Chapter 29: Ultarion's Kingdom

The journey back to the borders of Silvermere had been an arduous trek across jagged terrain and through nights that felt far too long, leaving both Karlos and me exhausted, our spirits frayed by the weight of our secrets. We were more than ready to wash the dust of this mission from our skin, but for me, the exhaustion was tempered by a frantic, gnawing hope. I wasn't just returning to deliver blueprints; I was returning to see if Ultarion’s threats held a hidden truth. I needed to know if my parents had finally returned to the cave to look for me, or if the King truly held them in some gilded cage within the capital.

The thought of them was a greater reward than any mountain of gold Ultarion could offer. Yet, despite the fear, crossing back into Silvermere felt... right. It felt grounded. I’d had Bran for years—my constant, silent shadow—but having Karlos by my side changed the very air I breathed. With him there, the crushing isolation of the spy life seemed to lift. It felt as if a missing piece of me had finally clicked into place, making me feel complete enough to face whatever darkness awaited us behind the palace gates.

"Wow, look at that. What a beauty," Karlos said, his voice dropping in genuine awe as the spires of the Silvermere capital finally broke through the morning mist.

"When you grow up here, the view becomes duller with every passing day," I murmured, my eyes tracing the familiar grey stone that lacked the obsidian fire of the North.

"You really think this place is dull?" he asked, glancing at me with a raised brow.

I shrugged, my fingers instinctively brushing the satchel at my hip. "I suppose it has its own sort of beauty, in a cold, clinical way. But it’s still dull compared to some of the other kingdoms I’ve had to infiltrate," I said as we began the final ascent toward the fortress.

"Do you consider Fortundra more beautiful?" Karlos asked, his tone shifting into that guarded, sharp register that always surfaced when the North was mentioned.

"Yes," I answered simply. "I do."

"Why?"

"I don't know, Karlos. I just do. The light hits the stone differently there. It feels... alive."

"Probably because Zion lives there," I heard him scoff, his boots kicking up a cloud of Silvermere dust in a fit of pique.

"No," I snapped, though my heart gave a traitorous thud. "I have seen this castle my entire life. I’ve lived in its shadow and breathed its damp air since I was a child. I’ve just seen better castles, that’s all."

"Better than Fortundra’s?" He challenged, stopping for a moment to look at me.

"I'm not sure," I admitted, the image of the moon-drenched solar flashing in my mind.

"Well, I’d be sure if I were the one wearing a royal heirloom around my neck," he muttered.

"This isn't the time, Karlos," I sighed in defeat, my shoulders sagging as we drew within inches of the heavy iron gates. The silver-clad knights stood like statues, their halberds crossing to bar our path.

"State your purpose!" the lead knight yelled, his voice echoing off the stone archway.

"I am Diana," I replied, throwing back my hood to reveal my face, letting the cold Silvermere wind whip my hair. "I have returned from my mission in the North. I carry intelligence for the King."

The knight’s hidden gaze seemed to sharpen behind his visor. "Yes... His Highness has been waiting quite impatiently for your return. He spoke of your delay."

"I am well aware," I replied, my voice hardening. "I received his... correspondence."

"And this man?" The knight asked, the tip of his halberd shifting slightly toward Karlos, who stood with his hands on his hips, looking unimpressed by the display of finery.

"An ally," I responded firmly, meeting the knight’s gaze. "That is all he is. He assisted in the extraction of the data."

The knight remained motionless, and I could feel his eyes boring into me, weighing my words against the bedraggled appearance of the man at my side. I wondered if he sensed the shift in me—if he could tell I was no longer the obedient ward who had left months ago. Karlos was more than an ally; he was my partner, my friend, and the only person I trusted in this den of vipers. I just needed the guard to believe the lie long enough to let us through.

"Alright," the knight finally sighed, stepping back and gesturing for the gates to be raised. "You may enter. But the King is in a foul temper, girl. I’d watch my tongue if I were you."

I didn't answer. I just looked at Karlos, gave him a sharp nod, and led the way into the heart of the kingdom that felt less like a home and more like a trap with every step we took.