Chapter 213: The Punishment, Part I
From the towering vantage point of the castle’s tower, Aideen and Yuraon watched with bated breath as Prince Valon’s formidable army approached. The sight that greeted them was daunting—a seemingly endless sea of soldiers, their armor glinting menacingly in the faint moonlight. The sheer size of the approaching force sent a shiver down Aideen’s spine, and she exchanged a worried glance with Yuraon beside her.
"It’s larger than we anticipated," Yuraon murmured, his voice tinged with concern.
Aideen nodded grimly, her eyes narrowing as she observed the army’s relentless advance. "Valon’s obsession with alchemy may have turned him mad, but he remains a coward, hiding behind the backs of others."
As the army drew closer, their footsteps thundering like an approaching storm, the princess’ heart raced with anticipation. She knew that their carefully laid trap awaited them—a network of disguised trenches designed to lead the enemy forces to their graves.
Sure enough, as the first ranks of soldiers reached the perimeter of the castle, they stumbled into the concealed traps, their cries of alarm echoing across the snowy landscape. Aideen’s lips curled into a relieved smile as she witnessed the chaos unfolding below. The trenches did their job well, ensnaring the soldiers and slowing the advance of the army.
But amidst the chaos, Aideen’s attention was drawn to a figure at the head of the army—a man riding confidently on horseback, his cloak billowing behind him. Prince Valon himself.
With the rehearsed command, she watched as Taru, in his larger form, soared into the sky, his wings beating with powerful strokes. With lightning speed, he closed the distance between himself and the second prince, who remained oblivious to the danger lurking above.
With a swift motion, Taru swooped down, his claws outstretched, and snatched Valon from his horse before he could fall victim to the treacherous trenches below. The prince’s startled cry was drowned out by the roar of the wind as Taru carried him high into the air, away from the chaos unfolding on the ground.
"Success!" The young king offered Aideen a victorious smile, to which she replied with a nod, fastening her cloak in preparation for what was about to happen next. "Let’s go. Time for the second part of the plan."