Chapter 50
Finally, the doors to the throne room swung open, revealing a contingent of guards escorting a disheveled and bewildered King Axe. His eyes widened in disbelief as he took in the sight of Polar perched upon the throne, an embodiment of malevolence.
"Axe," Polar's voice resonated through the chamber, filled with false warmth and calculated deception. "How tragic that our beloved Queen Velvet met her untimely end. The kingdom mourns her loss, and it is now time to hold someone accountable for this horrific crime."
Axe's gaze darted between Polar and the gathered lords, his face contorting with a mixture of confusion and grief. "Polar, what madness has consumed you? I would never harm Velvet, you know this! She is my other half!"
Polar's laughter echoed through the chamber, a chilling sound that sent shivers down the spines of those present. "Oh, dear brother," he sneered, his voice dripping with venomous delight. "Deny it all you want, but the evidence is overwhelming. Witnessed by none, except for our loyal mages and me, you cast our beloved queen off the cliffs in a fit of rage."
The lords stirred in their seats, their expressions a mixture of shock and disbelief. Some exchanged worried glances, while others seemed eager to condemn Axe based on Polar's accusations. Doubt began to gnaw at their hearts, the seed of deception taking root. The power of the orb worming its way into their minds and heart.
Axe's eyes burned with righteous indignation, his voice filled with a resolute determination. "I swear upon everything I hold dear that I am innocent. I would never harm Velvet or any of our people. Polar, what dark magic has twisted your mind?"
Polar rose from the throne, his presence towering over the room. "Your pleas fall on deaf ears, Axe. The lords have seen the truth. They have witnessed the power of the orb, revealing your malevolence and shattered trust. It is time for you to step down from the throne and face the consequences of your actions."
As the lords exchanged worried glances, uncertainty hung heavy in the air. Their once-unquestioning loyalty to Axe wavered under the weight of Polar's manipulative tactics. The darkness of doubt began to consume their thoughts, overshadowing their previously steadfast allegiance.
Axe's voice rose, filled with a fervent hatred. "I will not yield to your lies, Polar. I will fight for the truth, even if I must face the entirety of the kingdom alone." He spat.
Polar's eyes narrowed, his façade of calm slipping for a moment as rage flickered beneath the surface. "You dare defy me, brother? So be it. The people will see your defiance as guilt. The kingdom is mine now, and you shall pay the price for your supposed crimes."
As Polar's words reverberated through the chamber, the lords began to shift uneasily. Some cast questioning glances at Axe, torn between their previous loyalty and the whisper of the orb that Polar had sown within them.
"Take him to the dungeon," Polar says.
In a swift move Axe turns and breaks the grips of each guard. They rush forward, using their bodies to form a small circle around him. Axe's muscles tensed as he prepared to unleash his magic upon the guards who barred his path. Anger burned in his eyes, his powers surging through his veins, ready to unleash their fury. With a swift motion, he raised his hands, conjuring an intense gust of wind that swept through the corridor, threatening to knock his adversaries off their feet.
But before he could complete his incantation, a dark presence engulfed the air. Polar, with an unsettling calmness, stepped forward, his eyes ablaze with the corrupted power of Raza magic. The guards' faces contorted with a mix of fear and awe, sensing the malevolent force emanating from their new leader.
Polar raised his hand, fingers outstretched, and the very air seemed to crackle with an unnatural energy. The gust of wind that Axe had conjured faltered, its force diminished under the weight of Polar's dark influence.
"No, Axe," Polar spoke, his voice laced with a chilling certainty. "Your magic is no match for the power I now possess. Your attempts to resist are in vain."
Axe gritted his teeth, his jaw clenched with defiance. The bonds of his family and loyalty that had once tethered him to Polar now lay shattered, replaced by an unsettling sense of betrayal. His heart yearned to reconnect with his only brother.
As Polar extended his hand, sinister black energy coalesced into tendrils that snaked toward Axe, wrapping around his limbs and constricting his movements. The dark magic seeped into his being, sapping his strength and leaving him helpless against the oppressive force.
Axe struggled violently against the invisible bonds, his muscles straining with the effort to break free. The beast inside of him begged to break out and seek retribution. But Polar's power was relentless, its hold unyielding. Axe found himself at the mercy of his adversary, his every attempt to resist met with an amplified surge of the Raza magic.
