The torchlight flickered against the damp stone walls of the hidden chamber beneath the palace. A small, dimly lit room, lined with old scrolls and secret correspondence, was the very nerve centre of the Empire’s clandestine operations. It was here, in this sanctum of shadows, that Istiana had woven the intricate webs of deception, diplomacy, and death that had kept the Empire from collapsing long before the warlords began carving it apart.

  The words of her old mentor resurfaced in her mind, a prophecy spoken long ago—"When the empire stands unchallenged, its strength will blind its rulers. But the day will come when its walls crack, and its banners burn. In that hour of ruin, the one who holds the power to reshape its fate will take their first great steps in Epicrotea, the cradle of the empire’s legacy."

  At the time, she had dismissed it. The empire was unshakable, its dominion stretching across Calradia like an unbreakable chain. But now, as she stood amidst its fractured remains, watching as three rulers fought over its carcass, she could no longer ignore the prophecy's weight. The civil war had shattered the empire into warring factions, and if the words were to be believed, the answer lay in Epicrotea.

  Determined to uncover the truth, Istiana had turned her attention to the city's noble class, scrutinizing their allegiances, their movements, and their ambitions. Among them, one name surfaced time and time again—Sora. A woman of noble blood, sharp in mind and elusive in nature. She had taken great care to obscure her identity, yet Istiana knew no one could remain truly hidden.

  Through whispers in the underworld and careful observation, she tracked the movements of certain women who seemed connected to this ghost in the nobility. They moved too carefully, avoided certain roads, and never lingered too long in places of power. Cross-referencing their behaviours and patterns, Istiana slowly closed in, narrowing Sora’s true identity to three possible individuals.

  Sora might have believed she was an enigma, slipping through the cracks of history unnoticed. But Istiana had spent a lifetime unmasking secrets, toppling schemes before they could bloom. And now, she had her sights set on this noblewoman of Epicrotea.

  To the common folk, the name Istiana was unknown. To the lords and rulers of Calradia, she was the silent enforcer of imperial will. For decades, she had eliminated threats before they ever became wars, whispered rumours that had toppled kings, and forged alliances that never saw the light of day. Her loyalty to Emperor Arenicos was absolute, and in his service, she had done things that would haunt lesser souls. But she was not a woman burdened by guilt. She was burdened by purpose.

  Long before she became the hidden hand behind the throne, Istiana had been a young girl in a crumbling noble household. Her father, a minor lord with more debts than land, had tried to align himself with the Emperor’s court, but he was nothing more than a pawn in a larger game. When he was accused of treason—whether true or not—Istiana had watched him and her entire family be dragged away in chains. She learned that power was not about honour or strength. It was about control.

  Taken in by a former spymaster who saw potential in her, Istiana learned the arts of deception, assassination, and manipulation. She studied languages, disguises, and the politics of the Empire with a hunger that set her apart. When the previous spymaster mysteriously vanished, she took his place without question. She was no longer the daughter of a fallen house. She was now the hidden blade of the Emperor.

  Under Emperor Arenicos, she worked tirelessly to maintain the illusion of unity in the Empire. When nobles conspired, she ensured their letters were intercepted before reaching their allies. When generals grew too ambitious, their reputations were quietly ruined, or their lives ended in tragic accidents. She had no illusions about morality—only the necessity of her work.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  The group known as the Hidden Hand was not always an enemy of the Empire. Once, they were an extension of Istiana’s will. They were the watchers in the streets, the ears in the marketplace, and the daggers in the dark. She had cultivated them from the criminal underworld, taking men and women who had no loyalty to any faction and giving them purpose: to ensure that those who stood against the Empire never had the chance to act.

  Her most promising recruit had been a woman named Rita. Trained personally by Istiana, she had a gift for slipping through the cracks of society unnoticed, a ruthless intelligence that made her a perfect tool. But like all tools that become too sharp, Rita eventually cut her master. She grew too powerful, too ambitious.

  When Emperor Arenicos fell, Istiana did what she had to—she attempted to hold the Empire together. She guided the rulers in the hopes of keeping the vision of a unified Calradia alive. But Rita had no such vision. She saw an opportunity in the chaos. One by one, she took control of the Hidden Hand, turning it from a tool of the Empire into an independent force, one that Istiana could no longer control.

  For years, Istiana had worked closely with Rhagaea, the widow of Arenicos, and de facto ruler of the Southern Empire. Rhagaea was ambitious, but she lacked the subtlety to navigate the political undercurrents alone. Istiana had advised her, silenced her enemies, and ensured her rule remained uncontested. But even here, Rita’s influence was beginning to spread.

  Istiana received warnings. Assassins sent to silence her. Spies within the court whispering of a growing faction that no longer wished to be in the shadows. Rita had declared independence, and worse—she had set her sights on Istiana herself.

  It was not fear that gripped Istiana when she learned of Rita’s betrayal. It was fury. Everything she had built, everything she had sacrificed, was now being used against her. The very monster she had created now sought to devour her. She knew what had to be done.

  But there was another piece in the game. Arzagos.

  A former bodyguard of the late Emperor, Arzagos had once been a paragon of loyalty, but something had changed in him. Some whispered that he had been involved in Arenicos’ assassination. Others claimed he had simply lost faith in the Empire. What Istiana knew was this—Arzagos was dangerous. And now, she had an opportunity to eliminate him.

  She received word that Arzagos had taken refuge in Marunath, a Battanian city. She could not strike at him directly, not without drawing too much attention. But she could create the conditions for his destruction. She needed chaos, and she knew exactly how to create it.

  The coastal cities of Valandia were prosperous, but they were also vulnerable. The Aserai, with their fleets and merchant warriors, had long been eager to expand their influence. Istiana orchestrated a series of devastating raids, making them appear as though they had been carried out by Aserai missionaries—zealots seeking to convert the Vlandians by force. Entire villages were burned, families raped and slaughtered, and the blame lay at the feet of the Aserai.

  Vlandia, as she predicted, responded with fury. War erupted between the two nations, diverting their attention from anything else. With Aserai and Vlandia locked in a bitter struggle, Istiana turned to the Western Empire.

  Garios, the ruler of the Western Empire, had once been trained by Arzagos himself. Their relationship was that of mentor and student, but Istiana knew that even the strongest bonds could be broken with the right pressure. She whispered of Arzagos’ betrayal, planted doubts in Garios’ mind. The war against Battania was no longer about expansion—it was about vengeance. Garios led his armies to war, demanding the surrender of Arzagos.

  The battle of two great commanders, the finest strategists of their time, each with their vision of the world.

  Istiana did not believe in fate. She believed in control. And now, as she watched the flames of war spread across Calradia, she knew she had set events into motion that could not be undone.

  Would she succeed in eradicating Arzagos? Would Rita’s influence continue to grow, threatening everything she had fought for? Istiana had spent her life shaping the world from the shadows. Now, the shadows were closing in on her.

  For the first time in years, Istiana felt uncertain. But uncertainty was just another game to be mastered. Would she master it?

  Bannerlord New Update:

  I got to know that Bannerlord game will have an update with a new faction and naval warfare. I am pretty excited about that. I am also thankful for having 300 followers now I was expecting the number to shrink because of inactivity but it increased which is very nice.