Denise and the artifact
The following morning was crisp and clear in Eldoria's capital. In her private study, Queen Eleanor sat poring over intelligence reports, her brow furrowed in concentration. A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Enter," she called, looking up from her papers.
Lady Imogen, Eleanor's spymaster, slipped into the room, her face a mask of professional calm. But Eleanor, who had known her for years, could see the tension in her eyes.
"Your Majesty," Imogen began, her voice low and urgent. "We've intercepted a message from Prince Vincent's fortress. It appears he's planning to send an envoy to our borders."
Eleanor's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "An envoy? That's... unexpected. What more can you tell me?"
Imogen handed over a sealed document. "The details are all here, My Queen. But the most curious part is that the envoy appears to be carrying some sort of artifact. Our sources couldn't identify it, but they report it radiates an unusual magical energy."