👑 Chapter Four: The River Burns

(Kiana – POV, Present Tense)

Laughter fills the palace gardens, bright and unrestrained. My sisters Selene, Cerys and Nyara chase each other between the flowerbeds, their skirts brushing the dewy grass. I bend to tie a ribbon in Cerys’s hair, and she squeals, tugging free and running toward Selene. The morning sun warms my shoulders, the scent of roses heavy in the air.

Even the guards seem lighter today, their smiles fleeting but genuine as they watch us play. For a moment, the world is perfect. Laughter, sunlight, flowers, and the gentle hum of palace life. I feel it deep in my chest ,the calm before anything can disturb it.

A loud, frantic banging at the gates shatters the tranquility. A messenger bursts into the courtyard, mud streaked on his legs, chest heaving. “My king! My king!” he shouts, voice raw with terror.

King Thalric rises instantly, his cloak swirling around him as he strides toward the man. His golden eyes narrow. “What is it?” His voice carries the weight of command, steady, unshaken, but urgency presses beneath it.

The messenger swallows hard, trembling. “The villages… smoke… they’ve been attacked. Fires… soldiers… Ethra’s people…” His words tumble out, disjointed, desperate.

Thalric’s jaw tightens. “Which village?” His tone is sharp, precise, controlled.

“The one by the river… Lord Veylan’s lands… it’s destroyed, my king!”

I clutch the edge of the nearby fountain, heart hammering. Selene steps close, her hand on my arm, eyes wide. Even Nyara, calm and composed as she is, pales. I glance at Cerys, the youngest, trying to smile through fear.

Father’s gaze sweeps over us, resolute and commanding. “We move immediately,” he declares. “Soldiers, prepare to leave. Kiana, Selene, Cerys, Nyara, you ride with me. The villages must be aided. Do not wait for the enemy to strike again.”

“Yes, Father,” I reply, strapping my sword to my side, voice steady despite the surge of adrenaline. My sisters nod, eyes flashing determination.

Horses whinny as they are saddled. The knights fall into formation, armor catching the sunlight, weapons ready. We mount, the earth trembling beneath hooves as we move through the palace gates. I glance back once, toward the gardens and the laughter now swallowed by the shadow of news, and then forward. Duty presses on me, heavy but resolute.

The journey is long, winding through forests and hills. Birds scatter as our procession passes, startled into the sky. Smoke drifts faintly in the distance, black against the morning sun. Every mile brings a tense silence; the air smells faintly of ash, though the villages are still far off.

Selene rides close, whispering, “Do you think anyone survived?”

I shake my head slowly. “I hope so. But we cannot waste time with hope alone. We must act. We will protect them.”

Cerys grips her reins tightly, knuckles white. “I I’m ready,” she stammers.

I glance at her, a small, reassuring smile forming. “We all are.”

As the sun climbs higher, the river comes into view. Smoke curls above the treetops, black and thick. I tighten my grip on the reins, heart pounding in rhythm with the pounding of hooves. The village is almost upon us. I can see the roofs blackened, walls splintered, people fleeing in terror.

Soldiers spread out immediately, guiding survivors to safety, extinguishing smaller fires, and preparing for any remaining threats. My sisters and I jump into the chaos without hesitation, helping the injured, comforting those who weep, and moving with purpose. Every glance, every step, every decision is measured. Lives depend on it.

The smell of smoke and ash fills the air, mingling with the scent of wet earth and scorched wood. Fear hangs heavy over the village, but we impose order where we can. I give instructions quickly, efficiently, my voice cutting through the cries and crackle of fire.

A woman clutches her child to her chest, tears streaking soot across her face. I kneel beside her, helping her to a safer path. “You’re safe now,” I say softly, though my voice carries over the chaos. She nods shakily, clutching her child tighter. Even small reassurances matter. Even a moment of calm can save lives.

I take a moment to scan the horizon. The enemy is nowhere in sight, but I know better. This is only the beginning. Someone powerful and precise is behind this attack. I feel it in the air, in the way the smoke curls, in the panic of those who survived. Patience and caution will be our allies. We help now, we fight if necessary, but we do not act recklessly.

Selene and Cerys work at my side, efficient and focused, but their hands shake. I offer encouragement when I can, short, sharp words of command or reassurance. Even in chaos, leadership matters. Even in fear, we must remain steady.

Smoke rises into the sky, curling like dark fingers. I glance at the horizon again. Ethra is not safe. And yet, I will not let it fall without a fight. The villagers survive today because we arrived in time, because we act with purpose, because we do not panic.

The sun is high now, heat pressing down, but we continue. There is no rest until every injured person is accounted for, every fire under control, and every defenseless soul protected. And I will see it done.

Even as my shoulders ache, even as my throat burns from shouting, I do not falter. I cannot.

Because duty is heavier than fear.

Because leadership is heavier than fear.

Because courage, when it is demanded, must be unyielding even in the shadow of fire, smoke, and devastation.

And I will remain unyielding.