Desperation mingled with anger in Axe's eyes as he locked gazes with Polar, the weight of their shared history bearing down upon them. The betrayal cut deep, but Axe refused to let despair consume him. With a surge of defiance, he summoned the remnants of his fading strength, determined to resist until his last breath. Velvet needed him, the reminder of her enough to push harder against his restraints.
But Polar's grip on the Raza magic remained unyielding. The guards, now under the sway of their new leader, closed in around Axe, their eyes void of any semblance of compassion or loyalty.
Polar's voice echoed through the corridor, an eerie proclamation of his ascendancy. "Bow before your new king, for Axe is defeated, and I shall reign supreme."
As the guards restrained Axe, his chest heaved with a mix of frustration and a lingering flicker of hope. From the corner of his eye, he could see Ingrid make her way towards the side of the room. Though he was momentarily subdued, his spirit burned bright, he knew Ingrid wouldn't abandon him.
With a final gaze locked on Polar, Axe vowed to reclaim what was rightfully his. "You may have won for now brother, but you will lose in the end."
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Ingrid's heart pounded in her chest as she witnessed the oppressive scene unfolding before her. She knew Polar was making his move but thought they had more time. The sight of Axe, her king and dear friend, being subdued by Polar's dark Raza magic filled her with a mix of fury and despair. She knew that time was of the essence, and she had to act swiftly to save him.
Drawing upon her instincts, Ingrid's eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for any possible means of escape. It was then that her gaze landed upon a magnificent tapestry adorning the stone wall, its vibrant colors depicting ancient battles and heroic deeds. A spark of realization ignited within her. She remembered there should be a door back there.
Desperation fueling her every move, Ingrid rushed toward the tapestry, her fingers tracing the intricately woven threads. She discovered a hidden seam along the edge, almost imperceptible to the casual observer. Taking a deep breath, she gripped the fabric and pushed it aside, revealing a concealed doorway behind. Feeling relieved she moved quickly behind the tapestry.
As the hidden door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit passageway, Ingrid's heart raced. She wasn't going to allow Polar to steal and pervert the kingdom she loved. She could only hope Velvet was learning quickly.
Silently, she navigated the narrow passage, her steps measured and precise. The air grew colder, and the sound of distant echoes filled the underground labyrinth. Ingrid's senses heightened, her focus unyielding as she searched for any sign of Beliard, the one person she could trust with Axe's life.
After what felt like an eternity, Ingrid emerged from the hidden passageway into a torch-lit chamber. Bailard stood near a bookshelf, his eyes filled with concern as he poured over ancient tomes and scrolls. Startled by Ingrid's sudden arrival, he turned, a mix of relief and urgency crossing his features.
"Ingrid! What news do you bring?" Bailard asked, his voice laden with anticipation.
Ingrid quickly recounted the events she had witnessed, the gravity of the situation hanging heavy in the air. "Polar has seized control, and Axe has been imprisoned in the dungeon. We must act swiftly to devise a plan and free him from his captivity."
Bailard's eyes narrowed, his mind already racing with possibilities. "We cannot allow Polar's reign to continue unchecked. We have to break him free. the audacity of the bastard to do this to his own brother."
Together, Ingrid and Bailard huddled in the dimly lit chamber, their voices low as they strategized and formed a plan. "We will need the element of surprise."
"There is something that I have not told you. Velvet is not dead."
"What do you mean Velvet is not dead?" He gasps.
"I did not get to tell Axe, but Velvet is safe. I can not give you any more information, so do not ask. You will just have to trust me. Polar believes she is dead. So we do have the element of surprise and we use that to our advantage. We must gather the other soldiers, those who have not succumbed to Polar's magic orb and Raza. We will need a diversion, a distraction to draw attention away from the dungeon while we free Axe."
Bailard nodded. "I know every schedule of every soldier. Breaking him out will be child's play." He grins in the candlelight.
In the depths of the castle dungeon, Axe's hope flickered like a dimly lit candle. The rage of losing Velvet and being betrayed by his brother was too much to handle. He thought of every which way to kill him. Axe lifts his head in the small cell, his eyes beginning to glow lavender. Velvet's scent wafting into his nostrils.