Upon returning to Straya, Ubel and King Basil were ensconced within the royal hall. As Ubel held a raven in his grasp, King Basil sat regally upon his throne. Ubel commanded that the guards of the kingdom divest themselves of their attire, which was to be distributed amongst Ubel's army in order to give the impression that they were the legitimate military force of Straya. The soldiers of King Basil were to be confined to their homes, with even the servants aligned with Ubel's forces.

  King Basil queried Ubel, "Are you contemplating the assassination of Ajeer?"

  Ubel, still gazing at the raven and wearing a smile, replied to the king without even deigning to look at him. "No, it is not my inclination to kill Ajeer. It holds no appeal for me."

  King Basil inquired, "You stated that you intended to eliminate all those who conspired against you. Is that still your intention?"

  Ubel affirmed, "Yes, that is correct. However, I do not plan to kill him here. Instead, I intend to seize control of Osna and Ugor. Now that Esma has vanished, it is time for Osna and Ugor to follow suit."

  The king pressed, "How does King Ajeer fit into this scheme of yours?"

  Ubel replied, "His army is vast. We can use it to our advantage."

  King Basil inquired further, "But how do you plan to do that?"

  Ubel responded simply, "Through sedition."

  The king remarked, "Your brief responses never provide me with sufficient information."

  Ubel countered, "It is advantageous to keep one's plans undisclosed, as it confers an element of power."

  Trevor entered the hall with a scarf on his face, where Ubel and King Basil were and interrupted their conversation, Ubel looked at him and said

  Trevor: King Ajeer is here, he came with his wife, and fifty men of his guards.

  King Basil: he brought Hilda with him?

  Trevor: I don’t know who Hilda is, but if you are referring to his wife, then yes.

  Ubel smiled and said, let him come.

  Trevor: Ubel, he is requesting to enter the hall with twenty of his guards.

  Ubel thought about it then said: grant him that, and let twenty of our men enter the hall as well.

  Upon entering the grand hall, twenty of Ubel's soldiers were attired in the garb of the Strayan army, forming a circle around the imposing table with a respectful distance between them.

  Ubel, seeking to remain inconspicuous, lurked behind one of the walls, secretly listening to the conversation as it unfolded. As the situation unfolded, Ubel approached one of his trusted minions and imparted a hushed directive before disappearing once more into the shadows.

  Meanwhile, King Basil stood nearby, poised to extend a warm welcome to King Ajeer and his esteemed queen upon their arrival.

  "King Ajeer and his consort entered the opulent hall, accompanied by Beylon, Jeffery, Hilda, and twenty guards. As they approached, King Basil greeted Ajeer with a cordial embrace and greeted Hilda with a salute."

  "I am greatly pleased to have been invited to your realm," said King Ajeer. "It has been an interminable time."

  "I extend my apologies for not being able to visit you sooner," replied King Basil. "As you are aware, we have had some weighty responsibilities to attend to."

  King Ajeer chuckled. "Don’t hold it in your heart. When I entered into matrimony, I had no time for any other pursuits."

  As they conversed, Jeffery noticed that Ubel was not present in the hall. He also noticed that the army was brandishing their swords, but he refrained from comment, waiting for his father to address the situation.

  "Come, let us convene and discuss these matters," said King Basil.

  As the regents and their advisers took their seats at the table within the great hall, King Basil began to speak. "I assume you have all received word of the egregious slaying of Godwin? This Ubel must be brought to justice and sentenced to execution."

  King Ajeer nodded gravely. "Indeed, there is no greater atrocity. But we cannot simply initiate an assault without knowing who may still be conspiring with him. That is why I summoned you all to this exclusive meeting."

  King Ajeer replied, "I have heard rumours that the Ugor are the ones scheming alongside Ubel."

  King Basil nodded. "Yes, the rumours have been circulating. But I cannot affirm their veracity. In the recent past, Ugor has invaded Esma and slaughtered all within, seizing control of the land without warning or motive."

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  Hilda interjected, "That is very reckless, why would they do such a thing?"

