Beneath the Silver Tree

The night air was crisp and laced with the scent of damp earth and pine. The moment Elara and Kael crossed beyond the palace walls, the world seemed to shift. The weight of the castle, of the king's presence, of the endless watchful eyes—vanished into the darkness behind them.

But freedom came at a cost.

They were fugitives now. Hunted.

Elara could still hear the distant echoes of shouting from the palace walls. The guards wouldn't stop searching. Aldred wouldn't stop searching.

She gripped Kael's hand tighter as they sprinted into the depths of the forest, their only sanctuary. The canopy above swallowed the moonlight, leaving them with only the faint glimmer of stars between the branches. The terrain was uneven, roots threatening to trip them at every step, but they didn't dare slow down.

Not yet.

They ran until Elara's lungs burned, until her legs screamed for rest. Until the sounds of pursuit faded into silence.

Finally, Kael pulled her to a stop, pressing a hand against the bark of a thick oak tree, his breathing ragged.

"We can't—stop for long," he said between gasps. "They'll be tracking us."

Elara nodded, bending over to catch her breath. Every muscle in her body ached, but the fear pulsing in her veins kept her from collapsing.

She forced herself to stand. "Which way?"

Kael scanned their surroundings, his sharp gaze calculating. "We head deeper into the woods. There's an old hunter's path further north—abandoned for years. If we follow it, we can reach the river by dawn."

Elara swallowed hard. "And after that?"

Kael hesitated. "We keep moving."

She shivered, though not from the cold. She had spent her entire life in the palace, confined by stone walls and iron rules. The idea of an uncertain future, of running with no clear destination—it was terrifying.

But so was staying.

Kael's hand brushed against hers, grounding her. "Are you afraid?"

She exhaled shakily. "Yes."

He didn't lie to her, didn't offer false reassurance. Instead, he squeezed her hand gently. "Then let's keep moving before the fear catches up."

She nodded, and together, they disappeared into the shadows of the forest.

Back in the palace, the air was thick with fury.

King Aldred stood in Elara's chambers, the note she had left behind clenched in his fist. The candlelight flickered, casting jagged shadows across his face.

He read the words again, slowly, as if he could change them by sheer will alone.

You have taken everything from me.

Tonight, I am taking something back.

A muscle twitched in his jaw.

She had run from him.

His queen—his possession—had fled with another man.

The realization was slow, sinking into his bones like poison. He had controlled her every move, dictated her every breath. And still, she had defied him.

"Your Majesty."

A voice broke through his seething thoughts.

Lord Rhenor stood at the threshold of the chamber, his expression carefully neutral. He had been the first to inform the king of Elara's betrayal, and now, he stood waiting, ever the loyal advisor.

Aldred turned to him, his grip on the note tightening. "Find them."

Rhenor inclined his head. "The guards are already searching the forest. But if I may suggest, my king—" His eyes gleamed with quiet cunning. "Elara is clever, but she is not accustomed to life outside these walls. She will make mistakes. We need only wait for her to stumble."

Aldred's lips curled. "And when she does?"

Rhenor smiled. "We will be ready."

Aldred let out a slow breath, his fury cooling into something far more dangerous—patience.

Elara believed she was free.

She was wrong.

Dawn painted the horizon in pale hues of lavender and gold as Elara and Kael reached the river.

The water was clear, rushing over smooth stones, the sound a soothing contrast to the night's frantic escape. Elara knelt at the edge, cupping the cool water in her hands, letting it run through her fingers.

She had never felt this exhausted. Or this alive.

Kael stood beside her, keeping watch. His sword was still strapped to his back, his stance tense. He had been quiet since they left the palace, his focus entirely on keeping them safe.

Now, he finally spoke.

"We need to cross."

Elara wiped her damp hands against her cloak. "Is there a bridge?"

Kael shook his head. "Too risky. Bridges are easy to guard." He pointed further down the riverbank. "We'll wade through where the water is shallow."

Elara hesitated. The water was cold, and her limbs ached from running all night. But she nodded.

Kael stepped in first, testing the current. The water reached his waist, but he moved with practiced ease.

He turned back to her. "Come."

Elara took a breath and stepped into the river.

The shock of the cold made her gasp, but she forced herself forward. The current tugged at her, but Kael was there, steadying her.

They crossed slowly, the river pushing against them, but they made it to the other side.

Elara collapsed onto the bank, shivering.

Kael crouched beside her, pulling his cloak from his shoulders and draping it over hers.

"Rest," he murmured. "I'll keep watch."

She wanted to argue, wanted to be stronger, but exhaustion dragged her under.

As her eyes fluttered shut, she realized—

For the first time in years, she was not afraid of the morning.

The hunt begins

But safety was an illusion.

At that very moment, a rider approached the palace gates, his horse lathered in sweat from the hard ride.

The guard at the entrance frowned. "What business brings you here at this hour?"

The rider swung down, breathless. "I have news for the king."

Minutes later, the throne room doors swung open.

King Aldred looked up from his seat, his eyes sharp with expectation. "Speak."

The rider knelt, panting. "Your Majesty, the fugitives were spotted crossing the river. They are heading north."

A slow smile spread across Aldred's face.

"They are still within my reach."

He turned to Rhenor. "Prepare the riders."

Rhenor bowed. "Shall we capture them alive?"

Aldred considered this for a moment.

Then he smiled.

"Bring Elara back to me."

His fingers drummed against the armrest of his throne.

"As for the knight?"

He leaned forward, his voice cold as steel.

"Kill him."