The God of War Calen Storm

The Challenge

"Then how do you explain the bloody handkerchief? You took it while I was wounded in the forest!" Calen shouted, his voice cutting through the tense air.

"One of my men saw you being chased by a lion. He wanted to help, but by the time he got close, he saw the lion attacking you. He thought it was too late to save you, so he picked up the handkerchief that had fallen on the ground and brought it back. We truly believed you had been killed and devoured by the beast," Elias said.

A murmur spread through the crowd until one voice rose from the sea of nobles. "How is it possible that he has no wounds on his body? He’s so weak! How could he have survived an attack by a lion?"

Elias raised his hands to address the doubters. "We don’t know how he managed to return unscathed, but one thing is clear—we did not commit the murder he accuses us of!" His gaze locked onto Calen, his tone laced with feigned hurt. "Calen, we accepted you into our family as our son-in-law, even though you’ve contributed nothing of value to us. And this is how you repay us? By tarnishing our name with baseless accusations."

Calen turned sharply to Lila, his eyes burning with accusation. "Lila! Speak the truth! You've been pale as a ghost since I arrived. Tell me, were you part of this plot to kill me? Is this all because you want me to divorce you?"

Gasps rippled through the assembled nobles. The Frost family was one of the most influential in the kingdom, and an accusation of this magnitude sent shockwaves across the hall. All eyes turned to Lila Frost, Calen’s wife, standing among the gathered nobles.

Lila's face was ashen, her lips pressed tightly together to hold back a gasp. Her hands trembled, and she swallowed hard, her throat moving visibly. She clutched the folds of her elegant gown, her knuckles white. For the first time in her life, Lila Frost—known for her composed and imperious demeanor—looked utterly shaken.

“Calen...” she whispered.

Calen’s gaze shifted to her, a mixture of pain and determination in his eyes. “You knew, didn’t you, Lila? You knew they wanted me gone. Tell me, did you stand idly by? Or did you help them plan my death?”

“Enough, Calen!” Evan Drake stepped forward, placing himself squarely between Calen and Lila, his presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room.

Calen’s gaze turned icy as he looked at Evan. He knew full well that Evan coveted Lila and intended to marry her once Calen was out of the picture. Evan, renowned as the strongest and most skilled candidate for Aerondale's highest generalship, was everything Calen had once been expected to become—and more.

“Step aside, Evan! This doesn’t concern you!” Calen barked, his voice echoing through the grand hall.

“This is my concern,” Evan replied with a smug smile. “Lila is my future wife, and I won’t stand by while you intimidate her like this!”

“Lila is still my wife!” Calen shot back, his voice a mix of anger and defiance.

“Your wife?” Evan laughed derisively, and several nobles joined in, their laughter filling the room. “You’re nothing but a pathetic failure, Calen. Your supposed death wasn’t even worth the mourning. You’re less valuable than a peasant from some remote village. The court has already declared you dead—look here!” He held up a parchment bearing the king’s seal. “This is the royal decree confirming your death. As far as Aerondale is concerned, you’re gone, and Lila is now a widow. So why don’t you just do us all a favor and stay dead?”

King Ryan Ashford, who had been silently observing the exchange, finally spoke. “Evan is right, Calen Storm. Your return is highly suspicious. You claim you survived a lion attack without a single scratch, and now you accuse the Frost family—who have shown you nothing but generosity—of attempting to kill you. You bring disgrace upon yourself with these baseless accusations.”

The king’s voice grew sterner. “The Frost family is one of the most honorable in Aerondale, and I will not tolerate their name being tarnished. Your death has already been declared, and this kingdom has no place for you anymore. You will leave Aerondale immediately and live out your life in exile.”

“What?” Calen whispered, disbelief clouding his face.

Evan smirked, crossing his arms. “You heard him. It’s time for you to crawl away, Calen.”

But Calen’s expression hardened. “I will prove myself. Give me a chance to fight for my honor!” He turned to face Evan, his voice firm. “Let me duel you, Evan. If I win, you can’t exile me or take away what’s mine.”

The room erupted in laughter, Evan’s booming voice rising above the rest. “You? Duel me? What sort of joke is this?” He sneered, his eyes gleaming with contempt. “A weakling like you doesn’t deserve to stand in the same ring as me!”

“Are you afraid?” Calen countered.

Evan’s smile faltered briefly, his pride pricked by the challenge. The crowd quieted, eager to see how the mighty Evan Drake would respond.