CHAPTER 9 "The Falcon Empire Surrounded the Hidden Kingdomā¦ But the Prisoner They Had Buried for 20 Years Had Been Preparing for This Day."
The first explosion shook the underground chamber.
Dust rained from the ceiling.
The Falcon Empire had found the hidden sanctuary.
King Amir rose slowly from the stone floor. Though twenty years of imprisonment had weakened his body, the fire in his eyes had never faded.
"They're early," he murmured.
Leila stared at him.
"You knew this place would be discovered?"
He nodded.
"I knew they would never stop looking."
The old king walked toward an ancient stone wall engraved with the royal crest.
He pressed his hand against one carved symbol.
A deep rumble echoed through the chamber.
To everyone's amazement, the wall slowly opened.
Behind it stood nearly fifty armored warriors.
Every one of them had gray hair.
Every one of them wore faded royal armor.
Leila gasped.
"Who are they?"
King Amir smiled proudly.
"My Royal Guard."
The captain of Leila's guards looked stunned.
"They're alive?"
"They chose to disappear with me rather than serve a murderer."
For twenty years they had remained hidden beneath the desert, training every day, waiting for the rightful heir to return.
The black stallion walked calmly among them.
Each old warrior bowed its head with respect.
One of the veterans stepped forward.
"We have waited 7,314 days for this moment, Your Majesty."
King Amir placed a hand on Leila's shoulder.
"Not for me."
"For her."
The soldiers immediately turned and knelt before Leila.
"Long live the Queen."
Tears filled her eyes.
"I've never wanted revenge."
King Amir nodded.
"Good."
"Because revenge builds another tyrant."
"Justice builds a kingdom."
Before anyone could speak again, a deafening voice echoed through the tunnels.
"King Amir!"
The voice belonged to a man standing beyond the entrance.
Tall.
Elegant.
Dressed entirely in black.
A silver falcon rested on his shoulder.
"I've searched for you for twenty years."
King Amir's expression darkened.
"The Falcon."
The mysterious leader smiled.
"You've become old."
"And you've become careless."
He slowly removed his hood.
Leila froze.
She recognized him.
Years earlier...
When she worked as a stable assistant...
He had visited the palace disguised as a horse trader.
He had looked directly into her eyes.
He had even smiled at her.
All along...
The most dangerous man in the world had been standing only a few feet away.
The Falcon raised one hand.
Thousands of armed soldiers emerged from the desert surrounding the hidden sanctuary.
"There is no escape," he said calmly.
King Amir stepped forward.
"There never was."
The Falcon laughed.
"Then surrender."
Instead...
The old king drew a weathered sword.
One by one...
Every royal guard unsheathed theirs.
The black stallion stamped its hoof against the stone floor.
Leila looked around.
Outnumbered nearly fifty to one.
No reinforcements.
No miracle.
Only courage.
Then her father whispered something that changed everything.
May you like
"We don't need to defeat his army..."
"We only need to reveal who he really is."
