Removing The Mask!
The ancestral hall was eerily quiet when King Ragnar arrived. Only the old patriarch, Drona Lionheart, usually stayed here. No royal wizards were allowed in the vicinity.
As the ancestral place is situated beyond the Fire Mountains, one must cross the forbidden army shelters before coming here.
Ragnar's eyes, usually sharp and focused, flickered with worry as he stepped towards the entrance.
He went inside and called for his father. But there was no reply.
Just then, a small eagle perched on a V-shaped staff near the doorway made a noise. Its feathers, black and glossy, contrasted with its small frame.
The eagle was the old patriarch's only pet, a creature that many dismissed due to its size. But Ragnar knew better—this eagle had once ripped apart entire squadrons of elite wizards with its sharp feathers.
Without opening its eyes, the eagle greeted him. "Second son of my master, what are you doing here?" It asked in a raspy voice.