In the War Council of the Phoenix Court in Lothern, emotions ran high, and the atmosphere was chaotic.
The princes and princesses of the high elves, along with the archmages, engaged in heated discussions. Some, deeply concerned for the safety of the little queen, were even on the verge of tears.
"Captured?"
"What were those dwarves in the mountains doing?"
"The entire envoy delegation wiped out? War Leader, are you sure?"
"Impossible, how could the undead have such strength?"
"Could there be a mistake?"
"Teclis wouldn't falsely report such news. Does he have a death wish?"
"So, Her Majesty Alarielle is really..."
"Asuryan above, Isha above, Her Majesty Alarielle is the future of the Asur!"
"Can we confirm that Her Majesty is still alive?"
"What do we do? What do we do? What do we do?"
The War Council erupted into chaos. Hundreds of high elf princes, princesses, and archmages shouted over each other, their voices echoing through the grand hall adorned with golden murals, white marble, and azure tapestries.
The bickering continued.
"This undead ambush was organized and premeditated. From the moment the envoy delegation left to the ambush, it's clear that Mannfred, that undead scum, had been planning this for a long time!" Prince Eltharion of Yvresse spoke coldly. As the Warden of Yvresse, Eltharion tried to analyze the cause and effect of the incident. "This is a formidable enemy. To wipe out our envoy delegation and the dwarven army in a single day, the enemy's strength cannot be underestimated."
"I strongly suspect that Mannfred, that dog, must have received covert support from Chaos and the greenskins!" a high elf prince from Lothern roared. "Kill them! Kill them all! What's there to discuss?"
"I said it a hundred years ago: humans and dwarves are nothing but ungrateful jackals," Prince Imrik of Caledor pointed the finger directly at War Leader Tyrion, who had made the decision to negotiate. He spoke with a menacing tone. "What's the difference between them and Chaos greenskins? Who decided to negotiate with those mountain dwarves? He must take responsibility for this!"
"Prince Imrik, this wasn't the dwarves' doing. It wasn't the dwarves who captured Her Majesty Alarielle!" Korhil, captain of the White Lions, immediately stepped forward to defend Phoenix King Finubar. "The Phoenix King's intention was to reconcile with the dwarves and share peace. No one could have predicted this would happen."
"What's the point of arguing about this now?" Princess Alarielle of Tiranoc stepped forward. "War Leader, what are the Everqueen's orders?"
War Leader Tyrion felt a splitting headache. He glanced at his brother, Teclis, the Supreme Archmage of the White Tower of Hoeth in Saphery. Teclis sat with his eyes closed, meditating in silence.
Tyrion felt all the blood in his body rushing to his head... no, wait, it was all the blood in his body rushing to his head.
My brother, what are you doing? You're not giving me advice, just sitting here in silence?!
That's your niece!
Tyrion took deep breaths, trying to calm himself. The War Leader looked at the chaotic crowd in the council hall, hearing many sobs, and couldn't help but roar, "Enough! Silence! All of you, crying from night till morning, and from morning till night—can you cry Mannfred to death?"
"The Everqueen has decreed that Alarielle is definitely still alive. She can sense that Alarielle's power has not dissipated! She is still alive!"
The crowd finally quieted down.
At this moment, Phoenix King Finubar spoke.
The dazed Phoenix King, who had been sitting on his high throne like a Psyduck, tilted his head. After everyone had argued for a long time, the slow Psyduck finally spoke. "Everyone, stop for a moment, stop. My opinion is that we Asur are still willing to reconcile with the dwarves. Although this incident happened in dwarf territory, the dwarves..."
"But the dwarves must take responsibility!" Tyrion stepped in front of the Psyduck. The War Leader was furious.
After all this, Finubar still wants to play peacemaker?
That's your nominal daughter.
"I don't care about that. No matter what happened to the dwarves, what does it have to do with us Asur? The incident happened in dwarf territory. If we don't blame the dwarves, who else can we blame? Us Asur?" Tyrion bluntly cut off Finubar's words. The War Leader continued, "This time, if we can rescue her, fine. But if anything happens to the little queen, the dwarves must give us an explanation. Otherwise, the Asur will level their Everpeak."
