The Crown of Thorns and Roses

The Palace

yards, then the secondary lines of defense, cutting through Theron's increasingly panicked guards. Her twin daggers were extensions of her will, each strike precise, deadly. The subtle hum of the land beneath her feet intensified, a primal pow

oice cutting through the din. "The king's persona

the guards' mess halls was taking effect, softening their resistance. The diverted water pipe now gushed, creating a slick, treacherous path through a vital guard corridor. Rhys,

ntifying them instantly. "They're heading for the

esistance at the base of the grand staircase. And then," her eyes narrowed, "activate the old ve

ojecting a wave of unease and confusion into the minds of the royal guards in that specific sector. It was a

as fierce, a brutal bottleneck. But then, from the West Wing, a thick, acrid smoke began to billow from unseen vents, quickly filling corridors, disorienting guards

't fled, offered useless platitudes. Reports of his forces being overwhelmed, of fires in the outer palace, of the 'Forest Ghost' leading the charge, flooded in. He could hear the scr

Theron shrieked at his remain

dor was a battleground, every door a potential ambush. Elara and her warriors were now deep within the inner palace, pushing towards the very heart of the serpen