A Royal Obligation
Chapter 185: A Lead, Finally (2)

Chapter 185: A Lead, Finally (2)

The stone halls of Warcrest Castle were quiet but tense, as if they held their breath with the same mounting anticipation that hung over the entire kingdom. A guard moved briskly through the Warcrest corridor, his boots striking the floor in a steady rhythm as he clutched a sealed letter in one hand. His destination was clear: Lord Cedric’s study.

Inside, Lord Cedric sat hunched over his desk, exhaustion evident in the dark circles under his eyes. He hadn’t had a restful night since Eirik vanished, spending countless hours combing through old journals, as if the answers lay somewhere in the worn leather-bound pages. Eirik’s training, his progress, his dreams, all of it haunted Cedric, a constant reminder of what might be lost.

A sudden knock on the door broke the heavy silence. Cedric straightened, his heart giving a small, sharp leap. "Come in," he called, his voice rough from hours of silence. The door creaked open, and the guard entered, offering a slight bow before stepping forward with the letter in his hand. "A message from Lord Oatrun, my lord."

Cedric’s brow furrowed in surprise. "Oatrun?" he muttered, taking the letter.

He hadn’t heard from his old friend in Mbuzuoria in some time, especially not since the kingdom had grown tense over Eirik’s disappearance.

Breaking the seal, Cedric read the message, his brows knitting tighter with each line. Shock quickly flared into anger, and his hands clenched the parchment.

He lowered the letter, his eyes dark and filled with fury.

"Prepare my horse," he commanded, his voice sharp and unyielding. The guard nodded, recognizing the urgency, with a quick bow he left to fulfill the command.

Cedric wasted no time. He stormed out of his study, the letter still clutched in his fist, the door slamming shut behind him. Moments later, he was mounted and riding hard toward the palace, his thoughts racing as swiftly as his steed. The letter’s contents pulsed in his mind like a beating drum, each word echoing with the implications of danger, and a coming storm.

As he neared the palace gates, the guards spotted him and swung the gates open without hesitation. Cedric charged through, heading straight for the courtyard, where he spotted Crown Prince Theron preparing to ride out with his men for yet another search party.

By his side stood the twins, Lucian and Julian, their expressions a mirror of impatience and worry.

They had been pleading with their elder brother to let them join the search, tired of feeling helpless while their youngest brother, Eirik, was lost to them.

The three brothers turned as one when they saw their uncle charging toward them, his face set in an expression that chilled them all to the bone. Cedric dismounted in one fluid motion, his presence imposing and urgent.

"You three, come with me," he commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Theron opened his mouth, prepared to protest. "Uncle, I was just about to leave..."

"Now, Theron," Cedric interrupted sharply, his eyes burning with an intensity that silenced any objections. "This is about Eirik."

The brothers exchanged tense glances before falling silent. Theron nodded, motioning for his younger brothers to follow as he turned and moved in step with Cedric. "Where’s your father?" Cedric asked, his strides purposeful.

"You’re headed in the right direction," Julian answered, his voice tinged with urgency.

Their anticipation only grew as they reached the doors of the throne room. They pushed through, their movements filled with determination and tension. Inside, King Xavian sat with General Orin, deep in discussion, but the arrival of Cedric and his nephews broke their conversation.

"Cedric?" the king questioned, concern flashing in his eyes as he took in the hard set of Cedric’s jaw.

"Forgive me the interruption, brother-in-law," Cedric said, his tone was tight, respectful but filled with urgency. " But this cannot wait."

Seeing the gravity in Cedric’s eyes, Xavian dismissed General Orin with a nod. The general offered a quick bow, glancing back briefly, before leaving the family alone to face whatever news Lord Cedric brought with him.

As the doors closed, Cedric took a step forward, pulling the letter from his coat. His fingers gripped the paper so tightly that it crinkled as he handed it to the king. "Read this," he said, his voice barely a whisper but filled with restrained fury.

Xavian took the letter, unfolding it carefully, and began to read. As his eyes scanned the words, his expression darkened, a mixture of anger and disbelief settling over him. His hands tightened around the parchment, and he looked up, meeting Cedric’s intense gaze.

"Mbuzuoria," Cedric began, his voice steady but filled with anger, "is preparing for war. They see our current predicament as an opportunity, a weakness they can exploit."

The three brothers tensed, glancing at each other in silent shock, their minds whirling with the weight of Cedric’s words.

Xavian’s jaw clenched as he continued reading, his face a mask of cold fury. "A war," he repeated softly, as though testing the reality of the word. His knuckles went white, gripping the letter like a weapon.

Cedric’s voice grew harder, each word falling like a hammer on an anvil. "They believe Prince Carl, their crown prince, is the one holding Eirik captive. They believe he took Eirik to weaken us, to sow division, to drive us into chaos. And now, they’re poised to act on it."

Theron’s face twisted in fury, his hands balling into fists as he took a sharp step forward. "Prince Carl?" he spat, his voice thick with anger. "That vile snake, he dares to lay a hand on Eirik?"

Lucian and Julian shared a horrified look, their minds struggling to process the enormity of the accusation. They had known Carl as an unpredictable human, but never had they imagined him capable of something so ruthless.

Xavian’s face was a storm of emotions, rage, fear, and a steely resolve that replaced the initial shock. "Carl," he said, his voice deadly quiet. "If he has taken Eirik... if he’s truly behind this... then he’ll pay for it."

Theron’s face was a mask of fierce determination, his voice barely a whisper. "We won’t let this go unanswered, Father."

Lucian shook his head in disbelief, his fists clenching as anger flared within him. "That snake is no prince, he’s a coward who thinks he can take advantage of us."

Julian’s face was pale with fury. "I swear I’ll make him pay."

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