torches, the guards could make out the White Harrow crest on his robe.

"M-m-malevolent D-Drake," stammered the guard on the floor as he stared at his shaking hands in dismay. "I c-can't believe it. I attacked Malevolent Drake. I-I'm sorry milord, I didn't know it was you!"

"Pull yourself together Paulus!" The guard with the scar over his eye spoke firmly to his partner, without taking his eyes off Malevolent. "Lord Drake, we weren't expecting you. To what do we owe the pleasure?"

"I'm here to see Lewis Wolfe," Malevolent answered softly.

"Paulus, rouse Lord Wolfe from his chambers. Let him know that Malevolent Drake of White Harrow is here," said the guard with the scar.

"Right away," answered Paulus as he got to his feet and fumbled with the locks of the steel gate. The gate opened with a screech, and he gladly disappeared through it.

Malevolent tapped his foot impatiently as the minutes passed by. It wasn't long before the steel gate opened again, with Paulus stumbling out and holding it open for the Lord of Iridia. Lewis Wolfe was cloaked in blue, as he walked out the gate escorted by a squad of Iridia's elite guards. The plate armor of the Iridia elite guards shone against the light of the torches as they marched in formation, surrounding their Lord protectively.

"Guard protection, Lewis?" Malevolent asked mockingly. "Is there really a need?"

Lewis frowned and raised his hand, signaling for the guards to stay put. "What do you want Malevolent? Your commoner slaves are already en route. You should be in White Harrow to receive them, not here."

"And yet, here I am," Malevolent replied with a smirk.

"Are you here alone?" Lewis asked with a look of suspicion.

"No, there are others with me." Malevolent gestured behind him nonchalantly.

Lewis nodded at his elite guards and they raised their hands releasing illumination spells in the distance. The forest surrounding Iridia lit up and the vast army of White Harrow hiding within the shadows was revealed.

"W-What is the meaning of this? We've had peace for years, and now you march up to my front door with the entire army of White Harrow. If you think for a second that you can double-cross me the way you did Crowne—"

"Relax, Lewis. I'm not here to invade Iridia," interrupted Malevolent impatiently. "Also, this is not the entire army of White Harrow."

"What do you mean?"

"Half of our army was wiped out."

Lewis's face tensed. It was clear to Malevolent he was trying hard to hide his delight at the misfortune that had befallen White Harrow. "Was it the Giles Hook of Dagger Bay? Rumor has it that he's been growing bolder of late and starting to make land grabs."

"It was Exiles, Lewis."

"Surely, you jest Malevolent. The Exiles are a formidable foe, but they've made their stance clear when they refused to intervene during the Purge. Why would they attack us now?"

"Things change. They caught us by surprise, Lewis. As we speak, the Exiles have taken over White Harrow." Malevolent felt the shame burn steadily into his cheeks. "Imagine, those dirty Exiles trampling all over my town."

Lewis frowned, and creases formed on his forehead. "What would you have me do, Malevolent?"

Malevolent let out a sigh. "I don't need charity Lewis, but I won't have the White Harrow Nobles camping out in the wilderness like savages. Give us some of your land to stay on while I figure out how to manage this... little problem."

"And what's going to stop you from attacking Iridia from within once I let you within my walls? Do you take me for a fool?" Lewis observed Malevolent and his large army with distrust in his eyes; his mannerisms becoming increasingly agitated.

"If you think the Exiles will just stop at White Harrow then you are delusional. You're the closest town to White Harrow. You're next. Would you rather face them with my army or without?"

"But—"

"But nothing. What do you think the other Noble Lords will say when they find out Iridia turned away and refused to help when another Noble town was in dire need?"

Malevolent looked down his nose and watched as Lewis's shoulders slumped. Child's play, he thought with a sneer. No one could outmaneuver him when it came to politics.

"Fine, you may stay on my land as my guest until you figure out how to retake your town from the Exiles," he gestured to the gate guards who started to raise the steel gate. The gate creaked and groaned as it was raised, revealing the front courtyard of Iridia.

Malevolent signaled for his men to follow as he walked through the arched entrance into the front courtyard. Lewis walked beside him, flanked by the elite guards of Iridia. The front courtyard was brightly lit and the large town of Iridia stretched out as far as the eye could see. Unlike the mountainous terrain of White Harrow, Lewis Wolfe had chosen to establish his town on a massive flat piece of land.

"Where is your family, Malevolent?"

"My wife is here with me. My son..." Malevolent swallowed a lump in his throat. "He's been missing since we left White Harrow. I don't know where he is."

Lewis nodded sympathetically, uncertain of how to respond. They walked on in silence past some banners which bore the family crest of Lewis; a ferocious large wolf baring its teeth.

"Dark times are brewing, Lewis. If we Nobles won't put aside our differences and start working together, the Exiles will overrun us all."

"How do we stop them then?"

"Simple, we have to address this problem at its source." Malevolent lowered his voice to a whisper. "But first, we need to gather the Noble Lords at Iridia."

Lewis stopped in his tracks. Looking around, he gestured for his guards to leave them. The elite guards walked out of earshot but stayed to supervise the relocation of the White Harrow Nobles on Iridia land.

After the guards had walked out of earshot, Lewis turned back to Malevolent. "We haven't had an official gathering of Lords for years. What makes you think they will agree to meet?"

"I can be... persuasive," Malevolent replied.

"You sound like you're going to start a war."

"You know nothing, Lewis. War is already upon us."