Kingdom of the Forgotten Sun

The scout's horn echoed through the woods. Kael and Vireya sprinted toward the edge of the forest clearing where their scouts had set a perimeter. The night air was sharp, every breath tasting of pine and tension.

A dozen mercenaries in hardened leathers stood near the treeline, eyes wide and weapons drawn. The air crackled with the kind of silence that only precedes violence.

Kael stepped out from the shadows, his voice calm but cold. "That's far enough."

One of the mercenaries stepped forward. "You're Kael, aren't you? The runaway prince?"

"Only when I'm in a hurry," Kael replied dryly.

The leader gave a humorless grin. "There's a bounty on your head the size of a fortress. We take you in, we retire rich."

Kael glanced at Vireya. "They always think it'll be easy."

"Let's ruin their evening," she replied, drawing a knife from her boot.

What followed wasn't a battle—it was a masterclass in chaos. Vireya moved like a storm, flipping over a fallen log and slamming the hilt of her dagger into the nearest attacker's jaw. Kael disarmed two mercenaries with fluid precision and used one man's own sword to slice through his belt, dropping his pants and dignity.

"Still want that bounty?" Kael called out, catching a thrown axe mid-spin.

The last few mercenaries turned and ran. One of them tripped over his own boots. Vireya casually threw a pebble that knocked him unconscious.

They returned to camp, bruised but victorious. The fire crackled as they sat down with the others.

Kael broke the silence. "I once believed kingdoms were built from stone and steel. But now I know—real kingdoms are forged in moments like this. Trust. Grit. People who won't run when things catch fire."

Vireya raised her cup. "Then here's to our kingdom—ugly, wild, and ours."

Before they could drink, a second scout burst into the camp, face pale.

"There's smoke on the western ridge. Torches. A full warband. And they're flying black banners."

Kael stood, eyes narrowing. "Black banners?"

The scout nodded. "The Bone Kings. They've found us."

Kael looked to Vireya. "Then let's not make it easy for them."

To be continued...