Chapter 88: Queen Elizabeth message
Commander Maria stood atop the Moonlight walls, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon. She hadn’t moved from this spot since dawn, a silent sentinel watching for any sign of movement across the silvery plains that surrounded the kingdom. The eastern sun cast long shadows across her weathered face, highlighting the scar that ran from temple to jaw.
’Three days since Mika left,’ she thought, fingers absently tracing the hilt of her blade. ’She should have reached the border by now.’
The fatigue of constant vigilance weighed on her shoulders, but she refused to leave her post. Not when so much was at stake. Not when the Veilwalker remained missing and Viva’s fate unknown.
A flicker of movement on the horizon caught her attention—dust rising in thin plumes against the morning sky. Maria straightened, eyes narrowing as she focused on the approaching riders.
"Sound the bell," she ordered the guard beside her, her voice sharp with urgency. "Riders approaching from the east."
The guard nodded and hurried to the watchtower where the massive silver bell hung. Moments later, its clear tone rang out across the Moonlight Kingdom, alerting the royal guards to potential visitors.
As the riders drew closer, Maria’s expression shifted from concern to surprise. At the front rode Mika, her distinctive riding style unmistakable even at a distance. Behind her followed two unfamiliar warriors, their bald heads gleaming in the sunlight.
’Vylonian warriors,’ Maria realized with shock. ’How did Mika encounter them? And how did she return so quickly?’
The gatekeeper’s bell rang again, this time in the pattern signaling friendly approach. Maria watched as the massive silver gates swung open, allowing the small party entry into the Moonlight Kingdom.
She descended the stone steps quickly, reaching the courtyard just as Mika dismounted. The warrior’s usual swagger was tempered by exhaustion, but her eyes remained alert, scanning her surroundings with practiced efficiency.
"Commander," Mika acknowledged with a brief nod, her voice low. "We need to speak with the queens. Immediately."