Chapter 11 The Shadow in the Forest

The forest swallowed the sound of the palace behind them. Onyx moved steadily beneath the towering trees, his hooves pressing into damp earth and fallen leaves. Sunlight broke through the branches in thin golden streaks, flashing across Ravynne's face before disappearing again.

She kept both arms around Leif's waist. Not because she wanted to. Because Onyx had made it very clear that falling off was not an option.

Leif hadn't spoken since they left the palace. Neither had she. The silence between them was almost uncomfortable.

Ravynne finally glanced over his shoulder. "You can slow down."

"We're already losing time."

"We've been riding for almost an hour."

"And?"

She sighed. "You don't even get it"

Leif's eyes remained fixed ahead. "That's not my problem"

Onyx suddenly slowed. Leif immediately straightened.

Ravynne felt the change in his body. "What is it?"

He raised one hand. "Quiet."

She stopped speaking.

Leif looked toward the trees. Nothing. Only wind. Then he noticed it. A fresh broken branch.

He pulled Onyx to a stop.

Ravynne leaned slightly to the side. "What?"

Leif dismounted. He crouched beside the trail, examining the ground.

Ravynne climbed down after him. "What did you find?"

He pointed toward the mud. A boot print. Fresh enough that the edges hadn't collapsed.

Ravynne's expression changed. "Someone was here."

Leif didn't answer. He moved deeper into the trees. Ravynne followed. Another print appeared. Then another. Three people. Maybe four.

She lowered herself beside him. "They weren't hunting."

"No."

"How can you tell?"

Leif pointed toward the trees. There were no animal tracks nearby. No broken hunting arrows. No traps. Nothing that suggested hunters.

Instead, several branches had been cut away along the trail. Creating a clear line of sight toward the northern ridge.

Ravynne's eyes narrowed. "Someone was watching the road."

Leif finally looked at her. "Now you're thinking."

She ignored the remark. "Why?"

He stood. "That's what we're here to find out."

They continued deeper into the forest. The farther they went, the quieter it became. Even the birds seemed absent.

Ravynne noticed it first. "Something's wrong."

Leif stopped.

She pointed toward the trees. "Listen."

He did. He heard nothing. Not even the birds. Only the wind.  Leif's expression hardened. He moved forward.

Ravynne followed closely. A sharp crack suddenly sounded overhead. Leif reacted instantly. His arm shot backward, catching Ravynne across the chest and pulling her against him. A thick branch crashed onto the path where she had been standing.

Ravynne stared at it. Then at Leif's arm still across her. For one second, neither moved. Leif released her immediately.

"Stay behind me." His voice was cold.

Ravynne nodded. "That branch wasn't dead."

Leif crouched beside it. The cut was clean. Like someone deliberately cut it recently. His fingers brushed the exposed wood.

"Someone cut it."

Ravynne's stomach tightened. "To make it fall?"

"Maybe." He looked upward.

The branch had been positioned directly above the trail. Someone had prepared it. Leif's hand moved toward the knife at his belt.

His eyes swept across the forest. "Stay here."

Ravynne frowned. "Where are you going?"

"To find whoever did it."

Before she could answer, he disappeared between the trees. Ravynne waited. Thirty seconds. Then a minute. Her instincts screamed at her.

She moved after him. "Commander?"

No answer. She pushed through another line of trees. Then she saw him. Leif stood beside a large oak. One hand rested against the trunk. The other held something small. A piece of black fabric.

Ravynne approached. "What is that?"

He handed it to her. A tiny metal clasp was attached to the fabric. She recognized the symbol immediately.

Her expression changed. "That's not a hunter's insignia."

"No."

"Military?"

Leif shook his head. "No."

Ravynne looked at him. "Then who?"

Leif stared toward the northern ridge. "I don't know."

That answer bothered him more than anything. He turned back toward the trail.

"We're leaving."

Ravynne blinked. "We haven't finished."

"We have enough."

He mounted Onyx. She climbed behind him. This time, she didn't hesitate before wrapping her arms around his waist.