  Beylon added, "The Ugor are infamous for their treachery throughout the years. They need no excuse to betray you."

  King Basil concluded, "What matters now is that we must unite our forces and vanquish the Ugor.

  "But what if this is one of Ubel's schemes to incite rebellion?" Hilda inquired, her wisdom and shrewdness evident in her question.

  Ubel, caught off guard by Hilda's astute remark, tried to sneak a peek at the woman speaking, his eyes widening in surprise upon seeing her beauty.

  King Ajeer looked at his wife with admiration and said, "That could very well be a possibility. We must conduct further investigations into the situation before launching any attacks."

  "However, I did dispatch my envoys and they procured the requisite information regarding the situation in Esma. Ubel had no involvement," King Basil declared, ensuring that Ubel remained within his purview as he spoke.

  Jeffery interjected, "It is impossible that Ubel was involved. I was present in Esma when the war was initiated. I witnessed them reducing homes to ashes and murdering children. It was a massacre."

  Hilda, casting her gaze around the room, detected that Ubel was attempting to conceal himself. When he realised that Hilda had caught sight of him, he retreated further into the shadows. But Hilda made no mention of it, merely offering King Basil a sly, malevolent smile as the discussion continued.

  King Ajeer then proposed, "Why do we not immediately seize control of Vok? We can marshal both our allies and yours and destroy Ubel."

  Jeffery argued, "It would be a more astute move to destroy the Ugor first, leaving Ubel bereft of allies."

  King Ajeer inquired, "When do we plan to launch this assault on Ugor?"

  King Basil replied, "I suggest we attack as expeditiously as possible."

  King Ajeer nodded. "I will begin preparing my troops and march on Ugor."

  "Your Majesty, if I may be so bold as to suggest," Beylon began, "I propose that we assemble the troops here on the border, in order that we may more efficiently organise the army rather than being dispersed."

  King Ajeer inquired, "You suggest that I journey back to Asmorg and then return here to Straya before proceeding to Ugor?"

  King Basil proposed, "Why not dispatch ten of your guards with a sealed missive to your war directors, instructing them to march their army here in preparation for the war against the Ugor?"

  King Ajeer considered the suggestion. "That is an appealing prospect."

  Jeffery offered, "I believe it is a sound idea. Shall I fetch you a quill and parchment so that you may pen your letter to your war directors?"

  King Ajeer paused for a moment before saying to King Basil, "So you propose that we commence preparations for war against Ugor then against Vok?"

  "That is exactly the design," King Basil confirmed.

  King Ajeer glanced at his consort Hilda before addressing Jeffery. "Fetch the parchment."

  Jeffery obeyed, procuring the requested materials and presenting them before King Ajeer. The monarch commenced composing the letter, affixing his signature before handing it to one of his trusted guards.

  "Proceed and deliver this to Ulfur," King Ajeer instructed. "Take nine men with you. Ensure that the pact remains secure."

  The guard nodded. "As you command, Your Majesty." He took possession of the pact and departed the chamber.

  As the guards left the room, the conversation turned to war tactics against Vok and Ugor. King Ajeer remained unconvinced about the need to attack the Ugor first, despite the arguments of the others.

  King Basil laid out his case. "We must prioritise the Ugor as they pose a greater threat. They have proven themselves to be treacherous and cannot be trusted. Attacking Vok first would leave us vulnerable to a counterattack from Ugor."

  Hilda added, "And with the recent massacre in Esma, it is clear that the Ugor will stop at nothing to further their own gain. We cannot allow them to gain any more power."

  Jeffery nodded in agreement. "It is also important to consider the element of surprise. If we strike the Ugor first, it will catch them off guard and give us a strategic advantage."

  King Ajeer listened carefully to their arguments, weighing the options in his mind. "I understand your points, but I am still not convinced. We must consider all of our options before making a final decision."

  The group continued to discuss and debate the best course of action, determined to come to a unanimous decision before moving forward with their plan.

