A Royal Obligation
Chapter 257: Under Attack

Chapter 257: Under Attack

The grand throne room of King Thaddeus was a stark reflection of the ruler himself, imposing, cold, and gilded in grandeur.

The high vaulted ceilings were adorned with banners bearing the royal insignia of Mbuzuoria, the room bathed in the dim flicker of torchlight.

A heavy silence hung in the air, interrupted only by the faint shuffling of boots against the marble floor as King Thaddeus paced in agitation, his dark robes billowing with each step.

Seated at a massive oak table carved with intricate runes, his two generals, Commander Rathorne and General Walsen, exchanged uneasy glances. The air between them crackled with tension, neither man daring to break the silence that stretched painfully long.

King Thaddeus suddenly stopped pacing and slammed his fist down onto the table with a resounding thud. The force made the inkpot sitting on the table quiver, droplets spilling onto the meticulously drawn war maps. "I need answers," he snapped, his voice sharp enough to cut through steel. "Can Mbuzuoria withstand a war against Zephyros and Valeidio? Speak honestly."

The generals stiffened in their seats. Commander Rathorne, a man with a rugged scar running across his temple, glanced nervously at General Walsen. The latter, an older man with graying hair and a weathered face, rubbed his temple as if trying to summon the courage to deliver the grim truth.

"Your Majesty," General Walsen finally said, his voice gravelly. "The combined might of Zephyros and Valeidio is... formidable. They are well-equipped, their armies vast and well-trained. If it came to war..."

"Spit it out, Walsen!" Thaddeus barked, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

Walsen hesitated, then sighed heavily. "If it came to war, Mbuzuoria would not come out unscathed. In truth, we would be overwhelmed."

The words hung in the air like a death knell. The king’s face darkened, his jaw clenching as he absorbed the blow to his pride. His fingers curled into fists, and before anyone could react, he slammed his hand against the table once more, the wood groaning under the impact.

"This is all Carl’s doing!" Thaddeus roared, his voice echoing through the chamber. "If he had just stayed in line, if he had just allowed himself to be sacrificed as planned, none of this would have happened! He has doomed us all!"

Neither of the generals dared to respond, though their discomfort was evident. Commander Rathorne kept his gaze fixed on the map, his fingers twitching as if longing to adjust one of the figurines representing their forces. General Walsen, however, wore a look of resigned sorrow, his eyes fixed on the king with a mixture of pity and unease.

Thaddeus spun on his heel to face the nearest guard, his piercing gaze cutting through the man like a blade. "What of Caledon? Has there been any word of his progress in finding Carl?"

The guard, a young soldier standing rigidly near one of the room’s great stone pillars, swallowed hard. "None, Your Majesty," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

Thaddeus’s glare deepened. "None?" he repeated, the single word dripping with menace. "What about our spies, any words from them?"

The guard hesitated, clearly terrified to be the bearer of such disappointing news. He shook his head. "No, Your Majesty. None."

The king exhaled sharply through his nose, his expression twisting into one of barely restrained fury. "Useless," he muttered under his breath. His gaze snapped back to the generals.

"Walsen, I want more men sent to aid Caledon in his search. Carl must be found and delivered to Zephyros or Valeidio. He is our only bargaining chip."

General Walsen nodded solemnly. "As you command, Your Majesty. I will send additional troops immediately."

Before the king could issue his next order, the heavy doors of the throne room burst open with a loud bang. A guard, his face pale and glistening with sweat, stumbled inside, his armor clinking as he rushed forward.

"Your Majesty, forgive the interruption," the guard began breathlessly, his voice frantic.

Thaddeus’s face darkened further, his patience wearing impossibly thin. "You dare interrupt me?" he growled, his tone deadly. "This had better be important."

The guard, visibly trembling, opened his mouth to speak, but his words came out in a rush. "Your Majesty, we’re under attack!"

The declaration hit the room like a thunderclap. Both generals shot to their feet, their faces etched with shock and disbelief. Thaddeus himself froze, his lips parting slightly as though he hadn’t fully processed the words.

"What?" the king and the generals demanded in unison, their voices a mixture of disbelief and alarm.

The guard swallowed hard, his trembling hands clenching into fists at his sides. "Zephyros and Valeidio soldiers, Your Majesty," he stammered. "They’re here. They’ve breached the outer defenses!"

For a moment, the room was utterly silent, the weight of the revelation pressing down on everyone like a suffocating shroud. Then, like a dam breaking, the room erupted into chaos.

Commander Rathorne was the first to react, slamming his fist onto the table. "How did they get this close without us knowing?" he demanded, his voice sharp with anger. "What of our scouts? Our sentries?"

General Walsen, his face pale but composed, turned to the king. "Your Majesty, we need to mobilize the troops immediately. If the outer defenses have been breached..."

"Silence!" Thaddeus barked, cutting him off. His expression was a storm of rage and frustration as he turned back to the guard. "How many are there? What forces are we facing?"

"I don’t have an exact number, Your Majesty," the guard admitted, his voice trembling. "But... there are many. Too many."

Thaddeus’s eyes narrowed dangerously, his mind racing. This was the nightmare scenario he had feared, the very thing he had been trying to avoid. "Send word to every able-bodied soldier," he commanded, his voice cold and authoritative. "I want the city fortified. The palace must hold at all costs."

The guard nodded quickly and turned to leave, but the king’s voice stopped him in his tracks. "And find out how this happened," Thaddeus added, his tone deadly. "I want the names of every scout and sentry who failed in their duty."

The guard hesitated, then bowed deeply. "Yes, Your Majesty." He turned and hurried out of the room, leaving the heavy doors ajar behind him.

Thaddeus turned back to his generals, his face a mask of grim determination. "Rathorne, take command of the northern defenses. Walsen, you’ll oversee the city’s fortifications. We cannot allow them to take the palace."

The generals nodded in unison, their previous discomfort replaced by the sharp focus of seasoned warriors. Without another word, they turned and strode out of the throne room, barking orders to their subordinates as they went.