"Exactly, it's all the dwarves' fault!"
"We should never have trusted those dwarves!"
"Maybe they colluded with the vampires to threaten the Asur's sovereignty."
"Given their failure, it's not too much to ask the dwarves to kneel and apologize, right?"
"Could it be that the humans colluded with the undead? Isn't Mannfred the Elector Count of Sylvania in the Empire?"
"And what about Bretonnia's Three Guardians of the Badlands? Are they all useless, or have they colluded with the undead?"
"I think it might be the greenskins."
"Could our cousins be involved in this?"
"Enough! First, we destroy the undead, level their fortresses, and then we'll settle accounts with the dwarves, one by one!"
Tyrion was satisfied with the scene. The Asur were fully enraged. The next step was to arrange for troops to immediately head to the Badlands and reclaim his daughter.
Alarielle, wait for me. Daddy is coming to bring you home.
Finubar watched helplessly as Tyrion had stirred up the Asur's fury. The Phoenix King reverted to his dazed Psyduck state. He smiled bitterly, leaned back in his chair, and decided not to speak further.
The wise Finubar knew that with emotions running high, anything he said would be useless. Finubar himself lacked strength, so he had to always position himself with the majority and political correctness.
At this moment, Finubar couldn't help but think of the Knight King Ryan Malcador, whom he had met. The Phoenix King truly envied Ryan. That was what a king should be like.
Himself? More like a peacemaker.
Damn it, how did the country end up like this?
Tyrion seized the moment. The War Leader began issuing orders. "The enemy's strength is indeed formidable. To wipe out our envoy delegation and the dwarven army in a single day, and even withstand Alarielle's magic—this is no ordinary undead. We must strike hard!"
"Exactly, we must strike hard!" The high elf princes echoed.
Tyrion immediately began assigning tasks. The War Leader first called out, "Teclis, I need your help."
"Of course, brother," Teclis replied with an inscrutable expression.
The words of the Moon Goddess Lileath still echoed in Teclis's ears.
"Belannaer, I need the power of your Arcane Phoenixes and the Swordmasters of Hoeth!" Tyrion turned to Belannaer the Wise, the second-ranking archmage of the White Tower.
"The White Tower is willing to fight for Alarielle and the War Leader," Belannaer stepped forward.
"Eltharion?"
The Prince of Yvresse also stepped forward. "By Ladrielle, the Wardens will always fight for Ulthuan."
"Alarielle, I'll need your help this time as well."
The Princess of Tiranoc strode forward. Alarielle looked at Tyrion with deep affection and trust. "I have already pledged my sword to you, my War Leader. The chariots of Tiranoc are at your disposal."
"By the Everqueen's decree, the Sisters of Avelorn will cleanse their sins," Isadrina, the Everqueen's chief handmaiden, stepped forward.
"The Silver Helms will always follow the War Leader," Belannaer, Tyrion's deputy.
"The swift ships of Cothique will carry you to the Old World," a high elf prince from Cothique declared.
Tyrion turned to Prince Imrik of Caledor, his face filled with anticipation. "We need the dragons of Caledor and the Dragon Princes' lances. Imrik, are you ready?"
"Unfortunately, Caledor will not participate in this operation," Imrik lifted his chin, the Dragonhorn of Caledor hanging at his waist. The Prince of Caledor was arrogant and full of disdain. "This is your mess, Tyrion. Who decided to send the little queen to the Old World? You caused this problem, and now you expect the great Dragon Princes of Caledor to clean it up for you? You disgust me. Handle your own problems. Caledor has more important tasks—protecting Ulthuan."
"Imrik!" Tyrion was shocked by the refusal. The War Leader stepped forward, his voice twisted with rage. "That's Alarielle! Our Everqueen!"
"Really? Not your Everqueen?" Imrik sneered.