  As the discussion continued, Ubel remained hidden in the shadows, quietly clapping his hands. Despite the sound echoing through the room, no one seemed to notice or pay it any mind.

  Suddenly, Ubel's guards emerge from the shadows and attack King Ajeer's guards, brutally slaughtering them and leaving none alive. The room erupted into chaos as everyone tried to understand what was happening.

  King Basil shouted, "What is the meaning of this? Show yourself, Ubel!"

  Ubel stepped out of the shadows, a smug expression on his face. "I couldn't resist the opportunity to make my presence known.

  King Ajeer was struck with a sense of shock and fear as he realised that Ubel had been present in the hall all along. Hilda, meanwhile, examined Ubel with intense interest.

  King Ajeer turned to Ubel, his voice quivering with trepidation. "What in the name of the gods is transpiring here? Explain yourself, Basil!"

  King Basil looked to Ubel, his countenance one of betrayal. "This was not what we had agreed upon, Ubel! What is the meaning of this perfidy?"

  King Ajeer glared at Basil, his voice laced with ire and disbelief. "So you confess to betraying me? Do you wish to depart this world with such a detestable reputation?"

  Ubel chuckled at their argument, clearly relishing the chaos he had instigated.

  King Basil protested, "I have not betrayed anyone. Ubel has seized control of my kingdom, and none of these soldiers are mine to command."

  King Ajeer looked at Jeffery, his fear intensifying. "Is this true?"

  Jeffery nodded gravely.

  King Ajeer's mind raced as he comprehended the full extent of Ubel's scheme. "The message I sent to my war directors in Asmorg, calling them to march their army to Straya... it was all a trap."

  As he spoke, King Ajeer made a move for the door, determined to stop the guards he had sent. But Ubel was quicker, signalling for one of his own guards to intercept. The guard struck King Ajeer with a brutal blow, sending him crashing to the floor, blood streaming from his nose.

  Hilda beheld her spouse prone on the ground, haemorrhaging profusely, yet she exhibited little concern. King Basil sought to intervene, but Ubel retorted, "King Ajeer, I had deemed you more astute. How could you have been duped by a mere invitation?'' He advanced, brandishing a chair, which he placed beside Ajeer.

  The latter sat on the floor, attempting to stanch the flow of his blood with his hands, gazing at Ubel with fear and resentment. Ajeer then uttered, "I cannot foretell any of your current machinations, you scoundrel."

  Ubel smirked, "Now that you are under my dominion, I may unveil my plans for you. Asmorg will be mine once we depart this hall. As you have no offspring, no one will contest the crown of Asmorg."

  King Basil interjected, "Ubel, you are trespassing on prohibited territory. Please abandon this absurdity, for I did not consent to harming Ajeer."

  Ubel replied, "That is true, the plan was not to physically harm him. However, upon his arrival, accompanied by his guards, I surmised we could expedite our takeover of Osna and Ugor."

  King Ajeer inquired, "What do you mean?" It then dawned on him that everything had been a lie. He declared, "My army will invade Ugor, and then you shall finish off any remnants of my army. A simple victory." He paused for a moment, then laughed maniacally before pointing his finger at Ubel and exclaiming, "Ubel, son of Than! You are the most sagacious man on earth. I grant you that."

  Ubel bestowed upon King Ajeer a sardonic smile, and then queried, "Your Majesty, you are a man of bellicosity. Pray tell, what would be your course of action were you to find yourself in my predicament?"

  King Ajeer, viscerally cognizant of the gravity of the situation, responded in a trembling voice, "No one will ever find themselves in your quandary, Ubel. No one! Do not delude yourself into believing that my words are in any way a form of flattery. To the contrary, no one would willingly subject themselves to your maleficent machinations."

  With a malign grin adorning his countenance, Ubel produced a diminutive dirk and inflicted a mortal wound upon King Ajeer's neck. The room was filled with shock as the king writhed in agony, his lifeblood ebbing away. Hilda remained seated beside the mortally wounded monarch, motionless, as Ubel paid her no heed. Then, with a smug smile, Ubel turned to Basil and departed the hall.