Chapter 1: The Last Stand

This was it. The moment we had all been dreading. Everything we had done and fought for culminated in this very instance. The enemy forces besieged the castle we had valiantly defended for three days—three days filled with exhaustion, hunger, and thirst. We were making our final stand after the kingdom had fallen a week prior, leading to the assault on the capital.

Before the forces of the false king arrived, we opened the gates to let as many citizens escape as we could. The Queen entrusted me with the task of coordinating with the Capitol Guard, who were tasked with safeguarding the city for as long as possible. Captain Landon merely nodded when I informed him we would secure the doors behind us as we retreated to the castle.

"Keep her alive for as long as you can," he instructed me.

I promised him I would. It was all I could offer to a man who was prepared to give his life for our cause.

We watched helplessly as the false king's troops overtook the city. Their numbers were staggering. They scaled our defenses, employing siege engin