"Do you even know what you're doing?" Tyrion took another step forward, grabbing Imrik by the collar. "At a time like this, you refuse to unite with us? Do you really not want to be part of the Asur anymore?"
"Caledor only pledges allegiance to the bloodline of the Phoenix King. Let me repeat: the bloodline of the Phoenix King," Imrik pushed Tyrion's hand away, his tone mocking. "Our War Leader, you have quite the authority! Are you trying to use the sword of the former Phoenix King to command a prince who pledges allegiance to the current Phoenix King?"
The mention of the Phoenix King's bloodline silenced the room.
Tyrion's face turned ashen, but he could say no more. Suddenly, he felt dizzy, his vision swimming. He steadied himself, trying not to lose composure.
On the throne, Finubar's face alternated between pale and red. The Phoenix King glanced at Tyrion, sighed silently, and signaled Korhil, captain of the White Lions, to stand down.
Imrik laughed maniacally, then turned and left the council hall. "Go ahead, Tyrion. While you're gone, Caledor will protect Ulthuan. Don't take too long, alright?"
After several minutes of silence, Tyrion finally caught his breath. The War Leader secured promises of aid from the cavalry of Ellyrion and a contingent of Lothern Sea Guard. Tyrion decided not to wait any longer. He ordered the troops to set sail for the Old World as soon as they were assembled, to rescue Alarielle!
After arranging everything, Tyrion suddenly remembered something. The War Leader turned and asked Finubar, "What does Your Majesty think?"
The dazed Psyduck on the Phoenix Throne nodded blankly. "Do as Tyrion says."
"Yes, I take my leave," Tyrion turned to leave, but halfway out, he remembered something else and turned back. "Your Majesty, regarding the dwarves, I leave it to you to handle. We are heading to the Badlands. Perhaps... we can give the dwarves a chance to redeem themselves. If the dwarves of Everpeak or Karak Eight Peaks can provide support or at least supplies, it would increase our chances of rescuing Alarielle. Her safety is the top priority."
"Uh... yes, I understand, Tyrion," Finubar nodded blankly again. The Phoenix King then thought of something. "What about the Three Guardians of the Badlands? And the Empire?"
The Three Guardians of the Badlands?
Tyrion's mind flashed to Fulgrim's stunningly beautiful, almost otherworldly visage, and Ryan Malcador's calm, composed, and annoyingly smug smile after defeating a Slaaneshi Greater Daemon.
A visceral discomfort made Tyrion shake his head immediately. "Forget the humans. Useless monkeys. All they can do is hide behind their formations and throw bananas. What else are they good for?"
"As Tyrion says," the Psyduck tilted his head again, agreeing to let Finubar mediate with the dwarves.
Then, the War Leader strode out of the hall without looking back.
Finubar had Korhil escort the War Leader out, then sat alone on his throne, secretly clutching his sleeve.
Damn it, how did the country end up like this?
Appendix: High Elf Forces Participating in the Rescue Mission for the Little Queen
- War Leader Tyrion
- Supreme Archmage Teclis
- Second Archmage Belannaer the Wise
- Everqueen's Chief Handmaiden Isadrina
- Prince Eltharion of Yvresse
- Princess Alarielle of Tiranoc
- Tyrion's Deputy Belannaer
- Eight high elf princes, princesses, noble warriors, and White Tower archmages
- One contingent of Lothern Sea Guard
- One full regiment of Swordmasters of Hoeth (300)
- One contingent of Silver Helms
- A small group of Sisters of Avelorn
- Twelve Tiranoc chariots
- One contingent of Ellyrion Reavers
- One contingent of Yvresse Eagles
- One contingent of Yvresse Shadow Warriors
- One Arcane Phoenix
...
Meanwhile, the Knightly Army had just arrived at L'Anguille. The deep-drafted ships of the Manann's Fleet were still unloading at the docks when Ryan received shocking news from Duke Talbot, who had been left in charge.
"What? The high elf and dwarf envoy delegations were ambushed and wiped out by the undead?"
"Everqueen Alarielle is missing?"
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