Leif glanced down at her hands. He said nothing. Onyx turned toward the palace. Neither spoke on the ride back. But both knew the festival was no longer simply a celebration.

Someone had been preparing the forest for something. And they had no idea how close that something was.

---

By the time they returned to the palace, the sun had begun to disappear behind the western towers. Leif walked straight into the King's security office.

Aldros looked up from his desk. "You found something."

It wasn't a question. Leif placed the black fabric and metal clasp on the table. Ravynne followed him inside.

"The northern route has been compromised," she said.

Leander stood near the window. His expression immediately hardened.

"Compromised how?"

Leif answered. "Someone has been watching the route."

Aldros picked up the clasp. "Can you identify it?"

"No."

Leander stepped closer. "Then we don't know who we're dealing with."

"No."

Silence settled over the room. Ravynne pointed toward the map.

"The festival procession cannot use the northern route."

Aldros nodded. "Agreed."

Leander immediately reached for the communication tablet. "I'll reroute the royal procession."

"Not enough," Leif said.

Leander looked at him.

Leif pointed toward the map. "Double the perimeter patrols."

"We already doubled them yesterday."

"Then double them again."

Leander's eyes narrowed. "That's excessive."

Leif met his gaze. "Someone prepared an ambush."

The room went quiet.

Leif continued. "If they're willing to prepare days before the festival, they're not planning something small."

Ravynne looked at the festival map. "They're waiting for the crowd."

Aldros's expression darkened. "Then we make sure they don't get the opportunity."

---

The next two days passed in controlled chaos. Security checkpoints multiplied around the capital. Every vehicle entering the festival grounds was scanned. Police units patrolled the outer roads.

Royal guards monitored the forest perimeter. Drones surveyed the northern ridge. Security cameras were checked and rechecked. The official schedule remained unchanged. The Hunting Festival would happen. Canceling it would send exactly the message the attackers wanted. Fear.

Leif spent most of those two days reviewing security plans. He barely slept. Ravynne noticed.

She also noticed that he never once mentioned what had happened beneath the tree. Whatever instinct had made him protect her... He clearly didn't want to remember it.

---

Then— The morning of the Hunting Festival arrived. The capital awakened before sunrise. Thousands gathered behind security barriers. Banners covered the streets. Huge screens displayed the royal crest.

News helicopters circled above the palace. Across the kingdom, television stations switched to live coverage. The Hunting Festival had begun.

Inside the royal preparation hall, Ravynne adjusted the documents in her hands. Leander stood beside the window. His formal uniform was immaculate.

"You look nervous."

She glanced at him. "I am."

He smiled faintly. "Good."

She raised an eyebrow.

"It means you're paying attention."

Before she could answer, a royal guard entered.

"Your Highness."

Leander turned. "The King's ready."

Leander nodded. Then he looked at Ravynne. "Stay close to me."

"I will."

The doors opened. Beyond them, the palace courtyard was filled with people. Cameras, guards, nobles, foreign dignitaries, thousands of citizens. And at the center stood King Aldros.

The national broadcast cameras turned toward him. The crowd fell silent.

Aldros stepped forward. "My people."

His voice carried through the courtyard and across every television screen in the kingdom. "Today, we gather not only to celebrate the Hunting Festival..."

The crowd listened.

"...but to celebrate the strength of our kingdom."

Ravynne stood beside Leander. Across the courtyard, Leif waited alone. His expression was unreadable. Aldros looked toward him.

"And this year, we welcome home a man who has served our kingdom from beyond its borders."

Leif's eyes lifted. The cameras immediately turned toward him. The crowd began to murmur.

Aldros continued. "Commander Leif Morvain."

The name echoed through the courtyard. Leif stepped forward. Thousands of eyes followed him. Ravynne watched silently. Leander's expression remained guarded.

Aldros smiled toward the cameras. "My firstborn son."

The courtyard erupted. And somewhere beyond the palace walls... A rifle scope quietly settled into position.

The crosshair found its target. Leif Morvain. **The festival had begun.**